Overview
A labor strike in professional baseball occurs when the players' union collectively refuses to participate in games following a breakdown in negotiations with team ownership. NPB has experienced only one strike in its history - in 2004 - but its impact fundamentally reshaped the structure of Japanese professional baseball. The 2004 strike was triggered by the proposed merger of the Kintetsu Buffaloes and Orix BlueWave. The players' union opposed the reduction in the number of teams, while owners sought to streamline operations. Tensions escalated until official games across all 12 teams were cancelled on September 18 and 19, marking the first player strike in Japanese professional sports history. The strike's outcome was transformative: while the merger proceeded, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles were admitted as a new franchise, preserving the 12-team structure. The crisis also catalyzed significant reforms including the introduction of interleague play, draft system changes, and improvements in player compensation. The 2004 strike broadened the recognition that players are not merely employees but co-stakeholders in the enterprise of professional baseball, marking a turning point in labor relations.