NPB: Juggernauts Collide As Hanshin Tigers, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Square Off In Japan Series

The stage is set for the 2025 Japan Series, as the Central League champion Hanshin Tigers face off against the Pacific League pennant-winning Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in a clash of two juggernauts.  

The clubs finished the regular season with the two best records in Nippon Professional Baseball, with Hanshin at 85-54-4 and SoftBank at 87-52-4. The Tigers are aiming for their third championship in franchise history and second in three years, after ending the infamous “Curse of the Colonel” in 2023. Meanwhile, the Hawks seek redemption after falling short in last year’s finale against the Yokohama DeNA BayStars. 

The two teams last met in the 2014 Japan Series, where SoftBank defeated Hanshin 4-1, igniting a dynastic run that saw the Hawks claim six championships in seven years. However, SoftBank has been unable to capture another championship (what would be their 12th in franchise history) since their last title run in 2020. 

 Both teams received a first-round bye in the postseason. The Tigers comfortably swept the defending champion BayStars in the Climax Series Final Stage, while the Hawks narrowly survived an upset against the Fighters to advance to Japan’s Fall Classic. When they met during interleague play in June, SoftBank took two out of three games at Koshien. 

Home-field advantage alternates annually between leagues, and this year it’s the PL’s turn, meaning Games 1, 2, 6, and 7 will take place at Mizuho PayPay Dome FUKUOKA, while Games 3, 4, and 5 shift to the historic Koshien Stadium. The series begins on Saturday, October 25, at 6:30 pm local time (5:30 am EST). 

Hanshin Tigers (.612 PCT, +144 Run Differential, 108 OPS+, 130 ERA+, 12 DRS) 

Under rookie manager Kyuji Fujikawa, Hanshin captured the CL pennant faster than any team in NPB history, powered by one of the most dominant pitching staffs in recent memory. They led all of Japan with nine complete-game shutouts and posted a microscopic 2.21 team ERA, translating to a 130 ERA+. They also paced the CL with a 13.6 percent strikeout-minus-walk rate.  

Hanshin’s rotation remains the backbone of their success, anchored by a trio of frontline arms. Shoki Murakami (175 ⅓ IP, 137 ERA+), Hiroto Saiki (157 IP, 186 ERA+), and Haruto Takahashi (43 ⅓ IP, 127 ERA+) all started during the Climax Series Final Stage and will likely get the nod again to open the Japan Series. Jon Duplantier (90 ⅔ IP, 208 ERA+), who hasn’t pitched since early August with an injury, is also expected back for the series. Kotaro Ohtake or Takato Ihara could also get a start, depending on how long the series goes. 

Their bullpen is equally formidable, led by Masaki Oyokawa and Daichi Ishii, both of whom finished the season with sub-1.00 ERAs and sub-0.85 WHIPs, and veteran closer Suguru Iwazaki, who recorded 31 saves. 

On the offensive side, the Tigers thrived on consistency and stability with their top five hitters in the order missing only a combined total of nine games all year. The tablesetters Koji Chikamoto and Takumu Nakano wreaked havoc on the basepaths, swiping 51 bases between them to contribute to Hanshin’s CL-best total of 100. 

Youngster Shota Morishita put up a career-best 23 home runs and a 153 OPS+, while the presumptive MVP Teruaki Sato led all of NPB with 34 doubles, 40 homers, 102 RBI, and a 186 OPS+. Veteran Yusuke Ohyama also chipped in 25 two-baggers and 13 round-trippers. 

Seishiro Sakamoto had one of the best years of his career with a 115 OPS+ while providing elite defense behind the plate. Collectively, Hanshin ranked tied for second in NPB with an OPS+ of 108. 

SoftBank Hawks (.626 PCT, +162 Run Differential, 110 OPS+, 129 ERA+, 16 DRS) 

On paper, the Hawks’ pitching staff is not as overpowering from top to bottom, but they still had the second-best team ERA in NPB at 2.39 (129 ERA+). The rotation is headlined by PL ERA champion Livan Moinelo (167 IP, 210 ERA+), arguably the No. 1 starter in NPB. The Cuban earned MVP honors in the Climax Series Final Stage after tossing 14 innings of one-run ball across two starts. 

Supporting him are Kohei Arihara (175 IP, 101 ERA+), Tomohisa Ohzeki (146 ⅔ IP, 185 ERA+), Naoyuki Uwasawa (144 ⅔ IP, 112 ERA+), and Ryosuke Ohtsu (65 ⅔ IP, 160 ERA+). All of them are very capable of working deep into games, albeit with less swing-and-miss stuff compared to Moinelo or some of Hanshin’s top arms. 

One of SoftBank’s greatest strengths lies at the back end of its bullpen, where manager Hiroki Kokubo has a true three-headed dragon at his disposal. Kouya Fujii, setup man Yuki Matsumoto, and closer Kazuki Sugiyama each posted sub-2.00 ERAs and combined for 33 saves and 68 holds. Fujii led all NPB relievers with a 38.5% strikeout rate, while Sugiyama had the best called strike plus whiff rate at 33.3%. 

Their lineup, which led all of NPB with a 110 OPS+ during the regular season, could become even more dangerous in the Japan Series. The team will finally be close to full strength, with youngster Tomoya Masaki recently returning from injury and reigning MVP Kensuke Kondoh also expected to rejoin the team in time for Game 1. 

Taisei Makihara captured the PL batting title with a .304 average, while Ukyo Shuto claimed the stolen base crown with 35 swipes. Hotaka Yamakawa was second in the PL with 23 bombs. Tatsuru Yanagimachi enjoyed a breakout campaign, hitting .292 with a 131 OPS+, and Ryoya Kurihara produced equally well after returning from injury with a 130 OPS+. 

Future Hall of Famer Yuki Yanagita was limited to just 20 regular season contests, yet still delivered another trademark go-ahead homer in the postseason. Isami Nomura added a healthy mix of 12 home runs and 18 stolen bases. 

The Hawks also showcased great fundamentals, swiping 98 bases while being caught only 24 times, and finishing tied for the NPB lead with 16 Defensive Runs Saved, just ahead of Hanshin’s 12 DRS. 

What to Expect – While Hanshin enters as the slight favorites thanks to their stacked rotation and impressive postseason form, there is little separating the sides in either statistics or overall talent. SoftBank boasted the best home record during the regular season, while Hanshin had the best road record, setting the stage for a balanced showdown. The 2025 Japan Series promises to be a true toss-up between two evenly matched powerhouses. 

Photo: The Hanshin Tigers celebrate won first Japan Series championship since 1985, lofting manager Akinobu Okada after defeating the Orix Buffaloes 7-1 in game seven. They’ll try to win their second in three years in the 2025 Japan Series. (The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images)