Japan Stands Out Among 20 WBC Nations... "Economic Impact to Reach 870 Billion Won if They Win"

Nike Produces Uniforms for 19 WBC Teams
Only Japan Wears Mizuno—Ranks First in Design
Japan’s Uniform Stands Out in the ‘19-to-1’ Structure

During the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC), the Mizuno logo is drawing attention as it appears exclusively on the Japanese national baseball team’s uniform. Mizuno, a prominent Japanese sports brand, has been responsible for designing the Japanese team’s uniforms since the inaugural WBC in 2006.

The WBC, which commenced on March 5, is an international baseball tournament organized by Major League Baseball (MLB), also known as the "Baseball World Cup." Since its first event in 2006, this year marks the tournament’s sixth edition.

Among the 20 teams participating in this year’s tournament, Nike—a sports brand selected as the official uniform partner—produced the uniforms for 19 teams, excluding Japan. Although the colors and logos differ by country, these uniforms share the same basic silhouette, materials, and design structure, as they are based on a standardized design.

On the 4th in Tokyo, Japan, Shohei Ohtani (left) is leaving the spot along with the Japanese national team players after finishing the group photo session before the WBC game training. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Only Japan Wears Mizuno Uniforms... Ranked First in Design

The Japanese national team is wearing uniforms independently designed by Mizuno. The design philosophy Mizuno incorporated into the current uniforms is called "Seimei," which reflects the idea that only true athletes who carry on tradition and take responsibility for future generations are worthy of wearing the uniform on the field.

The spiral double stripes featured on the home uniforms symbolize tradition, pride, and the future. The two lines intertwine in a spiral shape, representing the "fusion of past and future." Additionally, gold lines were added to the neckline and sleeves to signify Japan’s bid for a second consecutive WBC title.

WBC Japan National Team Uniform. Mizuno Official Website

The Japanese uniform design has also received high praise internationally. In February, the American news magazine Newsweek ranked the Japanese national team first in its list of WBC uniform designs from 20 countries. The white pinstriped home uniform was especially well received. The reviewer noted, "The matchup between Japan’s Shohei Ohtani and the United States’ Mike Trout in the 2023 WBC final comes to mind."

Some analysts point out that the visual contrast effect has become more pronounced as Japan is the only team wearing a uniform from a different brand. The Japanese business weekly Toyo Keizai reported on March 10, "With the '19-to-1' structure, Japan’s uniform has gained visual influence that goes beyond design quality." The article added, "As the Japanese national team continues to win, the pinstripe uniform is increasingly likely to be remembered as the 'design of champions,' and ultimately, the uniform itself will become an image that symbolizes the strength of Japanese baseball."

On the other hand, there has been some debate among fans about fairness. In February, the Indian news outlet Times of India reported, "The Japanese national team received special permission to wear Mizuno uniforms, their longtime sponsor," and noted ongoing complaints that only one country is allowed custom uniforms while others use standardized designs.

At the WBC Group C game between Japan and Australia held on the 8th at Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan, Japanese players including Shohei Ohtani (center) are celebrating their victory. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

"If Japan Wins, Economic Impact Will Reach 870.9 Billion Won"

The Japanese national team’s uniforms attract significant attention during every WBC, often sparking a boom in merchandise sales. In particular, the number 16 uniform of star player Shohei Ohtani reportedly sold out or saw inventory rapidly depleted at some stores ahead of the WBC opening.

The WBC craze is expected to have a substantial impact on the Japanese economy. During the tournament, demand for game attendance, accommodation, and transportation increases, alongside a rise in overall consumer spending. Hotels near stadiums are fully booked, with room rates soaring to several times their usual levels. On game days, restaurants see a surge of baseball fans, boosting "cheering-related consumption," and official merchandise sales, including national team uniforms, rise sharply.

Katsuhiro Miyamoto, Professor Emeritus at Kansai University, estimated that if the Japanese team wins this year’s WBC, the economic impact could reach about 93,118,350,000 yen (870.9 billion won). This figure is 1.5 times larger than the 59,648,470,000 yen (approximately 558.1 billion won) estimated as the economic impact of the 2023 WBC.

Professor Miyamoto analyzed, "Sports serve as a kind of 'refreshment' for people," and added, "The high expectations of the Japanese public are reflected in the economic effect of this tournament."

The Japanese national team is known to have paid substantial sponsorship exemption fees (penalties) to the organizer, MLB, in order to wear a separate uniform. However, some observers suggest that the revenue from uniforms and merchandise featuring the Mizuno logo more than offsets the penalties paid to the organizers. The reason Japan is willing to pay such large penalties to retain the Mizuno branding is seen as a calculation that the commercial benefits far outweigh the costs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.