Gridiron Japan

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!

It's a playoff party on the eve of the Super X-League quarterfinals as Greg, BJ and John give their predictions for the upcoming tournament. The guys are joined by Dentsu Caterpillars starting quarterback, Aaron Ellis, who gives his perspective on the 2023 season. They also talk about the Road to the Koshien Bowl in Japan's college playoff tournament.

While the rest of Japan is glued to the TV to watch baseball and the Japan Series, the guys sit down and talk gridiron. They start off with a talk about Japan's very own Hidetora Hanada, who is currently playing for the Colorado State University Rams. They then turn their attention to Japan's recent medal achievements in the Asian flag football tournaments for men and women, with a discussion about the growth of the domestic game. After which, they discuss their predictions for the final week of regular Super X-League play and the playoff scenarios.

As the X-League teams play every two weeks, the guys are back after the season openers and subsequent games to review the power rankings of the 12 teams that make up the X-League Super, Japan's premier football league. The guys also discuss the planned return of the Ivy League in January 2024 for a rematch with Japan's gridiron all-stars.

John Gunning, BJ Beatty, and Greg James return for the third season of the Gridiron Japan podcast to preview the upcoming 2023 season of the X-League Super. The three discuss the probable and likely results, as well as the possible upsets, along with talk about the new and returning players from America.

Joining BJ, John and Greg in this episode is Dentsu Caterpillar QB, Aaron Ellis. The guys spend time reviewing the scores of the final games of the Spring X-League season and look ahead at the upcoming fall season and schedule. They also talk about the international gridiron game in Europe and Mexico, and Aaron's experience in both Japan and in the European leagues. Unfortunately, no predictions were made by Aaron as to how many fantasy points he is likely to owe BJ at the end of the '23 X-League season ;-).

The guys return this week, and after about an hour of candid blue conversation, in the second hour they hit the record button and talk about the latest scores and news going on in the world of spring Japanese gridiron. Amongst their topics are the unexpected loss by Fujitsu, import quarterbacks, and why NAIA quarterbacks from Illinois, like Aaron Ellis, should never be discounted.

The spring exhibition season has begun for both the X-League and collegiate teams, and the three provide the scores of all the games played. The guys also talk about many of the off season moves of the X-League. In addition, the guys discuss how to watch the upcoming fall X-League and major college season via a revamped joint streaming service.

Greg sits down with B.J. to review Team Japan's loss to the Ivy League All-Stars and his experiences during the game. They also discuss the current changes happening with the Obic Seagulls, as the X-League looks forward to the new 2023 season.

With BJ at practice for Team Japan, John and Greg sit down to preview the upcoming matchup of Japan's top players versus the Ivy League all-stars. The two review the history of the Ivy League playing in Japan and discuss the possible implications for the game in Japan, with what they both hope is a decisive win by the home team.  They also discuss flag football in Japan and how the country is a unique experience for any person wishing to not just play football, but also broaden their cultural horizons.

In this week's Gridiron Japan episode, John, B.J., and Greg review the Super X-League championship game, the Rice Bowl, and break down the performances that led to the Fujitsu Frontier's victory over the Panasonic Impulse. We then discuss the upcoming Dream Bowl game in Tokyo, with our very own B.J. Beatty leading the charge of Team Japan, when they square off against the American Ivy League all-stars. 

B.J. and Greg return after the Christmas holiday, with guest and X-League Area MVP Aaron Ellis, the star QB of the Dentsu Caterpillars (in Chicago freezing his butt off and pinch hitting this week for John) to talk about his championship all-pro year in Japan, the prospects for his return, and his upcoming season in Austria with the Telfs Patriots.  Greg then talks on his attendance of his first football game in Japan, at the Koshien Bowl, which is the same venue he saw his first Japanese baseball game, and opines about the vintage feel of the setting in comparison to a typical American game. The guys then turn their attention to the Rice Bowl, with all three leaning toward a Panasonic Impulse victory over the Fujitsu Frontiers. Lastly, Greg and B.J. compare notes about Christmas Bowl LIII, the Japanese high school national championship game.

For the first time in many weeks, all three co-hosts (John, BJ, and Greg) sit down to review the past week's action and preview the X-League semi final matchups. In addition, the guys talk about the Dream Bowl, and specifically the selection of BJ to the team in what very well may be the future Hall of Famer's final game.  For those new to the show, please give our past episodes a listen to learn more about the gridiron game in Japan!

Greg has finally landed in Japan and has overcome his jet lag to sit down with BJ and review the upcoming slate of quarterfinal matches and a discussion as to who might be relegated to Area play in 2023.  They also talk about the upcoming post season championship games, including the Koshien, Rice and Dream Bowls. 

