Immaculate Innings in Japanese Baseball?

I've never heard the phrase "immaculate inning" before. Looking at my data for the game, I assume that it means striking out the side on 9 pitches? That's what it looks like Nippon Ham's Brian Wolfe did to Yokohama's Brett Harper, Yuki Yoshimura, and Naoto Watanabe (#4, 5, and 6 batters respectively) in the second inning of the May 24 match up at Yokohama Stadium.

This Google search gives Hanshin's Kyuji Fujikawa striking out 3 Lions on 9 pitches on May 27, 2009. But he came into the game with runners at first and second with nobody out in the top of the 9th inning. The situation he came in almost makes it more impressive.

According to Sponichi Annex [in Japanese], the last time a pitcher retired all three batters in an inning on 9 pitches was when Hanshin's Masashi Sajikihara in the 7th inning on September 6, 2005 against the Chunichi Dragons. Wolfe becomes the 14th player in NPB history (15th time) to accomplish the feat. Interestingly, the article mentions that it's the first time a Pacific League pitcher has done it since 1976, 35 years ago. Wolfe becomes the first foreign pitcher in either league to have an "immaculate inning."

That was some interesting research. Thanks for the question.

I wonder what they would call the situation where all nine strikes are swing and misses. No fouls on strike one and two.

I don't know. I don't think there is an accepted phrase. How about Miracle Inning? Then there is the Bugs Bunny Inning, three strike outs on three pitches or was that one pitch?

You are very welcome for the question. Thank you very much for the answer!

And, yes, nine pitches nine strikes is the definition of an immaculate inning. They are very rare in Major League baseball, though they have become more common of late due to the practice of multiple late inning relief pitchers. Here is a link to a Wikipedia article: Link.