American Football International | Inside Sport: Japan | Activity https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/members/inside-sport-japan/activity/ Activity feed for Inside Sport: Japan. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 12:44:44 -0400 https://buddypress.org/?v= en-US 30 hourly 2 e284a35416d05a445d07b535cc210e83 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=110340 Sun, 01 Mar 2020 06:15:15 -0500 By John Gunning

The Japan American football team has arrived in the United States hoping to follow in the footsteps of this nation’s soccer and rugby sides and achieve a signature win that will boost the s […]

]]> 93f791abaa9580d052b1f9e638cbcd5f Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=107861 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 05:15:05 -0500 By Ken Marantz

Tsubasa Takagi might seem to have been preparing for this moment for four years.

In reality however, the dream began way back in first grade, when he started playing flag football for a team […]

]]> 9f8ab99bb64f1b4518fd176010d1c612 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=107731 Sat, 14 Dec 2019 06:30:32 -0500 The call finally came.

After all that time Al-Rilwan Adeyemi had spent keeping in shape over the two years since finishing college, never giving up on his dream, an NFL team was finally on the line at […]

]]> b6df62be250c25c49ddf555d28d4bf67 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=103538 Sat, 24 Aug 2019 04:05:46 -0400 The Fujitsu Frontiers head into the upcoming X-League season with a legitimate shot at winning a record-tying fourth straight championship, but also a major question mark hanging over their heads.

Fujitsu […]

]]> a822013f83c1360f2ed5e8c7b5aa9ca4 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=103132 Fri, 16 Aug 2019 05:00:15 -0400 For the Obic Seagulls, it was business as usual.

Another Pearl Bowl tournament, another championship.

By becoming the first team in 25 years to win three spring tournaments in a row, the Narashino-based s […]

]]> 877746bc38c4b631b225aa7a1ca33c66 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=94793 Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:01:34 -0400 For the past 14 years, the big defensive end wearing No. 11 for the Obic Seagulls wreaked havoc on opponents, making sacks, harassing quarterbacks, and even getting the occasional interception. Not to mention the […]

]]> d4b198dc3ffb43a7af5bf67628fc4518 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=92993 Wed, 06 Feb 2019 06:00:06 -0500 The top American football league in Japan, the XLeague, has revamped its playing format completely and now introduces a three-tier system.

The top tier, X1 Super includes eight teams who will all play each […]

]]> 7ef2a63c5748c336dfb26d94c6809327 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=92003 Thu, 03 Jan 2019 05:01:23 -0500 Fujitsu Frontiers take on Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters in the 72nd edition of the Rice Bowl at Tokyo Dome on Jan 3rd.

The game has, since 1984, been a matchup of the XLeague and college […]

]]> a6844ec57dcb457ca070a7a5836aaf5a Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=91614 Sun, 23 Dec 2018 05:01:34 -0500 Fujitsu Frontiers won their third straight XLeague championship and fourth title in five years when they beat IBM Big Blue 35-18 at Tokyo Dome on Dec 17th.

RB Trashaun Nixon, with 196 yards rushing and three […]

]]> 4ba32a325108c0de7c23de545188fb00 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=91401 Mon, 17 Dec 2018 05:01:21 -0500 Remember Super Bowl XXXII? The defending champion Packers, overwhelming favorites after their third Super Bowl win one year earlier, were facing a Broncos side that had been blown out increasingly badly in each […]

]]> 5167f9f71a520abc7b93a62eb52f1e1f Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=90623 Sun, 25 Nov 2018 03:23:57 -0500 For the second year in a row, the Panasonic Impulse take on IBM Big Blue in the Xleague Semifinals.

Last year, IBM pulled off the upset, traveling down to Osaka and knocking off the previously unbeaten Impulse […]

]]> d9597245b73b6fbe50d80a3e8eb18053 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=90568 Sun, 25 Nov 2018 02:53:11 -0500 The latest edition of the Kanto Classico, and just as with last year’s playoff matchup, a place in the Japan X Bowl is at stake.

