Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award (最優秀選手, Saiyūshūsenshu) is an annual Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) award given to two outstanding players, one each for the Central League (CL) and Pacific League (PL).

Sadaharu Oh, nine-time winner—more wins than any other player

Each league's award is voted on by national baseball writers.^[1] Each voter selects three players: a first-place selection is given five points, a second-place selection three points, and a third-place selection one point. The award goes to the player who receives the most overall points.^[2] The winners are announced every year in November during Nippon Professional Baseball's awards ceremony called NBP Awards.

The first recipient of the award was Eiji Sawamura.^[3] The most recent winners, in 2023, are Shōki Murakami, from the Central League, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, from the Pacific League.^[4] In 1940, Victor Starffin became the first player to win the award consecutively and multiple times.^[3] Eiji Sawamura and Kazuhisa Inao are the youngest players to receive the awards in 1937 and 1957, respectively, at the ages of 20.^[5] In 1988, Hiromitsu Kadota became the oldest player to receive the award at the age of 40.^[6]

A majority of the MVP awards were given to players who played on the pennant winning team. There are a few cases where the MVP was awarded to a player who was not on the pennant winning team, however. These include 2 of Oh's MVP seasons in 1964 and 1974, Wladimir Balentien in 2013, Hisashi Iwakuma in 2008, and Hiromitsu Kadota in 1988. Only twice was the award given to a foreigner in both leagues; in 1989 with Ralph Bryant in the Pacific League and Warren Cromartie in the Central League, and in 2001 with Tuffy Rhodes in the Pacific League and Roberto Petagine in the Central League.

Key

Position players	RBIs	Runs batted in
	AVG	Batting average
Pitchers	Record	Record of decisions (tie games are omitted)
	Saves	Number of saves[B]
	ERA	Earned run average
(#)		Indicates number of times winning MVP Award (if multiple winner)
*		Elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of Fame[7]

Winners

Japanese Baseball League (1937–1949)

Eiji Sawamura won the first Japanese Baseball League MVP award before NPB was formed in 1950.

Victor Starffin was the first player to win multiple MVP awards.

Tetsuharu Kawakami was one of only two players to win the award before and after the formation of NPB.

Season	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Notes
1937 (Spring)	Eiji Sawamura*	Tokyo Kyojin	Pitcher	0.81 earned run average 196 strikeouts 24–4 record in 30 appearances (24 games started)	[8]
1937 (Fall)	Harris McGalliard	Korakuen Eagles	Catcher	.310 batting average 24 runs scored 17 doubles	[9]
1938 (Spring)	Hisanori Karita*	Tokyo Senators	Second baseman	.299 batting average 5 home runs 11 doubles	[10]
1938 (Fall)	Haruyasu Nakajima*	Tokyo Kyojin	Outfielder	.361 batting average 10 home runs 38 RBIs	[11]
1939	Victor Starffin*	Tokyo Kyojin	Pitcher	282 strikeouts 38 complete games 42–15 record in 68 appearances (41 games started)	[12]
1940	Victor Starffin* (2)	Tokyo Kyojin	Pitcher	0.97 earned run average 16 shutouts 38–12 record in 55 appearances (42 games started)	[12]
1941	Tetsuharu Kawakami*	Tokyo Kyojin	First baseman	.310 batting average 21 doubles 57 RBIs	[13]
1942	Shigeru Mizuhara*	Tokyo Kyojin	Second baseman	.225 batting average 10 doubles 16 RBIs	[14]
1943	Shosei Go*	Tokyo Kyojin	Outfielder	.300 batting average 68 runs scored 54 stolen bases	[15]
1944	Tadashi Wakabayashi*	Hanshin Baseball Club	Pitcher	1.56 earned run average 24 complete games 22–4 record in 31 appearances (24 games started)	[16]
1945	Season canceled[C]
1946	Kazuto Tsuruoka*	Great Ring	Infielder	.314 batting average 95 RBIs 32 stolen bases	[17]
1947	Tadashi Wakabayashi* (2)	Osaka Tigers	Pitcher	2.09 earned run average 10 shutouts 26–12 record in 43 appearances (35 games started)	[16]
1948	Kazuto Tsuruoka* (2)	Nankai Hawks	Third baseman	.305 batting average 68 RBIs 23 stolen bases	[17]
1949	Fumio Fujimura*	Osaka Tigers	Third baseman	.332 batting average 46 home runs 142 RBIs	[18]

Nippon Professional Baseball (1950–present)

Central League

Michihiro Ogasawara is one of only two players to win the award in the Central and Pacific Leagues.

