American Football in Japan
Japan American Football Association (JAFA) logo.
Koshien Bowl  •  Japan X Bowl  •  Rice Bowl

Koshien Bowl
Mainichi Koshien Bowl logo.
(Kanto League champion v. Kansai League champion)
Koshien Bowl 1 1946  Keio University Unicorns (W 47-0) Doshisha University Wild Rover  (4/13/1947)
Koshien Bowl 2 1947  Kansai University Eagles (W 6-0) Meiji University Griffins  (1/1/1948)
Koshien Bowl 3 1948  Keio University Unicorns (W 14-7) Kansai University Eagles  (11/9/1949)
Koshien Bowl 4 1949  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 25-7) Keio University Unicorns  (12/18)
Koshien Bowl 5 1950  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 20-6) Keio University Unicorns  (12/10)
Koshien Bowl 6 1951  Rikkyo University Rushers (W 19-14) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/9)
Koshien Bowl 7 1952  Rikkyo University Rushers (W 20-0) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/7)
Koshien Bowl 8 1953  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 19-7) Rikkyo University Rushers  (12/6)
Koshien Bowl 9 1954  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 15-7) Rikkyo University Rushers  (12/5)
Koshien Bowl 10 1955  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (T 26-26) Nihon University Phoenix  (11/23)
Koshien Bowl 11 1956  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 33-0) Nihon University Phoenix  (11/23)
Koshien Bowl 12 1957  Nihon University Phoenix (W 14-6) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (11/24)
Koshien Bowl 13 1958  Nihon University Phoenix (W 13-12) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/7)
Koshien Bowl 14 1959  Nihon University Phoenix (W 42-0) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/6)
Koshien Bowl 15 1960  Rikkyo University Rushers (W 36-16) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/4)
Koshien Bowl 16 1961  Nihon University Phoenix (W 14-6) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/10)
Koshien Bowl 17 1962  Nihon University Phoenix (W 28-24) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/2)
Koshien Bowl 18 1963  Nihon University Phoenix (W 30-18) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters(12/8)>
Koshien Bowl 19 1964  Nihon University Phoenix (W 48-14) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/15)
Koshien Bowl 20 1965  Rikkyo University Rushers (T 22-22) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/5)
Koshien Bowl 21 1966  Nihon University Phoenix (W 40-12) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/4)
Koshien Bowl 22 1967  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 31-12) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/10)
Koshien Bowl 23 1968  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighter (W 38-36) Meiji University Griffins  (12/15)
Koshien Bowl 24 1969  Nihon University Phoenix (W 30-14) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/14)
Koshien Bowl 25 1970  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 34-6) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 26 1971  Nihon University Phoenix (W 28-22) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/12)
Koshien Bowl 27 1972  Hosei University Tomahawks (W 34-20) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/10)
Koshien Bowl 28 1973  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 24-7) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/9)
Koshien Bowl 29 1974  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 28-20) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/8)
Koshien Bowl 30 1975  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 56-7) Meiji University Griffins  (12/14)
Koshien Bowl 31 1976  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 29-22) Meiji University Griffins  (12/12)
Koshien Bowl 32 1977  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 51-20) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/11)
Koshien Bowl 33 1978  Nihon University Phoenix (W 63-7) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/10)
Koshien Bowl 34 1979  Nihon University Phoenix (W 48-0) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/9)
Koshien Bowl 35 1980  Nihon University Phoenix (W 42-7) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 36 1981  Nihon University Phoenix (W 42-31) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 37 1982  Nihon University Phoenix (W 65-28) Kyoto University Gangsters  (12/12)
Koshien Bowl 38 1983  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 30-14) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/11)
Koshien Bowl 39 1984  Nihon University Phoenix (T 42-42) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/9)
Koshien Bowl 40 1985  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 48-46) Meiji University Griffins  (12/8)
Koshien Bowl 41 1986  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 49-28) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/14)
Koshien Bowl 42 1987  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 41-17) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 43 1988  Nihon University Phoenix (W 35-28) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/11)
Koshien Bowl 44 1989  Nihon University Phoenix (W 45-14) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/17)
Koshien Bowl 45 1990  Nihon University Phoenix (W 34-7) Kyoto University Gangsters  (12/16)
Koshien Bowl 46 1991  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 25-20) Senshu University Green Machine  (12/15)
Koshien Bowl 47 1992  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 17-7) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 48 1993  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 35-10) Nippon College Golden Bears  (12/19)
Koshien Bowl 49 1994  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 24-22) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/18)
Koshien Bowl 50 1995  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 24-17) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/17)
Koshien Bowl 51 1996  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 28-21) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/15)
Koshien Bowl 52 1997  Hosei University Tomahawks (T 21-21) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/20)
Koshien Bowl 53 1998  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 25-17) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/19)
Koshien Bowl 54 1999  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 52-13) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/19)
Koshien Bowl 55 2000  Hosei University Tomahawks (W 28-21) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/17)
Koshien Bowl 56 2001  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 24-6) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/16)
Koshien Bowl 57 2002  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 51-14) Waseda University Big Bears  (12/15)
Koshien Bowl 58 2003  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 61-6) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/21)
Koshien Bowl 59 2004  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 38-17) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/19)
Koshien Bowl 60 2005  Hosei University Tomahawks (W 17-14) Ritsumeikan University Panthers  (12/18)
Koshien Bowl 61 2006  Hosei University Tomahawks (W 45-43) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/17)
Koshien Bowl 62 2007  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 41-38) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/16)
Koshien Bowl 63 2008  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 19-8) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/21)
(Japan University American Football Championship: East Japan v. West Japan)
Koshien Bowl 64 2009  Kansai University Kaisers (W 50-38) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 65 2010  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 48-21) Waseda University Big Bears  (12/19)
Koshien Bowl 66 2011  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 24-3) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/18)
Koshien Bowl 67 2012  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 20-17) Hosei University Tomahawks  (12/16)
Koshien Bowl 68 2013  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 23-9) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/15)
Koshien Bowl 69 2014  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 55-10) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/14)
Koshien Bowl 70 2015  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 28-27) Waseda University Big Bears  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 71 2016  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 31-14) Waseda University Big Bears  (12/18)
Koshien Bowl 72 2017  Nihon University Phoenix (W 23-17) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  (12/17)
Koshien Bowl 73 2018  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 37-20) Waseda University Big Bears  (12/16)
Koshien Bowl 74 2019  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 38-28) Waseda University Big Bears  (12/15)
Koshien Bowl 75 2020  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 42-24) Nihon University Phoenix  (12/13)
Koshien Bowl 76 2021  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 47-7) Hosei Orange  (12/19)
Koshien Bowl 77 2022  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 34-17) Hosei Orange  (12/18)

