Well, Korea lost but it was a well fought match. It was a 10 inning 5 to 3 win for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. For the Japanese it was the second in a row as champions of the WBC.
The feelings between these two countries goes very deep and the rivalry between the two countries goes back many years. It will take many more years to remove much of the animosity that the Koreans feel towards the Japanese. One of the articles on the game posted in Korea gave credit to the Japanese for a strong win but it was with a lack of sportsmanship on the part of a team that was defending champions. They were considered to be very cunning. Very interesting insight is it not?
Baseball in Korea is rather recent and the children do not play sandlot baseball as we are accustomed to in the States. It is a tribute to the Korean's competitive spirit that shows itself not only in sports. In 2006 when the Korean team bested the Americans in the second round of the WBC the American press in surprise: "Who are these guys anyway?" They are already planning for the next WBC Championship.
