The current rule: innings, not the clock, end a game
NPB's published limit for official games is inning-based: extra innings run through the 12th, and a tie after the 12th stands as a draw. There is no provision for calling a game because of the time of day. Night games mostly start around 6 p.m., and a nine-inning game averaged 182 minutes in 2024 (roughly three hours), so most games end in the 9 p.m. hour. Only when extra innings or rain delays pile up do games stretch late into the night. The extra-inning rule itself is covered on "games end after the 12th".
Games that actually crossed midnight
| Game | Finish time | Details |
|---|---|---|
| September 11, 1992: Hanshin vs. Yakult (Koshien) | 12:26 a.m. | 15 innings (the cap at the time); at 6 hours 26 minutes, the longest game in NPB history by time |
| September 20, 2018: Hiroshima vs. Hanshin (Mazda Stadium) | 12:03 a.m. | Rain delayed the start by 1 hour 9 minutes with a further mid-game stoppage of over an hour; reported as the ninth-latest finish in NPB history |
Marathon games are covered in depth in "the longest extra-inning games".
Time limits that existed in the past
| Period | Rule |
|---|---|
| 2011-2012 | To save power after the Great East Japan Earthquake, no new extra inning could start more than 3 hours 30 minutes after the first pitch (stoppages included in the count). Abolished in 2013 |
| Earlier eras | Time limits were also imposed at times, against backdrops such as the oil-crisis energy savings |
For the full history of time limits and tie games, see "the evolution of NPB's tie-game rules".
Frequently asked questions
Does NPB have a "midnight rule" (curfew)?
As of 2026, top-league games have no rule that ends play because of the clock. Games are limited by the 12-inning cap, and some have in fact continued past midnight.
Around what time do NPB games end?
Night games mostly start around 6 p.m., and nine-inning games averaged about three hours (182 minutes in 2024), so a finish in the 9 p.m. hour is typical. Extra innings or delays can push the end past 10 p.m.
Have any NPB games crossed into the next day?
Yes. The Hanshin-Yakult game on September 11, 1992 went 15 innings and 6 hours 26 minutes, ending at 12:26 a.m. as the longest NPB game by time. The Hiroshima-Hanshin game on September 20, 2018 also ended at 12:03 a.m. after rain delays.
Did NPB ever have time limits?
Yes. In 2011-2012, a power-saving rule barred any new extra inning more than 3 hours 30 minutes after the first pitch; it was abolished in 2013. Time limits were also imposed in earlier eras.