Japan to Compete in 2013 World Baseball Classic

Japanese players have agreed to take part in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, having previously threatened to boycott the event because of a dispute about how tournament money is shared.

The players’ union had demanded that Japan control all the sponsorship and licensing revenue generated by its participation in the tournament.

Currently, all such money is pooled and distributed by MLB, the tournament organizer.

Following a meeting with organizers in New York in August, officials from Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) league said some sponsorship and licensing revenue would remain in Japan”

NPB has reportedly set up a new business structure that will bring in ¥4B (US$51.1M) in four years.

Japan’s players’ union said in a statement: “We’ve decided to lift our previous decision not to participate in the WBC because it appears what we’ve been demanding has been fulfilled.” {jcomments on}