Kantoh Collegiate American Football Association

Kantoh Collegiate American Football Association
Sport	American football
Founded	1934
Motto	ONE PLAY, ONE SKY（ひとつ青い空の下、最高のワンプレーを。）
Sports fielded	1 (American football);
Headquarters	C/O AJINOMOTO STADIUM, 376-3, Nishimachi, Chofu-shi, Tokyo, Japan
Region	Kanto, Japan
Most recent; champion(s)	; (Hosei Orange football)
Official website	www.kcfa.jp

The Kantoh Collegiate American Football Association is an American college football league made up of colleges and universities in the Kanto region of Japan.

Overview

The Kanto League is the main university football league in eastern Japan. The league is divided into six divisions.

Under the previous format, the league winners played against teams from western Japan in the Koshien Bowl.

In 2024, the new format allows the top three schools to compete in the Koshien Bowl Tournament.

Other participating schools in the tournament are the top three schools from the Kansai Collegiate American Football League Division 1, and the winners of each league from Tohoku, Hokuriku, and Chugoku-Shikoku.

Member schools

Division 1

Prior to the 2014 season, the Kantoh league had two conferences. The winners of each conference would then play in the Azuma Bowl, to determine league champion. Starting in 2014, the league switched to a two division format, the Top 8 and Big 8. With the new format, there would be no championship game and the Top 8 conference would be the highest level of play, making the winner of that division the overall conference champion.^[1]^[2]

Top 8

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Team Founded	Colors
Hosei University	法政大学	Chiyoda, Tokyo	1880	Private	28,000	Orange	1935	Blue and Orange
Waseda University	早稲田大学	Shinjuku, Tokyo	1882	Private	44,295	Big Bears	1934	Maroon and White
Keio University	慶應義塾大学	Minato, Tokyo	1858	Private	33,825	Unicorns	1935	Red and Blue
Rikkyo University	立教大学	Toshima, Tokyo	1874	Private	19,341	Rushers	1934	Purple and White
University of Tokyo	東京大学	Tokyo	1877	National	28,697	Warriors	1957	Blue
Meiji University	明治大学	Tokyo	1881	Private	33,000	Griffins	1934	Gold, Navy, and Yellow^[3]
J. F. Oberlin University	桜美林大学	Machida, Tokyo	1921	Private		Three Nails Crowns	1968	Maroon and Gold
Chuo University	中央大学	Hachiōji, Tokyo	1885	Private	25,474	Racoons	1967	Blue ^{[citation needed]}

Big 8

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Team Founded	Colors
Komazawa University	駒澤大學	Setagaya, Tokyo	1592	Private	16,000	Blue Tide	1972
Aoyama Gakuin University	青山学院大学	Shibuya, Tokyo	1874	Private	19,993	Lightning		Green and White
Nippon Sport Science University	日本体育大学	Setagaya, Tokyo	1893	Private		Triumphant Lion
Kokushikan University	国士舘大学	Setagaya, Tokyo	1917	Private		Rhinoceros
Yokohama National University	横浜国立大学	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1876	National	7,471	Mastiffs	1971	Blue and Orange
Teikyo University	帝京大学	Itabashi, Tokyo	1931	Private	21,000	Gladiator
Meiji Gakuin University	明治学院大学	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1863	Private		Saints		Navy and Yellow
Tokai University	東海大学	Hiratsuka, Kanagawa	1942	Private	26,120	Tritons	1965	Blue and Silver

Division 2

Block A

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Team Founded	Colors
Seikei University	成蹊大学	Musashino, Tokyo	1906	Private		Zelkovas
Kanagawa University	神奈川大学	Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa	1929	Private	18,445	Atoms	1974	White, Blue
Science Tokyo (former: Tokyo Tech)	東京科学大学 (旧：東京工業大学）	Meguro, Tokyo	2024 (Tokyo Tech: 1881)	National	4,940	Buffaloes	1987
National Defense Academy	防衛大学校	Yokosuka, Kanagawa	1953	Public		Cadets	1954
International Christian University	国際基督教大学	Mitaka, Tokyo	1949	Private (Christian)	3,171	Apostles	1963	Green
University of Electro-Communications	電気通信大学	Chōfu, Tokyo	1918	National	5,300	Crashers
Saitama University	埼玉大学	Saitama, Saitama	1873	National	8400	Primrose
Tokyo Gakugei University	東京学芸大学	Koganei, Tokyo	1873	National	5,081	Snails

