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.
The Game in Japan
Baseball is the sound of summer in Japan
From the high-school dreams of Koshien to the professional lights of the NPB — the game is woven into everyday life. This guide helps you feel it from the first pitch.
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 →