The Japan Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award (日本シリーズ最高殊勲選手 Nippon Shirīzu Saikō Shukun Senshu) is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the Japan Series, which is the final round of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) postseason. The award was first presented in 1950. The series follows a best-of-seven playoff format and occurs after the two-stage Climax Series. It is played by the winners of the Central League Stage 2 series and the Pacific League Stage 2 series. The most recent champions are the Yomiuri Giants, who won the 2009 series.