'We ate sushi': Ronald Acuña Jr. is proud to have beaten Japan

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

'We ate sushi': Ronald Acuña Jr. is proud to have beaten Japan

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Mar 16, 2026 9:36 AM ET

The World Baseball Classic highlights the differences in the mentalities of different countries. Countries like Japan, the United States, and Canada, for example, tend to be more reserved. There are fewer extravagant reactions when it comes time to celebrate, so to speak.

This is different from countries like Mexico, Venezuela, or the Dominican Republic, for example. The situation involving Randy Arozarena and Cal Raleigh is a good example. The Mexican player made a public spectacle of it, while the American player tried to keep it under wraps.

It's clear that the countries that celebrate make things pretty exciting and generate both positive and negative buzz. The example of Venezuela, which beat Japan yesterday, is striking. On the field, the guys celebrated like there was no tomorrow. Especially after Wilyer Abreu's home run.

WILYER ABREU —DOES IT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS?! https://t.co/EbSYVSKY0Q pic.twitter.com/6ZpvSHQkXb — MLB (@MLB) March 15, 2026

But even after the game, we saw Ronald Acuna Jr. celebrate by mocking the Japanese, who surely didn't expect to lose so quickly in the 2026 tournament.

Posting a cliché photo claiming that the Venezuelan team celebrated their victory over Japan by eating sushi is not a tactic the Japanese would have used.

“We're good and happy. We ate sushi.” -Ronald Acuña Jr. after eliminating Japan pic.twitter.com/EkPYbkEpI1— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) March 15, 2026

So we find ourselves in a situation where things could get heated in the final (Dominican Republic vs. Venezuela) or in a situation where the Americans and Italians would be more relaxed. A middle ground is also possible. The next few days will nevertheless be fascinating. After all, teams that aren't afraid to celebrate leave no one indifferent.

Created by humans, assisted by AI.