250 saves and the Meikyukai - the 2003 addition
For decades the Meikyukai pitching standard was 200 wins only; 250 career saves was added in 2003 to properly recognize relief specialists in the era of bullpen specialization.
The save - introduced in 1974; the record is Iwase's 407
The save was introduced to NPB in 1974; before that there was no statistic quantifying relief contributions. It is credited to a reliever who protects a lead to finish the game.
The NPB career saves record is Hitoki Iwase's 407 - a mark built on holding the closer's job for many years.
How to read this tracker
The reference table below lists active pitchers closing in on the 250-save milestone. Figures are as of the data date; check npb.jp for definitive records.
Reference data
The table below is reference data compiled by this site, not an official announcement.
Data as of Aug 16, 2026
Legend: Reached Within 5% More than 5% to go Milestone line
- 益田 直也 (Lotte) 250 / 250 Reached
- 平野 佳寿 (ORIX) 250 / 250 Reached
- 山﨑 康晃 (DeNA) 246 / 250 4 to go
- Ｒ．マルティネス (Yomiuri) 243 / 250 7 to go
Pitchers with 250 Career Saves
These are finalized official records, sourced from the npb.jp career milestone lists. Career totals cover NPB only and do not include combined NPB/MLB figures.
| Rank | Player | Team | Career total | Career span |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 岩瀬 仁紀 | Chunichi | 407 | 1999-2018 |
| 2 | 高津 臣吾 | Yakult | 286 | 1991-2007 |
| 3 | 佐々木 主浩 | Yokohama | 252 | 1990-2005 |
| 4 | 平野 佳寿 | ORIX | 250* | 2006-2026 |
| 4 | 益田 直也 | Lotte | 250* | 2012-2026 |
* Active (career totals as of Aug 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is 250 saves the standard for?
One of the Meikyukai pitching standards, added in 2003 alongside 200 career wins.
What is the NPB career saves record?
Hitoki Iwase's 407 saves.
When was the save introduced?
It was introduced to NPB in 1974; before that there was no statistic for relief contributions.