Joining BJ, John and Greg in this episode is Dentsu Caterpillar QB, Aaron Ellis. The guys spend time reviewing the scores of the final games of the Spring X-League season and look ahead at the upcoming fall season and schedule. They also talk about the international gridiron game in Europe and Mexico, and Aaron's experience in both Japan and in the European leagues. Unfortunately, no predictions were made by Aaron as to how many fantasy points he is likely to owe BJ at the end of the '23 X-Leagu...
Jul 01, 2023•1 hr 19 min
The guys return this week, and after about an hour of candid blue conversation, in the second hour they hit the record button and talk about the latest scores and news going on in the world of spring Japanese gridiron. Amongst their topics are the unexpected loss by Fujitsu, import quarterbacks, and why NAIA quarterbacks from Illinois, like Aaron Ellis, should never be discounted.
May 31, 2023•1 hr 10 min
In what is this podcast's first interview with an active head coach, John and Greg sit down with new X3 Hiroshima Hawks head coach A.J. Koikoi to talk about his playing and coaching career in the Chugoku (Okayama & Hiroshima) region of Japan and his work developing local talent. We also talk about his college playing days, his career with the UN, and his commitment and work towards social justice. Lastly, we manage to sneak in some Baltimore football talk, as A.J. is a proud Baltimore Ravens...
May 16, 2023•53 min
The spring exhibition season has begun for both the X-League and collegiate teams, and the three provide the scores of all the games played. The guys also talk about many of the off season moves of the X-League. In addition, the guys discuss how to watch the upcoming fall X-League and major college season via a revamped joint streaming service.
May 08, 2023•54 min
On the day the Japanese high school baseball tournament has begun and the focus of the nation is on Koshien Stadium, as well as Team Samurai Japan in the World Baseball Classic, the guys look at the upcoming spring gridiron season and the upcoming changes for the X-League moving into 2023, including the move of one franchise to the western side of Honshu. As the spring season kicks off here in Japan, make sure to check out www.gridironjapan.net to stay abreast of all the scores and how to watch ...
Mar 18, 2023•1 hr 4 min
In this episode John, BJ and Greg sit down with X2 Blue Thunder player Antoine Sinclair to talk about his life and journey to Japan. From Georgia to Japan, and from the rugby pitch to the gridiron, Antoine has had an interesting and varied journey! The four also discuss the recent CFL combine in Tokyo where John was present.
Feb 28, 2023•1 hr 19 min
The guys in this episode sit down on a cold Thursday night to talk about the upcoming championship game of the Japan Private Football Federation , the "Ocean Bowl.". After which the guys talk about the upcoming Super Bowl, make their predictions, and share the best memories of past games that cemented them forever as fans. Also, they share the news about the signing by the Calgary Stampeders of friend of the show, Toshiki Sato ....
Feb 09, 2023•53 min
Greg sits down with B.J. to review Team Japan's loss to the Ivy League All-Stars and his experiences during the game. They also discuss the current changes happening with the Obic Seagulls, as the X-League looks forward to the new 2023 season.
Feb 03, 2023•47 min
With BJ at practice for Team Japan, John and Greg sit down to preview the upcoming matchup of Japan's top players versus the Ivy League all-stars. The two review the history of the Ivy League playing in Japan and discuss the possible implications for the game in Japan, with what they both hope is a decisive win by the home team. They also discuss flag football in Japan and how the country is a unique experience for any person wishing to not just play football, but also broaden their cultural hor...
Jan 19, 2023•57 min
In this week's Gridiron Japan episode, John, B.J., and Greg review the Super X-League championship game, the Rice Bowl, and break down the performances that led to the Fujitsu Frontier's victory over the Panasonic Impulse. We then discuss the upcoming Dream Bowl game in Tokyo, with our very own B.J. Beatty leading the charge of Team Japan, when they square off against the American Ivy League all-stars.
