Japan Lacrosse Association (JLA)
Homepage: http://www.lacrosse.gr.jp/
History:
Japan has a young history in lacrosse. It started in 1986 when a group of students from Keio University, one of the prime academic institutions in Japan, took interest in the sport after visiting the American Embassy. Soon after, the interest in lacrosse spread to various businessmen and lawyers, and in June 1987, the Japan Lacrosse Association (JLA) was founded. JLA aims to promote lacrosse in the country, and improve the quality and techniques within the sport to raise the attractiveness of the sport. JLA emphasizes three main principles including volunteerism, amateurism, and international friendship.
In April 1988, the Japan Lacrosse
Student League was formed, composed
of seven universities. December, 1988
marked the first time when the first
lacrosse game was played in Japan,
with Yokota base and Keio University
as the competing teams. In 1990, the
Japan Lacrosse Club Team Association
was then founded which was instrumental
in the conduct of Japan’s first
national tournament held that same
year, participated in by eastern and
western student and club teams.
To date, JLA is busy in its promotion
and sport development activities across
Asia. So far, they have conducted
training tours to China, Hong Kong,
Korea, and Singapore, They have also
successfully sponsored the International
Lacrosse Friendship Games held in
June 1999 in China.
