Japan finishes second at World Cup
(July 19, 2015) - Japan moved back into the number two spot in international amateur football behind the USA at the IFAF World Championship in Canton, Ohio. Four years after finishing third in Austria Japan reached the gold medal game for the fourth time in five tournaments. But that is likely the biggest positive for Team Japan head coach Kiyoyuki Mori. "We need to improve more physically and technically. I’m very proud of our players, but Japanese football has to improve more. We have to improve everywhere, offense, defense and special teams", Mori was quoted after the 59-12 defeat in the gold medal game against Team USA in the official game report on the tournament website. It was Japan's second big loss to the US within a week after losing 43-18 in group play on July 12.
Team Japan travels back home with a 1-2 record. The lone win came against Mexico (35-7) in group play, and that was good enough to qualify for the gold medal game. A potential fourth game against Canada had to be canceled when Canada withdrew from the tournament in May. Japan placed ten players on the all-tournament team but only three players - WR Takashi Kurihara, OL Akira Katsuyama and DB Keizaburo Isagawa - made it to the first team. Kurihara was Japan's most productive offensive weapon with 13 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.
Gold Medal Game official game report
Game report at The Japan Times Online
All-Tournament Team
Schedule and Scores
(Text: Dieter Hoch / Logo: IFAF World Championship)
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JAFA announces world cup roster
(June 17, 2015) - On Monday the Japan American Football Association announced the 45-man team for the 5th IFAF World Championships in Canton, Ohio (USA). The 7-team tournament will be played from July 8 through July 18.
Head Coach Kiyoyuki Mori and his staff will take a very experienced team to Canton. 18 players - 40 percent of the roster - played in previous world cups, nine of them multiple times.
Story on www.xleague.com
Roster Team Japan
(Text: Dieter Hoch / Photo: X League)
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