Block B

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Team Founded	Colors
Senshu University	専修大学	Chiyoda, Tokyo	1880	Private	20,176	Green Machine	1963	Green
Hitotsubashi University	一橋大学	Kunitachi, Tokyo	1876	National	4,500	Crimson	1967	Crimson
University of Tsukuba	筑波大学	Tsukuba, Ibaraki	1872	National		Excaliburs		Light Blue
Shibaura Tech	芝浦工業大学	Koto, Tokyo	1927	Private	8,299	Fighting Engineers		Green
Kanto Gakuin University	関東学院大学	Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa	1884	Private	12,307	Hurricanes	1964
Sophia University	上智大学	Chiyoda, Tokyo	1913	Private	10,528	Golden Eagles	1969
Tokyo A&T	東京農工大学	Fuchū, Tokyo	1949	National	5,952	Blasters
Kogakuin University	工学院大学	Shinjuku, Tokyo	1887	Private		Crash Machines	1976

Division 3

A Block

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname
Seijo University	成城大学	Setagaya, Tokyo	1950	Private		Orange Beams
Chiba University	千葉大学	Chiba, Chiba	1949	National	14,528	Poseidon
Ryutsu Keizai University	流通経済大学	Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki	1967	Private		Dragons
Dokkyo University	獨協大学	Sōka, Saitama	1883	Private	9,050	Green Monsters
Rissho University	立正大学	Shinagawa, Tokyo	1872	Private	10,915	Bulldogs
Sōka University	創価大学	Hachiōji, Tokyo	1971	Private	8,143	Blue Lions
Daito Bunka University	大東文化大学	Itabashi, Tokyo	1923	Private		Wild Boars
University of Yamanashi	山梨大学	Kōfu/Tamaho, Yamanashi	2002	National	4,921	Wyverns

B Block

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors
Takushoku University	拓殖大学	Bunkyo, Tokyo	1900	Private		Rattlesnakes	Orange and Black
Tokyo University of Science	東京理科大学	Shinjuku, Tokyo	1881	Private	20,187	Rascals
Asia University of Japan	亜細亜大学	Musashino, Tokyo	1941	Private	7,006	Angels
Chiba University of Commerce	千葉商科大学	Ichikawa, Chiba	1950	Private		Lycaonpictus
Niigata University	新潟大学	Niigata, Niigata	1870	National	12,729	Tigers
Yokohama City University	横浜市立大学	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1882	Public	4,855	Fighting Seagulls
Hakuoh University	白鴎大学	Oyama, Tochigi	1986	Private	4,907	Rascals
Takasaki City University of Economics	高崎経済大学	Takasaki, Gunma	1952	Public	4,023	Bandits

C Block

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Nickname	Colors
Toyo University	東洋大学	Bunkyo, Tokyo	1887	Private	Vikings
Musashi University	武蔵大学	Nerima, Tokyo	1922	Private	Pheasants
Tokyo Keizai University	東京経済大学	Kokubunji, Tokyo	1900	Private	Falcons
Tokyo City University	東京都市大学	Setagaya, Tokyo	1949	Private	Helios
Tokyo University of Agriculture	東京農業大学	Setagaya, Tokyo	1891	Private	Aggies	Green
Tokyo University of Technology	東京工科大学	Hachioji, Tokyo	1947	Private	Cerberus
Tamagawa University	玉川大学	Machida, Tokyo	1929	Private	Stallions

D Block

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors
Gakushuin University	学習院大学	Toshima, Tokyo	1847	Private	8,000	Generals	Dark Blue and Pink
Tokyo International University	東京国際大学	Kawagoe, Saitama	1965	Private		Dolphins
Tokyo University of Foreign Studies	東京外国語大学	Fuchū, Tokyo	1873	National	4,342	Phantoms
Tokyo Metropolitan University	東京都立大学	Hachiōji, Tokyo	1949	Public	8,538	Scrappers
Takachiho University	高千穂大学	Suginami, Tokyo	1903	Private		Eagles
Meisei University	明星大学	Hino, Tokyo	1951	Private		Silver Knights
Bunkyo University	文教大学	Shinagawa, Tokyo	1927	Private	8,276	Odin

