▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Japanese ▁national ▁baseball ▁team ▁which ▁competed ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 4 ▁Olympic ▁Games ▁in ▁Ath ens . ▁The ▁team ▁eventually ▁won ▁the ▁bronze ▁medal . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁he ▁joined ▁Team ▁Japan ▁for ▁the ▁World ▁Baseball ▁Classic ▁and ▁earned ▁ 2 ▁wins , ▁impro ving ▁his ▁un be aten ▁record ▁in ▁international ▁competition ▁( including ▁amateur ▁appearances ) ▁to ▁ 1 2 ▁wins ▁in ▁ 2 1 ▁appearances . ▁In ▁the ▁World ▁Baseball ▁Classic , ▁Japan ▁beat ▁Cuba ▁to ▁win ▁the ▁championship ; ▁U eh ara ▁led ▁the ▁tournament ▁with ▁ 1 6 ▁strike outs . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁closer ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 7 ▁Asian ▁Baseball ▁Championships , ▁played ▁in ▁two ▁games ▁and ▁earned ▁his ▁first ▁international ▁save ▁against ▁Korea . ▁ ▁U eh ara ▁moved ▁to ▁another ▁team ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁He ▁remained ▁in ▁the ▁ 3 9 - out - of - 7 7 ▁men ▁candidate ▁list ▁towards ▁the ▁Be ij ing ▁Olympics ▁in ▁late ▁June , ▁and ▁was ▁selected ▁to ▁the ▁final ▁ 2 4 - men ▁list ▁in ▁mid - J uly . ▁He ▁was ▁expected ▁to ▁be ▁a ▁setup ▁pitch er ▁before ▁the ▁Olympic ▁Games , ▁but ▁he ▁appeared ▁as ▁a ▁closer ▁in ▁his ▁first ▁appearance ▁against ▁Chinese ▁Tai pe i , ▁pitch ing ▁a ▁shut out ▁in ning ▁without ▁yield ing ▁a ▁hit , ▁as ▁his ▁team ▁won ▁ 6 – 1 . ▁He ▁earned ▁his ▁first ▁Olympic ▁save ▁against