Japan American Football
American Football was first introduced to Japan in the 1930s, although it was not until after WWII, that it was played competitvely, with the Rice Bowl, Japan’s version of the Super Bowl, being played between the Universities since 1947, and since 1984 between the University Champions and the Social Champions (Business League – currently X-League).
There is also a third League in Japan, which is the Private Club League, opening up American Football to non-students and non-Corporate Workers. The JPFF (Japan Private Football Association) organises the Ocean Bowl between the JPFF East and JPFF West Champions. It is included in Social Championships.
Japan Bowls
Picture Credit: D.Young / Shutterstock (2010) DUSSELDORF, GERMANY – APRIL 24: The 1st German Japan Bowl. The action that lead to Japans last touch-down gathers momentum. On April 24, 2010 in Dusseldorf, Germany [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/dusseldorf-germany-april-24-1st-german-51784012 [Accessed 4 May 2021]
International Bowls
The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020
Tomodachi Bowl Japan v USA Friendship Bowl 2016-2019
Japan Rice Bowl (National Championship Game)
The Rice Bowl is the Super Bowl of Japan. From 1947 when Japan organised its’ first American Football Championship between Universities until 1979 the Rice Bowl was contested solely by Universities. Beginning in 1980 and continuing until 2020 the Rice Bowl was contested between the Student (Universities and Colleges) Champions and the Social (Private Companies) Champions. From 2021 onwards it has been contested solely by the X-League (the biggest Social League).
Japan American Football Association Rice Bowl (Social v Student Era) 1984-2020
Japan American Football Association Social Championships
The Japan X-League is the highest level of American Football in Japan. From 1984 to 2020 the X-League Champions played for the Rice Bowl with the University Champions. since 2021 the Rice Bowl is in sole ownership of the X-League after 11 X-League victories in a row. The X-League is divided into X1 Super (Premier League), X1 Area (3 Regional League – Championship) and then below that X2 and X3 Leagues.
The JPFF (Japan Private Football Association) is the National or State Level League, with Leagues run on an East – West basis.
Social Championships
Photo Credit: Chung Yi Fang Kyoto/Japan-11/22/2019 :The Land of the First Kick in Shimogamo-Jinja. Rugby football (sawatw) shrine’s special votive picture tablet. [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/kyotojapan11222019-land-first-kick-shimogamojinja-rugby-1604529883 [Accessed and Edited by Enda Mulcahy 12 October 2023]
Japan X-League (Social League)
The X-League is Japan’s biggest Social League (Private Companies League). It currently since 2021 has the sole right to play for the Rice Bowl, Japan’s National American Football Championship Game. From 1984 up until 2020 the X-League Champions played the Winners of the Koshien Bowl (Colleges Championship Game) in the Rice Bowl. There are four levels of the X-League (X1 Super, X1 Area, X2, X3)
Japan X-League X1 Super (Seasons):
76th Rice Bowl: TBD
75th Rice Bowl: Fujitsu Frontiers 24 Panasonic Impulse 18
Japan American Football Association | X-League 2017-2019
JPFF Japan Private Football Association
The JPFF (Japan Private Football Association) is a Minor Football League (Lower Levels Football League) in Japan, under the four levels of the X-League (X1 Super, X1 Area, X2, X3)
Japan Private Football Association (JPFF )
Japan Private Football Association JPFF All Japan Championship Ocean Bowl 2011-Present
Regional Adult American Football Championships
Kizuna Bowl (North Japan – Hokkaido v Tohoku) American Football Championship 2011-Present
Hokkaido Adult American Football Association (HAFA)
Hokkaido Adult American Football Association All-Star Lilac Bowl 2013-2018
HAFF North Laundry League (Seasons):
Japan American Football Teams (Social Leagues)
Photo Credit: Chung Yi Fang Kyoto/Japan-11/22/2019 :The Land of the First Kick in Shimogamo-Jinja. Rugby football (sawatw) shrine’s special votive picture tablet. [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/kyotojapan11222019-land-first-kick-shimogamojinja-rugby-1604529883 [Accessed and Edited by Enda Mulcahy 12 October 2023]
Japan X-League
Japan X-League X1 Super (2021-2022)
Japan X-League X1 Super (Promoted for 2022)
Japan American Football Association University Championships
The Universities played for the Rice Bowl from 1947 when the introduction of American Football to Japan took hold to 1979.
