Hanshin Tigers owner Shinya Sakai was quoted by the Kyodo news agency as confirming the NPB, the highest-level of baseball in the Asian country, would “support the Olympics in any way”.

It is not yet known how long any break would last during the regular campaign, which traditionally runs from late March or early April to October, with two or three All Star games usually held in July.

Sakai’s comments came after a meeting of the NPB Owners, the league’s ruling body.

Kyodo has reported that the proposals were signed off in principle at an Executive Committee meeting last month.

The move would likely appease the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who would be keen on baseball events at Tokyo 2020 having minimal disruption on the club game in Japan.

It also marks a strong showing of support from the powerful NPB, one of the world’s highest-watched professional sporting leagues.

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 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.

The development follows continued speculation about where baseball and softball matches would be held at Tokyo 2020 should they secure a spot on the programme.

A delegation from the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), who led the push for the sport’s inclusion at the Games in four years’ time, will inspect the Yokohama Stadium this week with a view to potentially using the venue at Tokyo 2020.

The WBSC has denied reports that the facility in Yokohama is their preferred option, however, telling insidethegames that a number of stadiums across the country were being considered.

The 55,000-capacity Tokyo Dome, a multi-purpose arena predominantly used by the Yomiuri Giants baseball team, and the Chiba Marine Stadium have also been earmarked for potentially hosting matches.

The Tokyo Dome is seen as one of the most iconic venues in the country and would perhaps be the favoured choice of the Japanese public.