How to Play Pro Baseball in Japan | Japan Winter League 2026 with Hiro Sakanashi

We sat down with Hiro Sakanashi to break down everything you need to know about the Japan Winter League 2026 — one of the best showcase opportunities for players looking to sign with a team in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, or Europe.

Hiro covers:

📋 How registration works and when to sign up (opened June 1st, 2026)

🏟️ League structure — Advanced League vs. Tryout League

🎯 What Japanese scouts are actually looking for in foreign players

🛣️ Independent league pathways to NPB via the BC League & Shikoku Island League

💴 Costs, housing, and what's included in your registration

📊 How Trackman & live data give you a real shot at getting noticed

The league runs November 21 – December 18 at a professional NPB spring training facility in Okinawa. Early bird pricing is available through the end of August.

Don't wait — register as soon as spots open. Use code BBJO2026 for a discount when signing up here: https://japanleague.palettetree.jp/form/jwl2026

📩 Contact: BBJO or reach Hiro directly on Instagram @coachsaka