NPB Magic Number Dates: Past 20 Seasons

Data as of

As of the end of Oct 8, 2026, this season's magic number lighting: Central League, Hanshin on Aug 29 (Of the last 20 seasons, No. 13 earliest); Pacific League, SoftBank on Aug 5 (Of the last 20 seasons, No. 2 earliest).

Magic number lighting dates, last 20 seasons (2006-2025)

The first game day of each season on which every other club had lost the ability to clinch on its own (= the lighting date).

Historical lighting dates and this season's position (last 20 seasons) end of Oct 8, 2026 npbc.media Central League This season: T lit on Aug 29 Of the last 20 seasons, No. 13 earliest 2022 result: Tokyo Yakult Swallows lit on Jul 2 (M53) 1 2008 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Jul 22 (M46) / 2025 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Jul 30 (M39) 2 2006 result: Chunichi Dragons lit on Aug 12 (M40) / 2013 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 9 (M39) / 2017 result: Hiroshima Toyo Carp lit on Aug 8 (M33) / 2018 result: Hiroshima Toyo Carp lit on Aug 15 (M32) 4 2009 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 27 (M26) / 2012 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 23 (M30) / 2016 result: Hiroshima Toyo Carp lit on Aug 24 (M20) / 2019 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 24 (M20) / 2023 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Aug 16 (M29) 5 2010 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Sep 9 (M19) / 2014 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Sep 4 (M22) / 2020 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Sep 15 (M38) 3 2007 result: Chunichi Dragons lit on Sep 24 (M7) / 2015 result: Tokyo Yakult Swallows lit on Sep 27 (M3) / 2024 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Sep 18 (M9) 3 2011 result: Chunichi Dragons lit on Oct 12 (M4) / 2021 result: Tokyo Yakult Swallows lit on Oct 8 (M11) 2 2022 Tokyo Yakult Swallows Jul 2 2011 Chunichi Dragons Oct 12 Pacific League This season: H lit on Aug 5 Of the last 20 seasons, No. 2 earliest 2024 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Jul 30 (M42) 1 2015 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Aug 5 (M38) 1 2008 result: Saitama Seibu Lions lit on Aug 19 (M28) / 2009 result: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters lit on Aug 28 (M29) / 2013 result: Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles lit on Aug 28 (M28) / 2023 result: ORIX Buffaloes lit on Aug 26 (M24) 4 2006 result: Seibu Lions lit on Sep 5 (M14) / 2010 result: Saitama Seibu Lions lit on Sep 11 (M8) / 2016 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 2 (M20) / 2017 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 1 (M16) / 2019 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 12 (M12) / 2022 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 15 (M11) / 2025 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 5 (M18) 7 2007 result: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters lit on Sep 21 (M8) / 2011 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 17 (M17) / 2012 result: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters lit on Sep 28 (M4) / 2014 result: ORIX Buffaloes lit on Sep 25 (M7) / 2018 result: Saitama Seibu Lions lit on Sep 17 (M11) 5 2021 result: Chiba Lotte Marines lit on Oct 14 (M9) 1 2020 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Oct 21 (M8) 1 2024 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Jul 30 2020 Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks Oct 21 7/1 7/16 8/1 8/16 9/1 9/16 10/1 10/16