 

Japan X Bowl
X League logo.
(Company League from 1981 • X League from 1996)
Tokyo Super Bowl 1 1987  Renoun Rovers (W 31-28) Asahi Beer Silver Star,  at Yokohama Stadium
Tokyo Super Bowl 2 1988  Renoun Rovers (W 28-20) Matsushita Denko Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Super Bowl 3 1989  Asahi Beer Silver Star (W 14-9) NEC Falcons,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Super Bowl 4 1990  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 14-6) Onward Oaks,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Super Bowl 5 1991  Onward Oaks (W 49-10) Sun Star Finies,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Super Bowl 6 1992  Asahi Beer Silver Star (W 21-7) Matsushita Denko Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Super Bowl 7 1993  Asahi Beer Solver Star (W 13-0) Sun Star Finies,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Super Bowl 8 1994  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 48-28) Onward Oaks,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Super Bowl 9 1995  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 54-20) Recruit Seagulls,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Sup. Bowl 10 1996  Recruit Seagulls (W 30-10) Onward Oaks,  at ,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Sup. Bowl 11 1997  Kajima Deers (W 48-12) Matsushita Denko Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Sup. Bowl 12 1998  Recruit Seagulls (W 45-24) Asahi Beer Silver Star,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Sup. Bowl 13 1999  Asahi Beer Silver Star (W 18-16) Kajima Deers,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Sup, Bowl 14 2000  Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers (W 20-18) Matsushita Denko Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome
Tokyo Sup. Bowl 15 2001  Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers (W 14-7) Matsushita Denko Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome
Japan X Bowl 16 2002  Recruit Seagulls (W 14-7) Fujitsu Frontiers,  at Tokyo Dome
Japan X Bowl 17 2003  Onward Skylarks (W 13-10) Asahi Beer Silver Star,,  at Tokyo Dome
Japan X Bowl 18 2004  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 15-6) Asahi Beer Silver Star,  at Wing Stadium  15,000 (12/18)
Japan X Bowl 19 2005  Obic Seagulls (W 25-16) Matsushita Denko Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome  13,564 (12/19)
Japan X Bowl 20 2006  Onward Skylarks (W 24-21) Kajima Deers,  at Kyocera Dome, Osaka  12,327 (12/16)
Japan X Bowl 21 2007  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 33-13) Fujitsu Frontiers,  at Tokyo Dome  17,629 (12/17)
Japan X Bowl 22 2008  Panasonic Denko Impulse (W 28-14) Kajima Deers,  at Kyocera Dome, Osaka  13,634 (12/13)
Japan X Bowl 23 2009  Kajima Deers (W 21-14) Fujitsu Frontiers,  at Tokyo Dome  22,059 (12/21)
Japan X Bowl 24 2010  Obic Seagull (W 20-16) Panasonic Electric Works Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome  18,353
Japan X Bowl 25 2011  Obic Seagull (W 24-17) Fujitsu Frontiers,  at Tokyo Dome  19,864 (12/19)
Japan X Bowl 26 2012  Obic Seagull (W 27-24) Kajima Deers,  at Tokyo Dome  23,126 (12/17)
Japan X Bowl 27 2013  Obic Seagulls (W 24-16) Fujitsu Frontiers,  at Tokyo Dome  22,488 (12/16)
Japan X Bowl 28 2014  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 44-10) IBM BigBlue,  at Tokyo Dome  25,085 (12/15)
Japan X Bowl 29 2015  Panasonic Impulse (W 24-21) Fujitsu Frontiers,  at Tokyo Dome  25,408 (12/14)
Japan X Bowl 30 2016  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 16-3) Obic Seagulls,  at Tokyo Dome  25,455 (12/12)
Japan X Bowl 31 2017  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 63-23) IBM BigBlue,  at Tokyo Dome  22,953 (12/18)
Japan X Bowl 32 2018  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 35-18) IBM BigBlue,  at Tokyo Dome   (12/17)
Japan X Bowl 33 2019  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 28-26) Panasonic Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome  
Japan X Bowl 34 2020  Obic Seagulls (W 13-7) Fujitsu Fronters,  at Tokyo Dome  
Japan X Bowl 35 2023  Asahi Soft Drink Challengers (W 14-7) IBM Big Blue,  at Kobe Wing Stadium  

