It matched the Central League champion Hiroshima Toyo Carp against the Pacific League champion Seibu Lions.
The series is notable for being the only time to date in Japan Series history that an eighth game was played.
However, the Lions would respond by winning the next four in a row, reverse sweeping the Carp to capture their sixth Japan Series championship and their third title in five years.
NOTE: Game 1 was played to the 4:30:00 time limit.
The time limit was reached in the 14h inning.