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Historical lighting dates and this season's position (last 20 seasons) end of Oct 8, 2026 npbc.media Central League This season: T lit on Aug 29 Of the last 20 seasons, No. 13 earliest 2008 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Jul 22 (M46) / 2022 result: Tokyo Yakult Swallows lit on Jul 2 (M53) / 2025 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Jul 30 (M39) 3 2006 result: Chunichi Dragons lit on Aug 12 (M40) / 2009 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 27 (M26) / 2012 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 23 (M30) / 2013 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 9 (M39) / 2016 result: Hiroshima Toyo Carp lit on Aug 24 (M20) / 2017 result: Hiroshima Toyo Carp lit on Aug 8 (M33) / 2018 result: Hiroshima Toyo Carp lit on Aug 15 (M32) / 2019 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Aug 24 (M20) / 2023 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Aug 16 (M29) 9 2007 result: Chunichi Dragons lit on Sep 24 (M7) / 2010 result: Hanshin Tigers lit on Sep 9 (M19) / 2014 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Sep 4 (M22) / 2015 result: Tokyo Yakult Swallows lit on Sep 27 (M3) / 2020 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Sep 15 (M38) / 2024 result: Yomiuri Giants lit on Sep 18 (M9) 6 2011 result: Chunichi Dragons lit on Oct 12 (M4) / 2021 result: Tokyo Yakult Swallows lit on Oct 8 (M11) 2 2022 2011 Pacific League This season: H lit on Aug 5 Of the last 20 seasons, No. 2 earliest 2024 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Jul 30 (M42) 1 2008 result: Saitama Seibu Lions lit on Aug 19 (M28) / 2009 result: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters lit on Aug 28 (M29) / 2013 result: Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles lit on Aug 28 (M28) / 2015 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Aug 5 (M38) / 2023 result: ORIX Buffaloes lit on Aug 26 (M24) 5 2006 result: Seibu Lions lit on Sep 5 (M14) / 2007 result: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters lit on Sep 21 (M8) / 2010 result: Saitama Seibu Lions lit on Sep 11 (M8) / 2011 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 17 (M17) / 2012 result: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters lit on Sep 28 (M4) / 2014 result: ORIX Buffaloes lit on Sep 25 (M7) / 2016 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 2 (M20) / 2017 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 1 (M16) / 2018 result: Saitama Seibu Lions lit on Sep 17 (M11) / 2019 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 12 (M12) / 2022 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 15 (M11) / 2025 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Sep 5 (M18) 12 2020 result: Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks lit on Oct 21 (M8) / 2021 result: Chiba Lotte Marines lit on Oct 14 (M9) 2 2024 2020 7/1 8/1 9/1 10/1
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Full list by year

Central League

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Year Team Lit on M at
lighting
2025 Hanshin TigersHanshin Jul 30 39
2024 Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri Sep 18 9
2023 Hanshin TigersHanshin Aug 16 29
2022 Tokyo Yakult SwallowsYakult Jul 2 53
2021 Tokyo Yakult SwallowsYakult Oct 8 11
2020 Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri Sep 15 38
2019 Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri Aug 24 20
2018 Hiroshima Toyo CarpHiroshima Aug 15 32
2017 Hiroshima Toyo CarpHiroshima Aug 8 33
2016 Hiroshima Toyo CarpHiroshima Aug 24 20
2015 Tokyo Yakult SwallowsYakult Sep 27 3
2014 Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri Sep 4 22
2013 Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri Aug 9 39
2012 Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri Aug 23 30
2011 Chunichi DragonsChunichi Oct 12 4
2010 Hanshin TigersHanshin ※ Sep 9 19
2009 Yomiuri GiantsYomiuri Aug 27 26
2008 Hanshin TigersHanshin ※ Jul 22 46
2007 Chunichi DragonsChunichi ※ Sep 24 7
2006 Chunichi DragonsChunichi Aug 12 40

Pacific League

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Year Team Lit on M at
lighting
2025 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank Sep 5 18
2024 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank Jul 30 42
2023 ORIX BuffaloesORIX Aug 26 24
2022 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank ※ Sep 15 11
2021 Chiba Lotte MarinesLotte ※ Oct 14 9
2020 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank Oct 21 8
2019 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank ※ Sep 12 12
2018 Saitama Seibu LionsSeibu Sep 17 11
2017 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank Sep 1 16
2016 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank ※ Sep 2 20
2015 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank Aug 5 38
2014 ORIX BuffaloesORIX ※ Sep 25 7
2013 Tohoku Rakuten Golden EaglesRakuten Aug 28 28
2012 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham FightersNippon-Ham Sep 28 4
2011 Fukuoka SoftBank HawksSoftBank Sep 17 17
2010 Saitama Seibu LionsSeibu ※ Sep 11 8
2009 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham FightersNippon-Ham Aug 28 29
2008 Saitama Seibu LionsSeibu Aug 19 28
2007 Hokkaido Nippon-Ham FightersNippon-Ham Sep 21 8
2006 Seibu LionsSeibu ※ Sep 5 14

Years marked ※ are those where the club that lit the magic number differs from the official champion (e.g. it went dark and another club came back).

See nextClub strength breakdownFirst-place club in its leagueHanshin PitchingA+ BattingA−SoftBank PitchingC− BattingA−Club strength breakdownHighest-rated pitchersFirst-place club in its leagueHanshin 髙橋 遥人A− 村上 頌樹A−SoftBank 津森 宥紀B+ ヘルナンデスB+Highest-rated pitchersHighest-rated battersFirst-place club in its leagueHanshin 佐藤 輝明S+ 森下 翔太SSoftBank 近藤 健介S 栗原 陵矢SHighest-rated battersSawamura Award oddsProgress on the Sawamura Award criteria

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The estimated figures are worked out by this site and are not official announcements.

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