 

Ocean Bowl
(Club teams • East Japan v. West Japan)
(Began 2017)
Ocean Bowl 19 2013  Urawa Urawers (W 20-0) Aggressors     (Feb. 24)  [see note below]
Ocean Bowl 1 2017  Urawa Urawazu (W 17-0) Nagano Blue Purse     (Feb. 12)
Ocean Bowl 2 2018  Urawa Urawazu (W 28-0) Bootiegs     (Feb. 12)
Ocean Bowl 3 2019  Tachikawa Falcons (W 21-0) Nagano Blue Purse     (Feb. 17)
Ocean Bowl 4 2020  Urawa Urawazu (W 38-0) Kanazawa Werssenberg    

 


Rice Bowl
Rice Bowl logo.
(College All-Star Game 1947 to 1982)
(Koshien Bowl Champ v. Company League Champ from 1983 • v. X Bowl champ since 1987 • X-League champion since 2021)
Rice Bowl 1 1983  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 29-28) Renoun Rovers  at National Stadium, Tokyo   (1/3/1984)
Rice Bowl 2 1984  Nihon University Phoenix (W 53-21) Renoun Rovers  at National Stadium, Tokyo   (1/3/85)
Rice Bowl 3 1985  Renown Rovers (W 45-42) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  at National Stadium, Tokyo   (1/3/86)
Rice Bowl 4 1986  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 35-34) Renoun Rovers  at National Stadium, Tokyo   (1/3/87)
Rice Bowl 5 1987  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 42-8) Renoun Rovers  at National Stadium, Tokyo   (1/3/88)
Rice Bowl 6 1988  Nihon University Phoenix (W 47-7) Renoun Rovers  at National Stadium, Tokyo   (1/3/89)
Rice Bowl 7 1989  Nihon University Phoenix (W 42-14) Asahi Beer Silver Star  at National Stadium, Tokyo   (1/3/90)
Rice Bowl 8 1990  Nihon University Phoenix (W 35-13) Matsushita Denko Impulse  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/91)
Rice Bowl 9 1991  Onward Oaks (W 28-6) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/92)
Rice Bowl 10 1992  Asahi Beer Silver Star (W 29-20) Kyoto University Gangsters  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/93)
Rice Bowl 11 1993  Asahi Beer Silver Star (W 28-23) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/94)
Rice Bowl 12 1994  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 16-14) Ritsumeikan University Panthers  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/95)
Rice Bowl 13 1995  Kyoto University Gangsters (W 35-21) Matsushita Denko Impulse  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/96)
Rice Bowl 14 1996  Recruit Seagulls (W 19-16) Kyoto University Gangsters  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/97)
Rice Bowl 15 1997  Kajima Deers (W 39-0) Hosei University Tomahawks  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/98)
Rice Bowl 16 1998  Recruit Seagulls (W 30-16) Ritsumeikan University Panthers  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/99)
Rice Bowl 17 1999  Asahi Beer Silver Star (W 33-17) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/00)
Rice Bowl 18 2000  Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers (W 52-13) Hosei University Tomahawks  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/01)
Rice Bowl 19 2001  Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters (W 30-27) Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/02)
Rice Bowl 20 2002  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 36-13) Recruit Seagulls  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/03)
Rice Bowl 21 2003  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 28-16) Onward Skylarks  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/04)
Rice Bowl 22 2004  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 26-7) Ritsumeikan University Panthers,  at Tokyo Dome  28,000 (1/3/05)
Rice Bowl 23 2005  Obic Seagulls (W 47-17) Hosei University Tomahawks,  at Tokyo Dome  28,041 (1/3/06)
Rice Bowl 24 2006  Onard Skylarks (W 30-29) Hosei University Tomahawks,  at Tokyo Dome  32,598 (1/3/07)
Rice Bowl 25 2007  Matsushita Denko Impulse (W 52-38) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome  34,487 (1/3/08)
Rice Bowl 26 2008  Ritsumeikan University Panthers (W 17-13) Panasonic Denko Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome  34,655 (1/3/09)