These two teams played arguably the game of the season back in week five when F […]

]]> b941fcc9c676f6916f6193aec86278c7 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=90090 Sat, 10 Nov 2018 04:39:56 -0500 Japan’s XLeague has reached the quarterfinal stage with a couple of old rivalries and surprises as well.

The defending champion Fujitsu Frontiers, winners of three X Bowl titles take on the A […]

]]> 42cc2c7925f3deee3f3d5d9d93b9a8ba Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=90079 Sat, 10 Nov 2018 02:07:42 -0500 Japan’s XLeague has reached the quarterfinal stage with a couple of old rivalries and surprises as well.

The Obic Seagulls, winners of eight X Bowl titles take on the Nojima Sagamihara Rise in one quarterfinal […]

]]> bf04bebcb6dcf40d02410d120d5b9c74 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=90044 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 14:55:32 -0500 When the All-Mitsubishi Lions defeated the Asahi Beer Silver Star in the Wild Card round last season it was a major upset. Lions after all were the first ever lower tier Battle 9 team to down a Super 9 side. Not j […]

]]> cf6ce8c3c427a5c2bc363fd4d7b6f20d Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=90066 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 14:23:48 -0500 Arguably the most historic weekend in XLeague history came to a close with Lixil Deers 14-7 defeat at the hands of Tokyo Gas Creators in the second Wild Card game last Sunday.

Deers will join fellow two-time […]

]]> 917efe6efdf2fe2d5a31c603f2b9ef1d Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=89846 Sun, 04 Nov 2018 04:13:29 -0500 The XLeague playoffs kick off this weekend with two wild card matchups.

The Lixil Deers slumped to a 2-4 record and find themselves in a do or die game against the 5-1 Tokyo Gas Creators, who topped the Battle […]

]]> cafec749f258d5f411487df30fd2cd54 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=89849 Sun, 04 Nov 2018 04:01:22 -0500 The last XLeague playoffs under the current system are about to begin and straight away they have significance not only for this year but also the 2019 season. That’s because the two wild card winners will join t […]

]]> ba3fc8281cb60055086c5361256bd658 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=89225 Sat, 20 Oct 2018 04:01:34 -0400 As Japan’s X League heads into the final week of the regular season there are a couple of key matchups that could still shake up the picture.

The X League Game of the Week on Saturday, October 20 is definitely […]

]]> 3b1ea4f5c5f21f41165a6103e1e92dc8 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=89206 Sat, 20 Oct 2018 02:43:40 -0400 Japan’s X League heads into its 7th week of action with the defending champion Fujitsu Frontiers still unbeaten and still in top spot in the Inside Sport: Japan Top 12 Power Rankings.

The Frontiers survived a c […]

]]> 7c01c1a47b108e1a7be821127318ede5 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=89037 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 05:00:11 -0400 Fiery Wideout Anas Hasic Helping Elecom Kobe Finies Rack Up Yards, Scores & Victims

Anas Hasic is making a name for himself in the X-league. 

Nas, as the wideout likes to be known, joined Elecom Ko […]

]]> 8c61a69aae5701584222783dac4b9a46 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=88608 Sat, 06 Oct 2018 06:02:35 -0400 The Japanese X League heads into its 5th week of action with the defending champion Fujitsu Frontiers, who remain unbeaten, are firmly in first place in the Inside Sport: Japan Top 10 Power Rankings.

The […]

]]> 2b2be3cab7a077c1c63380f874176ed8 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=88087 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 04:05:32 -0400 Wonder what it’s like to play football in Japan?

Wide receiver Robert Johnson and linebacker Brandon Berry play for the Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers  in Japan’s X League and recently spoke with Inside Sport J […]

]]> 62a2f2a89fa71cbf6ea019961834a90e Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=87985 Sun, 23 Sep 2018 04:11:03 -0400 The Japanese X League winds up the third week of play of the 2018 season with three key games on Sunday, September 23.

In the most anticipated game of the weekend in Japan, in a battle of the undefeateds, the […]

]]> d9387d57913b0b74652d27ca53d63096 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=87623 Sat, 15 Sep 2018 04:01:10 -0400 As the X League gets set for the third weekend of play, three teams remain undefeated as the Nojima Sagamihara Rise, Fujitsu Frontiers and Panasonic Impulse all have 2-0 records.