Masumi Kuwata, 1994 CL winner

Kei Igawa, 2003 CL winner

Kosuke Fukudome, 2006 CL winner

Season	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Notes
1950	Makoto Kozuru*	Shochiku Robins	Outfielder	.355 batting average 51 home runs 161 RBIs	[19]
1951	Tetsuharu Kawakami* (2)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.377 batting average 27 doubles 81 RBIs	[13]
1952	Takehiko Bessho*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.94 earned run average 3711⁄3 innings pitched 33–13 record in 52 appearances (41 games started)	[20]
1953	Takumi Otomo	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.86 earned run average 22 complete games 27–6 record in 43 appearances (29 games started)	[21]
1954	Shigeru Sugishita*	Chunichi Dragons	Pitcher	1.39 earned run average 3951⁄3 innings pitched 32–12 record in 63 appearances (32 games started)	[22]
1955	Tetsuharu Kawakami* (3)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.338 batting average 12 home runs 79 RBIs	[13]
1956	Takehiko Bessho* (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.93 earned run average 26 complete games 27–15 record in 54 appearances (35 games started)	[20]
1957	Wally Yonamine*	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.343 batting average 12 home runs 48 RBIs	[23]
1958	Motoshi Fujita*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.53 earned run average 359 innings pitched 29–13 record in 58 appearances (36 games started)	[24]
1959	Motoshi Fujita* (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	1.83 earned run average 24 complete games 27–11 record in 55 appearances (35 games started)	[24]
1960	Noboru Akiyama*	Taiyo Whales	Pitcher	1.75 earned run average 2621⁄3 innings pitched 21–10 record in 59 appearances (26 games started)	[25]
1961	Shigeo Nagashima*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.353 batting average 28 home runs 32 doubles	[26]
1962	Minoru Murayama*	Osaka Tigers	Pitcher	1.20 earned run average 3661⁄3 innings pitched 25–14 record in 57 appearances (38 games started)	[27]
1963	Shigeo Nagashima* (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.341 batting average 37 home runs 112 RBIs	[26]
1964	Sadaharu Oh*	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.320 batting average 55 home runs 119 RBIs	[28]
1965	Sadaharu Oh* (2)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.322 batting average 42 home runs 104 RBIs	[28]
1966	Shigeo Nagashima* (3)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.344 batting average 26 home runs 105 RBIs	[26]
1967	Sadaharu Oh* (3)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.326 batting average 47 home runs 108 RBIs	[28]
1968	Shigeo Nagashima* (4)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.318 batting average 39 home runs 125 RBIs	[26]
1969	Sadaharu Oh* (4)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.345 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs	[28]
1970	Sadaharu Oh* (5)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.325 batting average 47 home runs 93 RBIs	[28]
1971	Shigeo Nagashima* (5)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.320 batting average 34 home runs 86 RBIs	[26]
1972	Tsuneo Horiuchi*	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	2.91 earned run average 26 complete games 26–9 record in 48 appearances (34 games started)	[29]
1973	Sadaharu Oh* (6)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.355 batting average 51 home runs 114 RBIs	[28]
1974	Sadaharu Oh* (7)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.332 batting average 49 home runs 107 RBIs	[28]
1975	Koji Yamamoto*	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.319 batting average 86 runs scored 84 RBIs	[30]
1976	Sadaharu Oh* (8)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.325 batting average 49 home runs 123 RBIs	[28]
1977	Sadaharu Oh* (9)	Yomiuri Giants	First baseman	.324 batting average 50 home runs 124 RBIs	[28]
1978	Tsutomu Wakamatsu*	Yakult Swallows	Outfielder	.341 batting average 100 runs scored 71 RBIs	[31]
1979	Yutaka Enatsu	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Relief pitcher	2.67 earned run average 22 saves 9–5 record in 55 appearances	[32]
1980	Koji Yamamoto* (2)	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.336 batting average 44 home runs 112 RBIs	[30]
1981	Suguru Egawa	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.28 earned run average 20 complete games 20–6 record in 31 appearances (30 games started)	[32]
1982	Takayoshi Nakao	Chunichi Dragons	Catcher	.282 batting average 18 home runs 47 RBIs	[33]
1983	Tatsunori Hara*	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.302 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs	[34]
