Football Oct 20, 2020
Delayed X League season gets underway with fewer teams
by Kaz Nagatsuka
A shortened regular season and mandatory mouth shields are among changes put into effect due to the coronavirus pandemic.
More Sports / Football Aug 20, 2020
Japan's football leagues seek new normal for tackling coronavirus infection
by Hiroshi Ikezawa
Many players are not to used to playing with shields on their faceguards, but it could become a new normal in football at least here in Japan this season.
More Sports / Football Jun 7, 2020
New Obic quarterback Jimmy Laughrea adjusts to fatherhood while preparing for unique season
by Hiroshi Ikezawa
The former Rise QB is using extra time afforded by the cancellation of the spring season to adjust to his new team's playbook.
More Sports / Football May 12, 2020
League officials have framed the decision as a way to give clubs more time to build their squads after the coronavirus disrupted spring competitions.
Football Apr 19, 2020
Strong-legged IBM kicker aims to be NFL's first Japanese player
Waseda graduate Toshiki Sato, who holds the record for Japan's longest field goal, has hired an agent after receiving inquiries from several NFL teams.
More Sports / Football Mar 7, 2020
Ex-Keio running back Taku Lee puts pilot's dream on hold to pursue NFL ambition
by Hiroshi Ikezawa
Becoming a pilot is a dream for many boys. Little Taku Lee wasn't the exception — that is, until he discovered another dream. Instead of only aiming to fly airplanes, he developed another passion: the desire to play in the NFL. Actually, Lee, a Keio University ...
More Sports / Football Feb 4, 2020
Japanese players put skills on display for CFL
by Kaz Nagatsuka
The Canadian Football League's global scouting team came away "very, very impressed" by the performances of the athletes who participated in the Japanese stop of the CFL Global Combine over the weekend. The CFL hosted the combine after the professional league and the X League, ...
More Sports / Football Jan 3, 2020
Fujitsu Frontiers rout Kwansei Gakuin University for fourth straight Rice Bowl title
by Hiroshi Ikezawa
The Fujitsu Frontiers had no intention of spoiling the last game for Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters head coach Hideaki Toriuchi. The defending champions, however, were not ready to become the first X League title holder since 2009 to give away the Rice Bowl crown ...
More Sports / Football Dec 28, 2019
New CFL-X League alliance spans the Pacific
by Takashi Yokota and Hiroshi Ikezawa
Since becoming the Canadian Football League's 14th commissioner in 2017, Randy Ambrosie has set a new goal for the nation's domestic pro league: globalization of the CFL and football. Having seen the success of the Premier League, MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL to expand their ...
More Sports / Football Dec 16, 2019
Samajie Grant's MVP effort pushes Frontiers to fourth straight Japan X Bowl title
by Hiroshi Ikezawa
Samajie Grant showed why he was named the X League's MVP in his first season in Japan. The former Arizona Wildcat, who rushed for a league-best 527 yards during the regular season, scored on a 75-yard sprint with 3 seconds remaining in the third quarter ...
More Sports / Football Nov 30, 2019
Fujitsu Frontiers running back Samajie Grant thrives on versatility
by Kaz Nagatsuka
Seeking a fourth straight X League championship, the Fujitsu Frontiers acquired an exceptional weapon in young American Samajie Grant this year. The 24-year-old is listed as a running back and he described the position as "my love." And in Fujitsu's 31-13 win over the Elecom ...
More Sports / Football Nov 30, 2019
Frontiers rout Finies, advance to Japan X Bowl for seventh consecutive season
by Hiroshi Ikezawa
Backup quarterback Tsubasa Takagi threw four touchdown passes and running back Samajie Grant rushed for 171 yards on nine carries to lead the defending X League champion Fujitsu Frontiers to a 31-13 victory over the Elecom Kobe Finies on Saturday in the X League ...