The Rise surprised the Obic […]

]]> 11d6d5a595444f89de30a95855353166 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=86995 Mon, 03 Sep 2018 05:00:48 -0400 The pass zips through the air the 20 or so yards to the wide receiver, who reaches back and makes a nice catch. After the play, quarterback Ikaika Woolsey goes up to him and, after a word of praise, offers a tip […]

]]> 355c9c874652596063ef64cf1af641cd Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=86775 Sun, 26 Aug 2018 04:01:49 -0400 Japan’s X League kicks off its 22nd season this weekend with nine games on tap. The defending champion Fujitsu Frontiers have lost their starting quarterback of the last four seasons, Colby Cameron as well as […]

]]> b3396bc953a5949e5d5c7435fd4f28b8 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=86708 Thu, 23 Aug 2018 04:05:56 -0400 Japan’s X League kicks off the 2018 season this weekend with some shuffling in the top ranks of the teams.

It’s been an offseason of dramatic change all over. Fujitsu lost two of their triplets to retirement, […]

]]> cf78a8d6575c36a68d73514459556204 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=81279 Tue, 08 May 2018 04:15:50 -0400 Panasonic Impulse laid down a marker for the X-league’s West Division with their 63-0 dismantling of As One Black Eagles at Oji Stadium, Kobe on Sunday in the second of two Green Bowl games played on a sunny and b […]

]]> 8c7e89d14e7d1f8f2952242a334bbe79 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=79839 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 09:00:40 -0400 In the latest and most challenging stop of his career, quarterback Jared Stegman at least knows he won’t need to worry about having to perform menial tasks or encounter certain disruptions at practice.

“We’d […]

]]> 4981ebb6111e1ea82b26f1458fe24b89 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=75285 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:05:04 -0500 Fujitsu Frontiers retained their national championship with a 39 – 7 defeat of Nihon University Phoenix in the 2018 Rice Bowl.

The game held at Tokyo Dome on Jan 3rd saw more than 35,000 people show up to w […]

]]> 31a8127402bbbb41653a0260fbaca73c Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=74938 Thu, 04 Jan 2018 09:16:58 -0500 Players Collaborate With Jewelry Maker To Design Championship Rings.
One unique aspect of American sports culture is the presentation of rings rather than medals to championship winners. It’s a tradition that d […]

]]> 6a53165735b0a8fba909249f7422712e Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=74798 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 05:05:33 -0500  
 Fujitsu Frontiers -v- Nihon University Phoenix
2018 January 3 (Wednesday): Tokyo Dome 15:00 (Gates Open 10:00)
LIVE on NHK BS1 from 15:00
Nihon University Phoenix are back in the national championship g […]

]]> c1f967816b553308da40d44c4a273da6 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=74717 Mon, 01 Jan 2018 05:05:17 -0500 The silence was deafening as freshman quarterback Taiki Hayashi took a knee to run out the clock on the 2017 Koshien Bowl.

Hayashi, named the game’s MVP, led Nihon University to a stunning 23-17 upset over […]

]]> 9076f557d326ed4dc4b9af4791cfd4ff Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=74664 Sun, 31 Dec 2017 05:05:49 -0500 Fujitsu Frontiers Coaches Roundtable

Inside Sport: Japan’s new ‘Never Punt’ podcast sat down with XLeague champion Fujitsu Frontiers’ three American coaches ahead of their upcoming Rice Bowl […]

]]> 70d3bb1d16c3fcbe49494a30962b06de Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=74256 Sun, 24 Dec 2017 07:15:45 -0500 Fujitsu Frontiers rolled over IBM Big Blue 63 – 23 in the Japan X Bowl on Dec 18th to claim a second straight XLeague championship.

