In American ballparks, mascots are entertainment. In Japan, they're family — every one of the 12 NPB teams has its own characters with detailed backstories, official birthdays, and fans of their own.
The Central League six
The Yomiuri Giants cheer on a family of Giabbits — six rabbits whose heads echo the team's interlocking "YG" logo. The Hanshin Tigers have To-Lucky (the main mascot since 1985), his girlfriend Lucky and her younger brother Keeta. The Chunichi Dragons are represented by Doala — a blue koala, because Nagoya's Higashiyama Zoo was home to Japan's first koala, arriving from Australia in 1984 — plus the dragons Shaolon and Paolon. Doala is famous for his backflips: whether he lands them or not, the crowd goes wild. The Yakult Swallows have the legendary Tsubakuro, a comedic swallow known for his flip-board antics and humorous social-media posts, plus Tsubami and Torkuya. The Hiroshima Carp's Slyly was designed by the same American firm behind the Phillie Phanatic and has been with the club since 1995 — a blue-green hit with every crowd he visits. And the Yokohama DeNA BayStars have DB Starman, a star-faced hamster with a big appetite and a mischievous streak.
The Pacific League six
The Orix Buffaloes are cheered by Buffalo Bull and Buffalo Bell. The SoftBank Hawks own the largest mascot family in NPB — the "Hawk Family," led by Harry Hawk, with Honey Hawk, Herculy, Honky and the rest. The Seibu Lions have Leo, based on Osamu Tezuka's Kimba the White Lion. The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters are represented by Frep the Fox — the main mascot since 2018 — plus Brisky the Bear, who once visited every municipality in Hokkaido (his jersey number 212 honors that count), and Polly Polaris. The Chiba Lotte Marines have the beloved seagull trio Mar-kun, Rine-chan and Zu-chan. And the Rakuten Eagles cheer with Clutch, Clutchyna and Switch.
More than costumes
NPB mascots do far more than dance between innings. They star in picture books, host community events, post to social-media accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers, and serve as diplomatic mascots — visiting opposing teams' parks and appearing together at the All-Star Series. Their merchandise is a real business, and a popular mascot can help fill the stands. For visitors, the mascots are often the most memorable part of a game day — and the best photo opportunity in the ballpark.
Slyly, Tsubakuro and the Giabbits: every ballpark has its own cast of characters.
How to experience them
Mascots appear before games and between innings at every NPB park. Bring a camera, watch for the backflip, and don't be shy — they love meeting visitors. Our game-day guide covers when to arrive and what to expect.