1984	Sachio Kinugasa*	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Infielder	.329 batting average 31 home runs 102 RBIs	[35]
1985	Randy Bass*	Hanshin Tigers	First baseman	.350 batting average 54 home runs 134 RBIs	[36]
1986	Manabu Kitabeppu*	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Starting pitcher	2.43 earned run average 17 complete games 18–4 record in 30 games started	[37]
1987	Kazuhiro Yamakura	Yomiuri Giants	Catcher	.273 batting average 22 home runs 66 RBIs	[38]
1988	Genji Kaku	Chunichi Dragons	Relief pitcher	1.95 earned run average 37 saves 7–6 record in 61 appearances	[39]
1989	Warren Cromartie	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.378 batting average 72 RBIs 33 doubles	[40]
1990	Masaki Saito*	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.17 earned run average 19 complete games 20–5 record in 27 games started	[41]
1991	Shinji Sasaoka	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Starting pitcher	2.44 earned run average 240 innings pitched 17–9 record in 33 appearances (31 games started)	[42]
1992	Jack Howell	Yakult Swallows	Third baseman	.331 batting average 87 RBIs 38 home runs	[43]
1993	Atsuya Furuta*	Yakult Swallows	Catcher	.308 batting average 64.4 caught stealing percentage 90 runs scored	[44][45]
1994	Masumi Kuwata	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.52 earned run average 185 strikeouts 14–11 record in 28 appearances (27 games started)	[46]
1995	Tom O'Malley	Yakult Swallows	First baseman	.302 batting average 31 home runs 87 RBIs	[47]
1996	Hideki Matsui*	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.314 batting average 38 home runs 97 runs scored	[48]
1997	Atsuya Furuta* (2)	Yakult Swallows	Catcher	.322 batting average 32 doubles 86 RBIs	[44]
1998	Kazuhiro Sasaki*	Yokohama BayStars	Relief pitcher	0.64 earned run average 45 saves 1–1 record in 51 appearances	[49]
1999	Shigeki Noguchi	Chunichi Dragons	Starting pitcher	2.65 earned run average 2032⁄3 innings pitched 19–7 record in 29 games started	[50]
2000	Hideki Matsui* (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.316 batting average 42 home runs 108 RBIs	[48]
2001	Roberto Petagine	Yakult Swallows	First baseman	.322 batting average 39 home runs 127 RBIs	[51]
2002	Hideki Matsui* (3)	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.334 batting average 50 home runs 107 RBIs	[48]
2003	Kei Igawa	Hanshin Tigers	Starting pitcher	2.80 earned run average 206 innings pitched 20–5 record in 29 games started	[52]
2004	Kenshin Kawakami	Chunichi Dragons	Starting pitcher	3.32 earned run average 1921⁄3 innings pitched 17–7 record in 27 games started	[53]
2005	Tomoaki Kanemoto*	Hanshin Tigers	Outfielder	.327 batting average 40 home runs 120 runs scored	[54]
2006	Kosuke Fukudome	Chunichi Dragons	Outfielder	.351 batting average 47 doubles 117 runs scored	[55]
2007	Michihiro Ogasawara (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Third baseman	.313 batting average 31 home runs 95 runs scored	[56]
2008	Alex Ramírez	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.319 batting average 45 home runs 125 RBIs	[57]
2009	Alex Ramírez (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Outfielder	.322 batting average 31 home runs 103 RBIs	[57][58]
2010	Kazuhiro Wada	Chunichi Dragons	Outfielder	.339 batting average 37 home runs 93 RBIs	[59]
2011	Takuya Asao	Chunichi Dragons	Relief pitcher	0.41 earned run average 45 holds 7–2 record in 79 appearances	[60][61]
2012	Shinnosuke Abe	Yomiuri Giants	Catcher	.340 batting average 27 home runs 104 RBIs	[62]
2013	Wladimir Balentien	Tokyo Yakult Swallows	Outfielder	.330 batting average 60 home runs 131 RBIs	[63]
2014	Tomoyuki Sugano	Yomiuri Giants	Starting pitcher	2.33 earned run average 122 strikeouts 12–5 record in 23 games started	[64]
2015	Tetsuto Yamada	Tokyo Yakult Swallows	Second baseman	.329 batting average 38 home runs 34 stolen bases	[65]
2016	Takahiro Arai	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	First baseman	.300 batting average 19 home runs 101 RBIs	[66]
2017	Yoshihiro Maru	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.308 batting average 109 runs scored 92 RBIs	[67]
2018	Yoshihiro Maru (2)	Hiroshima Toyo Carp	Outfielder	.306 batting average 39 home runs 97 RBIs	[67]
2019	Hayato Sakamoto	Yomiuri Giants	Shortstop	.312 batting average 40 home runs 94 RBIs	[68][69]
2020	Tomoyuki Sugano (2)	Yomiuri Giants	Pitcher	14 wins 1.97 ERA 131 strikeouts	[70]
2021	Munetaka Murakami	Tokyo Yakult Swallows	Third baseman	39 HR 112 RBI 106 BB	[citation needed]
2022	Munetaka Murakami (2)	Tokyo Yakult Swallows	Third baseman	56 HR 134 RBI .458 OBP	[citation needed]
2023	Shōki Murakami	Hanshin Tigers	Pitcher	10 wins 1.75 ERA 137 strikeouts	[71]

