The Central League is one of the two professional baseball leagues in Japan, alongside the Pacific League. It was established in 1950 and consists of six teams, including the famous Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers. The league operates under the umbrella of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) organization and is known for its competitive games and passionate fan base. The Central League follows a regular season format, where teams compete for a chance to advance to the playoffs, known as the Climax Series. The league's champion then faces the Pacific League champion in the Japan Series to determine the overall champion of Japanese baseball.