# Japan Series Most Valuable Player Award

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.
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. Fifteen Japan Series MVPs were inducted into the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame; 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. The reigning Japan Series MVP is Yutaro Sugimoto of the Orix Buffaloes.
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).
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 |
| 1950 | Kaoru Betto$^§$ | Mainichi Orions | Outfielder | .500 batting average 12 hits 3 runs batted in |
| 1951 | Yuko Minamimura | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .563 batting average 9 hits 4 runs batted in |
| 1952 | Takehiko Bessho$^§$ | Yomiuri Giants | Pitcher | 3–0 record in 3 appearances (2 complete game starts) 4 earned runs allowed in 22 innings pitched 10 strikeouts |
| 1953 | Tetsuharu Kawakami$^§$ | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .556 batting average 15 hits 5 runs batted in |
| 1954 | Shigeru 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 |
| 1955 | Takehiko 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 |
| 1956 | Yasumitsu Toyoda$^§$ | Nishitetsu Lions | Shortstop | .458 batting average 11 hits 4 runs batted in |
| 1957 | Hiroshi Ohshita$^§$ | Nishitetsu Lions | Outfielder | .389 batting average 7 hits 3 runs batted in |
| 1958 | Kazuhisa 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 |
| 1959 | Tadashi 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 |
| 1960 | Akihito Kondo | Taiyō Whales | Second baseman | .200 batting average 3 hits 2 runs batted in |
| 1961 | Andy Miyamoto | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .409 batting average 9 hits 7 runs batted in |
| 1962$^^$ | Masayuki Dobashi | Toei Flyers | Pitcher | 2–1 record in 6 appearances (2 starts) 4 earned runs allowed in 20+2⁄3 innings pitched 12 strikeouts |
| 1962$^^$ | Masayuki Tanemo | Toei Flyers | Catcher | .357 batting average 5 hits 5 runs batted in |
| 1963 | Shigeo Nagashima$^§$ | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .360 batting average 3 home runs 7 runs batted in |
| 1964 | Joe 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 |
| 1965 | Shigeo Nagashima$^§$ (2) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .381 batting average 8 hits 6 runs batted in |
| 1966 | Isao Shibata | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .565 batting average 13 hits 7 runs batted in |
| 1967 | Masaaki Mori$^§$ | Yomiuri Giants | Catcher | .273 batting average 6 hits 4 runs batted in |
| 1968 | Shigeru Takada | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .385 batting average 10 hits 8 runs |
| 1969 | Shigeo Nagashima$^§$ (3) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .409 batting average 4 home runs 6 runs batted in |
| 1970 | Shigeo Nagashima$^§$ (4) | Yomiuri Giants | Third baseman | .421 batting average 4 home runs 6 runs batted in |
| 1971 | Toshimitsu Suetsugu | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .368 batting average 7 hits 7 runs |
| 1972 | Tsuneo 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 |
| 1973 | Tsuneo 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 |
| 1974 | Sumio Hirota | Lotte Orions | Outfielder | .400 batting average 10 hits 7 runs batted in |
| 1975 | Takashi 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 |
| 1976 | Yutaka Fukumoto$^§$ | Hankyu Braves | Outfielder | .407 batting average 11 hits 6 runs batted in |
| 1977 | Hisashi 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 |
| 1978 | Katsuo Osugi$^§$ | Yakult Swallows | First baseman | .310 batting average 4 Home runs 10 runs batted in |
| 1979 | Yoshihiko Takahashi | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Shortstop | .444 batting average 12 hits 2 runs batted in |
| 1980 | Jim Lyttle | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Outfielder | .400 batting average 3 Home runs 6 runs batted in |
| 1981 | Takashi Nishimoto | Yomiuri Giants | Starting pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 complete game starts 1 earned run allowed in 18 innings pitched 14 strikeouts |
| 1982 | Osamu 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 |
| 1983 | Takuji Ota | Seibu Lions | Outfielder | .429 batting average 12 hits 3 runs batted in |
