A podcast devoted to the coverage of the latest happenings and news in the world of Japanese gridiron football, from the amateur level to the professional game.
During 2020, as the pandemic raged around the world, a new kind of podcast appeared on the scene, one that covered football history like never before- The Football Odyssey, with Aron Harris on Spotify. A ground breaking sports history podcast that Sports Illustrated gridiron guru Paul Zimmerman would have loved, and in which covered the game like few podcasters have. One of his earliest episodes was on the history of the gridiron game in Japan, which aired on September 20, 2020. As noted in the show liner notes:"American Football in Japan may sound like a novelty, but in reality, the gridiron game has been played in the Land of the Rising Sun since the 1930s. Against the backdrop of World War II, and through many international games against American opponents, the sport developed and created a niche following for itself, entering another chapter in The Football Odyssey."For this edition of Gridiron Japan, Aron, who has retired his show, has graciously given us permission to air this old episode of The Football Odyssey podcast. Hopefully someday Aron will return to the internet airwaves and continue his football odyssey. In addition to his audio work, Aron also has a companion YouTube page- https://www.youtube.com/@thefootballodyssey6849, as well as an archived website at The Internet Archive- https://web.archive.org/web/20241226010441/https://www.thefootballodyssey.com/You can find Aron's written essays on Japanese football at our website at https://gridironjapan.jp/japans-football-history.If you'd like to watch any Japanese games mentioned in this episode of The Football Odyssey, click this link to Aron's YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLz830_gAqRZSw7ceRT_l42G3o27JNswicGridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you this week's scores in X1 Area play as well as a repeat of the Round 6 scores from last week's X League X1 Super play (this repeat was a result of a glitch that did not allow the video/audio to be heard on TWOF podcast and YouTube channel), and also review the playoff pairings. Greg also talks about the show's plan moving forward in 2026 (in sum- more football talk and coverage.... YAY!), and what is in store for the next episode.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
For this episode John, Aaron and Greg review what was truly the best week of football ever in the X League. There was another major upset, and five of the six games were decided by a margin of seven points or less. The guys then look ahead toward the playoff match ups and weigh who has the best chance to face off against each other in the Rice Bowl, where for the first time in five years there will be at least one new team playing for the championship. Lastly, the crew talk about the Koshien Bowl playoffs for Japan's gridiron college championship.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you Round 6 scores from this past week of X League X1 Super play. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In this episode, Greg sits down with Michael Lathrop of Pro Football Newsroom and host of the Player 54 Podcast, to talk about and update listeners here in Japan and around the world as to the latest happenings in the world of American minor league football, particularly the newly relaunched Continental Football League and the latest news regarding the United Football League.Continental Football League: The 2026 Blueprint Revealed, by Michael Lathrop - https://pfnewsroom.com/cofl/continental-football-league-the-2026-blueprint-revealedCoFL Making a Bold Move, by Scott Adamson- https://adamsonmedia.com/football-continental-league-summer/Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
As the autumn chill sets in here in Japan, the show is back live to talk about all that happened and didn't happen in X League Super play during the month of October. We also talk about the spring football in America and international player development, as well as the Dodgers win in the World Series.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you Round 5 scores from this past week of X League X1 Area play. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
From 2022, John, B.J. and Greg sit down with Texan Colton Runyan, then a member of Club Bears of X-3 football and former player in Tokyo's Urban Football League. Colton also is a former player in the United Kingdom with Cambridge University and the Cambridgeshire Cats of the British American Football Association. In addition to his football career, Colton is also a trained sumo wrestler whom our own John Gunning has come to know while reporting on his training and career for the Japan Times ("Sumo makes its way to Cambridge" Japan Times, by John Gunning). At the time of recording, Colton was pursuing a doctorate from Cambridge University, with his research focus being that of premodern sumo wrestling. The four also review the games of Week 2 in Super X-League play, with B.J. providing the type of insight on the week that was, which only a former player and coach can provide. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you Round 5 scores from this past week of X League X1 Super play. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you Round 4 scores from this past week of X League X1 Area play. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you our the early October scores from X League X1 Area and Super play. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
With Greg on vacation for the week, we reach back into the archives to episode 27, from 2023, when John, BJ and Greg sat down with Antoine Sinclair of the Blue Thunder, to talk about his life and journey to Japan. From Georgia to Japan, and from the rugby pitch to the gridiron, Antoine has had an interesting and varied journey! Gridiron Japan is available on all platforms, including YouTube (www.gridironjapantv.net) where we livestream, as well on Facebook (www.facebook.com/gridironjapan.jp) and X (www.x.com/GridironJapan). To learn more see our website www.gridironjapan.jp!
