Japanese players have been threatening to boycott next year’s World Baseball Classic in a dispute over marketing revenues. There has been some back and forth on this, but the players have finally agreed to participate:
The Japanese players’ association has agreed to take part in the 2013 World Baseball Classic, backing off from a threat to boycott the event over the way tournament revenue is shared.
Compromise was reached on the marketing thing and now the best players from the defending champion will play. Which is sort of important for the legitimacy of the WBC.