NPB Farm League explained
Quick answers about the minor league of Japanese professional baseball.
What is the NPB Farm League?
It is the minor league (ni-gun) of Nippon Professional Baseball, where the second teams of the 12 NPB clubs play, together with two independent clubs.
How many teams are in the NPB Farm League?
14 in 2026: Hanshin Tigers, Yomiuri Giants, Yokohama DeNA BayStars, Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Chunichi Dragons, Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, Chiba Lotte Marines, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles, Saitama Seibu Lions, Orix Buffaloes, Oisix Niigata Albirex BC, Kufu HAYATE Ventures Shizuoka.
What happened to the Eastern League and Western League?
For decades the farm teams played in two regional leagues, the Eastern League and the Western League. The farm league is now organised in divisions under one NPB Farm League.
Who are Oisix and HAYATE?
Oisix Niigata Albirex BC and Kufu HAYATE Ventures Shizuoka joined the farm league in 2024. They have no NPB top team; their players use the farm league as a route to NPB.
Who won the last Farm Championship?
The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, who beat the Yomiuri Giants in the 2026 final.
Do MLB-style rehab assignments exist in Japan?
Yes, in practice. Injured NPB players usually return through farm games before being called back up to the top team.
Standings, schedule and stats update automatically several times a day. Data: Nippon Professional Baseball (npb.jp).
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