Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award

Hideki Matsui won the 2000 Japan Series MVP with the Yomiuri Giants. He went on to win the 2009 World Series MVP with MLB's New York Yankees.

The Japan Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award (日本シリーズ最高殊勲選手, Nippon Shirīzu Saikō Shukun Senshu) is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the Japan Series, which is the final round of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) postseason. The award was first presented in 1950.

The series follows a best-of-seven playoff format and occurs after the two-stage Climax Series. It is played by the winners of the Central League Stage 2 series and the Pacific League Stage 2 series.^[1] The most recent champions are the Yomiuri Giants, who won the 2009 series.^[2]

Kaoru Betto won the inaugural award in 1950 with the Mainichi Orions. Depending upon definitions, the first non-Japanese to win the award was either Andy Miyamoto in 1961 or Joe Stanka in 1964.^[3] Fifteen Japan Series MVPs were inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame;^[4] Osamu Higashio (1982) is the only Hall of Famer to have won the Japan Series MVP between 1981 and 2000. Higashio is also the first and only pitcher to appear solely as a reliever to win the Japan Series MVP. Eight of the ten Japan Series MVPs who have won the award since 2000 are still active in professional baseball—Atsuya Furuta and Takashi Ishii are the Japan Series MVPs from that period who are inactive. Hideki Matsui and Norihiro Nakamura are they only two Japan Series MVPs to play in Major League Baseball (MLB). While Nakamura's MLB career lasted less than one season, Matsui's lasted seven seasons. He became the only player to be named both a Japan Series and a World Series MVP after winning the latter award in 2009.^[5] The reigning Japan Series MVP is Brandon Laird of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters.

Sixteen of the 60 Japan Series MVPs have also won the NPB MVP or the Eiji Sawamura Award in the same season. Shigeru Sugishita (1954), Tsuneo Horiuchi (1972) and Takehiro Ishii (1992) are the only players to have won all three awards in the same season. Two players won the Eiji Sawamura Award and the Japan Series MVP in the same season: Takehiko Bessho (1955) and Takashi Nishimoto (1981). Ten players have won the Japan Series MVP in the same season in which they won the NPB MVP: Betto (1950), Bessho (1952), Kazuhisa Inao (1958), Tadashi Sugiura (1959), Shigeo Nagashima (1963), Stanka (1964), Hisashi Yamada (1977), Randy Bass (1985), Tom O'Malley (1995), Furuta (1997) and Matsui (2000).^[6][7]

Five players have won the award multiple times. Nagashima has won the most Japan Series MVP awards with four wins (1963, 1965, 1969–1970). The remaining four players all won the award twice: Bessho (1952, 1955), Horiuchi (1972–1973), Kimiyasu Kudoh (1986–1987), Koji Akiyama (1991–1999) and Furuta (1997, 2001); Akiyama is the only player to have won the award with different teams. There has been one occasion on which multiple winners were awarded in the same Japan Series: Masayuki Dobashi and Masayuki Tanemo in 1962.

Pitchers have been named Series MVP 21 times, 13 of which appeared in both starting and relief roles in the Series.

Winners

Key

Year	Links to the article about that corresponding Japan Series
§	Member of the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
	Active player
^	Indicates multiple award winners in the same Japan Series
(#)	Indicates number of times winning Japan Series MVP at that point (if he won multiple times)

