The Fukuoka Daiei Hawks' caging of the Hanshin Tigers in Game 7 of the 2003 Japan Series seemed at the time as if it would be the heralding of a new dynasty in the Pacific League.
The newly crowned champions that year had a bright future ahead of them with a roster featuring 2003 PL MVP Kenji Johjima, PL rookie of the year Tsuyoshi Wada, Japan Series MVP Toshiya Sugiuchi, Sawamura Award winner Kazumi Saito, sparkplug shortstop Munenori Kawasaki and a host of other top-shelf players.
Daiei (which would become known as Fukuoka Softbank in 2005) would indeed go on to win the next two regular-season pennants.