Jan 09, 2023•1 hr 7 min
B.J. and Greg return after the Christmas holiday, with guest and X-League Area MVP Aaron Ellis, the star QB of the Dentsu Caterpillars (in Chicago freezing his butt off and pinch hitting this week for John) to talk about his championship all-pro year in Japan, the prospects for his return, and his upcoming season in Austria with the Telfs Patriots. Greg then talks on his attendance of his first football game in Japan, at the Koshien Bowl, which is the same venue he saw his first Japanese basebal...
Dec 29, 2022•1 hr 14 min
For the first time in many weeks, all three co-hosts (John, BJ, and Greg) sit down to review the past week's action and preview the X-League semi final matchups. In addition, the guys talk about the Dream Bowl, and specifically the selection of BJ to the team in what very well may be the future Hall of Famer's final game. For those new to the show, please give our past episodes a listen to learn more about the gridiron game in Japan!
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Greg has finally landed in Japan and has overcome his jet lag to sit down with BJ and review the upcoming slate of quarterfinal matches and a discussion as to who might be relegated to Area play in 2023. They also talk about the upcoming post season championship games, including the Koshien, Rice and Dream Bowls.
Nov 17, 2022•47 min
In this episode, BJ and Greg review the results of Week 4 in Super X-League play, from the blowouts to nail bitters, and look ahead to the teams on the bubble for relegation, and also on the rise in the Area division for promotion, including the Dentsu Caterpillars, whose star QB, and friend of the show, Aaron Ellis, did not respond to BJ's on air request. We have to assume he was busy at practice studying the playbook :-). We also talk a bit about the college championship game of Japan, the Kos...
Oct 29, 2022•1 hr 1 min
In the second part of this week's podcast, John, B.J. and Greg make their predictions for week four of X-League Super and also talk about the playoff format for the 2022 season.
Oct 20, 2022•31 min
Joining John, BJ and Greg from the The Great White North, legendary X-League kicker Toshiki Sato (who has kicked the longest field goal in league history with IBM Big Blue), and now a member of the Toronto Argonauts, sits down with the three to talk a football career that has spanned three countries. Toshiki began his kicking career with the Waseda University Big Bears and is part of the CFL's inaugural Global Initiative draft class. From the X-League to The Spring League (now the USFL), and now...
Oct 20, 2022•39 min
In football some of the individuals who make the biggest impact are not just on the field, but just as much on the sidelines and in the boardroom. For the X-League, one of the most impactful individuals to the league has been Tim Goins, whose influence upon the game of Japanese gridiron football has been significant, be it as recruiter of talent, as a coach, and most importantly, as a mentor and humble icon. Since 2015, Tim, or "Sensei" as he is often called, has built and engineered a title win...
Oct 14, 2022•2 hr 12 min
With John on assignment, BJ and Greg mute Al Michaels and sit down for long conversation that covers his new English language show that is soon to debut this month over on X-League TV (and hopefully their Youtube channel ). BJ's new show will focus on the stories of players and their journeys to Japan, and we hope will make the league more accessible to fans outside of the country. We then segue into a talk about Greg's plan to ramp up a beta X-League fantasy football league utilizing teams and ...
Oct 07, 2022•1 hr 22 min
In this episode, John, B.J. and Greg sit down with Texan Colton Runyan, a member of Club Bears of X-3 football and former player in Tokyo's Urban Football League. Colton also is a former player in the United Kingdom with Cambridge University and the Cambridgeshire Cats of the British American Football Association . In addition to his football career, Colton is also a trained sumo wrestler whom our own John Gunning has come to know while reporting on his training and career for the Japan Times. C...
Sep 27, 2022•1 hr 50 min
A perfect football conversation to kick off the official start of autumn! Aaron Ellis , the starting quarterback of the Dentsu Caterpillars joins John Gunning (of Inside Sport Japan and The Japan Times ), X-League legend B.J. Beatty , and football historian Greg James in a freewheeling conversation about his college career at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois; and in the Austrian Football League and European League of Football. We talk about his recent games in which he has passe...