Year	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Note
1950	Betto, KaoruKaoru Betto§	Mainichi Orions	Outfielder	.500 batting average 12 hits 3 runs batted in	[8]
1951	Minamimura, YukoYuko Minamimura	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.563 batting average 9 hits 4 runs batted in	[9]
1952	Bessho, TakehikoTakehiko Bessho§	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	3–0 record in 3 appearances (2 complete game starts) 4 earned runs allowed in 22 innings pitched 10 strikeouts	[10]
1953	Kawakami, TetsuharuTetsuharu Kawakami§	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.556 batting average 15 hits 5 runs batted in	[11]
1954	Sugishita, ShigeruShigeru Sugishita§	Chunichi Dragons	Pitcher	3–1 record in 5 appearances (4 complete game starts) 6 earned runs allowed in 38  2⁄3 innings pitched 28 strikeouts	[12]
1955	Bessho, TakehikoTakehiko Bessho§ (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	3–1 record in 5 appearances (3 starts); 2 complete games 4 earned runs allowed in 30  2⁄3 innings pitched 9 strikeouts	[13]
1956	Toyoda, YasumitsuYasumitsu Toyoda§	Nishitetsu Lions	Shortstop	.458 batting average 11 hits 4 runs batted in	[14]
1957	Ohshita, HiroshiHiroshi Ohshita§	Nishitetsu Lions	Outfielder	.389 batting average 7 hits 3 runs batted in	[15]
1958	Inao, KazuhisaKazuhisa Inao§	Nishitetsu Lions	Pitcher	4–2 record in 6 appearances (5 starts); 4 complete games 8 earned runs allowed in 47 innings pitched 32 strikeouts	[16]
1959	Sugiura, TadashiTadashi Sugiura§	Nankai Hawks	Pitcher	4–0 record in 4 appearances (3 starts); 2 complete games 5 earned runs allowed in 32 innings pitched 20 strikeouts	[17]
1960	Kondo, AkihitoAkihito Kondo	Taiyō Whales	Second baseman	.200 batting average 3 hits 2 runs batted in	[18]
1961	Miyamoto, AndyAndy Miyamoto	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.409 batting average 9 hits 7 runs batted in	[19]
1962^	Dobashi, MasayukiMasayuki Dobashi	Toei Flyers	Pitcher	2–1 record in 6 appearances (2 starts) 4 earned runs allowed in 20  2⁄3 innings pitched 12 strikeouts	[20]
1962^	Tanemo, MasayukiMasayuki Tanemo	Toei Flyers	Catcher	.357 batting average 5 hits 5 runs batted in	[20]
1963	Nagashima, ShigeoShigeo Nagashima§	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.360 batting average 3 home runs 7 runs batted in	[21]
1964	Stanka, JoeJoe Stanka	Nankai Hawks	Starting pitcher	3–1 record in 4 games started; 3 complete games 4 earned runs allowed in 29  1⁄3 innings pitched 21 strikeouts	[22]
1965	Nagashima, ShigeoShigeo Nagashima§ (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.381 batting average 8 hits 6 runs batted in	[23]
1966	Shibata, IsaoIsao Shibata	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.565 batting average 13 hits 7 runs batted in	[24]
1967	Mori, MasaakiMasaaki Mori§	Yomiuri Giants	Catcher	.273 batting average 6 hits 4 runs batted in	[25]
1968	Takada, ShigeruShigeru Takada	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.385 batting average 10 hits 8 runs	[26]
1969	Nagashima, ShigeoShigeo Nagashima§ (3)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.409 batting average 4 home runs 6 runs batted in	[27]
1970	Nagashima, ShigeoShigeo Nagashima§ (4)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.421 batting average 4 home runs 6 runs batted in	[28]
1971	Suetsugu, ToshimitsuToshimitsu Suetsugu	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.368 batting average 7 hits 7 runs	[29]
1972	Horiuchi, TsuneoTsuneo Horiuchi§	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	2–1 record in 4 appearances (2 starts); 1 complete game 7 earned runs allowed in 16  2⁄3 innings pitched 11 strikeouts	[30]
1973	Horiuchi, TsuneoTsuneo Horiuchi§ (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	2–0 record in 3 appearances (1 complete game start) 2 earned runs allowed in 16  1⁄3 innings pitched 10 strikeouts	[31]
1974	Hirota, SumioSumio Hirota	Lotte Orions	Outfielder	.400 batting average 10 hits 7 runs batted in	[32]
1975	Yamaguchi, TakashiTakashi Yamaguchi	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	1–0 record and 2 saves in 6 appearances (1 complete game start) 6 earned runs allowed in 24  2⁄3 innings pitched 21 strikeouts	[33]
1976	Fukumoto, YutakaYutaka Fukumoto§	Hankyu Braves	Outfielder	.407 batting average 11 hits 6 runs batted in	[34]
1977	Yamada, HisashiHisashi Yamada§	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2–0 record and 1 save in 3 appearances (1 complete game start) 3 earned runs allowed in 15 innings pitched 10 strikeouts	[35]
1978	Osugi, KatsuoKatsuo Osugi§	Yakult Swallows	First baseman	.310 batting average 4 Home runs 10 runs batted in	[36]
1979	Takahashi, YoshihikoYoshihiko Takahashi	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Shortstop	.444 batting average 12 hits 2 runs batted in	[37]
