Hawks show what a modern baseball dynasty looks like

The Hawks celebrate after their win over the BayStars in Game 1 of the Japan Series in Yokohama on Saturday. | JIJI

Oct 26, 2026

Among the constants in life, the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks winning the Japan Series falls somewhere between death and taxes.

​The Hawks are Japanese baseball’s most dominant force — and no other team comes close.

Since 2011, SoftBank has won eight Japan Series titles in nine appearances. That run is reminiscent of past dynasties such as the Seibu Lions, who won eight titles in nine appearances between 1982 and 1992, or the legendary V9 Yomiuri Giants, who reeled off nine consecutive Japan Series triumphs from 1965 to 1973. The Giants also won titles just before that run in 1961 and 1963.

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