Record Attendance of Japan Soccer League
On Nov. 17, the match between Mitsubishi F.C. and Yanmar Diesel F.C. of Japan Soccer League attracted about 40 thousands spectators at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. This is the largest attendance that a match of J. S. L. have ever had.
Apparently they had become to take an interest in football by the success of Japanese Olympic team who gained bronze medals in Mexico. People came to the stadium to see Kamamoto of Yanmar F.C. the leading goal-scorer in the Olympic Football Tournament, or Sugiyama of Mitsubishi F.C. who also played well in Mexico with his fast and tricky footwork.
Professor Trainer's Success
The Tokyo Educational University team gained the title of Kanto (Easter? Japan) Universities Football League in November，1968. Jyujiro Narita, an assistant professor of the University studing the history of German physical education, made a great contribution to the success as a trainer newly elected after 15 years depression of the team.
Asian Group Preliminary Competition for the World Cup
Japan Football Association withdrew its proposal to host the Asian group preliminary competition for the World Cup. J.F.A. had want to host the competition in May, 1969, but Australia F. A. strongly opposed the date. It seems that it will be held in Korea in October, 1969. |
University Football
Mr. Dettmar Cramer, West German coach now working for FIFA, commented at the press interview in Mexico “A11 of the Japanese national players who gained bronze medals in the Olympic Football Tournament had completed a course of high school and most of them had even graduated a university. Yes, that is true. The standard of Japanese football is mainly supported by the footballers of university teams.
We have about 200 university and college football teams throughout the country. They organize their regional leagues in some districts. In Kanto (Eastern Japan) district, there are 60 university teams organized in one league, and top 8 teams consist the first Division, next 8 do the second Division and others are divided smaller regional Divisions.
In Kansai (Western Japan) and Tokai (Middle of Japan) the similar university leagues are organized.
The season of the university football is traditionally in autumn. It begins from September and last to November every year. The winners of each district compete in the National University Football Championship Tournament in December.
In the Emperor's Cup Tournament, the national championship founded in 1921,university teams had won the titles almost every year till 1959. Nowadays the top 4 university teams and the top 4 company club teams are competing in the Tournament and in 1967 a company club team, Toyo Kogyo of Hiroshima won the title. But the almost players of the company club teams are the graduates of universities.
In 1953, the national student selection was sent to Europe to compete in the International Student Games held in Dortmunt. After that, there is no world-wide student competition of football. Now, Japanese student footballers are eagerly seeking a chance to play with their friends of the world |