1980	Lyttle, JimJim Lyttle	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.400 batting average 3 Home runs 6 runs batted in	[38]
1981	Nishimoto, TakashiTakashi Nishimoto	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 complete game starts 1 earned run allowed in 18 innings pitched 14 strikeouts	[39]
1982	Higashio, OsamuOsamu Higashio§	Seibu Lions	Relief pitcher	2–1 record and 1 save in 4 appearances 0 earned runs allowed in 13  2⁄3 innings pitched 6 strikeouts	[40]
1983	Ota, TakujiTakuji Ota	Seibu Lions	Outfielder	.429 batting average 12 hits 3 runs batted in	[41]
1984	Nagashima, KiyoyukiKiyoyuki Nagashima	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.333 batting average 3 Home runs 10 runs batted in	[42]
1985	Bass, RandyRandy Bass	Hanshin Tigers	First baseman	.368 batting average 3 Home runs 9 runs batted in	[43]
1986	Kudoh, KimiyasuKimiyasu Kudoh§	Seibu Lions	Pitcher	1–1 record and 2 saves in 4 appearances (1 start) 2 earned runs allowed in 15 innings pitched 17 strikeouts	[44]
1987	Kudoh, KimiyasuKimiyasu Kudoh§ (2)	Seibu Lions	Pitcher	2–0 record and 1 save in 3 appearances (2 complete game starts) 1 earned runs allowed in 18  2⁄3 innings pitched 13 strikeouts	[45]
1988	Ishige, HiromichiHiromichi Ishige	Seibu Lions	Shortstop	.389 batting average 3 Home runs 6 runs batted in	[46]
1989	Komada, NorihiroNorihiro Komada	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.522 batting average 12 hits 5 runs batted in	[47]
1990	Destrade, OrestesOrestes Destrade	Seibu Lions	First baseman	.375 batting average 6 hits 8 runs batted in	[48]
1991	Akiyama, KojiKoji Akiyama§	Seibu Lions	Outfielder	.276 batting average 4 Home runs 8 runs batted in	[49]
1992	Ishii, TakehiroTakehiro Ishii	Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 complete game starts 1 earned runs allowed in 19 innings pitched 18 strikeouts	[50]
1993	Kawasaki, KenjiroKenjiro Kawasaki	Yakult Swallows	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started 2 earned runs allowed in 15 innings pitched 12 strikeouts	[51]
1994	Makihara, HiromiHiromi Makihara	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 complete game starts 1 earned runs allowed in 18 innings pitched 16 strikeouts	[52]
1995	O'Malley, TomTom O'Malley	Yakult Swallows	First baseman	.529 batting average 9 hits 4 runs batted in	[53]
1996	Neel, TroyTroy Neel	Orix BlueWave	Infielder	.176 batting average 3 hits 6 runs batted in	[54]
1997	Furuta, AtsuyaAtsuya Furuta§	Yakult Swallows	Catcher	.316 batting average 6 hits 3 runs batted in	[55]
1998	Suzuki, TakanoriTakanori Suzuki	Yokohama BayStars	Outfielder	.480 batting average 12 hits 8 runs batted in	[56]
1999	Akiyama, KojiKoji Akiyama§ (2)	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	Outfielder	.300 batting average 6 hits 2 Home runs	[57]
2000	Matsui, HidekiHideki Matsui	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.381 batting average 3 Home runs 8 runs batted in	[58]
2001	Furuta, AtsuyaAtsuya Furuta§ (2)	Yakult Swallows	Catcher	.500 batting average 7 hits 3 runs batted in	[59]
2002	Nioka, TomohiroTomohiro Nioka	Yomiuri Giants	Shortstop	.474 batting average 9 hits 5 runs batted in	[60]
2003	Sugiuchi, ToshiyaToshiya Sugiuchi	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started 1 earned runs allowed in 15 innings pitched 9 strikeouts	[61]
2004	Ishii, TakashiTakashi Ishii	Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	2–0 record in 2 games started 0 earned runs allowed in 13 innings pitched 8 strikeouts	[62]
2005	Imae, ToshiakiToshiaki Imae	Chiba Lotte Marines	Third baseman	.667 batting average 10 hits 4 runs batted in	[63]
2006	Inaba, AtsunoriAtsunori Inaba	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Outfielder	.353 batting average 6 hits 7 runs batted in	[64]
2007	Nakamura, NorihiroNorihiro Nakamura	Chunichi Dragons	Third baseman	.444 batting average 8 hits 4 runs batted in	[65]
2008	Kishi, TakayukiTakayuki Kishi	Saitama Seibu Lions	Pitcher	2–0 record in 2 appearances (1 complete game start) 0 earned runs allowed in 14  2⁄3 innings pitched 16 strikeouts	[66]
2009	Abe, ShinnosukeShinnosuke Abe	Yomiuri Giants	Catcher	.304 batting average 7 hits 5 runs batted in	[67]
2010	Imae, ToshiakiToshiaki Imae	Chiba Lotte Marines	Third baseman
2011	Kokubo, HirokiHiroki Kokubo	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	First baseman
2012	Utsumi, TetsuyaTetsuya Utsumi	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher
2013	Mima, ManabuManabu Mima	Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles	Starting pitcher
2014	Uchikawa, SeiichiSeiichi Uchikawa	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Outfielder
2015	Lee, Dae-hoDae-ho Lee	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	First baseman		[68]
2016	Laird, BrandonBrandon Laird	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Third baseman		[69]

References