Japan
The Japan American Football Association (JAFA) was established in 1934, celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2009, and now consists of 390 teams with more than 18,000 members and players.
JAFA has three different football leagues; 64 corporate-sponsored semi-pro teams, 220 university teams, and 106 high school teams with a bowl game concluding each league.
The Koshien Bowl was established in 1947, making it the oldest championship game in Japanese football history. The bowl determines the collegiate champion featuring the top team in the east versus the best from the west.
The corporate-sponsored semi-pro league launched the Tokyo Super Bowl in 1987 as their title game, but today is called the Japan X Bowl.
In 1948, the Rice Bowl was developed as an East-West all-star game. In 1983, its status was changed in celebration of the 50th anniversary of American football in Japan. Now the Rice Bowl features the champions of the Koshien Bowl and the Japan X Bowl in determining Japan’s national champion.
The game takes place annually during the national New Year’s holiday. The Japan X Bowl champions hold the series lead over the Koshien champions.
The Japanese senior national team won the first even IFAF (International Federation of American Football) World Championship in Italy in 1999 and successfully defended the title four years later in Germany. In 2007 Japan lost the championship game on home soil to the United States.
Federation: Japan American Football Association (JAFA)
President Toyohisa Asada
Vice President Moriyasu Saeki
Senior Executive Director Makoto Kaneuji
Director Kunihiko Ikeno
Director Koji Ishiuchi
Director Yoshiki Ito
Director Takayoshi Koguchi
Director Hiroshi Kobayashi
Director Masahito Tanaka
Director Shuji Tomita
Director Toshiyuki Noda
Director Hidetsugu Hirai
Director Hidehito Hirokawa
Director Moriyuki Fukazawa
Director Koso Fujii
Director Yoshiaki Furugo
Director Kenji Furuya
Director Kouji Yamada
Director Shigeyuki Watanabe
Autidor Kiyohisa Arai
Auditor Akihiko Miura
Address:
Funamasa Bld. 2F,
1-16-1, Kita-Shinagawa,
Shinagawa-ku,
Tokyo, 140-0001,
Japan
Website: www.americanfootball.jp
News for Japan
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THEY SAID IT: QUOTES FROM THE IFAF WORLD TEAM
February 4, 2012
Tevaun Smith, Will Finch and Warren Craney react to victory.
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WATCH THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL BOWL WEBCAST RECAP
February 4, 2012
The full game broadcast by CBS Sports Network is available to view online now.
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IFAF WORLD TEAM WINS 2012 INTERNATIONAL BOWL 35-29
February 1, 2012
The IFAF World Team won a thrilling 2012 International Bowl 35-29 despite a rousing U.S. Under 19 National Team comeback that fell just short in the fourth quarter.
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IFAF WORLD TEAM LEADS 21-9 AT HALFTIME
February 1, 2012
Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren, Anthony Coombs and Tevaun Smith score first half touchdowns.
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WATCH THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL BOWL WEBCAST AND TELECAST LIVE ON WEDNESDAY
February 1, 2012
Live webcast available outside North America. Fans in USA and Canada can watch CBS Sports Network telecast.
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INTERNATIONAL BOWL VIDEO EPISODE 2: GOING TO WORK
January 31, 2012
Part two of the 2012 International Bowl video series takes a look at the IFAF World Team and U.S. Under-19 National Team as they take to the practice field for the first time.
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IFAF DEVELOPMENT TEAM SHOWCASES EMERGING INTERNATIONAL TALENT
January 31, 2012
The 2012 International Bowl is more than a chance for the International Federation of American Football to showcase the top under-19 talent from around the world.
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INTERNATIONAL BOWL VIDEO EPISODE 1: KICK OFF
January 30, 2012
Watch the first video in a behind-the-scenes series that takes you into the lives of the players and coaches as they prepare for the biggest game of their lives.
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IFAF WORLD TEAM PRACTICE REPORT
January 29, 2012
The World Team completed its second day of two-a-day practices on Saturday in preparation for Wednesday's International Bowl in Austin, Texas.
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IFAF WORLD TEAM ROSTER AND PLAYER BIOS
January 28, 2012
Players from nine IFAF federations will represent the world at the 2012 International Bowl in Austin, TX, on Feb 1.
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IFAF DEVELOPMENT TEAM IN ACTION AT INTERNATIONAL BOWL
January 28, 2012
A total of 60 junior American football players from 16 countries spread across four continents have traveled to Austin, Texas, as members of the IFAF World Development Team.
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COACH SPOTLIGHT: IFAF SPECIAL TEAMS COACH SHINZO YAMADA
January 28, 2012
Shinzo Yamada coached with the Japanese national team that won the bronze medal at the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship in July.
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ALMOST HALF A MILLION MILES TO PLAY FOOTBALL
January 27, 2012
The players who make up the IFAF World Team and the IFAF Development Team at the 2012 International Bowl have traveled a staggering combined 472,408 miles to step onto the field.
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FLIP CAM UPDATE: IFAF HEAD COACH GREG MARSHALL ADDRESSES THE IFAF WORLD TEAM
January 27, 2012
World Team and Development Team players attend the group's orientation after arriving in Austin, Texas.
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IFAF LAUNCHES EQUIPMENT PROGRAM TO BENEFIT MEMBERS WORLDWIDE
January 27, 2012
IFAF today launched the IFAF Equipment Program to benefit its 62 member federations and further the international growth of the sport.
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IFAF WORLD TEAM COACHES ARRIVE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
January 26, 2012
The IFAF World Team coaching staff from thirteen countries landed in Austin, Texas for the 2012 International Bowl despite weather conditions attempting to keep them away.
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INTERNATIONAL BOWL TO REACH WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE VIA LIVE WEBCAST
January 26, 2012
American football fans around the world will be able to tune in live via a webcast to watch the IFAF World Team take on America's Under-19 National Team.
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PRACTICE & EVENTS SCHEDULE AVAILABLE AND TICKETS ON SALE FOR INTERNATIONAL BOWL
January 25, 2012
USA Football and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) have released the practice and events schedule for the 2012 International Bowl in Austin, Texas.
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VIDEO RECAP: IFAF WORLD TEAM COACHES MEET IN SAN ANTONIO
January 21, 2012
Watch coach Greg Marshall and his staff describe the World Team preparations.
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VIDEO RECAP: AN INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE AT THE AFCA CONVENTION
January 16, 2012
Don't take our word for it... click here to watch the video!
Events
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11/03/2009
IFAF CALENDAR NOVEMBER & DECEMBER 2009 -
09/01/2009
IFAF CALENDAR SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2009 -
08/12/2009
IFAF CALENDAR AUGUST / SEPTEMBER 2009
Quick Facts
- More than 70% of Japan consists of mountains
- There are four different writing systems in Japan
- Japan is the largest automobile producer in the world
Contacts
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Takayoshi Koguchi
- Phone: +81-(0)3-3450-9360
- Email: press@americanfootball.jp