Koshien Bowl

Koshien Bowl
Mainichi Koshien Bowl
甲子園ボウル
StadiumKoshien Stadium
LocationNishinomiya
Previous stadiumsNishinomiya Stadium (1960)
Nagai Stadium (2007 — 2008)
Previous locationsOsaka (2007 — 2008)
Operated1947-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).

  1. ^ "::Metropolis Tokyo :: SPORTS - Pearl bowl". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved 2007-07-13.
  2. ^ "KCFA|【日本学生協会】2024年以降の全日本大学選手権の方式について | 一般社団法人 関東学生アメリカンフットボール連盟". www.kcfa.jp. Retrieved 2023-12-18.