History of Football in Japan: Is the X-League the Most Competitive International Football League?
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Since 1934, Japan has been playing American Football. Today, they have highly organized leagues from youth football up to a professional league called the X-League. Compared to a lot of other international leagues I’ve seen, Japan seems to have a lot of talent and potential. I hope that by watching this video, you find it interesting, and can gain a better understanding of a country other than the US that plays American football.
Full disclaimer, I have no clue how to speak Japanese. People who have watched my other videos, might think that I’m not great at speaking English as well. I did my best to say many of the names and cities in this video. So, my apologies if I butchered any names or other words.
I also blurred out an image that I regretfully took from someone. Just a learning experience for my next video. So, you'll see around a 10-second blur once I start talking about the X-League at then end of the video.
Thanks for watching and make sure to like and subscribe to the channel. If you have any comments or concerns, write them below, or email me at cfbhistorychanne@gmail.com.
Below is a podcast called Gridiron Japan Hosted by John Gunning of Inside Sport Japan, form Obic Seagull BJ Beatty, Professional Football Researchers Association member, Greg St. James. The cover the ins and outs of football in Japan and have a lot of great interviews with current and former X league players. Make sure you check them out and give them a listen:
gridironjapan.jp/
gridironjapan....
Here are links to the two channels I mentioned in the video about football in Japan:
Colby Campbell: Vlog from an American Football Player in Japan / @colbycampbellc4
X-League: Main channel for the X-League. They post highlights of games and great interviews with some of their athletes / @xleague1996
If you are interested in learning more about the history of football, feel free to check out 'The Football Odyssey' website and podcast. They do a great job going over interesting and unique football topics. In one of their most recent podcast episodes, they interview Dan Moldea, an investigative journalist, to discuss his 1989 book: How Organized Crime Influences Professional Football. This book explored the relationship between the NFL and the world of gamblers and bookmakers, as well as chronicled the rise of the NFL Security Department which was created to safeguard the integrity of the game.
If you would like to check out The Football Odyssey, feel free to visit their website or listen to their podcast with the links below:
website: www.thefootbal...
podcast (Spotify): open.spotify.c...
podcast (Apple): podcasts.apple...
UA-cam: / @thefootballodyssey6849
Music Credit:
Ishikari Lore by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Source: incompetech.com...
Artist: incompetech.com/
The Voyage by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. creativecommon...
Artist: audionautix.com/
Japan also hosted HBCU teams. In 1976, Tokyo hosted The Coca-Cola Classic between The Morgan State Bears, and The Grambling State Tigers. The following year, The Grambling State Tigers traveled to Japan again to face The Temple Owls in The Mirage Bowl where Doug Williams played his last game as a college player.
Interesting! I'll try to look that game up
@@GridironHistoryWithKyleyeah they sure did and grambling won
That's outstanding. I had absolutely no idea.
Mexico and Brazil have leagues as well. Mexico has both collegiate and professional while Brazil has various sports clubs.
Yeah I've heard that mexicos is pretty good!
I do remember that back in the day, there was a beach league that would play during summer in Rio de Janeiro, fun stuff.
@@Mateus_Carvalho that's like NFL street. Man, they should bring that back.
@@GridironHistoryWithKyle Yeah, I'm not sure if it's still going, I believe it was named Carioca Bowl.
Found out about international leagues around 2020 and take any chance I can to find out more. If dude can make this same video but just for Mexico or even Europe I’d be happy
Great video! I play for the Norwegian team Vålerenga Trolls in Oslo, we have a small league, but we exist!
That's awesome! I'll check it out
Really. Anywhere I can see some game highlights? Also that is a pretty sweet team name.
That's awesome! My team is West Virginia. We've got Eddie Vesterinian from Finland and Victor Wickstrom from Sweden on our team! 😊
@@FavineMoore www.youtube.com/@AmFootballNorway has full games and highlights!
That is friggin priceless!! Welcome aboard!!
I served on the USS Independence in Yokosuka. We had a team and played other military teams plus teams from Japan. I was very impressed by their heart and sportsmanship.
