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.
International Bowls
The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020
Tomodachi Bowl Japan v USA Friendship Bowl 2016-2019
Rice Bowl
Japan Rice Bowl (Universities v Social Champions):
Japan American Football Association Rice Bowl 1984-Present
Social Championships
Images
[Japan 2] X-League (2020) X-Logo [Internet] Available from: https://s3-ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/xleague/images/xlogo.png [Accessed 7 January 2020]
Japan X-League (Social League)
Japan American Football Association | X-League 2017-2019
University Championships
Japan Universities National Championship
Japan Collegiate American Football Koshien Bowl (East v West) 2016-Present
Japan Universities Regional Championships
East Japan Collegiate Football Deciding Match (Kantoh v North Japan) 2016-Present
North Japan University Football Pine Bowl (Tohoku v Hokkaido) 2012-Present
Japan Collegiate American Football Tokyo Bowl (Kantoh v Kansai) 2016-Present
Hokkaido Student American Football Association (HAFA – North Japan)
Hokkaido American Football Association Potato Bowl 2013-2018 (Charity Bowl)
Seasons: 2019
Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association (TCAA – North Japan)
Tohoku Collegiate American Football Association TCAA (Japan) Champions 1976-Present
Kantoh Collegiate Football Association (KCFA – East Japan):
Top 8 Seasons: 2020
Japan Private Football Association (JPFF)
Images References
[Japan 3] Japan Private Football Association East (2020) JPFF Logo [Internet] Available from: https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/dimension=79×10000:format=jpg/path/sce5a977e2e10f41a/image/i123385dd37d4d78c/version/1473861071/image.jpg [Accessed 10 May 2020]
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): 2020