SoftBank opened the Japan Series with a 3-1 win over DeNA in 11 innings in Game 1 at Yokohama Stadium on Saturday, according to NHKニュース. The Hawks, chasing a second straight national title, broke a 1-1 tie in extra innings when second-year infielder Shōji drove in the deciding run.
NHKニュース reports that Shōji's hit was the go-ahead double, and 読売新聞 also describes it as a tie-breaking two-base hit. 時事ドットコム notes that the 24-year-old Shōji, in his second season with SoftBank, settled a tightly contested game in Yokohama.
日本経済新聞 confirms the final score at 3-1 and reports that the series opener went to extra innings. Yahoo!ニュース also reported that SoftBank won the series' first game in extra innings.
Why it matters
The Japan Series pits the champions of the Pacific and Central leagues, and Game 1 sets the tone for the best-of-seven title matchup. SoftBank, the Pacific League side, is aiming to defend the championship it won last year, while DeNA, the Central League representative, is trying to deny the Hawks a repeat. Taking the opener on the road gives SoftBank an early edge in the series and puts pressure on DeNA to respond at home.
The result also puts a spotlight on Shōji, a second-year player who delivered in one of the biggest moments of the season. According to 時事ドットコム, his decisive hit capped a hard-fought contest at Yokohama Stadium.
A tight game decided late
For ten innings, neither side could build a cushion. The score stood at 1-1 heading into extras, and the game stretched to the 11th before SoftBank pushed across the runs that decided it. NHKニュース reports the final line as 3-1 after 11 innings.
The game was the first of the 2026 Japan Series, which opened Saturday at Yokohama Stadium, home of DeNA. NHKニュース published its report at 17:42 on October 24 and updated it early the following morning.
Shōji's decisive double came as the game wore on, and it proved enough for SoftBank to take a 1-0 lead in the series. The exact sequence of the winning rally beyond the go-ahead double was not detailed in the source reporting available.
What to watch
Game 2 is next, and DeNA will look to level the series at home while SoftBank tries to carry the momentum of the opener.