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you our week 5 scoreboard that covers the third round of 2025 X League Super play (the league plays every other week). Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
It was another week of upsets in the X League and the crew returns to break it all down as the regular season reaches the halfway point. After which we take a peak at the week four matchups taking place in mid-October.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net/www.youtube.com/@GridironJapan, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at www.x.com/GridironJapan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you our week 4 scoreboard that covers the first two rounds of X League Area play (the league plays every other week). Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
Coming off their upset win in week 2 of X League Super action over perennial powerhouse, the Fujitsu Frontiers, former University of Arizona Wildcat and now star wide receiver for the Nojima Sagamihara Rise, Tay Cunningham (on Instagram- www.instagram.com/tayvian.cunningham), sits down with the Gridiron Japan crew to talk about his career and life in Japan.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net/www.youtube.com/@GridironJapan, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at www.x.com/GridironJapan.
Week 2 of the X League Super season witnessed the biggest upset in recent Gridiron Japan history and a complete upending of the power rankings! We break it all down in this episode and look ahead to Week 3 where we hope we see more surprises from those teams also seeking to Rise to the challenge.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you our week 3 scoreboard that covers the second week of X League Super play (the league plays every other week). A more indepth of the week that was will be coming out soon, with John, Aaron and Greg talking about the teams and players who shone bright on the way to the Rice Bowl.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
The Gridiron Japan crew sits down with Tokyo Gas Creators' star defensive lineman, St. Louis native Matt McClellan (https://www.instagram.com/sackmamba/ | https://x.com/sackmamba & https://www.youtube.com/@GlobalSackboy), to talk about his journey to Japan where he is leading his team on a quest for championship glory.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, As well as on X, at www.x.com/GridironJapan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you a new weekly (and sometimes bi-weekly or monthly depending upon the sports calendar) segment that gives a rundown of the scores for the top gridiron games played here in Japan, from the top level to the college ranks.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
The guys return to look back at the week that was in week one of X League Super and do a deep dive on why teams won, lost, regressed and took a step back from 2024. We also talk to Aaron's debut as QB of the Ibaraki Saviors.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
In conjunction with our good friends at The World of Football podcast (www.theworldoffootball.com), we present to you a new weekly (and sometimes bi-weekly or monthly depending upon the sports calendar) segment that gives a run down of all the scores we can track down for the gridiron games played here in Japan, from the top level to the college ranks, and hopefully even lower as Greg improves his sports research skills.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X at Gridiron Japan.
The Gridiron Japan crew sits down with the new IBM Big Blue TE Tommy Auger. Tommy is an LFA and FCF (Fan Controlled Football) All-Pro, as well as an AFCA All-American. While playing in the LFA he set league records for single season reception, yards and touchdowns. A feat we hope he repeats here in Japan.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and soon over on Twitch! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
On the eve of week one in X-League play in Japan, IBM Big Blue coach Mike Phair returns to the show to talk to the crew about the upcoming season and how his team is shaping up going into his second season as head coach. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and soon over on Twitch! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
With Aaron back in Japan, Greg finds out how he is settling in and how things are going with the savior of his new team, the Ibaraki Saviors. Greg and Aaron give a quick fan and player look and thoughts of the upcoming week 1 games in 2025 X League Super competition. After which they give their thoughts about the topic we covered in last week's show, the 2026 X League restructuring. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at https://www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, As well as on X, at https://www.x.com/GridironJapan.
