Japanese professional baseball — Nippon Professional Baseball, or NPB — is one of the world's great sporting leagues, and one of the least understood outside Japan. Here's everything you need to know to start watching.
The structure
NPB is made up of 12 teams in two leagues: the Central League (CL) and the Pacific League (PL), six clubs each. The Central League is the older, more traditional circuit — home to the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers — while the Pacific League is often seen as the more experimental one. Each team plays 143 games between late March and late October.
How a season flows
The regular season decides each league's top three teams. Those teams enter the Climax Series, a playoff in which the second- and third-place clubs meet first, and the winner faces the pennant winner — who starts with a one-win advantage. The two league champions then meet in the Japan Series, a best-of-seven showdown that ends the season in late October or early November.
What makes it different
Three quirks surprise first-time viewers. First, regular-season games can end in a tie after 12 innings. Second, only the Pacific League uses the designated hitter — Central League pitchers still bat. Third, the atmosphere: organized fan clubs called ōendan sing, drum and chant through every at-bat, and stadium food is a destination in itself.
Baseball was invented in America, but Japan perfected the spectacle.
A century of history
Professional baseball in Japan dates to the 1930s, and the sport has been woven into the country's culture ever since — from the national high-school tournament at Koshien Stadium to the national team's pride at the World Baseball Classic. NPB as a two-league organization has run since 1950.
Where to start
New here? Read our team guide to pick a club, then check the Game-Day Guide for food, cheers and etiquette. When you're ready to follow games from abroad, see how to watch NPB outside Japan.