Pacific League

Hiromitsu Ochiai, two-time PL winner

Nobuhiko Matsunaka, two-time PL winner

Hideo Nomo, 1990 PL winner

Kenji Johjima, 2003 PL winner

Yu Darvish, 2007 PL winner

Shohei Ohtani, 2016 PL winner

Season	Player	Team	Position	Selected statistics	Notes
1950	Kaoru Betto*	Mainichi Orions	Outfielder	.335 batting average 43 home runs 105 RBIs	[72]
1951	Kazuto Tsuruoka* (3)	Nankai Hawks	Second baseman	.311 batting average 21 doubles 58 RBIs	[17]
1952	Susumu Yuki	Nankai Hawks	Pitcher	1.91 earned run average 104 strikeouts 19–7 record in 40 appearances (17 games started)	[73]
1953	Isami Okamoto	Nankai Hawks	Second baseman	.318 batting average 19 home runs 77 RBIs	[74]
1954	Hiroshi Oshita*	Nishitetsu Lions	Outfielder	.321 batting average 22 home runs 88 RBIs	[75]
1955	Tokuji Iida*	Nankai Hawks	Outfielder	.310 batting average 42 stolen bases 75 RBIs	[76]
1956	Futoshi Nakanishi*	Nishitetsu Lions	Third baseman	.325 batting average 29 home runs 95 RBIs	[77]
1957	Kazuhisa Inao*	Nishitetsu Lions	Pitcher	1.37 earned run average 3732⁄3 innings pitched 35–6 record in 68 appearances (33 games started)	[78]
1958	Kazuhisa Inao* (2)	Nishitetsu Lions	Pitcher	1.42 earned run average 373 innings pitched 33–10 record in 72 appearances (31 games started)	[78]
1959	Tadashi Sugiura*	Nankai Hawks	Pitcher	1.40 earned run average 336 strikeouts 38–4 record in 69 appearances (35 games started)	[79]
1960	Kazuhiro Yamauchi*	Daimai Orions	Outfielder	.313 batting average 32 home runs 103 RBIs	[80]
1961	Katsuya Nomura*	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.296 batting average 29 home runs 89 RBIs	[81]
1962	Isao Harimoto*	Toei Flyers	Outfielder	.333 batting average 31 home runs 99 RBIs	[82]
1963	Katsuya Nomura* (2)	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.291 batting average 52 home runs 135 RBIs	[81]
1964	Joe Stanka	Nankai Hawks	Pitcher	2.40 earned run average 172 strikeouts 26–7 record in 47 appearances (43 games started)	[83]
1965	Katsuya Nomura* (3)	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.320 batting average 42 home runs 110 RBIs	[81]
1966	Katsuya Nomura* (4)	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.312 batting average 34 home runs 97 RBIs	[81]
1967	Mitsuhiro Adachi	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	1.75 earned run average 17 complete games 20–10 record in 43 appearances (29 games started)	[84]
1968	Tetsuya Yoneda*	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.79 earned run average 22 complete games 29–13 record in 63 appearances (43 games started)	[85]
1969	Tokuji Nagaike	Hankyu Braves	Outfielder	.316 batting average 41 home runs 101 RBIs	[86]
1970	Masaaki Kitaru	Lotte Orions	Pitcher	2.53 earned run average 20 complete games 21–10 record in 42 appearances (35 games started)	[87]
1971	Tokuji Nagaike (2)	Hankyu Braves	Outfielder	.317 batting average 40 home runs 114 RBIs	[86]
1972	Yutaka Fukumoto*	Hankyu Braves	Outfielder	.301 batting average 106 stolen bases 99 runs	[88]
1973	Katsuya Nomura* (5)	Nankai Hawks	Catcher	.309 batting average 28 stolen bases 96 RBIs	[81]
1974	Tomehiro Kaneda	Lotte Orions	Pitcher	2.90 earned run average 138 strikeouts 16–7 record in 36 appearances (29 games started)	[89]
