All NPB Champions by Year: Japan Series Winners
Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) has been played since 1950. Over the decades, the championship has been won both by clubs with long and decorated histories and by teams that only rarely reached the top. The main trophy is decided in the Japan Series between representatives of the Central and Pacific Leagues. This article lists every NPB champion and runner-up by year and highlights the most successful clubs in the history of the competition.
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All NPB Champions and Runners-up by Year
The Japan Series is played until one team reaches four wins. Match formats and competition rules have changed at different points in the tournament's history, but the ultimate prize has always remained the title of Japan's strongest professional baseball club. Below are all NPB champions and runners-up since the first edition in 1950.
Year | Champion | Runner-up | Series score |
2025 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Hanshin Tigers | 4:1 |
2024 | Yokohama DeNA BayStars | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | 4:2 |
2023 | Hanshin Tigers | Orix Buffaloes | 4:3 |
2022 | Orix Buffaloes | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | 4:2 |
2021 | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Orix Buffaloes | 4:2 |
2020 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Yomiuri Giants | 4:0 |
2019 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Yomiuri Giants | 4:0 |
2018 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 4:1 |
2017 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Yokohama DeNA BayStars | 4:2 |
2016 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 4:2 |
2015 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | 4:1 |
2014 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Hanshin Tigers | 4:1 |
2013 | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | Yomiuri Giants | 4:3 |
2012 | Yomiuri Giants | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 4:2 |
2011 | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Chunichi Dragons | 4:3 |
2010 | Chiba Lotte Marines | Chunichi Dragons | 4:2 |
2009 | Yomiuri Giants | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 4:2 |
2008 | Saitama Seibu Lions | Yomiuri Giants | 4:3 |
2007 | Chunichi Dragons | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | 4:1 |
2006 | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Chunichi Dragons | 4:1 |
2005 | Chiba Lotte Marines | Hanshin Tigers | 4:0 |
2004 | Seibu Lions | Chunichi Dragons | 4:3 |
2003 | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | Hanshin Tigers | 4:3 |
2002 | Yomiuri Giants | Seibu Lions | 4:0 |
2001 | Yakult Swallows | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 4:1 |
2000 | Yomiuri Giants | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | 4:2 |
1999 | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | Chunichi Dragons | 4:1 |
1998 | Yokohama BayStars | Seibu Lions | 4:2 |
1997 | Yakult Swallows | Seibu Lions | 4:1 |
1996 | Orix BlueWave | Yomiuri Giants | 4:1 |
1995 | Yakult Swallows | Orix BlueWave | 4:1 |
1994 | Yomiuri Giants | Seibu Lions | 4:2 |
1993 | Yakult Swallows | Seibu Lions | 4:3 |
1992 | Seibu Lions | Yakult Swallows | 4:3 |
1991 | Seibu Lions | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 4:3 |
1990 | Seibu Lions | Yomiuri Giants | 4:0 |
1989 | Yomiuri Giants | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 4:3 |
1988 | Seibu Lions | Chunichi Dragons | 4:1 |
1987 | Seibu Lions | Yomiuri Giants | 4:2 |
1986 | Seibu Lions | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 4:3 |
1985 | Hanshin Tigers | Seibu Lions | 4:2 |
1984 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Hankyu Braves | 4:3 |
1983 | Seibu Lions | Yomiuri Giants | 4:3 |
1982 | Seibu Lions | Chunichi Dragons | 4:2 |
1981 | Yomiuri Giants | Nippon-Ham Fighters | 4:2 |
1980 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 4:3 |
1979 | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Kintetsu Buffaloes | 4:3 |
1978 | Yakult Swallows | Hankyu Braves | 4:3 |
1977 | Hankyu Braves | Yomiuri Giants | 4:1 |
1976 | Hankyu Braves | Yomiuri Giants | 4:3 |
1975 | Hankyu Braves | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | 4:0 |
1974 | Lotte Orions | Chunichi Dragons | 4:2 |
1973 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:1 |
1972 | Yomiuri Giants | Hankyu Braves | 4:1 |
1971 | Yomiuri Giants | Hankyu Braves | 4:1 |
1970 | Yomiuri Giants | Lotte Orions | 4:1 |
1969 | Yomiuri Giants | Hankyu Braves | 4:2 |
1968 | Yomiuri Giants | Hankyu Braves | 4:2 |
1967 | Yomiuri Giants | Hankyu Braves | 4:2 |
1966 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:2 |
1965 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:1 |
1964 | Nankai Hawks | Hanshin Tigers | 4:3 |
1963 | Yomiuri Giants | Nishitetsu Lions | 4:3 |
1962 | Toei Flyers | Hanshin Tigers | 4:2 |
1961 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:2 |
1960 | Taiyo Whales | Daimai Orions | 4:0 |
1959 | Nankai Hawks | Yomiuri Giants | 4:0 |
1958 | Nishitetsu Lions | Yomiuri Giants | 4:3 |
1957 | Nishitetsu Lions | Yomiuri Giants | 4:0 |
1956 | Nishitetsu Lions | Yomiuri Giants | 4:2 |
1955 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:3 |
1954 | Chunichi Dragons | Nishitetsu Lions | 4:3 |
1953 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:2 |
1952 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:2 |
1951 | Yomiuri Giants | Nankai Hawks | 4:1 |
1950 | Mainichi Orions | Shochiku Robins | 4:2 |
The Most Successful Team in NPB History
The record for the most Japan Series victories belongs to the Yomiuri Giants. The Tokyo club has won 22 championships, including nine in a row from 1965 through 1973. That streak remains unmatched in Japanese professional baseball.
Seibu Lions rank second with 13 championships, while Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are third with 12 titles. The Hawks' most recent success came in 2025, when they defeated Hanshin Tigers 4:1 and became champions of Japan for the first time since 2020.
Which Team Has Reached the NPB Finals Most Often?
Yomiuri Giants lead not only in championships but also in Japan Series appearances. The club has reached the final 36 times, winning 22 and losing 14.
Seibu Lions have appeared in the Japan Series 21 times and won 13 championships. Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are also among the most successful clubs: including seasons played under previous names, the franchise has appeared in 22 finals and won 12 of them.
FAQ
Which team has won the most NPB championships?
Yomiuri Giants hold the record for the most Japan Series championships with 22 titles, including nine consecutive championships from 1965 through 1973.
Which team has reached the NPB Finals most often?
Yomiuri Giants have appeared in the Japan Series 36 times. They won 22 of those finals and lost 14.
Who are the reigning NPB champions?
As of October 20, 2026, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks are the reigning champions. They defeated Hanshin Tigers 4:1 in the 2025 Japan Series and claimed their 12th title.
When will the 2026 NPB Japan Series take place?
The 2026 Japan Series begins on October 24. If all seven games are required, the series will run through November 1. A team must win four games to become champion.
