The 1973 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the 1973 season. The 24th edition of the Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff that matched the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants against the Pacific League champion Nankai Hawks. This was the first Japan Series held under a playoff system, albeit only on the Pacific League side, as they held a split-season that matched the first-half winner (Nankai Hawks) vs the 2nd half winner (Hankyu Braves) for a best-of-five playoff (in the event that a team won both halves, which happened twice when the system was in place from 1973 to 1982, they simply advanced to the Japan Series); Nankai defeated Hankyu in five games. Despite having their worst record to win a pennant in years, the Giants defeated the Hawks in five games to win an NPB-record ninth consecutive Japan Series title.