Medical and Dental Division

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname
University of Tokyo School of Medicine	東京大学医学部	Tokyo		National		Scorpions
Dokkyo Medical University	獨協医科大学	Mibu, Tochigi	1973	Private	631	Dum Dums
Nihon University School of Medicine, School of Dental, and School of Dental in Matsudo	日本大学医学部・歯学部・松戸歯学部	Chiyoda, Tokyo		Private		Boars
Keio University School of Medicine	慶應義塾大学医学部	Minato, Tokyo		Private		Unicorns
Jikei University School of Medicine	東京慈恵会医科大学	Minato, Tokyo		Private		Crickets
Saitama Medical University	埼玉医科大学	Moroyama, Saitama	1892	Private		Mulberry
Showa University	昭和大学	Tokyo	1928	Private		Maddogs

7-a-side American football Division

A Block

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname	Colors
Surugadai University	駿河台大学	Hanno, Saitama	1987	Private		Cougars
Kyorin University	杏林大学	Tokyo	1970	Private		Cavaliers

B Block

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Nickname
The Nippon Dental University	日本歯科大学	Chiyodaku, Tokyo	1907	Private	Bombers
Meikai University Dental school	明海大学歯学部	Urayasu, Chiba	1970	Private	Crusaders
Tokyo Medical University	東京医科大学	Minato, Tokyo	1916	Private	Meribibazu

Not participating in league match

Institution	日本語	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Nickname
Nippon Tech	日本工業大学	Miyashiro, Saitama	1907	Private		River Horse
Science Tokyo (former: Tokyo Medical and Dental University)	東京科学大学 (旧：東京医科歯科大学)	Bunkyō, Tokyo	2024 (1928)	National	3,044	Stones
St. Marianna University School of Medicine	聖マリアンナ医科大学	Kawasaki, Kanagawa	1971	Private		Roadrunners
Toho University School of Medicine	東邦大学医学部	Ota, Tokyo	1925	Private
Tsurumi University School of Dental	鶴見大学歯学部	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1953	Private

Past Champions

1947 - Meiji
1948 - Keio
1949 - Keio
1950 - Keio
1951 - Rikkyo
1952 - Rikkyo
1953 - Rikkyo
1954 - Rikkyo
1955 - Nihon
1956 - Nihon
1957 - Nihon
1958 - Nihon
1959 - Nihon
1960 - Rikkyo
1961 - Nihon
1962 - Nihon
1963 - Nihon
1964 - Nihon
1965 - Rikkyo
1966 - Nihon
1967 - Nihon
1968 - Meiji
1969 - Nihon
1970 - Nihon
1971 - Nihon
1972 - Hosei
1973 - Nihon
1974 - Nihon
1975 - Meiji
1976 - Meiji
1977 - Nihon
1978 - Nihon
1979 - Nihon
1980 - Nihon
1981 - Nihon
1982 - Nihon
1983 - Nihon
1984 - Nihon
1985 - Meiji
1986 - Nihon
1987 - Nihon
1988 - Nihon
1989 - Nihon
1990 - Nihon
1991 - Senshu
1992 - Hosei
1993 - Nippon Sport Science
1994 - Hosei
1995 - Hosei
1996 - Hosei
1997 - Hosei
1998 - Hosei
1999 - Hosei
2000 - Hosei
2001 - Hosei
2002 - Waseda
2003 - Hosei
2004 - Hosei
2005 - Hosei
2006 - Hosei
2007 - Nihon
2008 - Hosei
2009 - Hosei
2010 - Waseda
2011 - Nihon
2012 - Hosei
2013 - Nihon
2014 - Nihon
2015 - Waseda
2016 - Waseda
2017 - Nihon
2018 - Waseda
2019 - Waseda
2020 - Nihon
2021 - Hosei
2022 - Waseda
2023 - Hosei
2024 - Hosei

Number of Championships


Institution	Number of Championships
Nihon University	35
Hosei University	20
Waseda University	7
Rikkyo University	6
Meiji University	5
Keio University	3
Senshu University	1
Nippon Sport Science University	1

References

^ "Kantō League Division I 2015". American Football in Japan. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
^ "Kanto heavyweights set to meet with title hanging in balance". Japan Times. 21 November 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
^ "Meiji Griffins Team Info". Meiji Griffins football. Archived from the original on November 10, 2015. Retrieved November 26, 2015.