Because this year's edition of the Japan Series took place during the Major League Baseball strike that scuttled the entire postseason, including the World Series, it received much more attention than normal in the United States.
Most memorably, the cover of the October 31 issue of Sports Illustrated featured Lions pitcher Hisanobu Watanabe along with the tagline "The World's Series", in the Lions' 11-0 win in Game One.
This resulted eventually in Major League Baseball acquiring Japanese players upon the end of the strike.
Two members of the winning Yomiuri Giants team -- Hideki Matsui (2009) and Dan Gladden (1987, 1991) -- also won a World Series.
[2] CL Yomiuri Giants (4) vs. PL Seibu Lions (2) Nippon Professional Baseball