1975	Hideji Kato	Hankyu Braves	First baseman	.309 batting average 32 home runs 97 RBIs	[90]
1976	Hisashi Yamada*	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.39 earned run average 23 complete games 26–7 record in 39 appearances (27 games started)	[91]
1977	Hisashi Yamada* (2)	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.28 earned run average 20 complete games 16–10 record in 44 appearances (25 games started)	[91]
1978	Hisashi Yamada* (3)	Hankyu Braves	Pitcher	2.66 earned run average 20 complete games 18–4 record in 35 appearances (25 games started)	[91]
1979	Charlie Manuel	Kintetsu Buffaloes	Outfielder	.324 batting average 37 home runs 94 RBIs	[92]
1980	Isamu Kida	Nippon Ham Fighters	Pitcher	2.28 earned run average 225 strikeouts 22–8 record in 40 appearances (26 games started)	[93]
1981	Yutaka Enatsu (2)	Nippon Ham Fighters	Pitcher	2.82 earned run average 25 saves 3–6 record in 45 appearances	[32]
1982	Hiromitsu Ochiai*	Lotte Orions	Second baseman	.325 batting average 32 home runs 99 RBIs	[94]
1983	Osamu Higashio*	Seibu Lions	Pitcher	2.92 earned run average 213 innings pitched 18–9 record in 32 appearances (29 games started)	[95]
1984	Greg Wells	Hankyu Braves	First baseman	.355 batting average 37 home runs 130 RBIs	[96]
1985	Hiromitsu Ochiai* (2)	Lotte Orions	Infielder	.367 batting average 52 home runs 146 RBIs	[94]
1986	Hiromichi Ishige	Seibu Lions	Shortstop	.329 batting average 91 runs 27 home runs	[97]
1987	Osamu Higashio* (2)	Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	3.27 earned run average 17 complete games 15–9 record in 28 appearances (27 games started)	[95]
1988	Hiromitsu Kadota*	Nankai Hawks	Outfielder	.311 batting average 44 home runs 125 RBIs	[98]
1989	Ralph Bryant	Kintetsu Buffaloes	Outfielder	.283 batting average 49 home runs 121 RBIs	[99]
1990	Hideo Nomo*	Kintetsu Buffaloes	Starting pitcher	2.91 earned run average 235 innings pitched 18–8 record in 29 appearances (27 games started)	[100]
1991	Taigen Kaku	Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	2.59 earned run average 12 complete games 15–6 record in 24 appearances (23 games started)	[101]
1992	Takehiro Ishii	Seibu Lions	Pitcher	1.94 earned run average 1481⁄3 innings pitched 15–3 record in 27 appearances (19 games started)	[102]
1993	Kimiyasu Kudo*	Seibu Lions	Starting pitcher	2.06 earned run average 170 innings pitched 15–3 record in 24 appearances (23 games started)	[103]
1994	Ichiro Suzuki	Orix BlueWave	Outfielder	.385 batting average 41 doubles 111 runs	[104]
1995	Ichiro Suzuki (2)	Orix BlueWave	Outfielder	.342 batting average 49 stolen bases 104 runs	[104]
1996	Ichiro Suzuki (3)	Orix BlueWave	Outfielder	.356 batting average 35 stolen bases 104 runs	[104]
1997	Fumiya Nishiguchi	Seibu Lions	Pitcher	3.12 earned run average 2072⁄3 innings pitched 15–5 record in 32 appearances (26 games started)	[105]
1998	Kazuo Matsui	Seibu Lions	Shortstop	.311 batting average 92 runs 38 doubles	[106]
1999	Kimiyasu Kudo* (2)	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	Starting pitcher	2.38 earned run average 1961⁄3 innings pitched 11–7 record in 26 games started	[103]
2000	Nobuhiko Matsunaka	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	First baseman	.312 batting average 33 home runs 106 RBIs	[107]