I played while I was stationed there on the Kitty Hawk. Those Japanese boys play PERFECT FUNDAMENTALS!!
Yes sir. So well coached. @@chefhosanna
@@chefhosanna who did you play with? I am stationed at Yokosuka now, and am on an XLeague team here.
I remember watching the Indy play. It was fun watching you guys (Warriors, if I remember correctly). But so much for those days...no more contact football on base other than HS.
@@daverave5880 Yes sir. Black and Yellow. The INDY Warriors. I played in 94 and 95.
I saw a game between Japan and America that literally came down to the last real play, the db took the ball out of the Japanese receiver's hands and stopped the game winning TD. Japan has got plenty of good skill position players, but they don't really have the size to compete for a full game on either side of the line. If they can convince guys who get into sumo to become lineman instead, I think they'd definitely be able to pull off a win. A college like Hawaii that isn't going to be able to compete in recruiting in the NIL era should definitely be trying to bring in a few Japanese players.
the top sumo guys make a lot of money...
@@propertymanager9149 not compared to an NFL lineman
NGL I wouldn't be opposed to changing the name of football to 'armored ball'. That sounds bad ass as all hell!
I absolutely loved this video. I always tell ppl that American football is played around the world, and due to ignorance, they dont believe me. Please keep making these kinds of videos!
This was great man! Glad to see some interest in the Xleague in America!
If you have any questions i would direct you over to InsideSport Japan or the Gridiron Podcast for all things Japan football related in English!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
日本を取り上げてくれてありがとう！
Of course! I need to visit now! Japan represents the sport very well!
The rice bowl sounds like a parody name. It goes fire though
The relatively new European league project - the European League of Football - has also shown some promise in the last few years. Sadly there's not as much of an unbroken tradition of playing football here as there is in Japan but it is the most promising project here in Europe for a while putting together the best talent from Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Scandinavia (sadly without their own team as of yet) and the like.
(Also small nitpicky correction: it's the Bolzano Giants, not Bolanzo)
Accidentally, I found this leagues semi finals..... noticed that one of the teams had the old Berlin Thunder.logos....any way to keep up with the EFL..???
@@Donathon-qx8kqjust google European league of football (ELF), and their site should pop up. They have a game pass so you can watch their games. It’s good football, and they’ve signed some solid talent this off season. It’s a lot more raw which is what I like.
@@Donathon-qx8kq Other than the EFL UA-cam Channel showing highlights of their games, not much in term of any US Tv networks showing them. You have to buy their League Pass at their website.
ELF has even sent one player to the NFL (who was also selected to Pro Bowl)
@@dragoz1125 oh wow really? Who?
This is interesting, like most Americans probably I had no idea they played American football in Japan. I wonder if Japan League all stars played against University of Hawaii if it would be a competitive game?
A couples of days after I posted this video, their all-star team beat the ivy leagues all-star team. It could be interesting.
I am an American Soldier that's stationed in germany. Believe me, there is an appetite for American football. Even my small village about 10 miles across has a team since 1981, ansbach grizzlies. They got a team in every major german city I know of. The first nfl game 2 years ago in munich bucs vs dolphins sold out in 30min, tickets started at 600 euros ($600).
I was also stationed in Korea 2 years. Although many koreans know about American football, it's not widely played. Never heard of football teams in college or club teams.
Great video! I live in South Korea and I actually started to look into American football out here and like you said in the video, it isn’t that big since it’s not in America.
Thanks! Isn't baseball pretty big out there?
@@GridironHistoryWithKyle yep! Baseball is the big sport next to Soccer.
I briefly played rugby with a guy from Japan who had grown up playing American Football
Great, super informative video. You have a voice for radio.
Thanks for the support!
I was stationed in Japan, and we had a military football league between the different branches and bases. Our team would play against the Japan X-League teams once or twice per year. These guys were surprisingly very good. Not as physically dominant as American players, but they knew the game and were very fundamentally sound.
