The Yomiuri Giants made history on Saturday, becoming the first Central League club to win the interleague championship.
The Giants, who pounded the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles 10-1 at Kleenex Stadium, ended the Pacific League's seven-year stranglehold on the interleague title.
"We in the Central League don't really have good memories from interleague," said Giants manager Tatsunori Hara, whose club wrapped up the title with one game to play. "This is a big thing for the Giants and for the Central League."