Atsunori Inaba hadn't even been officially unveiled as the next Samurai Japan manager for 10 minutes when NPB commissioner Katsuhiko Kumazaki told him he carried the hopes and dreams of the public into the upcoming Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and World Baseball Classic in 2021. Samurai Japan Strengthening Committee director Atsushi Ihara informed him his job was to win an Olympic gold medal.
Not that there's any pressure or anything.
Ihara made the news that first came out around two weeks ago official on Monday, announcing Inaba as the next manager of the national team and tasking him with leading Japan into both the 2020 Games and the next World Baseball Classic.