Samurai Japan mostly filled out its roster for the 2017 World Baseball Classic on Tuesday, adding eight players, but no major leaguers, to the 19 names released in December.
The new players bring the roster up to 27, leaving one spot to be filled.
"My tension has been rising and my head is full of ideas of how I should use the players we announced today," Japan manager Hiroki Kokubo said. "In the past we've had to think over and over again about how to maximize our lineup, especially as it pertains to the pitchers.