2001	Tuffy Rhodes	Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes	Outfielder	.327 batting average 55 home runs 137 runs	[108]
2002	Alex Cabrera	Seibu Lions	First baseman	.336 batting average 55 home runs 115 RBIs	[109]
2003	Kenji Johjima	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	Catcher	.330 batting average 34 home runs 119 RBIs	[110]
2004	Nobuhiko Matsunaka (2)	Fukuoka Daiei Hawks	First baseman	.358 batting average 44 home runs 120 RBIs	[107]
2005	Toshiya Sugiuchi	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Starting pitcher	2.11 earned run average 218 strikeouts 18–4 record in 26 games started	[111]
2006	Michihiro Ogasawara	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	First baseman	.313 batting average 32 home runs 100 RBIs	[56]
2007	Yu Darvish	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Starting pitcher	1.82 earned run average 210 strikeouts 15–5 record in 26 games started	[112]
2008	Hisashi Iwakuma	Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles	Starting pitcher	1.87 earned run average 2012⁄3 innings pitched 21–4 record in 28 games started	[113]
2009	Yu Darvish (2)	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Pitcher	1.73 earned run average 8 complete games 15–5 record in 23 games started	[112][114]
2010	Tsuyoshi Wada	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Starting pitcher	3.14 earned run average 169 strikeouts 17–8 record in 26 games started	[115]
2011	Seiichi Uchikawa	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	First baseman	.338 batting average 12 home runs 74 RBIs	[116]
2012	Mitsuo Yoshikawa	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Starting pitcher	1.71 earned run average 158 strikeouts 14–5 record in 25 games started	[117]
2013	Masahiro Tanaka	Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles	Starting pitcher	1.71 earned run average 212 innings pitched 24–0 record in 28 appearances (27 games started)	[118]
2014	Chihiro Kaneko	Orix Buffaloes	Pitcher	1.98 earned run average 199 strikeouts 16–5 record in 26 games started	[119]
2015	Yuki Yanagita	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Outfielder	.363 batting average 34 home runs 110 runs	[120]
2016	Shohei Ohtani	Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters	Starting pitcher/Designated hitter	.322 batting average 1.86 earned run average 10–4 record in 21 appearances (20 games started)	[121]
2017	Dennis Sarfate	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Pitcher	1.09 earned run average 54 saves 2–2 record in 66 appearances	[122]
2018	Hotaka Yamakawa	Saitama Seibu Lions	First baseman	.281 batting average 47 home runs 124 RBIs	[123]
2019	Tomoya Mori	Saitama Seibu Lions	Catcher	.329 batting average 23 home runs 105 RBIs	[68][124]
2020	Yuki Yanagita (2)	Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks	Outfielder	.342 batting average 29 home runs 86 RBIs	[125][126]
2021	Yoshinobu Yamamoto	Orix Buffaloes	Pitcher	18-5 record 206 K 193.2 IP 1.39 ERA	[citation needed]
2022	Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2)	Orix Buffaloes	Pitcher	15-5 record 193 IP 1.68 ERA	[citation needed]
2023	Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3)	Orix Buffaloes	Pitcher	16-6 record 164 IP 1.69 ERA	[127]

