Japan Cricket Association

History

Main article: Cricket in Japan

Cricket was introduced to Japan in the 1860s, by the British, but did not become organised until the 1980s, when the Japan Cricket Association was formed. They became an affiliate member of the ICC in 1989, and the national team first played in the 1996 ACC Trophy, losing all their games including a 380-run defeat to Fiji. They continued without success in the 1998 tournament and the 2000 tournament.

After the 2000 ACC Trophy, they left the Asian Cricket Council and became part of the ICC's East Asia-Pacific region. They played in the East Asia-Pacific Eights tournament in Australia in February 2002, finishing as runners-up to an Australian indigenous team. Indonesia and South Korea were the other teams in the tournament. In 2004, they hosted the East Asia Pacific Cricket Challenge tournament as part of qualification for the 2007 World Cup, finishing third after beating Indonesia in a play-off.

In June 2005, Japan were promoted to associate membership of the ICC and that year they played in the 2005 ICC EAP Cricket Cup in Vanuatu, winning the tournament after beating the Cook Islands in the final. The following year they played in the 2006 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Brisbane finishing last in the three team tournament that also involved Fiji and the Cook Islands.

In December 2007, Japan took part in the 2007 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand, playing against the Cook Islands, Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. Japan won the tournament and qualified for Division Five of the World Cricket League where they finished in tenth place out of the twelve countries represented in Jersey.

On 22 March 2016, it was announced that Sano, Tochigi, would be home to the Sano International Cricket Ground, which will become Japan's first dedicated cricketing venue built for purpose, which no longer had to compete with other sports for usage.

In July 2020, the Japan Cricket Association won the Cricket 4 Good Initiative of the Year award, following the impact of Typhoon Hagibis, in the ICC's Annual Development Awards to recognise developing cricketing nations.

On January 31, 2024, the Japan Cricket Association rejoined the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

References

References

1. (8 June 2019). "Japan qualify for 2020 U-19 World Cup after Papua New Guinea forfeiture". ESPN Cricinfo.
2. [http://www.ichiharasharks.com/japancricket.html Article about Japanese cricket] {{webarchive. link. (19 June 2009)
3. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Countries/64.html Japan] at CricketArchive
4. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1996/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 1996 ACC Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (13 January 2010 at CricketEurope)
5. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/1998/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 1998 ACC Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (11 January 2010 at CricketEurope)
6. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2000/TOURNAMENTS/ACCTROPHY/about.shtml 2000 ACC Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (22 August 2010 at CricketEurope)
7. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/118/118338.html Scorecard] of Australia Cricket Board Indigenous v Japan, 1 March 2002 at CricketArchive
8. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/AUS/2001-02_AUS_East_Asia_Eights_2001-02.html 2002 East Asia Eights] {{Webarchive. link. (7 September 2008 at CricketArchive)
9. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/101/101799.html Scorecard] of Japan v Indonesia, 29 May 2004 at CricketArchive
10. "A unique festival to popularise cricket in Japan". International Cricket Council.
11. [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/east-asia-pacific/tournaments/eap_cricket_cup_2005/ 2005 EAP Cricket Cup] {{webarchive. link. (1 January 2006 , ICC official website)
12. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2006/TOURNAMENTS/WCLEAP1/about.shtml 2006 EAP Cricket Trophy] {{Webarchive. link. (11 May 2008 at CricketEurope)
13. [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/east-asia-pacific/newsletter/OCTOBER_2007.pdf ICC EAP newsletter]{{Dead link. (January 2020)
14. [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/one-day_rankings.html ICC's one-day rankings] {{webarchive. link. (29 September 2007)
15. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/TOURNAMENTS/GLOBAL/WCL/structure0609.pdf World Cricket League structure], 2006–2009
16. (23 March 2016). "International Cricket Ground to be built in Japan". Japan Cricket Association.
17. (23 March 2016). "JCA looking to build Japan's first international standard cricket ground". [[The Japan Times]].
18. (23 March 2016). "Japan's international standard stadium gets green light".
19. (28 July 2020). "ICC recognises the work of Associates in annual Development Awards announcements". Emerging Cricket.
20. "When the cricket community helped Sano brave the storm". International Cricket Council.
21. (31 January 2024). "ACC AGM held in Bali on 31 January 2024". Asian Cricket Council.
22. "BREAKING NEWS 🚨 - 本日バリで行われた、アジアクリケット評議会（ACC）の総会にて、当協会のACCへの正式な再加盟が決定しました！".