Among all the teams competing at the IFAF Asia Oceania Flag Football Championships in Malaysia, Japan boasts the most experience in international IFAF tournaments.
Japan’s women’s team advanced to the playoff round at last year’s World Games, losing narrowly to Austria in the quarterfinals and also exited the 2021 IFAF World Championships at the same stage, defeated by eventual gold medal winners the United States. The Japanese men finished 11th overall at the worlds in Israel.
At the inaugural continental tournament this weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Japan’s women are drawn in Group A against Australia, Indonesia, Korea and Thailand, with an opening game at 9.30am on Field 3 on Friday against Thailand. The men’s team face Australia, India, Kuwait, Philippines and Singapore in group A, with their opener also at 9.30am on Field 4 against Singapore.