LLWS 2026 Game 15 Recap: Japan 10, Caribbean 1
Japan routed the Dominican Republic 10-1 in Game 15 at Lamade Stadium. Tensei Yazawa hit two home runs and drove in four runs to lead the offense. Yazawa and Shinnosuke Ijima combined on the mound to strike out 12 batters.
Game 15
August 22, 2026 · Lamade Stadium
Joto LL
Tokyo, Japan
Dominican Republic
Caribbean Region
Japan stays alive in the international bracket and moves on to face Europe-Africa. The Dominican Republic’s tournament run ends after the loss in the elimination bracket. Japan opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the first inning.
Tensei Yazawa Powers Japan With Two Home Runs
Yazawa lined a home run to right field for his first career LLWS hit. He added a second long home run later in the same game. His two homers and four RBI carried Japan’s offense from start to finish at Lamade Stadium.
Japan’s best performance: Yazawa’s two-homer game was the most productive offensive outing by any Japan hitter so far in the 2026 LLWS. His opening-inning solo shot set the tone early against the Dominican Republic. Yazawa also took the mound later to help close out the shutout innings.
Yazawa and Ijima Combine for 12 Strikeouts
Yazawa and Shinnosuke Ijima shared pitching duties for Japan throughout the game. The pair combined to allow just one run on three hits all afternoon. Their 12 combined strikeouts kept the Dominican Republic offense quiet for most of the game.
Dominican Republic’s lone run: A wild pitch by Dominican Republic pitcher Carlos Jose Abreu let Yunosuke Yabe score in the first inning, part of Japan’s three-run frame. The Dominican Republic’s only run of the game came later and did not threaten the outcome.
How the Game Unfolded, Inning by Inning
| INNING | KEY PLAY | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Tensei Yazawa lines a solo home run to right field. A wild pitch later lets Yunosuke Yabe score from third base. Japan takes an early 3-0 lead. | JPN 3, CAR 0 |
| Middle Innings | Yazawa adds a second home run to reach four RBI on the day. Japan tacks on runs steadily to pull away from the Dominican Republic. | JPN 10, CAR 1 |
| Final | Yazawa and Shinnosuke Ijima combine to strike out 12 batters. Japan closes out the 10-1 win and stays alive in the bracket. | Final: JPN 10, CAR 1 |
Game 15 Box Score
| TEAM | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | 10 | TBD | TBD |
| Caribbean, Dominican Republic | 1 | 3 | TBD |
| Pitcher | Team | HR | K | IP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yazawa & Ijima (combined) | Japan | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Carlos Jose Abreu | Caribbean | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Key Hit | Player | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo HR | Tensei Yazawa | Japan | First career LLWS hit, solo shot to right field in 1st inning |
| Home Run | Tensei Yazawa | Japan | Second HR of the game, part of a 4-RBI day |
Next Games for Japan and the Caribbean
| TEAM | BRACKET | NEXT GAME |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Stays Alive | Faces Europe-Africa in the next round |
| Caribbean, Dominican Republic | Eliminated | Tournament run ends with the loss |
Japan’s path forward: Joto Little League moves on to face Europe-Africa in the next round of the international bracket. Japan remains alive after bouncing back from an earlier loss in the tournament. The Dominican Republic’s run at the 2026 LLWS comes to a close after the loss.
Conclusion
Japan routed the Dominican Republic 10-1 in Game 15 of the 2026 LLWS. Tensei Yazawa drove in four runs on two home runs to lead the offense. Yazawa and Shinnosuke Ijima combined to strike out 12 batters on the mound.
Japan advances to face Europe-Africa in the next round of the international bracket. The Dominican Republic’s tournament run ends after the loss in the elimination bracket. Japan remains one of the strongest offensive teams left in the 2026 field.
