Kantoh Collegiate American Football Association
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 Collegiate American football|American Football Association|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.Top 8
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Nickname | Team Founded | Colors |
| Hosei University 法政大学 | Chiyoda, Tokyo | 1880 | Private | [Hosei Hosei Orange football|Orange football|Orange] | 1935 | Blue and Orange |
| Waseda University 早稲田大学 | Shinjuku, Tokyo | 1882 | Private | Big Bears | 1934 | Maroon and White |
| Keio University 慶應義塾大学 | Minato, Tokyo | 1858 | Private | Unicorns | 1935 | Red and Blue |
| Rikkyo University 立教大学 | Toshima, Tokyo | 1874 | Private | Rushers | 1934 | Purple and White |
| University of Tokyo 東京大学 | Tokyo | 1877 | National | Warriors | 1957 | Blue |
| Meiji University 明治大学 | Tokyo | 1881 | Private | Griffins | 1934 | Gold, Navy, and Yellow |
| 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 | Racoons | 1967 | Blue |
Big 8
| Institution | Location | Founded | Type | Nickname | Team Founded | Colors |
| Komazawa University 駒澤大學 | Setagaya, Tokyo | 1592 | Private | Blue Tide | 1972 | |
| Aoyama Gakuin University 青山学院大学 | Shibuya, Tokyo | 1874 | Private | 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 | Mastiffs | 1971 | Blue and Orange |
| Teikyo University 帝京大学 | Itabashi, Tokyo | 1931 | Private | 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 | Tritons | 1965 | Blue and Silver |
Division 2
In the 2025 season, Block B will have nine teams, so they will be divided into a first group of five teams and a second group of four teams, and will compete in a first and second league. The first league will be a round-robin format within the group, with the top three schools in Group 1 and the top two schools in Group 2 advancing to the second upper league, and the bottom two schools each moving on to the second lower league.Main match venues
- Aminovital Field
- Komazawa Olympic Park, No.2 ball sports ground
- Yokohama Stadium
- Tokyo Dome
- Fujitsu Stadium Kawasaki
- Spears EDORIKU Field