Japan secured a dramatic 4–3 victory over Australia in a tense World Baseball Classic group-stage clash at Tokyo Dome, with Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and Princess Aiko watching from the stands in a rare royal appearance at a baseball game.

The defending champions were forced to fight back after Australia seized the initiative in the sixth inning.

The breakthrough came when Australian outfielder Aaron Whitefield crossed home plate following a throwing error by Japanese catcher Kenya Wakatsuki, giving the underdogs a surprise lead.

Japan responded decisively in the seventh inning.

Masataka Yoshida delivered the defining moment of the contest with a powerful two-run home run to right-center field, swinging the momentum firmly in Japan’s favor.

The hosts added further runs in the eighth inning to build a narrow cushion before holding off a late Australian push.

Australia managed to close the gap in the final stages, but Japan maintained their composure to preserve the 4–3 win in front of more than forty thousand spectators in Tokyo.

The game carried added historical significance because of the presence of Japan’s imperial family.

Emperor Naruhito’s attendance marked the first time in nearly six decades that a reigning Japanese emperor had attended a baseball game in person, underscoring the cultural importance of the sport and the scale of the international tournament being held in the capital.

Much of the attention inside the packed stadium focused on global superstar Shohei Ohtani, whose performances have been central to Japan’s campaign.

Ohtani had homered in his previous two games in the tournament and remains the centerpiece of the national lineup, although he was unable to produce a decisive hit in this particular matchup.

At one crucial moment in the third inning, Ohtani came to the plate with the bases loaded and the crowd anticipating a major swing.

However, Australia escaped the threat when Japan’s Shugo Maki was picked off by Australian catcher Robbie Perkins to end the inning.

Japan’s victory maintained its unbeaten start in the group stage as the team seeks to defend its World Baseball Classic crown.

The tournament, which gathers leading baseball nations from around the world, has drawn significant attention in Japan, where the sport commands a passionate national following.

Australia, despite the narrow defeat, delivered a resilient performance that kept the contest competitive until the final out and left its prospects of advancing from the group dependent on the remaining pool results.