Koshien Bowl | |
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Mainichi Koshien Bowl | |
甲子園ボウル | |
Stadium | Koshien Stadium |
Location | Nishinomiya |
Previous stadiums | Nishinomiya Stadium (1960) Nagai Stadium (2007 — 2008) |
Previous locations | Osaka (2007 — 2008) |
Operated | 1947-present |
Sponsors | |
Mainichi Shimbun Nissin Foods (1985 — 1987) Sanwa Group (1988 — 1991) Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (1992 — 1999) House Foods (2000 —) Mitsubishi Electric (2016 —) | |
Former names | |
Mainichi Bowl (1960) Mainichi Koshien Bowl in Nagai (2007 — 2008) | |
2023 matchup | |
Hosei vs. Kwansei Gakuin (Kwansei Gakuin 21-61) | |
2024 matchup | |
TBD |
The Koshien Bowl (甲子園ボウル) is the annual Japanese American college football national championship game,[1] usually played in December at Koshien Stadium.
From the 1949 season until 2008 season, the game was held as the final game of Japan University American Football Championship. From the 2008 season until 2023, the game was held between 2 universities from East Japan (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto) and West Japan (Tokai, Hokuriku, Kansai, Chushikoku, Kyushu).
On December 4th, 2023, the Japan American Football Association announced it will move the Japan University American Football Championship to a 12 team format, eliminating regional matchups in favor of a mixed-conference bracket beginning in 2024.[2]
Kwansei Gakuin University Fighters is the most successful team with 34 titles (4 shared). Nihon University Phoenix is second with 21 titles (2 shared).