Overview
Independent leagues are professional baseball leagues that operate outside NPB's 12-team structure. Japan's independent league movement began in 2005 with the Shikoku Island League (now Shikoku Island League Plus), followed by the Route Inn BC League, Sawakami Kansai Independent League, and others. Independent leagues serve three primary purposes. First, they provide a platform for players who went undrafted or were released from NPB rosters to showcase their abilities and earn another shot at the top level. A meaningful number of players have made the jump from independent ball to NPB, with Masataka Kakunaka (Lotte Marines) standing out as a batting champion who emerged from this path. Second, they contribute to baseball culture and regional revitalization in areas without NPB franchises, giving local fans access to live professional games. Third, they function as development grounds for young players seeking professional careers without going through the university or corporate baseball routes. However, player salaries are drastically lower than in NPB, and club finances remain precarious. League mergers and dissolutions are not uncommon, and establishing a sustainable business model remains the central challenge.