PHOTO PROVIDED Joto Little League of Tokyo, Japan has punched its ticket to South Williamsport for the 2025 Little League World Series by winning the Japan Region Championship game in this photo by Little League International.

Joto Little League of Tokyo, Japan has punched its ticket to South Williamsport for the 2025 Little League World Series with a 15-4 victory over Yokohama Little League in the Japan Region Championship game, finishing the event with an unblemished 4-0 record.

This will be the first trip to Williamsport for Joto Little League with the program chartering with Little League International for the first time in 2022 as part of a restructuring throughout the country. Prior to the restructuring, players within the community participated in Kitasuna Little League, which was represented in the LLWS six times, including four World Series titles (2001, ’12, ’15, ’17) and a runner-up in 2007.

Japan sits in third place for the most appearances with 34, trailing just Canada (64) and Mexico (36). Since its first bid in 1962, Japan holds numerous team and individual records at the LLBWS, like completing one of the five perfect games (1976) in LLBWS history. Japan has received direct entry since 2007 and has made the championship game 16 times, winning 11 titles.

In addition to their on-field performance, Japan was also named the recipients of the 2024 Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award based on their display of sportsmanship on and off the field.

The first-round matchups for the 2025 LLBWS were announced on June 11 during National Little League Week. Japan will start its tournament in Game 5 against the Europe and Africa Region on Thursday, August 14, at 1 p.m. at Volunteer Stadium.

The 2025 Little League World Series is set to kick off on Wednesday, Aug. 13, with the World Series Championship game scheduled for Aug. 24.