Vol. 01 — The Japanese Baseball Guide
NPB.
Fall in love with
Japanese baseball
The English guide to Nippon Professional Baseball — 12 clubs, two leagues, the loudest fans on earth and the best stadium food in the game. No Japanese required.
NPB at a glance
Quick facts for first-time fans
The 2026 season runs from March 27 to November 1 and ends with the Japan Series — and yes, regular-season games can end in a tie. One of NPB's charming quirks.
Why NPB?
Three good reasons
The crowd
Ōendan cheer squads, drums, brass bands and 40,000 voices singing the same fight song. It's less a game, more a festival.
The food
Takoyaki, yakitori, stadium curry. Japanese ballparks are food festivals with a baseball game happening nearby.
The game
No clock, ties allowed, designated hitter only in the Pacific League. A distinctive, cerebral brand of baseball.
The team index
Pick your favorite
How to enjoy it
Start here
Watch from anywhere
Streaming, highlights and live scores — follow every inning from your sofa, anywhere on earth.
How to watchGo to a game
Visiting Japan? Tickets are affordable and the atmosphere is unmatched. Here's the playbook.
Game-day guideKnow the clubs
Twelve teams, two leagues, one eternal rivalry — Giants vs. Tigers is only the beginning.
The 12 clubsLatest articles
From the blog
Japan's 2026 WBC Exit: What Went WrongOct 9, 2026 · 5 min read
4–0 in Tokyo, then 8–5 to Venezuela in Miami — Japan's earliest World Baseball Classic exit ever.
InternationalThe 2026 Climax Series Format, ExplainedOct 9, 2026 · 5 min read
A two-game advantage and a possible seventh game — the new rule that applies in one league but not the other.
RulesThe 2026 NPB Postseason: Your Complete GuideOct 9, 2026 · 6 min read
Pennants are decided. The Climax Series opens Oct 10 and the Japan Series opens at Koshien on Oct 24 — every date and ticket window.
PracticalWant more? Read all 23 articles →