Sep 22, 2022•1 hr 49 min
For the new season of the Gridiron Japan podcast, Greg James and John Gunning are joined by former Obic Seagull linebacker B.J. Beatty to talk about last year's Rice Bowl championship and review the off season moves of the X-League. We review the first week of the Super X-League and talk about the top players making waves on the field. We then take a look at the current players from Japan playing in Canada and Europe, talk about the expansion of the league, and provide predictions for week two o...
Sep 16, 2022•1 hr 32 min
The Rice Bowl is upon us, and only one can walk away the victor! Zach, John, and Greg come together to break down the 75th Rice Bowl between the Panasonic Impulse and the Fujitsu Frontier. The trio previews key players, strategies, and more to what is going into determining who will be crowned champion.
Jan 02, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 11
The Semi-finals are here, and only two teams can advance to the 2021 Rice Bowl. Zach and Greg recap last week's end of regular season action, talk keys to semi-final matchups, discuss the upcoming X1 Area/X2 Promotion contests, and more including our predictions for who will be in the Rice Bowl!
Dec 11, 2021•47 min•Ep. 10
Playoff seedings will be locked after this week as the 4th seed in X1 Super is up for grabs between the Rise, Big Blue, and the Creators. Who will make it out on top to face the Impulse in the Semi-Finals? Zach, John, and Greg break down this playoff race and how it will sort itself out. They also discuss the 4 teams that will be promoted to X1 Super come 2022!
Nov 27, 2021•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 9
It is do or die time in X1 sections of the XLeague as the pivotal playoff and promotion races are coming down to the wires. Deers Football Club lineman Ian Park joined the show to discuss his team's road ahead to the possibility of being promoted to X1 Super. He and the crew also talk about the bond between players, the neglect of finding quality offensive lineman, and much more. All 4 of the guys also make their X1 Super picks too!
Nov 13, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 8
It all comes down to this! With two final X1 Super Promotion positions left, the crew is wondering who between the Suns, Deers, Caterpillars, and Eagles will claim the final spot. Zach and Greg discuss this, recap X1 Super Week 4 and X1 Area Week 5, and how outside football influences have helped the game grow in Japan!
Oct 30, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 7
For the first time in some time, the full trio is back to record as Zach, John, and Greg have recaps and international football talk aplenty. From Yoshito Omi's session at the NFL International Combine to the grand scheme of growing the sport globally, this episode had plenty of points of how Japan might be crucial in exposure on a global scale moving forward. Plus, we have your X1 Super Week 3 recap, X1 Area Week 4 recap, and our pick'em for X1 Super Week 4!
Oct 16, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 6
X1 Super Week 2 wrapped up with some close calls for top teams that left the crew a tad surprised. Greg James subs in for John Gunning this week as he and Zach cover what made Panasonic and Fujitsu avoid the upsets in Week 2. The duo also give their impressions on X1 Area Week 3 action, and make their X1 Super Week 3 predictions (with some potential surprises) in this loaded new episode of Gridiron Japan!
Oct 01, 2021•53 min•Ep. 5
X1 Super officially wrapped up its first week of action as Zach and John discuss what it means for the division moving forward. The duo especially keyed in on what might be a crucial missed opportunity for the IBM Big Blue in their draw with the Elecom Kobe Finies. They also discuss tidbits of Week 2 of X1 Area that stood out, preview and pick outcomes for Week2 of X1 Super, and much more!
Sep 18, 2021•1 hr 7 min
The X League season is officially under way! Greg, John, and Zach look back at Week 1 of the X1 Area and which teams look like early favorites for promotion. The trio also previews Week 1 of X1 Super and make their scoring predictions. All this and more on Gridiron Japan!
Sep 02, 2021•57 min•Ep. 3
