The Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters overcame a first-inning four-run deficit to reach the Japan Series on Sunday, defeating the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks 7-4 at Sapporo Dome in Game 5 of the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage.

The Fighters will make their seventh appearance at the Japan Series — as are their series rival and Central League champion Hiroshima Carp — and will look to win the Nippon Professional Baseball championship for the first time since 2006 after losing the last three in 2007, 2009 and 2012.

"It was tough but the game today was typical of the Fighters, not one player giving up after going four runs down," said skipper Hideki Kuriyama. "I believe everyone who came here today was moved but I was moved more than anyone else."