Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan - Student athletes participate in football drills during a Japan Gridiron Association (JGA) American football camp held onboard the installation, Aug. 9. JGA is an organization focused on the development of American football players in Japan while also doing their part to grow the sport on the international stage. (US Navy photo by Lead Public Affairs Specialist Greg Mitchell) (US Navy photo by Lead Public Affairs Specialist Greg Mitchel)
A new organization dedicated to promoting American football in Japan is steadily gaining momentum, leaving its mark across the Land of the Rising Sun.
Japan Gridiron Association (JGA) recently held an American football camp at Reid Stadium onboard Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan, Aug. 9. Now one-year in existence, JGA is an organization focused on the development of American football players in Japan while also doing its part to grow the sport on the international stage.
“The goal we have set is really expanding American football in Japan,” said Tyler Moore, co-founder of Japan Gridiron Association. “And that goes from the youth level to high school, college and hopefully we have one of these kids here in the pro’s one day.”
The three-hour session featured boys and girls from elementary to middle school. JGA coaching staff focused on offensive and defensive fundamentals of the game by way of various drills geared towards participants gaining knowledge and experience.
In all, there were 57 participants: 35 Japanese and 22 American children from Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools. Three Japanese students were players from the U-15 Japan National Flag Football team.
Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan - Student athletes participate in football drills during a Japan Gridiron Association (JGA) American football camp held onboard the installation, Aug. 9. JGA is an organization focused on the development of American football players in Japan while also doing their part to grow the sport on the international stage. (US Navy photo by Lead Public Affairs Specialist Greg Mitchel)
Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan - Joshua Cisneros, co-founder of the Japan Gridiron Association (JGA) coaches student athletes participating in football drills during a JGA American football camp held onboard the installation, Aug. 9. JGA is an organization focused on the development of American football players in Japan while also doing their part to grow the sport on the international stage. (US Navy photo by Lead Public Affairs Specialist Greg Mitchel)
“From the football aspect - on base sometimes you don’t always have a chance to have a giant pool of players, so bringing in the Japanese players allows the kids on base to see new talent and just have more people to play with,” said Joshua Cisneros, co-founder of the Japan Gridiron Association.
Cisneros added that there was an important bonding aspect as well.
“These kids can make connections, so on a personal level, learning new cultures is a great way to grow as a person and it’s something they can take with them for the rest of their lives.”
The camp was the third held this year; the first was at Kubasaki High School in Okinawa, on May 17, followed by a host-nation centered camp at Ajinomoto Stadium July 27 that included players from Nile C. Kinnick and Yokota High School.
The immediate future looks promising for the association.
A plan is in place this fall to launch recruitment services to help assist youth in Japan who aspire to go to college. This would include player development, while also supporting student opportunities and exposure.
This fall will also see a youth development program for elementary and junior high school students, with a focus on teaching students fundamentals of the game on the weekends.
Further expansion is in work for the following year.
“Our next high school combine in the Spring of 2026 will be an international one, so it will be open to high school players in nearby countries in the Pacific such as South Korea as well,” said Moore.
Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan - Student athletes participate in football drills during a Japan Gridiron Association (JGA) American football camp held onboard the installation, Aug. 9. JGA is an organization focused on the development of American football players in Japan while also doing their part to grow the sport on the international stage. (US Navy photo by Lead Public Affairs Specialist Greg Mitchel)
(US Navy photo by Lead Public Affairs Specialist Greg Mitchel)
The association also plans to invite scouts and university recruiters from America along with universities in Japan to attend. They will also host international tournaments and events that will feature Japanese and American players.
JGA understands that DoDEA students have a short season and believe that their tournaments will be a good competitive extension to complement it.
“If you play football in Japan we want to see you, see your talents, and we want to provide an opportunity for you,” said Cisneros. “As this thing grows, we’re going to be hitting more cities, hosting more and more camps, combines and we’ll be bringing in new features like recruiting services if you are in high school, bringing new services for the youth so…if you play football in Japan, we want to see you.”
For more information, please visit their website here.