If conviced enough, maybe the NFL can play some games in Japan or just Asia as a whole. The only problem that it would have to be West Coast & Mountain teams and because NFL games are played in the middle of the night
I do think that it has a big impact though. The more games there the better!
They have done a preseason game in Japan before but they haven't done that in a long while
Own of my favorite recent WVU QBs, Skyler Howard, played in Japan for Obic in 2018 and 2019.
Your page is gonna blow bro keep it up
Really appreciate it. I think people will really like the next few videos
I’m from Brazil and like your content for real, my fav sport is American football, I had played at the beach when I was 17, the sport is growing and growing through the years here, we have full pads leagues, and flag national teams it’s awesome 🏈🇧🇷, can u do a video about football in Brazil? Shout out from 🇧🇷
I do plan on doing a video on Brazils league in the future!
Great lead, 2 minutes in and I'm hooked the entire time.
I appreciate it!
Idk how I ended up here at midnight, but this was an extremely well-done video definitely worth a sub
"Armored Ball" is a perfectly acceptable alternative name in this American's opinion.
I know. They could've left it like that
I can get behind that.
In 1993 a Japanese company bought Loretta Heights Campus (Colorado) and placed Teikyo university campus there. Japanese students who attended played semi-pro football in our league. They were terrible, but they fought til the end. Ive never forgotten them.
Japan won the IAFA World Championship three times and even upset the American team.. Teams from all over the world played in the Tournament. Sadly, they changed the format.I used watch the Tourney when it was active. And they were very competitive as well
Amazing videos, you should try and cover or research the GDFL or some semi pro teams there’s enough beef and crazy stories everywhere
Appreciate it! Thanks!
Can we all agree to use the term Gridiron when we are talking about American Football outside America? It would be so much easier to get popular with a name that doesn't conflict the same way Americans call soccer
Canadian Football is also Gridiron, 3 downs on a different field with different rules.
It is however actual, non- metric Football
American Football is fine brother
We invented it.
That's what people here in Australia call it. I hate the term "Gridiron" I'd rather call it American Football..
The disrespect to Football in Germany is Crazy
Haha not going to lie, I didn't realize how good it was until later. American ignorance again...
@cfbhistorychannel guess you're gonna have to do a video about it, oh well 😉
@@natethefighter it would be more fun to turn this into a travel vlog where I explore each country that plays football haha
@@GridironHistoryWithKyle if your in Germany and Need some inside Hit me up lol
Man, I would love to watch the other Football Leagues from around the world. Just need to know where to watch them at or catch Highlights.
I'll also rock some merch and pick teams to cheer for.
Just added a link to the xleagues channel in the description!
This is a very high quality vid for someone wit yo follower count
Thanks! Just got started really making stuff again after a few years so I had to kind of restart! Trying to to keep posting stuff though!
Bro, what a banger channel. Subscribed!!
Thanks! There's more to come!
Much appreciated on the shoutout!
FYI, Japan become winner of 2023 IFAF Asia-Oceania Flag Football Continental Championship in Women's Division & 2nd Runner-up in Men's Division
Honestly I grew up in Ireland where there's no real american football presence but I have been loving seeing the ELF rise. Its definitely not even a match for the CFL yet but I'd love to see a team of American college players do a barnstorming event through the EU playing teams in Milan, Paris, Barcelona etc. It would do good for both.
Great video! Learned a lot. Coincidentally just went to my first X League game last weekend. Nojima Sagamihara Rise vs. All Mitsubishi Lions at the Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki. Exited for the Spring season and Fall season! Thanks for shining a light on the X League.
That's great! I'm debating on whether or not to get a subscription to watch the games over here in the US!
Been waiting forever for this video. Always wanted to learn more about the X-league and how the upper echelons of the league still work as salarymen or construction jobs. If you haven’t yet would love a video about the Mexican American Football culture.
Japan will be the pros at this game with a lot of training and hard work
I remember the Falcons gave one of the Japanese football players the chance to make the falcons. He was a return man”If I remember correctly “.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noriaki_Kinoshita
First of all Go Vols! Second, I really enjoyed this video!
