2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series
The 2018 MLB Japan All-Star Series was the twelfth edition of the MLB Japan All-Star Series, a best-of-six series between an All-Star team from Major League Baseball and for the second time in series history, the Japanese national team, Samurai Japan won. The manager of Samurai Japan saw in this championship a big opportunity for Japan to gain momentum for the 2020 Olympics.
History
On May 1, 2018, MLB announced that it would send an all-star team to tour Japan after the end of the current season, with six games scheduled against a select Nippon Professional Baseball squad from November 9 to 15.On August 20, 2018, Samurai Japan announced that held one exhibition game against Chinese Taipei and five coaches and six selected players.
On September 10, 2018, Major League Baseball Players Association and MLB announced the first eight selected MLB players.
On October 9, Tomoyuki Sugano canceled his participation for Samurai Japan.
On October 10, Samurai Japan announced all selected 28 players.
On October 15, Chinese Taipei announced all selected 24 players.
On October 18, 2018, Katsuki Azuma canceled his participation for Samurai Japan.
On October 26, 2018, Taichi Ishiyama and Yoshitomo Tsutsugo canceled their participation for Samurai Japan.
On October 29, 2018, Christian Yelich canceled his participation for MLB, Roster rules changed 28 to 29, announced all selected MLB players, and and canceled their participation for Chinese Taipei.
On November 1, 2018, Takahiro Matsunaga canceled his participation for Samurai Japan.
On November 2, 2018, Shuta Ishikawa canceled his participation for Samurai Japan, and Che-hsuan Lin canceled his participation for Chinese Taipei.
On November 5, 2018, canceled his participation for Chinese Taipei.
On November 16, 2018, Yomiuri Giants announced all selected players.
For the first time, the MLB All-Star team stopped in Hawai'i en route to the Japan All-Star series. The 28 player team batted in two workout games in front of fans at Les Murakami Stadium on November 3 & 4, 2018.
Results
Exhibition| Game | Date / Time | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Duration | Location | Ref |
| 1 | November 7 | Samurai Japan  | 5–6 |  Chinese Taipei | Fukuoka Dome | ||
| 2 | November 8 / 6pm | MLB All-Stars   | 9–6 |  Yomiuri Giants | Tokyo Dome |
Championship
| Game | Date / Time | Home Team | Score | Away Team | Duration | Location | Ref |
| 1 | November 9 / 6pm | Samurai Japan | 7–6 | MLB All-Stars | 3:29 | Tokyo Dome | |
| 2 | November 10 / 6.30pm | MLB All-Stars | 6–12 | Samurai Japan | 3:19 | Tokyo Dome | |
| 3 | November 11 / 7pm | Samurai Japan | 3–7 | MLB All-Stars | 2:59 | Tokyo Dome | |
| 4 | November 13 / 6.30pm | MLB All-Stars | 3–5 | Samurai Japan | 3:27 | Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima | |
| 5 | November 14 / 7pm | Samurai Japan | 6–5 | MLB All-Stars | 3:13 | Nagoya Dome | |
| 6 | November 15 / 6pm | Samurai Japan | 4–1 | MLB All-Stars | 3:07 | Nagoya Dome |