AFL Toyota Premiership 2011

Japan Samurais

Ranking: 8
IC08 Placing: 8

AFL football has been played in Japan for more than 20 years.

Although the country doesn’t attract huge playing numbers, Japan AFL has been extending the Japan AFL Top League which started in 2006.

Currently six teams compete in this league and provide AFL footy experience for the young players – especially players who've just started from University.

The 2011 AFL International Cup will be a big experience for the young boys and the team are expecting to finish in the top four.

Japan' s Road to IC11
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Message from the Japanese Ambassador

 
It is really exciting that Japan’s Samurais are coming to Australia to participate in the 2011 International AFL Cup.

Japan and Australia share a great passion for sports. AFL was introduced to Japan in 1986 and today there are seven Japanese clubs under the Japan AFL (JAFL), with the national team, the Samurais, finishing ninth in the 2005 International Cup and eighth in 2008.

The Japanese players have shown that height does not matter in the game and with their speed, slick hand skills and the Samurai spirit, they can mix it with the best!

The Samurais have been working hard and setting a high goal of finishing in the top four at the 2011 International AFL Cup. I would love to see a large Japanese crowd in Sydney and Melbourne supporting their Samurais.

Shigekazu Sato
Ambassador of Japan

Players to Watch
 

Michito Sakaki
Captain of the Team and has plenty of experience having trained in the 2006 Summer Camp for Essendon FC. Also in Japan, he has been working as a Development Manager for Japan AFL, implementing numerous Kids clinics.

Ken Sato
Centre-half forward/full forward who takes strong marks in front of goal. Current is leading the goalkicking for the 2011 Foster’s Japan AFL Top League. He has also spent two years with Box Hill North Football Club in VAFA  as a scholarship player in 2010.

Yuki  Saito
An experienced centre-half forward who has spent many years in Adelaide and currently playing for the UTS Bats in AFL Sydney.