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.
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 [Accessed 4 May 2021]
Japan Bowls
Friendship Bowl; Rice Bowl
International Bowls
The Spring League v Japan National Team 2020
Tomodachi Bowl Japan v USA Friendship Bowl 2016-2019
Japan Rice Bowl (Universities v Social Champions):
Japan American Football Association Rice Bowl (Social v Student Era) 1984-2020
Picture Credit: [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]
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
X-League
Japan X-League
Japan X-League (Social League)
Japan American Football Association | X-League 2017-2019
Japan X-League X1 Super (Seasons):
JPFF Japan Private Football Association
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
Picture Credit: [8] Hokkaido American Football Association (2020) potato2018 [Internet] Available from: http://hokkaido-afa.com/potato/potato2018.jpg [Accessed 22 October 2020]
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
Koshien Bowl
Bowl Games
Japan Universities National Championship
Japan Collegiate American Football Koshien Bowl (East v West) 2016-Present
Japan College Football (Seasons): 2019
JCAFA Koshien Bowl Division Standings & Playoffs (Seasons): 2020 2019
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 Association Heiwadai Bowl (Chushikoku v Kyushu) 1983-2015
Japan Collegiate American Football Tokyo Bowl (Kantoh v Kansai) 2016-Present
Tokyo-Osaka Regions
Kansai Football
Kansai Football (Seasons): 2020 2019
Kantoh Collegiate Football Association (KCFA – East Japan)
North Japan Regions
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
West Japan Regions
Kyushu Collegiate American Football Association (KCAFA – West Japan)
KCAFA (Seasons): 2019
Tokai Collegiate American Football Association (TKCAFA – West Japan)
TKCAFA (Seasons): 2019
Chushikoku Collegiate American Football Association (CSCAA – West Japan)
CSCAA (Seasons): 2019
Hokuriku Collegiate American Football Association (HCAFA – West Japan)
HCAFA (Seasons): 2019