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An index of our articles on NPB history, records, and data analysis. Browse by category, or start with the latest and most popular pieces.
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Reading the Fine Print of SKY PerfecTV!'s 2026 Campaign: The 30th Anniversary Basic Plan Discount and the Pro Yakyu Set
SKY PerfecTV!'s 30th anniversary campaign, covering applications from August 1 to October 31, 2026, halves the Basic Plan viewing fee for up to three months. But it applies to the Basic Plan only; the Pro Yakyu Set is not included. A close reading of the terms and how they differ from the Pro Yakyu Set's own free-first-month offer.
How to Watch NPB Games on Your Phone and Keep Them on Your Recorder (2026)
How to watch NPB games on a smartphone and how to record broadcasts, based on official announcements as of August 2026. Covers the SKY PerfecTV! Pro Yakyu Set app (lineup alerts, player encyclopedia, casting), the latency difference between broadcast and streaming, and what recording actually covers.
Where to Watch NPB Farm Games: A Guide to Minor League Viewing in 2026
Where can you watch NPB farm (minor league) games? A guide to the 14-team Eastern and Western League system and how to watch farm games through SKY PerfecTV!'s Pro Yakyu Set, which officially covers streaming of all 14 farm clubs, based on official announcements as of August 2026.
How to Sign Up for SKY PerfecTV!: From Applying for the Pro Yakyu Set to Watching in About 30 Minutes (2026)
A step-by-step guide to signing up for SKY PerfecTV!'s Pro Yakyu Set, following the official instructions as of August 2026: checking channel CS161 first, finding your B-CAS card or ACAS number, the flow from application to viewing in about 30 minutes, and the Members ID and app you need to watch on a smartphone.
How Much Does SKY PerfecTV!'s Pro Yakyu Set Cost? Monthly Fee Breakdown and Season Estimates (2026)
A cost-focused guide to SKY PerfecTV!'s Pro Yakyu Set based on the official notices as of August 2026: what the 4,054 yen viewing fee and 429 yen basic fee each cover, how the free sign-up month works, season-long cost estimates by months watched, and how to read pricing information when the official site shows conflicting figures.
Where to Watch NPB Games: Broadcast and Streaming Services in 2026
Where can you watch NPB games? A guide to SKY PerfecTV!'s Pro Yakyu Set, DAZN, three Pacific League streaming services and J SPORTS, with coverage, prices and blind spots as officially published in August 2026.
Hideto Asamura's Hitting Evolution - The Lineage of a Power-Hitting Second Baseman from Seibu to Rakuten
Hideto Asamura emerged as a hitter-second baseman with Seibu and continued as a cleanup-caliber bat with Tohoku Rakuten after signing as a free agent. In NPB, second basemen are valued for bat control and base running, and players who combine that with power hitting are scarce. Through the path Asamura traveled from Seibu to Rakuten and a comparison of his records at both franchises, we analyze the rare value of a power-hitting second baseman.
Analyzing First Basemen's Offensive Metrics - Reassessing the 'Bat-First' Conventional Wisdom with Data
The classic wisdom that 'first basemen only need to hit' persists in NPB even after sabermetrics became mainstream. Yet when wRC+ is overlaid with defensive metrics, the true value of a first baseman cannot be captured by OPS alone. We reassess the optimal balance between offense and defense using data from all 12 NPB teams.
The Trajectory of the Hankyu Braves - The Memory of a Vanished Powerhouse's Golden Era in NPB
The Hankyu Braves were founded in 1936 and supported NPB's Pacific League for 52 years until they were sold to Orix in 1988. With stars such as Hisashi Yamada, Yutaka Fukumoto, and Hideji Kato, plus manager Toshiharu Ueda, they built a golden era that included three consecutive Japan Series titles in the 1970s. We trace the trajectory of the Hankyu Braves and consider the legacy this vanished franchise left to NPB.
The Lifetime of Korakuen Stadium - 50 Years Sustaining NPB from 1937 to 1987
Korakuen Stadium opened in Tokyo's Suidobashi district in 1937 and served as the heart of NPB for 50 years until its closure in 1987. As the home of the Yomiuri franchise across the prewar, wartime, and postwar eras, it witnessed the legendary feats of Shigeo Nagashima and Sadaharu Oh before passing the torch to Tokyo Dome. We trace Korakuen Stadium's lifetime alongside half a century of NPB history.
Popular Articles
The Evolution of NPB Pitching - An Analysis of Velocity, Breaking Balls, and Specialization
NPB pitching evolved from 1950s complete-game aces to modern specialization. This traces how velocity increases, pitch diversity, and data analytics accelerated the transformation.
Shinjiro Hiyama the Pinch-Hit God - The Clutch Performer Who Electrified Koshien
Tracing the story of shinjiro hiyama the pinch-hit god - the clutch performer who electrified koshien, from from regular to pinch-hit specialist to hiyama's ..
Opening Day Traditions - Evolution of NPB Opening Ceremonies
From the 1959 Emperor's Game and General Douglas MacArthur's 1951 ceremonial first pitch to fireworks, drone shows, and projection mapping. Traces how the ceremonies and ceremonial first pitch productions of NPB's Opening Day have changed with the times.
NPB Future Outlook - Japanese Baseball's Challenges and Possibilities Toward 2030
NPB faces record attendance alongside population decline and MLB talent drain. Examining expansion to 16 teams, universal DH, pitch clocks, and international market development toward 2030.
Parent Companies and Team Management - Corporate Logic Driving NPB
Analyzing how NPB parent companies influence team operations and how corporate strategy connects to team performance.
Swallows Small Market Strategy - Competing with Limited Resources
How the Tokyo Yakult Swallows have maintained competitiveness despite limited financial resources compared to rivals like the Yomiuri, examining their draft strategy, player development, and data-driven approach.
Hanshin Farm in Amagasaki - The Minor League Nurturing Tiger Futures
Introducing Hanshin Tigers farm system in Amagasaki and players who developed from minor to major league success.
The Tactics of Rain Delays - How Managers Turn Weather to Their Advantage
Analyzing the tactical dimensions of rain delays in NPB, from pitching change decisions and body temperature management to historic games transformed by weather interruptions.