There’s American football leagues all around the world! Just because people don’t know it doesn’t mean it ain’t there 🤞🏽 I played in Spain, Norway, and Australia last year. It’s everywhere
I love sports history and this was excellent interesting and flawlessly presented.
Great video. Not too long, not too short. Great info. Thanks. Another reason to go to Japan!
日本のアメリカンフットボールの歴史についてのこのビデオは楽しかったです
There's an episode of Sailor Moon Stars (the 5th and final season) where Usagi's high school has an American football team and the star player gets attacked by the monster of the episode.
I was surprised that a 90s show would reference the sport but then I learned about the X League.
Awesome video.........DEFINITELY didn't know their was football 🏈 in Japan............AWESOME!!!!!!
Really good video
Appreciate it!
revisiting this today as this year a US team (U20?) lost to Japan along with the Ivy League All Star football team losing to Japan in the Dream Bowl played in January.
I know! I'll mention briefly in my video that is coming out this Friday or Saturday
There was also the Japan Bowl College AllStar Football game held after the Hula Bowl in the 70s and 80s that include Joe Montana in 1981!
I’ve always been curious on how Japan played American football. I knew about the X League but didn’t know how far it went. glad to see they’re enjoying the game all of us love here in the States
Your pronunciation was pretty good. I live in Japan and I only noticed a few small slip ups.
I’ve been to every X League championship game for the last 12 years. They play in the Tokyo Dome. Is a blast.
The game between the best college team and X League team is still going on and it draws more fans than the X League championship. It’s also played in the Tokyo Dome.
That's awesome. It looks so fun!
And now. Rice Bowl entered as X-League Championship after spend year in couple years in Koshien Bowl Champ vs X-Bowl Champ era.
Love this information, thank you!
American football is very popular around the world it might not be like “soccer” or basketball level but there’s tons of highschool and like middle school American football programs. So if the kids are wanting to play than that means it’s pretty popular.
I have been rigning this bell for years. Football in Japan is the real F'n deal. If I were an NFL owner, I would be bringing over some of these guys at the skill & O-Line positions.
Kids will have to play college ball in the US first for that to happen. I don't see NFL teams taking a ton of chances on semi pro players, but I agree! Give some of these guys a chance!
@@GridironHistoryWithKyle the NFL has the International Pathway Program. Established in 2017, the IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster. A few guys from that program have made active rosters. I believe Washington had a TE from this program a few season ago. Even before IPP was established, international semi pro players were joining the NFL. For example, Babatunde Łukasz Aiyegbusi played semi pro in Poland and Germany before joining the Vikings for 2015 preseason. So NFL teams have, and will continue to, give intl players a chance. It is just not often they stay on rosters unfortunately, at least not yet.
@@daradJordan Mailata was from the IPP
USA: "Other countries play Football?"
Other Countries: "Americans play Football?"
JK, USA Soccer is not too bad...
Rugby is a lot more popular in japan as they love the more physical game.
It's probably a lot easier to play a rig y game to compared to a football game logistically. You don't need pads or anything
@@GridironHistoryWithKyle not only that, and rugby union has a far more developed international game than American football with a World Cup which is one of the world's biggest international sporting events (it doesn't hurt that the national team has performed relatively well in recent tourneys), and Japan has one of the highest-paying comps in either code of rugby, which doesn't exactly hurt its popularity in the Land of the Rising Sun.
I would love to see some of the X league players make it in the NFL. That would be cool to see a Japanese player make the Pro Bowl or an All-Pro team.
Yeah I feel like they'll have to have a good players at the college or high school level that can go play at a big college or something
i think it can also be called gridiron football
Gridiron Football is a more general term that encompasses the codes of American, Canadian, and Arena Football. Sorta like how Rugby subdivides into Rugby League, Rugby Union, and Rugby Sevens.
Your beginning argument is a bit off though. Being able to "hold your own" against the US isn't something most countries could say for many sports until recent decades.
Aside from Japan, baseball was as American as you could get, with only surrounding North American countries being any good at it. Same with NBA, until they made a dedicated effort to globalize & push interest across the world. The "Dream Team" is so iconic because it was when the US finally put its best pro players into the mix again, and they utterly steamrolled the competition from around the world.
