Japan Series should not be confused with MLB Japan All-Star Series.
| Abovestyle: | background: #efefef; |
| Above: | Japan Series |
| Label1: | First played |
| Data1: | 1950 |
| Label2: | Most recently played |
| Data2: | 2023 |
| Label3: | Current champions |
| Data3: | Hanshin Tigers (2nd title) |
| Label4: | Current runners-up |
| Data4: | Orix Buffaloes |
| Label5: | Most titles |
| Data5: | Yomiuri Giants (22) |
The Japan Series (officially the Japan Championship Series,),[1] also the Nippon Series,[2] [3] is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a best-of-seven series between the winning clubs of the league's two circuits, the Central League and the Pacific League, and is played in October or November. The first team to win four games is the overall winner and is declared each year. The Japan Series uses a 2–3–2 format.
The home team for games 1, 2 and eventually 6 and 7, alternates between the two leagues with the Pacific League having the advantage on the years ending with an odd number and the Central League on the years ending with an even number. Designated hitters are used if the team from the Pacific League hosts the game. There is a 40-man postseason roster limit, and the rule on drawn games is changed to 12 innings, since 2018. If the series is tied after the seventh game, a Game 8 will be held with the same team hosting Games 6 and 7 hosting this game. Only once a Game 8 has been played in Japan Series history, where the Seibu Lions defeated the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in 1986. In the event that Game 8 does not decide the series, the next game would be played at the stadium that hosted Games 3 through 5 after a day of rest, and games will continue until one team wins four games.
Every current team in the NPB has won the Japan Series at least once. The team with the most championships is the Yomiuri Giants, who have won the Japan Series twenty-two times. In 2004, the Pacific League instituted a three-team stepladder playoff format to determine the league champion, while the Central League champion had a long wait before the Japan Series. During this time, the Pacific League won four consecutive Series from 2003 to 2006. Starting with the 2007 postseason, both leagues adopted the Climax Series to determine their champions. The Climax Series involves the top three finishers in each league, though the format gives a significant advantage to the team with the best record in each league.
On November 6, 2010, the Chunichi Dragons and Chiba Lotte Marines played the longest game in Japan Series history. It lasted fifteen innings and resulted in a 2–2 draw, with the game lasting 5 hours and 43 minutes. Only Game 2 of the 2022 Japan Series on October 23, 2022 came close, with the Orix Buffaloes and Tokyo Yakult Swallows playing to a 3-3 draw after 12 innings, lasting 5 hours and 3 minutes.
Even though the Central League is historically more victorious, in recent years, the Pacific League has been catching up in titles. Currently, both the Pacific League and the Central League have 37 Japan Series victories. Between 2013 and 2020, Pacific League won the Japan Series 8 times in a row. Six of them were by the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, and one each by the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. The streak was broken in 2021, with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows beating the Orix Buffaloes.
| CL | Central League | |
|---|---|---|
| PL | Pacific League | |
| MVP | Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award | |
| FSA | Fighting Spirit Award (MVP on the losing team) |
Kazuhisa Inao, as an exception, won the Fighting Spirit Award (in 1956) while playing for the victorious Nishitetsu Lions.
With changes introduced as of 2021, the current rules stipulate there is a 12 inning limit. If tied after 12 innings, the first seven games originally scheduled are called. If extra games are necessary, the games are played until a victor is decided (unlimited innings), with no curfew limitations, and using the World Baseball Softball Confederation two-runner tiebreaker with runners on first and second base to start the 13th inning.
Historically:
The franchise currently known as the Saitama Seibu Lions had a Japan Series record of 3–2 as the Nishitetsu Lions.
The franchise currently known as the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks had a Japan Series record of 2–8 as the Nankai Hawks, and 2-1 as the Fukuoka Daiei Hawks.
The franchise currently known as the Orix Buffaloes had a Japan Series record of 3–7 as the Hankyu Braves, and 1–1 as the Orix BlueWave. It took its current name in 2005 after merging with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes.
The franchise currently known as the Chiba Lotte Marines had a Japan Series record of 1–0 as the Mainichi Orions, 0–1 as the Daimai Orions, and 1–1 as the Lotte Orions.
The franchise currently known as the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters had a Japan Series record of 1–0 as the Toei Flyers.
The franchise has a Japan Series record of 1-0 as Yokohama Baystars and a Japan Series record of 1–0 as the Taiyō Whales.
The Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes were merged with the Orix BlueWave in 2005 to form the Orix Buffaloes.
The Shochiku Robins were merged with the Taiyō Whales in 1953, eventually becoming the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
| Central League | 37–37 | Pacific League |
|---|
Two individual awards are given out at the conclusion of the Japan Series: the Most Valuable Player Award, given to the most impactful player on the winning team; and the Fighting Spirit Award, given to the most impactful player on the losing team.[4] [5] As stated above, the FSA was only given to a player on the winning team once; Kazuhisa Inao won it in 1956, despite being on the winning side, the Nishitetsu Lions.