The 40th Japan U-12 Football Championship had its opening ceremony on 25 December at Kagoshima Shimin Bunka Hall. From the 26th, the competition is kicking-off in Kagoshima city. 

This is the second year for this competition to be held in winter season instead of summer. A total of 48 teams who came through from regional qualifiers and one former champion team of last year from Saitama prefecture are playing in the championship. The teams will be divided into 12 groups of 4 teams and will play in a round-robin tournament for the first round. For the knock out Round of 16, 12 top teams and 4 top teams of second-top teams from these 12 groups will be qualified and decide Japan’s top 3 teams.

A lot of national players have experienced this Japan U-12 Football Championship when they were younger: MORISHIGE Masato (23rd/ Hiroshima Koyo FC), KIYOTAKE Hiroshi (23rd/ Meiji Kita SSC), HARAGUCHI Genki (27th/ Konan Minami SSS), and USAMI Takashi (28th/ Kyoto Nagaokakyo SS). They are the latest national players who have played under the Coach Vahid HALILHODZIC. 

There are more players who have experienced this championship. For example, in Aomori Yamada High School, who have recently won the title of the Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League 2016 Championship, has TAKAHASHI Issei (34th/ Aomori FC), OSANAI Shinichiro (35th/ Libero Tsugaru SC U-12), and DANZAKI Riku (35th/ Vegalta Sendai Junior). 

One of these players who have experienced the championship is GOUKE Yuta (Vegalta Sendai Junior). He experienced it for two consecutive-years. The first one was applying 11-a-side whereas the second one started 8-a-side. He says: “When we played 11-a-side, we played in a limited space and I had an impression that it was bit narrow. After it was changed to be 8-a-side, we had more space behind the opponent’s final line and that made us to learn about offense such as how to use that space. It was good for us to have more chance to touch the ball.”

The Japan U-12 Football Champoinship is celebrating its 40th time since it started. There were repeating trials to improve such as number of players and season in which to hold it. For the players, this is the last national-level competition of this season. To show off what they have trained up-to now, they will work hard on the pitch. Please come and check their play. 

40th Japan U-12 Football Championship

Tournament Period：
Sunday 25 December - Thursday 29 December

Tournament Venue：
1st round/Round 16   Kagoshima Fureai Sports Land (Kagoshima)
Quarter-Final   Kagoshima Kamoike Auxiliary Field (Kagoshima)
Semi-Final/Final   Kagoshima Kamoike Auxiliary Field (Kagoshima)

Tournament Information