From 1980 to 2020 the University Champions contested the Rice Bowl with the Social Champions (now the X-League) and from 2021 onwards the University Champions no longer compete for the Rice Bowl.
The University Championship Game is called the Koshien Bowl, with Regional Bowl Games as a Qualifier.
University Championships
Photo Credit: Chung Yi Fang Kyoto/Japan-11/22/2019 :The Land of the First Kick in Shimogamo-Jinja. Rugby football (sawatw) shrine’s special votive picture tablet. [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/kyotojapan11222019-land-first-kick-shimogamojinja-rugby-1604529883 [Accessed and Edited by Enda Mulcahy 12 October 2023]
Bowl Games
Japan Universities National Championship (Koshien Bowl)
The Winners of the East Japan Football Deciding Game played the Winners of the West Japan Football Deciding Game in the Koshien Bowl for the right to play the Social Football Champions (Companies League) in the Rice Bowl to decide Japan American Football Association National Championship from 1980 to 2020
Japan Collegiate American Football Koshien Bowl (East v West) 2016-Present
Japan College Football (Seasons):
JCAFA Koshien Bowl Division Standings & Playoffs (Seasons):
Japan Universities Regional Championships
Tokyo Bowl
In addition to gaining a bye to East Japan and West Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Games, the Winners of the two biggest Japan Collegiate Football Associations (Kantoh and Kansai) met in the Tokyo Bowl to decide the best Collegiate team in Japan’s Capital.
Japan Collegiate American Football Tokyo Bowl (Kantoh v Kansai) 2016-Present
West Japan Collegiate Championship
Winners of West Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Game meet Winners of East Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Game in Koshien Bowl for the title of Japan Collegiate American Football Association Champions.
Kansai Football
Kansai Football (Seasons):
West Japan Collegiate Regions
Chushikoku v Kyushu (Heiwedai Bowl)
Winners of Heiwedai Bowl meet Winners of Tokai v Hokuriku for right to play Kansai Football Champions in West Japan Deciding Game
Japan Collegiate American Football Association Heiwadai Bowl (Chushikoku v Kyushu) 1983-2015
Kyushu Collegiate American Football Association (KCAFA – West Japan)
KCAFA (Seasons):
Chushikoku Collegiate American Football Association (CSCAA – West Japan)
CSCAA (Seasons):
Tokai v Hokuriku
Tokai Collegiate American Football Association (TKCAFA – West Japan)
TKCAFA (Seasons):
Hokuriku Collegiate American Football Association (HCAFA – West Japan)
HCAFA (Seasons):
East Japan Collegiate Championship
Winners of East Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Game meet Winners of West Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Game in Koshien Bowl for the title of Japan Collegiate American Football Association Champions.
East Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Match (Kantoh v North Japan) 2016-Present
Kantoh Collegiate Football Association (KCFA – East Japan)
KCFA (Seasons):
North Japan Regions
The winners of the Tohoku and Hokkaido Collegiate American Football Championships met in the Pine Bowl for the right to play the Kantoh Collegiate Football Champions in the East Japan Collegiate Football Championship.
North Japan University Football Pine Bowl (Tohoku v Hokkaido) 2012-Present
Hokkaido Student American Football Association (HAFA – North Japan)
Hokkaido American Football Association Potato Bowl 2013-2018 (Charity Bowl)
Seasons:
Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association (TCAA – North Japan)
Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association TCAA (Japan) Champions 1976-Present
Seasons: