Japan national American football team

IFAF World Championship record

2011 IFAF World Championship roster

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

2015

Main article: 2015 IFAF World Championship

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 two interceptions and 29-yd field goal block, eventually lost to the United States 18–43. In their second 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.

Notes

References

1. "IFAF Competition". IFAF.
2. "Worldcup 2003".
3. (July 16, 2007). "U.S. edges Japan to win football World Cup". [[Bangor Daily News]].
4. (July 15, 2007). "U.S. wins American football title". [[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]].
5. "3rd IFAF World Championships2007 in KAWASAKI/JAPAN".
6. "IFAF - Featured Articles - JAPAN WINS FIRST-EVER GERMAN-JAPAN BOWL".
7. "Japan trounces South Korea, qualifies for IFAF World Championship | the Japan Times Online".
8. (April 9, 2014). "Japan names 45-man squad for clash with Germany".
9. Marantz, Ken. (April 14, 2014). "Japan grinds out 38-0 win over Germany".
10. (April 21, 2014). "Japan makes 5 changes for clash with Philippines".
11. Ikezawa, Hiroshi. (April 26, 2014). "Japan rolls to 2015 IFAF berth with rout".