Gridiron football is back in Japan as we look ahead to the 2025 autumn season. In this episode we look ahead to X League 2026 which has asking all of us here at the show, WTF? We then are joined by Fujitsu Frontier's defense line coach and former Gridiron Japan cohost and take a look at the new players on the roster on Fujitsu. After which we talk about the former and current players of the X League who made big impacts and led to their teams to indoor and outdoor league championship runs in America and Mexico.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at https://www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, As well as on X, at https://www.x.com/GridironJapan.
From the archives. In summer 2024, Greg and John welcomed back quarterback and co-host Aaron Ellis, then of Japan's X-League's Dentsu Caterpillars, to talk about his experiences in playing in Japan, Europe, and Mexico. He compares the X-League with the European League of Football and Mexico's Liga-de Fútbol Americano, where has played, and in doing so holds the distinction of being the only professional football player to have played in all three major international leagues outside of Canada and the United States.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, As well as on X, at www.x.com/GridironJapan.
From August 2024, on the eve of week one in 2024 X League play in Japan, Greg and John sit down with Mike Phair, the head coach of IBM Big Blue to talk about his team and the upcoming season. Coach Phair talks about his coaching philosophy and the lessons he learned from coaching in the NFL and CFL. In addition we learn how John almost was a movie star! Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp. Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
With the release yesterday of the 2025 X League Super schedule, John and Greg take a look at the games for the six week autumn schedule for the top 12 teams of Japan's top tier gridiron division. The also talk about some of the new names coming to Japan and also not returning to Japan, and also talk a little about why vuvuzelas are frowned upon in sports.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp.
The boys are back and live from Japan and Austria (where Aaron is presently playing for the Vienna Vikings of the AFC). In this episode, Aaron reveals his plans for the upcoming fall season, and we review the Rice Bowl upset of the Panasonic Impulse over the Fujitsu Frontiers. We also look at some of the moves being made by teams in the X League and the current state of the gridiron game in Japan.Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp.
The crew takes a look at look back at all the games played during the X League Super quarterfinals on the road to the Rice Bowl! Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
John and Greg are joined by Obic Seagulls starting QB, Tyler Kulka, to talk about his team's win over the Nojima Rise today in the opening game of the X League Super quarterfinals. We talk about his the season and his journey to Japan, and also talk about the differences of playing football in Japan versus playing the game in America. You can follow Tyler on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/tylerkulka17/, as well as on X(Twitter)- https://x.com/tkulk17. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
With our good friend John on assignment covering sumo, Greg and Aaron look at the upcoming first round of the X League Super playoffs, and try to answer the age old question, just who can stop the Fujitsu Frontiers? Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
Four years ago friendships were formed as Zach Keilman, Greg St. James, and John Gunning of Inside Sport Japan, sat down for the first episode of our podcast, which has now expanded to a website and livestream providing original coverage of the gridiron game in Japan. Since the first episode we have grown as a team with B.J. and then Aaron joining, and through it all the six of us have enjoyed plenty of laughs, smiles and candid opinions about Japan, gridiron football, and of course, the Chicago Bears! For the reason why we do this and enjoy doing it is simply this- because of the friendship and comradery that football brings :-). Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
Autumn has arrived in Japan, and the crew sits down to first talk about Aaron's six touchdown performance against the Bulls Eyes in X1 Area week two play and the state of the Caterpillars as they seek to move back up to X1 Super. The guys then talk about the week that was in the X1 Super and give their insights as to who is trending up and down, showing improvement, hanging loose, treading water and/or in need of prayers going into the second half of the season. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp and catch up on all the scores and Japanese gridiron news at the new Gridiron Japan News Hub www.gridironjapan.net.
