Japan national American football team
![]()
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Association | JAFA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region | Asia (AFAF) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Founded | 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Colors | Red, White | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Head coach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
General manager | Shinzo Yamada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
First international | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Palermo, Italy; June 28, 1999) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biggest win | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Osaka, Japan; February 23, 2003) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Biggest defeat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Canton, United States; July 18, 2015) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IFAF World Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Appearances | 5 (first in 1999) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best result | ![]() |
Medal record | ||
---|---|---|
Men’s American football | ||
Representing ![]() | ||
World Championship | ||
![]() |
1999 Italy | Team Competition |
![]() |
2003 Germany | Team Competition |
![]() |
2007 Japan | Team Competition |
![]() |
2011 Austria | Team Competition |
![]() |
2015 United States | Team Competition |
The Japan national American football team represents Japan in international American football competitions. The team is controlled by the Japan American Football Association, and has been one of the world's strongest international teams since it began participating regularly in international tournaments in the 1990s, and currently possesses the second most American Football World Cups[1] (1999, 2003).
Japan won the inaugural 1999 IFAF World Championship and won again in 2003.[2] In 2007 they advanced to the final, losing to the United States 23–20 in overtime.[3][4][5] In 2010 Japan beat Germany 24–14 in the inaugural Germany-Japan Bowl.[6] In February 2011, Japan bested South Korea (76–0) to qualify for the 2011 IFAF World Championship.[7]
IFAF World Championship record[]
Year | Position | GP | W | L | PF | PA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 84 | 14 |
![]() |
1st | 2 | 2 | 0 | 57 | 20 |
![]() |
2nd | 3 | 2 | 1 | 116 | 23 |
![]() |
3rd | 4 | 3 | 1 | 103 | 61 |
![]() |
2nd | 3 | 1 | 2 | 65 | 109 |
2011 IFAF World Championship Roster[]
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Inactive List
Roster updated 2011-07-08 |
2014[]
Preparing for the qualification match for the 2015 IFAF World Championship, the JAFA scheduled an international friendly match against Germany on April 12, 2014 at Kawasaki Stadium in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. 85 players were initially chosen for the national team on March 11 which was whittled down to the required 45-men roster before April 12.[8] Before a crowd of 1,889, Japan defeated Germany 38–0 in a strong defensive showing for the Japanese which limited Germany to only 135 yards of total offense, as well as causing four turnovers and two sacks, the latter of which was all in the second half.[9] Before going against the Philippines, Japan made 5 changes in their roster, replacing WRs Ryoma Hagiyama and Naoki Maeda with Takeshi Akiyama and Junpei Yoshimoto, RB Keita Takanohashi with Takashi Miyako, LB Yuki Ikeda with Yoshiki Tanaka, and S Toshinari Masatani with Takeshi Miyake.[10] Against a young Philippine team that was in its first year in the IFAF, the Japanese showed no quarter, scoring on every offensive possession as well as holding the Philippines to only 1st down en route to an 86–0 victory, the 2nd biggest win in the national team's history.[11] With the win, Japan, along with South Korea, (which defeated Kuwait in the other qualification match 69-7) qualified for the 2015 IFAF World Championship tournament in Canton, Ohio, United States.
Japan 2014 final roster | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends |
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen |
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Head Coach
[1] accessed 2016-03-09 |
2015[]
Due to Canada dropping out of the tournament for personal team reasons, Japan was granted a bye on the scheduled match which was supposed to be on July 9 and in turn would play the winner of the Mexico-United States match on July 12. In their first match of the tournament, Japan, despite a strong defensive showing in the first half that included 2 interceptions and 29-yd field goal block, eventually lost to the United States 18–43. In their 2nd match, Japan defeated Mexico 35–7 with a strong effort on offense and defense. The win ensured the Japanese a rematch with the United States for the Gold Medal. Team Japan would lose to the United States 12–59 in what is the national team's largest loss in history.
Japan 2015 final roster | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen |
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Head Coach
Assistant Coaches
Team Doctor
Trainers
Equipment Managers
Director of Operations
[2] accessed 2016-03-09 |
See also[]
- Eyeshield 21
- X-League
Notes[]
- ^ "IFAF Competition". IFAF. Retrieved 2014-05-07.
- ^ http://www.worldcup2003.info/[permanent dead link]
- ^ "U.S. edges Japan to win football World Cup". Bangor Daily News. July 16, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ "U.S. wins American football title". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. July 15, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2011.
- ^ "3rd IFAF World Championships2007 in KAWASAKI/JAPAN".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-18. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sf20110227a1.html[dead link]
- ^ "Japan names 45-man squad for clash with Germany". xleague.com. April 9, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ Marantz, Ken (April 14, 2014). "Japan grinds out 38-0 win over Germany". xleague.com. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ "Japan makes 5 changes for clash with Philippines". xleague.com. April 21, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
- ^ Ikezawa, Hiroshi (April 26, 2014). "Japan rolls to 2015 IFAF berth with rout". japantimes.co.jp. Retrieved March 11, 2016.
External links[]
- (in Japanese) Japan American football national team Official website
- American football in Japan
- Men's national American football teams
- National sports teams of Japan
- 1984 establishments in Japan
- American football teams established in 1984