Chunichi Dragons right-hander Kenshin Kawakami was named the Central League monthly MVP on Wednesday for a record eighth time when the CL named him the best pitcher for the month of June.
Kawakami broke a tie with fellow Chunichi pitcher Masahiro Yamamoto and former Yomiuri Giants outfielder Hideki Matsui, who have each won the award seven times, after going 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA in four starts.
Hanshin Tigers outfielder Tomoaki Kanemoto won his third career monthly MVP award in the category for position players.
Kanemoto led the league with a .413 batting average, six homers and 20 RBIs.
The Pacific League selected Tohoku Rakuten Eagles right-hander Hisashi Iwakuma and Seibu Lions first baseman Craig Brazell for its monthly MVP awards.
Iwakuma, the first Rakuten pitcher to win the award in club history, won all of his four starts and had a 0.87 ERA.
Brazell batted .344 with six homers and a PL-leading 21 RBIs.