Japan Region LLWS 2026: Joto Little League Tokyo, Japan
Joto Little League proudly represents the entire Japan Region at the full 2026 LLWS. The Tokyo, Japan team went a perfect 4-0 through the entire regional tournament. They earned their second straight Williamsport trip after finishing 2-2 back in 2025.
| Team | Joto Little League |
| City | Tokyo, Japan |
| Region | Japan |
| Regional Record | 4-0 |
| LLWS Opener | August 20 at 4:00 PM ET vs Curaçao Region |
| Venue | Volunteer Stadium, Game 7 |
| TV | ESPN |
| Manager | Masanori Takeda |
Joto beat Chiba Little League to win the entire 2026 Japan Region title outright. This marks Japan’s 35th trip to Williamsport since the country’s debut in 1962. They open the LLWS on August 20 at 4:00 PM ET on ESPN.
Joto LL, Full 2026 LLWS Roster
| # | Player | Position(s) | Bats | Throws | Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sou Koyama | 2B | R | R | 4’9″ |
| 2 | Ayumu Hasegawa | 2B | R | R | 4’8″ |
| 3 | Ryoji Sasaki | LF | R | R | 4’8″ |
| 7 | Kei Kawanishi | 3B | R | R | 4’11” |
| 8 | Ryunosuke Maeda | OF | L | R | 5’2″ |
| 10 | Ryosuke Takaoka | SS | R | R | 5’6″ |
| 12 | Rui Tobata | 1B | R | R | 5’3″ |
| 13 | Shinnosuke Ijima | P / OF | R | R | 5’6″ |
| 14 | Taiga Yumitori | LF | L | R | 5’4″ |
| 15 | Takeru Yorozu | P | R | R | 5’5″ |
| 16 | Hiroto Yokote | C | R | R | 5’3″ |
| 21 | Tensei Yazawa | P | R | R | 5’10” |
| 22 | Yunosuke Yabe | C | L | R | 5’6″ |
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager | Masanori Takeda |
| Coach | Kiichiro Kubo |
| Coach | Hiroyuki Konai |
Key Players for Joto LL at the 2026 LLWS
Tensei Yazawa, #21
P · Bats R · Throws R · 5’10
Tensei Yazawa currently stands as the single tallest player on the entire Joto roster. He launched a dramatic three-run home run during the entire Japan Regional Tournament. His size and power give manager Masanori Takeda a truly genuine offensive weapon.
Ryosuke Takaoka, #10
SS · Bats R · Throws R · 5’6
Ryosuke Takaoka anchors the shortstop position for this entirely talented and deep Joto Little League roster. His steady glove greatly helped Joto cruise through the entire Japan Regional Tournament. Manager Masanori Takeda relies on him in the most critical infield defensive moments.
Shinnosuke Ijima, #13
P / OF · Bats R · Throws R · 5’6
Shinnosuke Ijima gives Joto valuable added depth across both pitching and the entire outfield. He fills whatever role manager Masanori Takeda truly needs during tight tournament games. That flexibility greatly helped Joto stay unbeaten across the entire Japan Regional Tournament.
Takeru Yorozu, #15
P · Bats R · Throws R · 5’5
Takeru Yorozu gives Joto yet another reliable arm on the entire 2026 pitching staff. That pitching depth helped Joto post a perfect 4-0 record during the tournament. Manager Masanori Takeda trusts him in truly high-pressure situations late in close games.
Yunosuke Yabe, #22
C · Bats L · Throws R · 5’6
Yunosuke Yabe anchors the catching duties as one of only two left-handed batters. His left-handed swing gives Joto Little League a genuinely different look at the plate. That steady bat helped Joto post a truly dominant record during the tournament.
Joto LL Japan Regional Record, 4-0
Joto Little League went a perfect 4-0 through the entire 2026 Japan Regional Tournament. They beat Chiba Little League in the championship game to claim the title. This marks the league’s second-straight appearance at the Little League World Series.
| Round | Opponent | Result | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pool & Bracket Play | Multiple Japanese Leagues | Win | Joto advanced through pool and bracket play during the Japan Regional Tournament. |
| Championship | Chiba | Win | Joto captured the Japan Region title, finished with a 4-0 record, and secured its second consecutive trip to Williamsport. |
A second straight trip to Williamsport: Joto clinched the entire Japan Region title with a truly perfect 4-0 tournament record. This marks Japan’s second-most active recent run since gaining direct entry in 2007. Japan has reached the championship game sixteen times and won eleven total titles.
Japan Region LLWS 2026 Schedule
| Game | Date | Time (ET) | Opponent | Venue | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 7 | August 20 | 4:00 PM | Curaçao Region | Volunteer Stadium | ESPN |
| Subsequent games depend on results. Updated after each game. | |||||
Late-afternoon international matchup: Game 7 on August 20 officially opens at 4:00 PM Eastern time. Joto faces the Curaçao Region champion at Volunteer Stadium later that same day. Fans across all of Tokyo should tune into ESPN for this exciting late-afternoon matchup.
Joto Little League, Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo proudly serves as the capital and largest city of the entire country. The metropolis holds a population of nearly 14 million residents across the entire city. Tokyo’s huge population makes local qualifying tournaments extremely competitive every single summer season.
Japan ranks third all-time for most LLWS appearances with thirty-five total tournament trips overall. Only Canada and Mexico have sent more total teams to Williamsport than Japan. Japanese teams have compiled a genuinely excellent 113-41 record across thirty-four total appearances.
Joto Little League was first officially chartered with Little League International back in the year 2022. Players once competed for Kitasuna Little League before the entire country’s restructuring occurred. Kitasuna once won four LLWS titles and finished as runner-up back in 2007.
Conclusion
Joto Little League proudly represents the entire Japan Region at the 2026 LLWS. The Tokyo, Japan squad went a perfect 4-0 through the entire regional tournament. They beat Chiba to finally claim their second straight trip to Williamsport.
Key players to watch closely include ace pitcher Tensei Yazawa and shortstop Ryosuke Takaoka. They open the tournament on August 20 against the entire Curaçao Region champion. The game starts at 4:00 PM ET at Volunteer Stadium on ESPN today.
