<P> The first Japanese professional league was formed in 1936 , and by 1950 had grown big enough to divide into two leagues , known as Nippon Professional Baseball ( NPB ) . ( It is called Puro Yakyū ( プロ 野球 ) , which simply is a translation of professional baseball . ) The Central League included the established teams , and the Pacific League was made up of new teams and players . The Pacific League uses the designated hitter style of play . The pro baseball season is eight months long with games beginning in April . Teams play 144 games ( as compared to the 162 games of the American major league teams ) , followed by a playoff system , culminating in a championship held in October , known as the Japan Series . </P>
<P> The first Japanese professional league was formed in 1936 , and by 1950 had grown big enough to divide into two leagues , known as Nippon Professional Baseball ( NPB ) . ( It is called Puro Yakyū ( プロ 野球 ) , which simply is a translation of professional baseball . ) The Central League included the established teams , and the Pacific League was made up of new teams and players . The Pacific League uses the designated hitter style of play . The pro baseball season is eight months long with games beginning in April . Teams play 144 games ( as compared to the 162 games of the American major league teams ) , followed by a playoff system , culminating in a championship held in October , known as the Japan Series . </P>
how many games in a japanese baseball season
how many games in a japanese baseball season
144
144