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Climax Series System, Rules, and Tips for Watching Games

Sep 26,2025 Update
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The Climax Series (CS) is a system that enhances the excitement of Nippon Professional Baseball's postseason. The top three teams from the regular season participate, battling for advancement to the Japan Series amid the unique tension of short-term decisive games.

This article explains the structure and rules of the Climax Series, methods for obtaining tickets, and key points to enhance your viewing experience. If you want to watch thrilling baseball, be sure to pay attention to the Climax Series.

Table of Contents

1. What is the Climax Series

2. Background of the Climax Series Introduction

3. Structure and Rules of the Climax Series

3-1. First Stage
3-2. Final Stage

4. Other Game Rules of the Climax Series

4-1. Handling of Ties and Called Games
4-2. Announced Starting Pitchers
4-3. Response to Rainy Weather

5. Ticket Acquisition Methods and Viewing Tips for the 2025 Climax Series

Summary

1. What is the Climax Series

The Climax Series (CS) is a postseason playoff in Nippon Professional Baseball, where the top three teams from each regular season in both the Central League and Pacific League participate. Officially introduced in both leagues in 2007, it has since become an important battle for tickets to the Japan Series.

The Japan Series is the decisive battle where representatives from both leagues compete for the championship of Japan, played in a best-of-seven format. The stage where teams that have survived the long season clash attracts high attention as the venue that determines the pinnacle of domestic baseball. The Climax Series creates many dramas each year as the pathway leading to this Japan Series.

2. Background of the Climax Series Introduction

The Climax Series was introduced as a system to maintain excitement toward the end of the season. The background was greatly influenced by the efforts of the Pacific League, which once faced challenges with attendance figures. From 1973 to 1982, they introduced a split-season system, conducting playoffs when the first-half and second-half champions were different teams.

Subsequently, in 2004, a playoff system began where teams ranked 1st to 3rd in the regular season competed for advancement to the Japan Series, which became the prototype of the current Climax Series. In 2006, a rule giving the first-place team a one-win advantage was added to enhance fairness, and from 2007, the system was expanded to the Central League. At that time, the name was unified and came to be called the "Climax Series."

As a result of this system becoming established, even when the championship was decided early, intense competition for second and third place continued, creating highlights until the final game of the season.

3. Structure and Rules of the Climax Series

The Climax Series games are divided into two stages: the "First Stage" and the "Final Stage," with advantages given to the first-place team from the season. Here, we explain the structure of each stage.

3-1. First Stage

The First Stage is the stage where the teams that finished 2nd and 3rd in each league's season face off.The maximum number of games is three, with the first team to win two games advancing. All games are held at the home stadium of the 2nd-place team, so the 2nd-place team is said to have an advantage due to home field advantage and greater fan support. Additionally, in cases with many ties such as 1 win, 1 loss, 1 tie, or 0 wins, 0 losses, 3 ties, the higher-ranked 2nd-place team automatically advances to the Final Stage.

This system allows teams that have been in the upper ranks throughout the season to maintain an advantage, while still leaving the possibility for 3rd-place teams to advance on momentum. The unique tension of short-term decisive games is also the appeal of the First Stage. In fact, there have been past examples of teams advancing from 3rd place and challenging the 1st-place team in the Final Stage, with unexpected developments becoming topics of discussion.

3-2. Final Stage

The Final Stage is the important stage where the First Stage winner faces the season's 1st-place team. The maximum number of games is six, with the first team to win four games earning the right to advance to the Japan Series. The major characteristic here is the "one-win advantage" given to the season's 1st-place team. In other words, while the 1st-place team only needs to win three games to advance, the challenging team needs four wins.

All games are held at the 1st-place team's home stadium, so the 1st-place team has advantageous conditions in terms of travel burden and fan support differences. Additionally, even if the win totals are tied after six games, the season's 1st-place team advances to the Japan Series.

Through this system, while the value of teams that maintained stable performance throughout the regular season is protected, the possibility of "upsets" by lower-ranked teams is also preserved, making it impossible to take your eyes off the outcome of the games.

4. Other Game Rules of the Climax Series

The Climax Series has unique rules that differ from the regular season. Representative examples include the handling of extra innings and called games, the timing of starting pitcher announcements, and game implementation policies during rainy weather.

Knowing these before watching makes it easier to understand the flow of games and enhances your viewing experience.

4-1. Handling of Ties and Called Games

Extra innings in the Climax Series are played until the 12th inning, the same as in the regular season. If the score is tied after 12 innings, it's treated as a tie, but when advancement conditions are already determined, it may become a "tie called game," ending the game without playing the bottom half of the inning. These special cases serve the dual purpose of reducing meaningless games and streamlining the schedule.

4-2. Announced Starting Pitchers

The Climax Series adopts the announced starting pitcher system, but the timing of announcements differs by league. The Central League announces the next day's starting pitcher before games, the same as in the regular season. Meanwhile, the Pacific League announces the next day's starter after games end, creating differences in preparation and tactics.

Announced starting pitchers have the advantage of making it easier for spectators to plan their viewing, and also have marketing effects for teams. Additionally, since they influence pitcher usage strategies and bullpen management, knowing the differences between both leagues makes watching even more interesting for fans.

4-3. Response to Rainy Weather

Since the Japan Series follows immediately after the Climax Series, there is almost no schedule flexibility. Only one makeup day is set for the First Stage and two for the Final Stage, so games may be forced to continue even in rain. Especially when extended rain is expected, games are often held in surprisingly harsh weather conditions that surprise spectators.

Even so, in cases where games cannot be completed including makeup days, the team with more wins becomes the winner, and if tied, the higher-ranked team from the season advances.

5. Ticket Acquisition Methods and Viewing Tips for the 2025 Climax Series

Climax Series viewing tickets can be purchased on the foreign visitor sales site "Tickets in Japan".
The process is ①Check game schedule ②Select stage and seat type ③Credit payment ④Receive QR ticket.

For those purchasing tickets for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks' 2025 Climax Series, please exchange your issued QR code for paper tickets at counter 5 of Mizuho PayPay Dome on the day of the game before entering. Detailed instructions can be found on your My Page after purchase.

Live viewing allows you to experience the team songs and stadium atmosphere, enjoying the sense of presence that cannot be felt through TV or streaming. By watching baseball on-site, you can enjoy the Climax Series as a more fulfilling experience.

Summary

The Climax Series is characterized by respecting the results accumulated during the regular season while also giving lower-ranked teams opportunities to challenge. It consists of two stages, the First Stage and Final Stage, with conditions such as advantages and home field hosting given to the 1st-place team.

Stadium viewing allows you to experience the excitement and atmosphere of the cheering sections, enjoying the intensity that cannot be felt through TV or streaming. The Climax Series is a special stage that captivates professional baseball fans every year.

※This article was created based on information as of September 2025

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