Operated 1976-1993 | ||
 | ||
Previous stadiums National Stadium
(1976–1979)
Yokohama Stadium
(1980-1991)
Tokyo Dome
(1992-1993) Previous locations Tokyo, Japan
Yokohama, Japan | ||
The Japan Bowl (ジャパンボウル) was a post-season college football all-star game played in Japan, which showcased East and West All-Star teams made up of college football players from the United States. The first game was played in 1976 in Tokyo to a crowd of 68,000 spectators. The final game was played in 1993.
Heisman Trophy winners Bo Jackson and Ty Detmer both participated and both won the MVP. College football Hall of Famer Lou Holtz coached the East team in the 1976 game. And Super Bowl XLIV champion Mark Brunell won the final MVP in 1993.
Joe Roth Memorial Award
Following Joe Roth's appearance in the 1977 game (despite suffering from melanoma, which would lead to his death less than a month after playing in the game), the MVP would be awarded the Joe Roth Memorial Award. The trophy features Roth's helmet on top of the trophy. The first winner was Jimmy Cefalo of Penn State in 1978.