The manager of Japan's national baseball team says playing for the country in the World Baseball Classic tournament was the happiest time in his life.

Kuriyama Hideki met reporters on Monday in Tokyo. Japan beat the United States in the final held in Florida last Tuesday to clinch its third WBC title.

Kuriyama said he would never be driven to the edge like he was during the tournament. He praised the players for giving their all to achieve the victory.

He sent Darvish Yu of the San Diego Padres to the mound in the final's eighth inning and Los Angeles Angels two-way star Ohtani Shohei in the ninth, though they usually do not serve as a relief pitcher or closer.

Kuriyama said the two pitchers came to his mind when he was thinking how to overpower American Major League stars.

He said younger pitchers he sent to the mound in the early innings told him their legs were shaking or they were too nervous to remember anything. He said he knew he would need Darvish and Ohtani to beat Team USA in such a tight game.

Ohtani was named the tournament's MVP.

Kuriyama said the star had a sense of mission and responsibility and decided to play for Japan although it would put a physical strain on him ahead of the new season.

Kuriyama, commenting on the excitement the WBC brought to Japan, said he hopes the team's victory will encourage children to start playing baseball.

He also expressed hope that players will put in performances that delight the fans.