2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC) Japan-Korea Match captured the attention of baseball fans as Kikuchi Yusei's wife was spotted on the broadcast screen.
During the second group stage match against Korea held at Tokyo Dome on the 7th, a woman sitting in the stands was shown multiple times on the broadcast camera. This woman, who caught everyone's eye with her stunning beauty, was revealed to be Kikuchi's wife, Kikuchi Rumi, who previously worked as a model and singer.
Kikuchi Rumi has a background as a reporter for major Japanese news channels and is currently active as an influencer and blogger with over 54,000 followers. Their relationship dates back to 2013 when Kikuchi was playing for the Saitama Seibu Lions in Nippon Professional Baseball, and Rumi, a freelance journalist, interviewed him, leading to their first meeting. They later developed into a romantic relationship and got married in 2016.
On this day, Kikuchi Rumi visited Tokyo Dome with their son Leo to cheer passionately for her husband. With the support of their family, Kikuchi took the mound and had a somewhat shaky start, allowing three runs in the first inning, but regained stability by shutting out the opposing team in the second and third innings. The Japanese national team secured victory over Korea thanks to Kikuchi's strong performance and the power of their batting lineup.
Meanwhile, the match concluded with Japan's victory after a fierce battle between the two countries. Korea initially took the lead with three runs in the first inning, but allowed a home run from Suzuki Seiya and three solo home runs in the third inning, resulting in a reversal. Although Kim Hye-sung's two-run home run in the fourth inning tied the game, they conceded additional runs in the later innings, ultimately losing with a final score of 6 to 8.
Kikuchi Yusei, who is currently active on the international stage with the Los Angeles Angels in Major League Baseball, proved his worth by contributing to this Japan-Korea victory. Not only his performance but also the support from his wife captured in the stands and their family love have become a hot topic among baseball fans in both countries.