Fast forward 20 years, and you have some of the best players in the league coming from Europe & elsewhere in the world, and actual competition at the Olympics & FIBA tournaments. Even still, it's always a huge story when the US loses a single game, let alone a tournament, in these events.
The NFL is popular in many countries, but we're only now getting to a point where "American football" is being introduced in schools & growing leagues outside of the usual North American countries. That's what is required for sports to catch on. But we can see it's growing tremendously overseas, as even flag football is becoming an Olympic sport in 2028.
Just as Japan took over the most dedicated country for baseball, you can expect others to start growing with American football. It will never become as popular as international football, but it can be extremely successful in a decade or two.
*Edit: I realize I just went off on a tangent about an innocuous comment... I'm sorry. The video was really awesome, and I don't want to sound rude! Great work, and really informative 😊*
I definitely agree with you about American made sports, but I feel like other countries are competitive in any other sport, if not better than us. I don't have a lot of data to back up that feeling though.
The *Tokyo* *Gas* *Creators* might just be my new favorite sports team name.
Great video
Thanks!
great video! subscribed!
Also, please read the book The Eagles Of Heart Mountain, a great story of the Japanese American high schoolers interned during WW2 that went undefeated playing tough football. A fascinating true story.
wow this is awesome
Thanks!
Next video pls about Elf. The short name stands for european league of football
In the anime series "Sailor Moon" there is usually a one-shot protagonist character that gets "possessed" into a monster that has to be be "cured" by Sailor Moon and the gang. One episode of I think Sailor Moon Super (season 3) had an episode where the protagonist of the week was a football player who was very good in with many clips throughout the episode where he competed in what looked like compelling and competitive American style Football that would not be out of place if that was an American cartoon like Family Guy or The Simpsons. And it wasn't played off as a joke or "some dumb things Americans do that we are doing for kicks", they played it just as seriously as they do Baseball and it was really interesting to see. If football is big enough in Japan to have an entire episode of a popular anime series depict it with such depth, It got me thinking at the time how common football was in Japan and did some searches at the time and it turns out they have a very strong football culture there and unlike Australia that have their own special rules for "Football" they play it basically exactly like American Football with only a small number of minor rules changes.
Awesome video
Japan is actually more sophisticated then most people would imagine. Are players are bigger and faster but the way they organize and execute is very respectable.
They should really do an International tournament.
Same way baseball has the world baseball classic.
Sure some teams would be poor compared to others but like the Czech Republics baseballs team had electricians and plumbers.
There is a American football world cup a tournament where Japan won it twice and America 3x times
@@iakadayrneh yeah but not a worldwide competition.
@@KrisVic91 It's a world wide international competition played by various countries from Asia, Americas,Europe and Africa and was won by japan so japan were former World Champions in American football the U.S national team wre 3x World champion.
@@iakadayrneh Oh sweet cool. What's it called?
@@KrisVic91 IFAF World Championship or the American football World Cup
Good stuff, subbed
Cool vid. Had no idea
999th subscriber. Posting this for when you ever get huge
Canada plays Canadian football, which is actually older than the American variation.
Since this video was posted, Japan defeated a USA All-Star team in Canada. Not happy USA lost, but the defeat may increase interest in football around the world.
I am from India. We even had a pro league (or should I say semi pro). I even played as a cornerback in few pre season games back in 2013. The sport continues to be played even today in India. But the pro league is no longer played. We have a university tournament and inter state tournament. Then the Indian National team has played 1 full contact American Football match against UAE in 2016 and many flag football matches since then.
I am just now seeing this comment. I'll have to check it out!
Is this league? ua-cam.com/video/7CpAx9EnMFo/v-deo.html
I was living in Scotland at the peak of World Football (NFL Europe) in the mid 90's. They were calling American football "gridiron football."
Yes, I think a lot of places still use that term today!
nice video!
Thank you!
