A star-studded matchup between the two biggest teams in Japan’s recent history will open the inaugural season of the Japan Diamond League (JD.League, website in Japanese) on 28 March. Three-time defending champions Bic Camera Takasaki will face arch-rivals Toyota Red Terriers in the opening game, to be played at ZOZO Marine Stadium in Chiba, Japan, at 7 p.m. on Monday.
Big Camera Takasaki is the three-time defending champion of the former Japan Women's Softball League. Japanese ace Yukiko Ueno and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games MVP Yamato Fujita, will lead the team in their quest to win the first JD League title and extend their dynasty in the Japanese softball domestic competition.
On the other side of the field, Toyota Red Terriers counts with arguably the two best left-handed pitchers in the world, with US stellar Monica Abbott and Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist Miu Goto. However, the teams need to deal with the retirement of key parts of their middle defense like catcher Yukiyo Mine, shortstop Mana Atsumi, and outfielder Saki Yamazaki, all of them Olympic gold medallists as well.
Five of six Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games softball nations will be represented in the 2022 season of the JD.League including host Japan, Australia (Kaia Parnaby, Stacey Porter, Ellen Roberts), Italy (Greta Cecchetti and Erika Piancastelli), Mexico (Dallas Escobedo, Sierra Hyland, Taylor McQuillin, Anissa Urtez) and USA (Abbott, Ally Carda, Bubba Nickles).
JD.League new format
The JD.League will present a new competition format. A total of 16 teams will be split into two divisions: East and West. Each team will play 29 regular season games, including 21 games against the divisional rivals (seven as home team, seven as visiting team, and seven in a neutral venue), and eight inter-divisional games. The teams in each division are:
- East division: Honda Reverta, Bic Camera Takasaki Bee Queen, Taiyo Yuden Solfille, Toda Medics, Hitachi Sundiva, Ogaki Minamo, NEC Platforms Red Falcons and Denso Bright Pegasus.
- West Division: Toyota Motor Red Terriers, Toyota Shining Vega, Tokai Cherry Blossoms, Nippon Seiko Brave Bearies, SG Holdings Galaxy Stars, Shionogi Rainbow Stokes, Iyobank Vertz, Takagi Kitakyushu Water Wave.
The team with the highest winning percentage at the end of the regular season will be the "Divisional Champion". After that, the three teams with the highest winning percentages in each division will advance to the playoffs, along with a wild card.
The playoffs will be played from 5-6 November, with the championship 'Diamond Series' slated for 12-13 November.
