Japan Series
baseball
Japan Series, Japanese Nihon Shirīzu or Nippon Shirīzu, in baseball, a seven-game play-off between champions of the two professional Japanese baseball leagues, the Central League and the Pacific League. Baseball in Japan was established on a professional basis in 1934, and by 1936 seven professional teams had been organized. A system of two leagues composed of six teams each was instituted in 1950. Each 144-game season culminates in the Japan Series. The Yomiuri (Tokyo) Giants have been the dominant team in the Japan Series, with a total of 19 championships for the years 1950–2000. The next closest team, the Seibu Lions, won 11 championships over the same period.
The table provides a list of Japan Series results.
year
winning team
losing team
results
*CL—Central League. PL—Pacific League.
**One tied game.
***Two tied games.
1950
Mainichi Orions (PL)
Shochiku Robins (CL)
4–2
1951
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–1
1952
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–2
1953**
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–2
1954
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
Nishitetsu Lions (PL)
4–3
1955
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–3
1956
Nishitetsu Lions (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–2
1957**
Nishitetsu Lions (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–0
1958
Nishitetsu Lions (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–3
1959
Nankai Hawks (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–0
1960
Taiyo Whales (CL)
Daimai Orions (PL)
4–0
1961
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–2
1962**
Toei Flyers (PL)
Hanshin Tigers (CL)
4–2
1963
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nishitetsu Lions (PL)
4–3
1964
Nankai Hawks (PL)
Hanshin Tigers (CL)
4–3
1965
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–1
1966
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–2
1967
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Hankyu Braves (PL)
4–2
1968
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Hankyu Braves (PL)
4–2
1969
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Hankyu Braves (PL)
4–2
1970
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Lotte Orions (PL)
4–1
1971
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Hankyu Braves (PL)
4–1
1972
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Hankyu Braves (PL)
4–1
1973
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nankai Hawks (PL)
4–1
1974
Lotte Orions (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–2
1975***
Hankyu Braves (PL)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
4–0
1976
Hankyu Braves (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–3
1977
Hankyu Braves (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–1
1978
Yakult Swallows (CL)
Hankyu Braves (PL)
4–3
1979
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
Kintetsu Buffaloes (PL)
4–3
1980
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
Kintetsu Buffaloes (PL)
4–3
1981
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL)
4–2
1982
Seibu Lions (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–2
1983
Seibu Lions (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–3
1984
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
Hankyu Braves (PL)
4–3
1985
Hanshin Tigers (CL)
Seibu Lions (PL)
4–2
1986
Seibu Lions (PL)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
4–3
1987
Seibu Lions (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–2
1988
Seibu Lions (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–1
1989
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Kintetsu Buffaloes (PL)
4–3
1990
Seibu Lions (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–0
1991
Seibu Lions (PL)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
4–3
1992
Seibu Lions (PL)
Yakult Swallows (CL)
4–3
1993
Yakult Swallows (CL)
Seibu Lions (PL)
4–3
1994
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Seibu Lions (PL)
4–2
1995
Yakult Swallows (CL)
Orix BlueWave (PL)
4–1
1996
Orix BlueWave (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–1
1997
Yakult Swallows (CL)
Seibu Lions (PL)
4–1
1998
Yokohama BayStars (CL)
Seibu Lions (PL)
4–2
1999
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–1
2000
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (PL)
4–2
2001
Yakult Swallows (CL)
Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes (PL)
4–1
2002
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Seibu Lions (PL)
4–0
2003
Fukuoka Daiei Hawks (PL)
Hanshin Tigers (CL)
4–2
2004
Seibu Lions (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–3
2005
Chiba Lotte Marines (PL)
Hanshin Tigers (CL)
4–0
2006
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–1
2007
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL)
4–1
2008
Seibu Lions (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–3
2009
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL)
4–2
2010**
Chiba Lotte Marines (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–2
2011
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL)
Chunichi Dragons (CL)
4–3
2012
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL)
4–2
2013
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–3
2014
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL)
Hanshin Tigers (CL)
4–1
2015
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL)
Yakult Swallows (CL)
4–1
2016
Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (PL)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
4–2
2017
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL)
Yokohama BayStars (CL)
4–2
2018**
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL)
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (CL)
4–1
2019
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–0
2020
Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (PL)
Yomiuri Giants (CL)
4–0
2021
Yakult Swallows (CL)
Orix Buffaloes (PL)
4–2
2022**
Orix Buffaloes (PL)
Yakult Swallows (CL)
4–2
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