Definition and Records
A no-hitter requires a starting pitcher to complete a game allowing no hits and no runs, though walks and errors are permitted. NPB has recorded over 90 no-hitters since 1936. Eiji Sawamura and Yoshiro Sotokoba share the record with three each, with Sotokoba's third being a perfect game. Perfect games, requiring all 27 batters retired without any baserunner, have been achieved 16 times in NPB.
Historic No-Hitters
Hideo Fujimoto threw NPB's first perfect game in 1950. Hiromi Makihara's 1994 perfect game was broadcast nationally. Roki Sasaki's 2022 perfect game at age 20, with 19 strikeouts and a record 13 consecutive, cemented his 'Reiwa Monster' status. Numerous 'phantom no-hitters' lost with two outs in the ninth underscore the achievement's difficulty.
Conditions for Achievement
No-hitters require peak pitcher condition, excellent defensive support, and favorable umpiring. Statistically, they occur roughly once per 3,000 games. With NPB playing approximately 860 games per season, the expected frequency is once every 3-4 years.
The Modern Era
Declining complete games make no-hitters increasingly rare, with Sasaki's 2022 perfect game the only 2020s achievement. Combined no-hitters by multiple pitchers aren't officially recognized but occur more frequently. As specialization advances, single-pitcher no-hitters will become even more extraordinary, amplifying their value when achieved.