The 1972 Japan Series was the championship series of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the season. The 23rd edition of the Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff that matched the Central League champion Yomiuri Giants against the Pacific League champion Hankyu Braves. This was the fifth time in the last six years that the two teams had met in the Japan Series, with the Giants having won all previous matchups. The Giants defeated the Braves in five games to win their eighth consecutive title. This was the last of the original run of the Japan Series to match two pennant winners against each other, as the Pacific League soon instituted a playoff system.