| 1984 | Kiyoyuki Nagashima | Hiroshima Toyo Carp | Outfielder | .333 batting average 3 Home runs 10 runs batted in |
| 1985 | Randy Bass$^§$ | Hanshin Tigers | First baseman | .368 batting average 3 Home runs 9 runs batted in |
| 1986 | Kimiyasu 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 |
| 1987 | Kimiyasu 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 |
| 1988 | Hiromichi Ishige | Seibu Lions | Shortstop | .389 batting average 3 Home runs 6 runs batted in |
| 1989 | Norihiro Komada | Yomiuri Giants | First baseman | .522 batting average 12 hits 5 runs batted in |
| 1990 | Orestes Destrade | Seibu Lions | First baseman | .375 batting average 6 hits 8 runs batted in |
| 1991 | Koji Akiyama$^§$ | Seibu Lions | Outfielder | .276 batting average 4 Home runs 8 runs batted in |
| 1992 | Takehiro Ishii | Seibu Lions | Starting pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 complete game starts 1 earned runs allowed in 19 innings pitched 18 strikeouts |
| 1993 | Kenjiro Kawasaki | Yakult Swallows | Starting pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started 2 earned runs allowed in 15 innings pitched 12 strikeouts |
| 1994 | Hiromi Makihara | Yomiuri Giants | Starting pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 complete game starts 1 earned runs allowed in 18 innings pitched 16 strikeouts |
| 1995 | Tom O'Malley | Yakult Swallows | First baseman | .529 batting average 9 hits 4 runs batted in |
| 1996 | Troy Neel | Orix BlueWave | Infielder | .176 batting average 3 hits 6 runs batted in |
| 1997 | Atsuya Furuta$^§$ | Yakult Swallows | Catcher | .316 batting average 6 hits 3 runs batted in |
| 1998 | Takanori Suzuki | Yokohama BayStars | Outfielder | .480 batting average 12 hits 8 runs batted in |
| 1999 | Koji Akiyama$^§$ (2) | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | Outfielder | .300 batting average 6 hits 2 Home runs |
| 2000 | Hideki Matsui$^§$ | Yomiuri Giants | Outfielder | .381 batting average 3 Home runs 8 runs batted in |
| 2001 | Atsuya Furuta$^§$ (2) | Yakult Swallows | Catcher | .500 batting average 7 hits 3 runs batted in |
| 2002 | Tomohiro Nioka | Yomiuri Giants | Shortstop | .474 batting average 9 hits 5 runs batted in |
| 2003 | Toshiya Sugiuchi | Fukuoka Daiei Hawks | Starting pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started 1 earned runs allowed in 15 innings pitched 9 strikeouts |
| 2004 | Takashi Ishii | Seibu Lions | Starting pitcher | 2–0 record in 2 games started 0 earned runs allowed in 13 innings pitched 8 strikeouts |
| 2005 | Toshiaki Imae | Chiba Lotte Marines | Third baseman | .667 batting average 10 hits 4 runs batted in |
| 2006 | Atsunori Inaba | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Outfielder | .353 batting average 6 hits 7 runs batted in |
| 2007 | Norihiro Nakamura | Chunichi Dragons | Third baseman | .444 batting average 8 hits 4 runs batted in |
| 2008 | Takayuki 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 |
| 2009 | Shinnosuke Abe | Yomiuri Giants | Catcher | .304 batting average 7 hits 5 runs batted in |
| 2010 | Toshiaki Imae (2) | Chiba Lotte Marines | Third baseman | |
| 2011 | Hiroki Kokubo | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | First baseman | |
| 2012 | Tetsuya Utsumi | Yomiuri Giants | Starting pitcher | |
| 2013 | Manabu Mima$^†$ | Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | Starting pitcher | |
| 2014 | Seiichi Uchikawa | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Outfielder | |
| 2015 | Dae-ho Lee | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | First baseman | |
| 2016 | Brandon Laird$^†$ | Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters | Third baseman | |
| 2017 | Dennis Sarfate | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Pitcher | |
| 2018 | Takuya Kai$^†$ | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Catcher | |
| 2019 | Yurisbel Gracial | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Outfielder | .375 average, three home runs, six RBIs |
| 2020 | Ryoya Kurihara$^†$ | Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks | Catcher | |
| 2021 | Yuhei Nakamura$^†$ | Tokyo Yakult Swallows | Catcher | |
| 2022 | Yutaro Sugimoto$^†$ | Orix Buffaloes | Outfielder | |
| 2023 | Kōji Chikamoto$^†$ | Hanshin Tigers | Outfielder | |
| 2024 | Masayuki Kuwahara$^†$ | Yokohama DeNA BayStars | Outfielder | |