Making the title game for an unprecedented fifth year running, Fujitsu laid d […]

]]> c09546d1505eef332267f95af9999ad5 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=73895 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 04:10:56 -0500 After a season with plenty of ups and downs for all teams involved we are finally here. The 31st Japan X Bowl. This promises to be a much more closely fought affair than the 2014 final between the teams […]

]]> d571c8c6ad97920afc8cdf11d9f1bb92 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=73909 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 03:41:44 -0500 The upcoming Japan X Bowl looks finely poised. IBM’s offense has the ability to score points in a hurry but Fujitsu’s defense has been the best in the league over the past few seasons. On the other side of the […]

]]> 741298926b258c0f7840b982406be86f Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=73740 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:05:24 -0500 The promotion / relegation playoffs wrap up Sunday in Japan with a double header at Fujitsu Stadium in Kawasaki. Here’s how we see the games shaking out.

 

]]> 2dad14b1cb7900fafa26bc68d2bd6dc8 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=73606 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 05:05:35 -0500 IBM Big Blue pulled off a stunning 31-24 upset of previously unbeaten Panasonic Impulse in a Japan X Bowl semifinal on November 26th.

At a rainy Kincho Stadium in Osaka, Big Blue exposed the one potential […]

]]> 80e16448abb5d50c2168295fce4b19ed Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=73440 Sun, 10 Dec 2017 05:05:25 -0500 IBM Big Blue have made the Japan X Bowl for just the second time in their history. In that December 18th game at Tokyo Dome they will face Fujitsu Frontiers, the team that defeated them 44-10 in that 2014 […]

]]> 91dc3caf0b16a8d7adec971afaa07025 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=73197 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 05:15:46 -0500 The 2017 All XLeague Team has been announced

Leading the way with seven selections apiece are Panasonic Impulse, who won their first seven games before falling at the semi final stage to IBM Big Blue, and […]

]]> 4d72a35066df9ab78d104047d05dda11 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=73002 Sat, 02 Dec 2017 07:00:27 -0500 Fujitsu Frontiers defeated Obic Seagulls in an absolutely enthralling Japan XBowl semifinal in Kawasaki on November 26th. The 7-0 scoreline gives no indication of the twists and turns this contest took in front of […]

]]> fcedf6e48678d5d00e2a1bf083d710ab Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=72668 Sun, 26 Nov 2017 03:35:14 -0500 The second XLeague semifinal features two teams that have been ranked #1 at some point this season. Panasonic dropped to the #3 slot in the power rankings after the quarterfinals based solely on the fact that they […]

]]> 6108bab00d5c4be07292a39584c0e8cd Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=72598 Sat, 25 Nov 2017 00:00:21 -0500 Kicking off the final four weekend in Japan’s XLeague are two promotion / relegation games in Osaka. The first looks like a foregone conclusion but the second seems finely balanced.

 

]]> 5a8f95d0173eac1f9ef3ddf60f1967d6 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=72589 Fri, 24 Nov 2017 16:40:11 -0500 IBM Big Blue stormed back from a narrow halftime deficit, scoring four second half TDs en route to a 51-31 QF win over Lixil Deers on November 11th.

The victory put the Chiba side back in the XLeague semifinals […]

]]> f64688f5b51bc7edc4ef1a13879eecb5 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=72510 Thu, 23 Nov 2017 08:45:26 -0500  
2017 November 26 (Sun): Fujitsu Stadium (13:00)
Japan’s XLeague semifinals this weekend feature a matchup between a pair of the country’s best teams. Number one and two in the power rankings, Fujitsu and […]

]]> 35aae2a6c738420e8d81efd5784f4299 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=72374 Wed, 22 Nov 2017 08:30:21 -0500 The lights came on at Yokohama Stadium, just as they were going out on Finies hopes for the 2017 season. Fujitsu Frontiers eased past Elecom Kobe 34-7 on November 11th to make the JXB final four for the seventh […]

]]> 8e2576d4db47c9c732ef89b27efc71eb Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=72329 Wed, 22 Nov 2017 06:00:51 -0500 On November 26th, Fujitsu Frontiers and Obic Seagulls will clash in an XBowl semifinal at Fujitsu Stadium in Kawasaki. T

he same two teams contested the final last year and, along with Panasonic Impulse, have […]

]]> 5ed1b82c15d18dc2404a031b0e81ef91 Inside Sport: Japan wrote a new post https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/?p=72082 Sat, 18 Nov 2017 07:00:24 -0500

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