Ice hockey in Japan

Ice hockey is a minor sport that is gaining popularity in Japan. Baseball and football have been the dominant Japanese sports for decades, but ice hockey in Japan started in the 1920s. The Japan Ice Hockey League (JIHL) was the national league in the country from 1966-2004, when it folded in favor of the multi-national Asia League. Since 1933, a cup competition, the All Japan Ice hockey Championship has been held. A women’s counterpart has been held since 1982. Japan has men’s, women’s and junior national teams. The Japan women's national team qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.