Kiai wo ireteiko - 'Show your fighting spirit.' The Central and Pacific league champions play each year in the 'Nihon Shirizu' - 'Japan Series.'
The Pacific League is led by the 1997 Japanese champions, the Orix Blue Wave of Kobe.Įvery team has a single farm team in the 12-team minor leagues, divided into the Eastern League and Western League. The Central League includes perennial powerhouse Yomiuri Giants of Tokyo. Japanese professional baseball currently fields 12 teams in two six-team leagues.
Here's some of what you should know in order to understand the spirit, style and 'wa' of baseball in Japan.
