The X-League (Japan American football league)

The X-League (Xリーグ) stands as the premier professional gridiron football league in Japan. Originating in 1971 as the Japan American Football League, the league evolved over the years, culminating in the inaugural X Bowl in 1987. A pivotal moment occurred in 1997 when the league adopted the name X League. The structure comprises four divisions: X1 Super, X1 Area, X2, and X3, with promotion and relegation dynamics in play. Teams fall into distinct divisions or blocks, determined by tier, and two team types exist: company teams, exclusively comprising employees of the sponsoring company, and club teams, where anyone can participate. Game rules align with the NCAA college division in the United States, with a notable exception being the quarter length, set at 12 minutes during the initial stage of the season instead of the standard 15 minutes.