There's a league in Russia called Eastern European Super League (EESL). Some matches of that league were shown on Russian TV, but the quality was... how to put it... not so good. Some stadiums have fields that are a bit short for a full 120 yard long field... I was watching one of the games and couldn't figure out, how long the field was for at least ten minutes before I realized that the field without end zone was just 94 yard long, middle point was at 47 yard line... I didn't figure out the length of end zones on that stadium but I didn't care much after the fact that the game was played on the stadium that was not big enough to host the game...
The rice bowl is crazy 😂
It's the BEST name ever!!!
It's different for sure. But they take it very seriously and play it well
Germany has two professional leagues and about ten regional leagues we have over 300 teams we have the best international U20 league we have multiple U16 leagues we have multiple U13 leagues and a U10 flag league and in every age group we have a national championship also five german teams are in the european league of football the biggest national league in the world
This is great information! I do plan on doing a Germany episode soon.
U.S. has been playing regular season games in Europe for years now.
Since Flag Football is coming to the Olympics it will be really interesting to see how other countries will handle American Football. Will they develop their leagues and try to match NFL-caliber players? Will the NFL expand to other nations 10+ years down the road to promote a competitive Olympic team? It is crazy just to think about hearing Britain or Germany having a whole division in the potential future but I know the logistics would be killer for American-based teams traveling to face them repeatedly.
I think we will see that the US at first won't have any NFL caliber players. I don't think there are any current NFL players playing flag football in the Olympics this year. Until that happens I think that most teams will compete with us.
@@GridironHistoryWithKyle Flag Football would be available to play for all countries in 2028 games Mahomes and Hill have shown interest in playing but I don't the rules for participation yet. I hope they don't implement the Olympic Rules that the NBA had on them before 1992. It would be disappointing to see only college players play for the sake of fairness.
The mirage bowl needs to make a comeback
David Pindell is a good one too 🤙🏻🤙🏻
I learned about Japanese football or amefuto from the Eyeshield 21 anime.
This is badass
Bro Eyeshield 21 the anime introduced me to Japanese football they actually love it and baseball more then many American fans
I think I might read it and eventually do a video on it now. Too many people have recommended it on here!
Armored Ball was actually rad name
Yeah, in Italy the only Football we care about it's what you call "soccer'....and we are pretty damn good at it.
It's in our blood, it's not only sport for us but it's a way of life, from the cradle to the grave.
But, I'm also in mad love-with american football: the competitiveness, the brutality and the resemblance of '80 NFL Football Game with old Roman Arena, were football players looked like gladiators, made me fall in love with the sport since I was a kid.
I'm 48 and still in love with it.
#1 don’t let your borders do the thinking for you, #2 England invented the word Soccer, #3 Soccer is popular because it’s cheap
Surely u never saw "Eyeshield"
Suprised that CFB MAN here did not know they played AMERICAN FOOTBALL in Japan. Other countries also have there brand of football. Australiian Rules Football, gaelic Football in Irleand.
I was more surprised with how many people play and how popular it is! I didn't think it would be popular at all there.
Uhm... Canada plays CANADIAN football, not AMERICAN football. Just a small correction.
I actually LIKE the Canadian code, and understand that the two are more similar to one another than even Aussie and Gaelic rules football.
@@blackfreethinker2525 I know watch only CFL action. It's SO FUN. SO FUN.
“Armorball” is a pretty great name for the sport
Sweet, I might have a league I can follow soon, hope they keep building, give us something to substitute for the NFL
More history of 🏈 in others contries 🙏.
you should take a look at europe where nearly every county have AF league.
I play in the Russian league, we have the passion, we have the teams, we just don't have the money.
The Russian league looked really cool. What team do you play for?
Japan and Mexico are pretty even competition wise they both play at a high level collegiately as well, europe has a great professional system idk about college there though
Once I get done with my current series, I'm going to start working on a video about football in Mexico!
Football has spread all over the Americas. From Mexico to Chile and Argentina. There are leagues, some younger than others. Others more mature than others. Yet, they're there. Europe has quality league and continental meets as well. Remnants from NFL Europe.