Before the 2021 X-League season kicked off, during our first season, the crew at Gridiron Japan wanted to get a player's perspective. Look no further than now retired Obic Seagulls LB, 10-year X-League veteran, current Fujitsu Frontier defensive coach, and our former Gridiron Japan cohost, BJ Beatty! He discussed with us the player experience in the X-League, the season ahead in what was his final season as a player, and the various issues and tidbits surrounding the game in the Land of the Rising Sun!Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
Four years ago friendships were formed as Zach Keilman, Greg St. James, and John Gunning of Inside Sport Japan, sat down for the first episode of our podcast, which has now expanded to a website and livestream providing original coverage of the gridiron game in Japan. Since the first episode we have grown as a team with B.J. and then Aaron joining, and through it all the six of us have enjoyed plenty of laughs, smiles and candid opinions about Japan, gridiron football, and of course, the Chicago Bears! For the reason why we do this and enjoy doing it is simply this- because of the friendship and comradery that football brings :-). Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and on X (Twitter)! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
On a late night in Japan, John, Greg and Aaron do a deep dive on the games played in spite of the obstacles faced by a typhoon that brought lightening storms and heavy rain. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and soon over on Twitch! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
On the eve of week one in X-League play in Japan, Greg and John sit down with Mike Phair, the head coach of IBM Big Blue to talk about his team and the upcoming season. Coach Phair talks about his coaching philosophy and the lessons he learned from coaching in the NFL and CFL. In addition we learn how John almost was a movie star! Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and soon over on Twitch! Learn more at www.gridironjapan.jp or www.gridironjapan.net.
On a night where earthquakes were the topic of discussion all over the local news, Greg and John take a time out and focus on the upcoming X-League season, starting with the top three teams- Fujitsu, Obic and Panasonic. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and soon over on Twitch!
Summer break is over for the Gridiron Japan podcast hosts as Greg and John welcome back quarterback Aaron Ellis, of Japan's X-League's Dentsu Caterpillars, to talk about his experiences in playing in Japan, Europe, and Mexico. He compares the X-League with the European League of Football and Mexico's Liga-de Fútbol Americano, where has played, and in doing so holds the distinction of being the only professional football player to have played in all three major international leagues outside of Canada and the United States. Gridiron Japan livestreams over at Gridiron Japan Television on YouTube at www.gridironjapantv.net, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GridironJapan.jp, and soon over on Twitch!
As we await the start of the autumn gridiron season here in Japan, Greg and his co-host of the From the 55 Yardline Podcast, Dave Cieslinski talk with Don and Heath of The Third Down Gamble Podcast to preview the upcoming 2024 CFL season. From the 55 Yardline is part of the Sports History Network - The Headquarters For Sports Yesteryear. EPISODE SUMMARY Greg and Dave are joined by Don and Heath of the Third Down Gamble podcast for the second year in a row to preview, here in the third week of the preseason, the upcoming CFL season. We start in the far east with defending Grey Cup champion Montreal and move our way west, team by team, and end with this year's Grey Cup host, the British Columbia Lions. The Third Down Gamble is going on five years and truly is "audio worth watching!" FROM THE 55 YARD LINE BACKGROUND From the 55 Yardline is anchored by former rugby player and sports executive David Cieslinski, who resides near the Canadian border, and retired naval intelligence and information warfare officer Greg St. James, who resides in Japan (he is also the co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast). Both are avid armchair sports historians and sports simulation enthusiasts, who, despite the vastness of geography, have found a way to leverage technology to help keep the games they love truly alive, both on the screen and on the internet airwaves. In addition to Dave and Greg, From the 55 Yardline also features veteran journalist and contributor Fran Stuchbury, of https://OurSportsCentral.com, where he writes extensively on the happenings in minor league sports. The show was previously co-hosted by retired sports journalist Scott Adamson, whose continued writings. sports coverage and articles can be found at https://www.Adamsonmedia.com. David, Greg, and Fran can be contacted directly via the podcast's Twitter account at https://www.twitter.com/Fromthe55.
John and Greg are joined by star wide receiver Devin Phelps of the OrientalBio Silver Star to talk about his life and career in football, which has stretched from his childhood in Baltimore, to the Arizona desert and to the shores of Japan. They talk about Devin, John and Greg's favorite Chicago Bears' quarterback (who makes an unscheduled appearance during the livestream), how many touchdowns Devin will score on the BJ Beatty coached Fujitsu Frontier's defense, and much much more. You can catch the livestream of this broadcast over at our YouTube page at www.gridironjapantv.net and our homepage at www.gridironjapan.jp. As for Devin, you can see more by following him on Instagram, YouTube, X (Twitter), and TikTok.
