Japan to play in 2013 World Baseball Classic

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.

The players' union had demanded that two-time defending champion Japan control all the sponsorship and licensing revenue generated by its participation in the tournament.

Currently, all such revenues are pooled and distributed by Major League Baseball, the tournament organizer.

Following a meeting with tournament organizers in New York in August, officials from Nippon Professional Baseball stated some specific forms of sponsorship and licensing revenue would remain in Japan.