Rice Bowl 27 2009  Kajima Deers (W 19-16) Kansai University Kaisers,  at Tokyo Dome  35,742 (1/3/10)
Rice Bowl 28 2010  Obic Seagulls (W 24-0) Ritsumeikan University Panthers,  at Tokyo Dome  35,750 (1/3/2011)
Rice Bowl 29 2011  Obic Seagulls (W 38-28) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome  25,059 (1/3/2012)
Rice Bowl 30 2012  Obic Seagulls (W 21-15) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome  27,371 (1/3/2013)
Rice Bowl 31 2013  Obic Seagulls (W 34-16) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome  29,564 (1/3/2014)
Rice Bowl 32 2014  Fukitsu Frontiers (W 31-24) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome  30,361 (1/3/2015)
Rice Bowl 33 2015  Panasonic Impulse (W 22-19) Ritsumeikan University Panthers,  at Tokyo Dome  31,345 (1/3/2016)
Rice Bowl 34 2016  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 30-13) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome  33,521 (1/3/2017)
Rice Bowl 35 2017  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 37-9) Nihon University,  at Tokyo Dome  34,500 (1/3/2018)
Rice Bowl 36 2018  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 52-17) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/2019)
Rice Bowl 37 2019  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 38-14) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/2020)
Rice Bowl 38 2020  Obic Seagulls (W 35-18) Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters,  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/2021)
X League Championship Era
Rice Bowl 39 2021  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 24-18) Panasonic Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/2022)
Rice Bowl 40 2022  Fujitsu Frontiers (W 29-21) Panasonic Impulse,  at Tokyo Dome   (1/3/2023)
Notes:
 º The Company League was founded 1981.
 º Renamed the X League in 1996. There are four divisions.
 º In 1987, the Tokyo Super Bowl began, as the league's championship game.
 º The National Football League (N.F.L.) claimed copyright violation of the name “Super Bowl”.
 º In 2003, the name of the game was changed to Japan X Bowl.
 º The Rice Bowl had been a post-season College All-Star game since 1947.
 º Since 1983, the Rice Bowl is the final game between the college champion (Koshien Bowl winner) and the champion club team (From 1987, the Tokyo Super Bowl victor, X Bowl winner from 2003). Usually played on January 3rd.
 º Beginning in 2021, the Rice Bowl is the championship game> for the X-League.
 º Alternative numbering of Rice Bowl counting the All-Star games: #1 above is number 37, and so on. Number 34 as numbered above, was the 70th.
 º The Japan American Football Association oversees football in Japan & organizes the yearly Rice Bowl.
Japan American Football Association (JAFA) logo.
 º The Japan Private Football Association" began the Ocean Bowl, in 2017, for club teams that are neither college or industry teams.
 º The Ocean Bowlexisted before this, but records in English are barely in existance. The 2020 game is numbered as #26, but only one other ame is listed, for 2013.
 º • There is also a post-season Rice Bowl in the Czech Republic lower level 7-man American football league, the A7 Series.
 º • For the NAIA Rice Bowl in Stuttgart, Arkansas (1957-60) go here!
 º • The Grantland Rice Bowl has been an NCAA postseason playoff game since 1964. Go here for the bowl game records.
 º • The Leicestershire & Rutland School & Football Association has a Rice Bowl (The Montague John Rice Trophy) soccer championship since 1934-35,

See the German Japan Bowl!!!

See the U.S. Armed Forces Bowl Games in Japan for the service football Rice Bowl records.

See the U,S, Armed Forces Bowl Games in China for the Rice Bowls played in China.

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This list is compiled and designed by Paul S. Luchter

  Updated 4/9/2023
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