Rugby union league in Japan, 1948 to 2003
The Japan Company Rugby Football Championship (全国社会人ラグビーフットボール大会 Zenkoku Shakaijin Ragubi- Futtobo-ru Taikai ) is a former Japanese rugby union competition that ran from 1948 to 2003. Teams from companies or the public service played in the competition that extended from December to January in every season. The first championship was played in 1948-49 season and won by Haitan Koudan which beat Kintetsu (now Kintetsu Liners ).[ 1] After 55 years, the Championship was absorbed by the Top League for the 2003–04 season.[ 1] This had been a significant competition for the development of Japanese company rugby.
Title
Season
Winner
Score
Runner-up
Remarks
1
1948
Haitan Koudan
57–3
Kintetsu
3 teams participated. Tohoku Hiryou withdrew.
2
1949
Mitsui Chemical
39–0
Sumitomo Ponbetsu
7 teams participated. Sendai Railway Admn withdrew.
3
1950
Yawata Steel
32–0
Toyota Motors
4
1951
Yawata Steel
11–3
Kintetsu
8 teams participated.
5
1952
Yawata Steel
15–6
Kawasaki Heavy Ind.
7 teams participated, Sumitomo Ponbetsu withdrew.
6
1953
Kyuden
3–3
-
Both teams obtained championship. 8 teams participated till 1955.
Kintetsu
7
1954
Yawata Steel
19–0
Daiei
8
1955
Yawata Steel
24–5
Kintetsu
9
1956
Kintetsu
11–0
Kyuden
16 teams participated till 2002. Kintetsu shut down all 4 matches.
10
1957
Kintetsu
12–3
Kyoto City Hall
11
1958
Yawata Steel
9–0
Kintetsu
12
1959
Yawata Steel
13–8
Kintetsu
13
1960
Yawata Steel
3–0
Kintetsu
Yawata won the first NHK Cup.
14
1961
Kintetsu
6–5
Yawata Steel
15
1962
Yawata Steel
19–3
Tanifuji Machinery
16
1963
Yawata Steel
16–3
Kintetsu
Yawata and Kintetsu participated in the first Japan Championship.
17
1964
Yawata Steel
25–3
Toyota Motors
18
1965
Yawata Steel
8–3
Kintetsu
19
1966
Kintetsu
15–3
Toyota Motors
20
1967
Kintetsu
6–5
Toyota Motors
21
1968
Toyota Motors
19–13
Yawata Steel
22
1969
Kintetsu
17–8
Toyota Motors
Kintetsu and Toyota declined Japan Championship. Fuji Steel Kamaishi participated instead.
23
1970
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
6–6
-
Both teams obtained championship.
Ricoh
24
1971
Mitsubishi Motors Kyoto
22–11
Ricoh
25
1972
Ricoh
29–3
Mitsubishi Motors Kyoto
26
1973
Ricoh
4–3
Kintetsu
27
1974
Kintetsu
10–7
Ricoh
28
1975
Mitsubishi Motors Kyoto
17–10
Tokyo Sanyo
29
1976
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
27–3
Toyota Motors
30
1977
Toyota Motors
19–15
Tokyo Sanyo
31
1978
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
15–3
Mitsubishi Motors Kyoto
32
1979
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
27–13
Tokyo Sanyo
33
1980
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
31–15
Tokyo Sanyo
34
1981
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
19–0
Toyota Motors
35
1982
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
16–0
Toyota Motors
36
1983
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
31–0
Toshiba Fuchu
37
1984
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
22–0
Kobe Steel
38
1985
Toyota Motors
19–7
Kobe Steel
39
1986
Toyota Motors
19–6
Nippon Steel Kamaishi
40
1987
Toshiba Fuchu
13–6
Toyota Motors
41
1988
Kobe Steel
23–9
Toshiba Fuchu
42
1989
Kobe Steel
28–15
Suntory
43
1990
Kobe Steel
18–16
Sanyo Electric
44
1991
Kobe Steel
24–15
Sanyo Electric
45
1992
Kobe Steel
20–19
Toshiba Fuchu
46
1993
Kobe Steel
18–3
Sanyo Electric
47
1994
Kobe Steel
37–14
Toshiba Fuchu
48
1995
Suntory
27–27
-
Both teams obtained championship.
Sanyo Electric
49
1996
Toshiba Fuchu
36–21
Sanyo Electric
50
1997
Toshiba Fuchu
14–6
Suntory
51
1998
Toyota Motors
28–27
Suntory
52
1999
Kobe Steel
35–26
World Fighting Bull
53
2000
Kobe Steel
29–26
Toyota Motors
54
2001
Suntory
50–31
Kobe Steel
55
2002
Suntory
38–25
Toshiba Fuchu
Bold is a winner of NHK Cup or Japan Championship.
References
Governing body National teams
Competitions
International National Amateur Hosted events Defunct
Major figures Related articles