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September 19, 2025
 

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CENTRAL LEAGUE

Tigers manager Kyuji Fujikawa is tossed in the air as the team celebrates winning the Central League pennant at Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Sep 8, 2025
Roaring Tigers had no equal in CL on way to winning pennant in record time
The club took a step toward becoming the best team in Japan by clinching the Central League pennant in record time with a 2-0 victory over the Hiroshima Carp on Sunday.
The Carp's Sandro Fabian hits an RBI single against the Swallows during the first inning at Jingu Stadium in Tokyo on July 21.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Aug 5, 2025
Central League votes to adopt designated hitter rule from 2027
The change means NPB’s two leagues will operate under the same set of rules for the first time since the Pacific League adopted the designated hitter in 1975.
The Fighters' Franmil Reyes celebrates after hitting a walk-off home run against the Marines on Sunday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 3, 2025
What you need to know ahead of NPB interleague play resuming
Since 2005, one constant has been Pa League dominance.
Carp pitcher Hiroki Tokoda has seven hits this season, including a double.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
May 20, 2025
Can the Central League hold out against designated hitters?
There have been plenty of calls for the league to adopt the DH over the years. But some prefer the status quo.
Giants players celebrate their Central League title by tossing manager Shinnosuke Abe into the air after the team's 8-1 win over the Carp on Saturday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Sep 29, 2024
Giants clinch Central League pennant after tough season-long battle
The storied club earned its first league championship in four years in a year in which the Giants are celebrating their 90th anniversary.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Mar 28, 2024
Tigers remain the Central League's team to beat as rival Giants loom
While Hanshin may be favored to repeat, the rest of the league will be waiting to pounce should the Kansai club falter.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / The week in NPB
May 24, 2021
Pacific League clubs likely looking forward to return of interleague play
If Pacific League fans and teams look happier and more upbeat than usual, it's probably because it's that time of year again.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Dec 1, 2020
Pacific League far ahead of Central League in NPB arms race
Factors such as pitching have created a gulf on the field, while the PL has also innovated more with online broadcasting and brand marketing.
Japan Times
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Jun 15, 2020
Central, Pacific Leagues announce schedules for remainder of season
After announcing their first month of games earlier this month, both the Central and Pacific Leagues revealed the remainder of their schedules for the 2020 season on Monday.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / Sac Bunts
Nov 27, 2019
Seemingly content without MLB, MVP Hayato Sakamoto on track for big things in Japan
Hayato Sakamoto is the one who stayed.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 13, 2019
Giants eliminate Tigers to reach Japan Series for first time since 2013
Yoshihiro Maru stood at the plate with two outs, a runner on third and Yuki Nishi staring in from the mound. The game was tied in the sixth inning and the Yomiuri Giants and their fans were hoping for a hit. Some, perhaps, may even have dared to dream of a home run.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 9, 2019
Giants get off to quick start, downing Tigers in Climax Series Final Stage opener
The Yomiuri Giants hadn't played a game that really counted for anything since clinching the Central League pennant on Sept. 21. They hadn't played any official games at all since Sept. 28.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 7, 2019
Tigers slip past BayStars into final stage of Climax Series
Anyone who thought the Hanshin Tigers used all nine lives just to make it into the Central League Climax Series was mistaken.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 5, 2019
Fumiya Hojo-led Tigers stage spirited rally against BayStars in CL Climax Series opener
Big, improbable comebacks are becoming the Hanshin Tigers' speciality.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball / NPB Preview
Mar 28, 2019
Central League clubs enter 2019 hoping to dethrone Carp
The following is the last of a two-part NPB preview ending with the 2019 Central League.
BASEBALL / Japanese Baseball
Oct 13, 2018
Giants seize opportunities in Game 1 triumph over Swallows
Without hesitation, the Swallows sent their Giants killer to the mound for Saturday's postseason series opener, but it did not work out the way they had hoped.
Wealthy foreign nationals picking up ultimate souvenir — a condo in Tokyo
A high-end property in the fashionable Daikanyama district in Tokyo
Japan dispatches five language education 'partners' to India
Five members of the Japan Foundation's Nihongo Partners program (front) gather at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi on Monday.
End of U.S. de minimis exemption causes headaches for some businesses in Japan
Proxy-shopping services — companies that ship Japanese products ranging from cosmetics and snacks to limited-edition stationery on behalf of customers abroad — are already feeling the impact of the U.S. suspending de minimis exemptions.
Over 90% of low-income families in Japan struggling to feed children
Save the Children Japan domestic program chief Sonoko Kawakami speaks at a news conference in Tokyo in July. A survey conducted by the group in June has found that over 90% of low-income households with children face food insecurity.
Struggling train firm in Chiba Prefecture turns to self-deprecating humor
"Laughter is important when you're in a difficult situation," said Katsunori Takemoto, president of Choshi Electric Railway, on Aug. 5 in Choshi, Chiba Prefecture.
Japan’s front-line researchers see bright path ahead for dementia treatment
A scientist looks at scans of grains at the Memory Centre at the Department of Readaptation and Geriatrics of the University Hospital (HUG) in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 6, 2023.
Still plenty to fight for, says Japan’s team leader at worlds
Race walker Hayato Katsuki earned bronze for Japan on the opening day of the World Athletics Championships on Saturday.
Wealthy foreign nationals picking up ultimate souvenir — a condo in Tokyo
A high-end property in the fashionable Daikanyama district in Tokyo
Japanese athletes inspired by raucous home fans at World Athletics Championships
Fans cheer on the home favorites during the women's marathon at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday.
Japan's major art events converge this fall
Shinji Ohmaki’s “Tokinokage” exhibited at Fuji Textile Week 2021 shows the use of fabric as art.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

Sumadori Bar on Shibuya Ward's main Center Gai street targets young customers who prefer low-alcohol drinks or abstain altogether.
Rethinking that second drink: Japan’s Gen Z gets ‘sober curious’
By Alex K.T. Martin

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