Multiple winners

There have been 22 players who have won the award multiple times. Sadaharu Oh currently holds the record for the most awards won, with nine. Hisashi Yamada (1976–1978) and Ichiro Suzuki (1994–1996) share the record for the most consecutive awards won. Yutaka Enatsu and Michihiro Ogasawara are the only players to have won the award in both the Central League and Pacific League. Alex Ramírez is the only non-Japanese player receive the award multiple times after the formation of two league system.

Ichiro Suzuki, three-time consecutive winner

Hideki Matsui, three-time winner

Player	League	# of Awards	Seasons
Sadaharu Oh*	Central	9	1964, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1970, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977
Shigeo Nagashima*	Central	5	1961, 1963, 1966, 1968, 1971
Katsuya Nomura*	Pacific	5	1961, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1973
Kazuto Yamamoto*	JBL/Pacific[D]	3	1946, 1948, 1951
Tetsuharu Kawakami*	JBL/Central[E]	3	1941, 1951, 1955
Hisashi Yamada*	Pacific	3	1976, 1977, 1978
Ichiro Suzuki	Pacific	3	1994, 1995, 1996
Hideki Matsui	Central	3	1996, 2000, 2002
Yoshinobu Yamamoto	Pacific	3	2021, 2022, 2023
Victor Starffin*	JBL	2	1939, 1940
Tadashi Wakabayashi*	JBL	2	1944, 1947
Takehiko Bessho*	Central	2	1952, 1956
Kazuhisa Inao*	Pacific	2	1957, 1958
Motoshi Fujita*	Central	2	1958, 1959
Tokuji Nagaike	Pacific	2	1969, 1971
Koji Yamamoto*	Central	2	1975, 1980
Yutaka Enatsu	Both	2	1979, 1981
Hiromitsu Ochiai	Pacific	2	1982, 1985
Osamu Higashio	Pacific	2	1983, 1987
Atsuya Furuta	Central	2	1993, 1997
Kimiyasu Kudo	Pacific	2	1993, 1999
Nobuhiko Matsunaka	Pacific	2	2000, 2004
Michihiro Ogasawara	Both	2	2006, 2007
Yu Darvish	Pacific	2	2007, 2009
Alex Ramírez	Central	2	2008, 2009
Yoshihiro Maru	Central	2	2017, 2018
Tomoyuki Sugano	Central	2	2014, 2020
Yuki Yanagita	Pacific	2	2015, 2020
Munetaka Murakami	Central	2	2021, 2022

Notes

• ^B The save statistic was not formally recorded in the NPB until the 1974 season.^[128]
• ^C The 1945 Japanese Baseball League was cancelled due to World War II.^[129]
• ^D After 1958, Kazuto Yamamoto became known as Kazuto Tsuruoka.
• ^E Tetsuharu Kawakami received his first MVP award in 1941, nine years before the formation of Nippon Professional Baseball.

See also

• Nippon Professional Baseball#Awards
• Baseball awards#Japan
• List of Nippon Professional Baseball earned run average champions
• Japan Professional Sports Grand Prize
• Athlete of the Year
• Most valuable player
• Player of the year award

Notes

General

• "最優秀選手（１リーグ）" [MVPs (1 League)] (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
• "セ・リーグ歴代ＭＶＰ" [Central League Past MVPs]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
• "パ・リーグ歴代ＭＶＰ" [Pacific League Past MVPs]. Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. Retrieved 5 February 2020.

• "List of Hall of Famers". The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 5 February 2020.

