Top international softball pitchers headline JD.League 2025 playoffs in Japan
As the regular season of Japan’s premier women’s softball competition comes to an end, the stage is set for the next chapter: the 2025 Playoffs of the JD.LEAGUE — Japan’s biggest professional softball league and one of the top competitions in the world.
Seven teams will battle across the next two weekends for a chance to claim the Diamond Series title. After an intense regular season, the two divisions (East and West) of the JD.LEAGUE have confirmed their standings, and the qualifying teams have secured their spots in the upcoming Playoffs and Diamond Series.
East Division
- Toda Medics Saitama – 25-4 (.862 win percentage), East Division champions
- Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen – 22-6-1 (.786)
- Honda Reverta – 21-8 (.724)
- Hitachi Sundiva – 19-9-1 (.679)
West Division
- Toyota Red Terriers – 23-6 (.793), West Division champions
- Toyota Industries Shining Vega – 18-11 (.621)
- Iyo Bank Vertz – 15-14 (.517)
With those results, the division winners — Toda Medics Saitama and Toyota Red Terriers — earned direct entry into the Diamond Series, while the next-tier teams gear up for the Playoffs.
Playoffs & Bracket Overview
The postseason format pits the runners-up and third-place teams (plus one wild card) in a knockout Playoff stage to determine who joins the division winners in the Diamond Series.
First Stage (Nov 8, Sat – Paloma Mizuho Baseball Stadium, Nagoya)
Iyo Bank Vertz (West 3rd) vs. Hitachi Sundiva (East 4th/Wild Card)
Second Stage (Nov 9, Sun – same venue)
Game 1 – Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen (East 2nd) vs. Honda Reverta (East 3rd)
Game 2 – Toyota Industries Shining Vega (West 2nd) vs. Winner of First Stage
The winners of these two games will secure a berth in the Diamond Series on November 15–16 at Giants Town Stadium in Inagi, Tokyo.
Diamond Series
Semi-Finals:
- Toda Medics Saitama (East 1st) vs. East Playoff Winner
- Toyota Red Terriers (West 1st) vs. West Playoff Winner
Final (Nov 16):
Winners of the two semi-finals meet in the JD.LEAGUE 2025 Championship Game.
Stars to Watch
Some of the best pitchers in the world will be competing for the JD.LEAGUE title. Japan’s Miu Goto (pictured) and Great Britain’s Georgina Corrick led Toda Medics to the league’s best record, while USA ace Megan Faraimo anchors the Toyota Red Terriers’ pitching staff.
Legendary pitcher Yukiko Ueno, in her 25th league season, surpassed 250 career wins and 2,500 strikeouts, continuing to lead Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen. Mexican-American Dallas Escobedo stars for Toyota Industries Shining Vega, and USA’s Jailyn Ford and Ally Carda form the powerful pitching duo of Honda Reverta.