Gridiron Japan returns, broadcasting live to the internet airwaves, on YouTube, Facebook and X (Twitter)! John and Greg kickoff season 4 of the podcast, and season 1 of the livestreaming videocast to talk about all that has happened since Team Japan's upset over the Ivy League in January, including the promotion by one of our cohosts to the X-League coaching ranks! You can connect to Gridiron Japan via our main pages at www.gridironjapan.jp | www.gridironjapantv.net and www.gridironjapanradio.net
Greg and BJ sit down with Boogie Knight of the Asahi Soft Drink Challengers, and talk about his career in Japan and the 2023 season in which he was named rookie of the year and led the Super X-League in receiving and won the triple crown of touchdowns made, number of receptions and yards. As highlighted by the Challengers, Boogie is an exciting and dynamic player who reminds many older fans of NFL Hall of Famers like Steve Largent and Fred Biletnikoff. They also talk about his upcoming game in the Dream Japan Bowl, in which he will be playing for Team Japan, and also about his life in his first year in Japan as he looks toward a second season, as well as his interests outside of football. You can find Boogie's 2023 season highlights on Youtube, and also find him on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok. Boogie also sells his own line and brand of Zeal clothing on Bonfire. To learn more about the gridiron American football game in Japan, check out our home page www.gridironjapan.jp, and also follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
On a Sunday night, John, BJ and Greg are joined by Rice Bowl and X-League champion, as well as the most famous American playing football in Japan, Al-Rilwan Adeyemi of the Fujitsu Frontiers. They discuss with him the key moments of the game that led to the Frontiers' big win and also talk about his recent NFL360 spotlight on the NFL Network. Lastly, they discuss with him the upcoming Dream Japan Bowl that is taking place in Tokyo on January 21, 2024. To learn more about American football in Japan, please visit www.gridironjapan.jp
In the first part of the podcast John, BJ and Greg preview the upcoming matchup of Japan's championship game, which will be played on January 3rd, 2024 at the Tokyo Dome and feature a battle of two unbeaten teams, the Fujitsu Frontiers and Panasonic Impulse. During the second part the guys talk about the recent NFL360 episode, entitled "Ikigai", in which NFL Films puts a spotlight on the inspiring story of the Fujitsu Frontiers' Al-Rilwan Adeyemi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsO0SNgVe6w
John, BJ and Greg sit down and dissect the victories by Panasonic and Fujitsu in X-League semi-final action, including notes on attendance for the matches. They then discuss the victory by the KG Fighters over the Hosei Orange in the Koshien Bowl, Japan's collegiate gridiron championship. Lastly, they talk about what it is going to take, in their opinions, for American football to be grown at the grass roots and become more popular and widely known and followed in Japan.
On the eve of the X-League semi-finals, Greg and John sit down to talk about the weekend's matchups (Fujitsu v. Obic and Panasonic v. IBM) to see who will square off in January's Rice Bowl, as well as the league's promotion/relegation games. After which they turn their attention to the college game and talk about the postseason changes coming in 2024, as well as the decision by administrators at Nihon University to disband the school's legendary gridiron program.
John and Greg sit down and talk about the road to the Koshien Bowl and how the final team in Japan's college football semi-final playoffs was selected via a method that falls under the heading, "things that make you go...Huh??" The guys also talk about the upcoming Dream Japan Bowl, Mexican college football, and more!
With BJ and John away, Greg is joined by 2022 X-League Area MVP Aaron Ellis, starting quarterback of the Dentsu Caterpillars and Gridiron Japan alumnus, and co-host of the USFL Podcast, sports media wunderkind Zach Keilman. During a very early morning for poor Zach, the three review the week that was during the first round of the Super X-League post season tournament. After which they discuss, with apologies to former Chunichi Dragon star baseball player Tom Selleck, the dreams of many young players to continue their gridiron careers in Japan, as well as the right and wrong ways to seek out opportunities in the X-League. Finally, Zach gives an update as to where the rumored merger talks are with the XFL and USFL. He provides insight as to what the ratings comparisons between the two entities really are, and what may happen with the leagues in the short term.
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