Specific

1. Nagatsuka, Kaz (15 November 2006). "Ogasawara, Fukudome given MVP awards for 2006 season". The Japan Times. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
2. "2018年度 表彰選手 投票結果（最優秀選手）" [2018 Player Awards Voting Results (Most Valuable Player)]. Nippon Professional Baseball (in Japanese). Retrieved 1 November 2018.
3. １リーグ 最優秀選手 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
4. "Japan baseball stars Munetaka Murakami and Yoshinobu Yamamoto earn MVP honors". japannews.yomiuri.co.jp. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
5. "Darvish, Ogasawara earn MVP honors". The Japan Times. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
6. "Kadota, Hiromitsu". The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
7. "Hall of Famers List". The Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
8. "Eiji Sawamura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
9. "Bucky Harris Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
10. "Hisanori Karita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
11. "Haruyasu Hakajima Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
12. "Victor Starfin Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
13. "Tetsuharu Kawakami Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
14. "Shigeru Mizuhara Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
15. "Shosei Go Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
16. "Tadashi Wakabayashi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
17. "Kazuto Tsuruoka Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
18. "Fumio Fujimura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
19. "Makoto Kozuru Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
20. "Takehiko Bessho Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
21. "Takumi Otomo Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
22. "Shigeru Sugishita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
23. "Wally Yonamine Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
24. "Motoshi Fujita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
25. "Noboru Akiyama Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
26. "Shigeo Nagashima Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
27. "Minoru Murayama Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
28. "Sadaharu Oh Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
29. "Tsuneo Horiuchi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
30. "Koji Yamamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
31. "Tsutomu Wakamatsu Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
32. "Yutaka Enatsu Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
33. "Takayoshi Nakao Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
34. "Tatsunori Hara Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
35. "Sachio Kinugasa Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
36. "Randy Bass Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
37. "Manabu Kitabeppu Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
38. "Kazuhiro Yamakura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
39. "Genji Kaku Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
40. "Warren Cromartie Minor, Japanese & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
41. "Masaki Saito Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
42. "Shinji Sasaoka Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
43. "Jack Howell Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
44. "Atsuya Furuta Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
45. "古田超えだ！巨人・小林、"鬼肩"で盗塁阻止率の記録更新に意欲". Sankei Sports (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
46. "Masumi Kuwata Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
47. "Tom O'Malley Minor, Japanese & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
48. "Hideki Matsui Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
49. "Kazuhiro Sasaki Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
50. "Shigeki Noguchi Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
51. "Roberto Petagine Minor, Japanese, Mexican & Korean Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
52. "Kei Igawa Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
53. "Kenshin Kawakami Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
54. "Tomoaki Kanemoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
55. "Kosuke Fukudome Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
56. "Michihiro Ogasawara Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
57. "Álex Ramírez Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
58. セ・リーグ 最優秀選手 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
59. "Kazuhiro Wada Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
60. "Kazuhiro Wada Japanese & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
61. "2011 Central League Qualifiers for Earned-Run Average Title & Top Relief Pitchers". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
62. "Shinnosuke Abe Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
63. "Wladimir Balentien Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
64. "Tomoyuki Sugano Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
65. "Tetsuto Yamada Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
66. "Takahiro Arai Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
67. "Yoshihiro Maru Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
68. Coskrey, Jason (26 November 2019). "Hayato Sakamoto, Tomoya Mori named league MVPs". Japan Times. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
69. "Hayato Sakamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
70. "Tomoyuki Sugano Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
71. "Tigers rookie Murakami and Orix ace Yamamoto named MVPS". japantimes.co.jp. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
72. "Kaoru Betto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
73. "Susumu Yuki Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
74. "Isami Okamoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
75. "Hiroshi Oshita Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
76. "Tokuji Iida Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
77. "Futoshi Nakanishi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
78. "Kazuhisa Inao Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
79. "Tadashi Sugiura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
80. "Kazuhiro Yamauchi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
81. "Katsuya Nomura Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
82. "Isao Harimoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
83. "Joe Stanka Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
84. "Mitsuhiro Adachi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
85. "Tetsuya Yoneda Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
86. "Atsushi Nagaike Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
87. "Masaaki Kitaru Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
88. "Yutaka Fukumoto Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
89. "Tamehiro Kaneda Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
90. "Hideji Kato Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
91. "Hisashi Yamada Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
92. "Charlie Manuel Minor, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
93. "Isamu Kida Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
94. "Hiromitsu Ochiai Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
95. "Osamu Higashio Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
96. "Greg Wells Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
97. "Hiromichi Ishige Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
98. "Hiromitsu Kadota Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
99. "Ralph Bryant Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
100. "Hideo Nomo Japanese, Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
101. "Taigen Kaku Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
102. "Takehiro Ishii Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
103. "Kimiyasu Kudo Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
104. "Ichiro Suzuki Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
105. "Fumiya Nishiguchi Japanese & Independent Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
106. "Kazuo Matsui Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
107. "Nobuhiko Matsunaka Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
108. "Tuffy Rhodes Minor & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
109. "Alex Cabrera Minor, Mexican, Japanese & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
110. "Kenji Johjima Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
111. "Toshiya Sugiuchi Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
112. "Yu Darvish Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
113. "Hisashi Iwakuma Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
114. パ・リーグ 最優秀選手 (in Japanese). Sports Hochi. Archived from the original on 12 August 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
115. "Tsuyoshi Wada Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
116. "Seiichi Uchikawa Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
117. "Mitsuo Yoshikawa Japanese & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
118. "Masahiro Tanaka Japanese & Minor Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
119. "Chihiro Kaneko Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
120. "Yuki Yanagita Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
121. "Shohei Ohtani Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
122. "Dennis Sarfate Minor, Fall, Winter & Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
123. "Hotaka Yamakawa Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
124. "Tomoya Mori Japanese Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
125. "Tomoyuki Sugano and Yuki Yanagita win MVP honors in NPB". Japan Times. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
126. "Players". Nippon Professional Baseball. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
127. "Tigers rookie Murakami and Orix ace Yamamoto named MVPS". japantimes.co.jp. 29 November 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
128. 1974年 (in Japanese). Nippon Professional Baseball. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
129. Fitts, Robert K. (September 2008). Wally Yonamine: The Man Who Changed Japanese Baseball. University of Nebraska Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-0-8032-1381-4.

References

• Johnson, Daniel E. (July 2006). Japanese Baseball: A Statistical Handbook. McFarland & Company. ISBN 978-0-7864-2841-0.