Meiji, the fifth largest confectionery company in the world and a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Gold Partner, is one of five sponsor named for the event due to take place in the city of Iwaki from July 29 to August 7.

Also featuring on the list are Tokyo-based gaming giant GungHo Online Entertainment and Japanese restaurant operations leader Toridoll. 

Completing the quintet are At Home, which oversees one of the largest real estate listings and housing information sites in Japan, and Iwaki-based company Soso Retec, which provides expertise and services in waste management, construction, and environmental restoration and sustainability.

Serving as global partners will be Mizuno, one of the world's leading sports apparel and equipment manufacturers, and SSK, an elite Japanese baseball brand whose products are used by top professional players and clubs around the world.

Mizuno will provide more than 3,000 official game balls for the Under-15 Baseball World Cup and also design and provide the official outfit of all tournament officials, while SSK will be the exclusive kit supplier of the umpires. 

"The WBSC is extremely delighted to welcome these companies, who are among the industry leaders in their respective sectors, to the official Under-15 Baseball World Cup sponsorship programme," said WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari.

"This line-up of sponsors reflects the growing appeal of baseball and softball's global platform, which is resonating more than ever, with brands looking to leverage sponsorship value and generate international exposure to reach new audiences - especially younger generations, where our sport is strongly positioned.

"And these agreements on our youth Baseball World Cup property are particularly timely, as we hope to further demonstrate that adding baseball and softball to the Olympic Games would be a 'home run' for the Olympic Movement, Tokyo 2020, their partners, our sport and fans worldwide."

The third edition of the biennial Under-15 Baseball World Cup, which is the highest level of competition for players aged 13 to 15-years-old, is being hosted in conjunction with the Baseball Federation of Japan and newspaper giant The Yomiuri Shimbun, a Tokyo 2020 Official Partner.

The Under-15 Baseball World Cup official partners, as well as WBSC global partners, will have a brand presence on signage at the competition venues, including on all media backdrops and mixed zones.

Sponsors Meiji, GungHo and co-host The Yomiuri Shimbun return after first partnering on the 2015 WBSC Premier12 international baseball flagship tournament, which is said to have generated over $131 million (£100 million/€119 million) in brand exposure and was Japan's most-watched international sports event last year.

The WBSC hope that the international appeal and youth focus will boost their efforts for baseball and softball to be included on the sport programme for Tokyo 2020. 

A joint bid from men's baseball and women's softball is one of five new sports set to be added to sport's biggest stage, along with karate, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, subject to approval at the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session in Rio de Janeiro next month.

All five have been given the green light by Tokyo 2020 and the IOC Executive Board, and all are likely to be confirmed at the Session.