In this episode, BJ and Greg review the results of Week 4 in Super X-League play, from the blowouts to nail bitters, and look ahead to the teams on the bubble for relegation, and also on the rise in the Area division for promotion, including the Dentsu Caterpillars, whose star QB, and friend of the show, Aaron Ellis, did not respond to BJ's on air request. We have to assume he was busy at practice studying the playbook :-). We also talk a bit about the college championship game of Japan, the Koshien Bowl.  *Note, this game was recorded on Wednesday Japan time, but due to Greg's moving out of his house in Chicago over the course of the next 3 days, this episode was not able to be edited and published until Saturday morning. SUMIMASEN!

In the second part of this week's podcast, John, B.J. and Greg make their predictions for week four of X-League Super and also talk about the playoff format for the 2022 season.

In football some of the individuals who make the biggest impact are not just on the field, but just as much on the sidelines and in the boardroom. For the X-League, one of the most impactful individuals to the league has been Tim Goins, whose influence upon the game of Japanese gridiron football has been significant, be it as recruiter of talent, as a coach, and most importantly, as a mentor and humble icon. Since 2015, Tim, or "Sensei" as he is often called, has built and engineered a title winning team with the Panasonic Impulse, created the X-League's most competitive system ever, coached with the the Baltimore Ravens, and helped Nojima Rise recruit top talent. The Sensei, a former standout lineman with UNLV and in the Arena Football League, was very gracious in the giving of his time to us on a night where we again turned down Al Michaels & TNF and turned up the love of gridiron football in Japan, and also reviewed the week that was in Super X-League play.  Thank you again Tim for joining us :-)!

The Rice Bowl is upon us, and only one can walk away the victor! Zach, John, and Greg come together to break down the 75th Rice Bowl between the Panasonic Impulse and the Fujitsu Frontier. The trio previews key players, strategies, and more to what is going into determining who will be crowned champion. 

The Semi-finals are here, and only two teams can advance to the 2021 Rice Bowl. Zach and Greg recap last week's end of regular season action, talk keys to semi-final matchups, discuss the upcoming X1 Area/X2 Promotion contests, and more including our predictions for who will be in the Rice Bowl!

Playoff seedings will be locked after this week as the 4th seed in X1 Super is up for grabs between the Rise, Big Blue, and the Creators. Who will make it out on top to face the Impulse in the Semi-Finals? Zach, John, and Greg break down this playoff race and how it will sort itself out. They also discuss the 4 teams that will be promoted to X1 Super come 2022! 

It is do or die time in X1 sections of the XLeague as the pivotal playoff and promotion races are coming down to the wires. Deers Football Club lineman Ian Park joined the show to discuss his team's road ahead to the possibility of being promoted to X1 Super. He and the crew also talk about the bond between players, the neglect of finding quality offensive lineman, and much more. All 4 of the guys also make their X1 Super picks too!

For the first time in some time, the full trio is back to record as Zach, John, and Greg have recaps and international football talk aplenty. From Yoshito Omi's session at the NFL International Combine to the grand scheme of growing the sport globally, this episode had plenty of points of how Japan might be crucial in exposure on a global scale moving forward. Plus, we have your X1 Super Week 3 recap, X1 Area Week 4 recap, and our pick'em for X1 Super Week 4!

X1 Super Week 2 wrapped up with some close calls for top teams that left the crew a tad surprised. Greg James subs in for John Gunning this week as he and Zach cover what made Panasonic and Fujitsu avoid the upsets in Week 2. The duo also give their impressions on X1 Area Week 3 action, and make their X1 Super Week 3 predictions (with some potential surprises) in this loaded new episode of Gridiron Japan!

X1 Super officially wrapped up its first week of action as Zach and John discuss what it means for the division moving forward. The duo especially keyed in on what might be a crucial missed opportunity for the IBM Big Blue in their draw with the Elecom Kobe Finies. They also discuss tidbits of Week 2 of X1 Area that stood out, preview and pick outcomes for Week2 of X1 Super, and much more!

Before the 2021 X-League season kicks off, the crew at Gridiron Japan wanted to get a player's perspective. Look no further than Obic Seagulls LB and 10-year X-League veteran BJ Beatty! The crew discusses the player experience in the X-League, the season ahead, and various issues and tidbits surrounding the game in the Land of the Rising Sun!

Gridiron Japan kicks off with its inaugural episode with hosts Zach Keilman and Greg James looking to cover the lesser-known but still very competitive Japanese football scene! The two kick things off asking the question of what exactly the sport is like in terms of structure, culture, and more. They discuss all these points with Inside Sport: Japan founder and content director John Gunning. All this and more on the first episode!