9th Far Eastern Games

The football tournament of the 9th Far Eastern Games was played in Tokyo in May 1930. 

 25.05.30  Japan 7-2 Philippines 
 27.05.30  China 5-0 Philippines 
 30.05.30  Japan 3-3 China 

 Japan conceded the final match rather than play extra time. China were therefore the champions.

The Emperor's Cup

A 1919 newspaper report-at the instigation of British Diplomat William Haigh, the Football Association have presented the Japanese with a silver trophy. 
This will go on to serve as the original trophy for  the All Japan Championship Tournament .
A knockout competition based on the model of the FA Cup, the initial tournament attracted only 4 entrants. By 1925 there were upwards of 40 entrants with regional winners progressing to the finals. 
Japanese football was strictly amateur. 

The teams were largely drawn from educational establishments or 'Old Boys' clubs. Some were what we might call 'city selections' drawn from a number of smaller clubs. 

Tokyo Shukyu-dan  

1921	Tokyo Shukyu-dan	1	0	Mikage Shukyu-dan
	Tokyo Soccer Club was comprised of graduates from various Tokyo teaching colleges. The British Ambassador Sir Charles Eliot presented the trophy to  Yamada, captain of Tokyo.
1922	Nagoya Shukyu-dan	1	0	Hiroshima Koto-shihan
1923	Astra Club  (Tokyo)	2	1	Nagoya Shukyu-dan
1924	Rijo Shukyu-dan  (Hiroshima)	4	1	All Mikage Shihan Club
	The Hiroshima side was an high school alumni club who took their name from the local castle.
1925	Rijo Shukyu-dan  (Hiroshima)	3	0	Imperial University of Tokyo
1926	Not held (Death of Emperor)
1927	Kobe-Ichi Jr. Highschool Club	2	0	Rijo Shukyu-dan (Hiroshima)
1928	Waseda University WMW	6	1	Kyoto University
	Waseda is one of Japan’s leading Universities.
1929	Kwangaku Club	3	0	Housei University
	A club from Kwansei Gakuin University (A Christian University)
1930	Kwangaku Club	3	0	Keio University BRB
1931	Imperial Univ. of Tokyo LB	5	1	Kobun Jr. Highschool
1932	Keio Club	5	1	Yoshino Club
	Another University side.
1933	Tokyo Old Boys Club	4	1	Sendai Football Club
1934	Not held (Far Eastern games)
1935	Seoul Shukyu-dan (Korea)	2	0	Tokyo Bunri University
	Korea was annexed by Japan in 1910. The Seoul club was later known as Kyungsung FC.
1936	Keio University BRB	3	2	Poseung College (Korea)
1937	Keio University	3	0	Kobe Shogyo University

Nagoya Shukyu-dan  

Astra Club 

Rijo Shukyu-dan 

   

 Kobe-Ichi Jr. Highschool Club

 Imperial University of Tokyo LB  

 Seoul Shukyu-dan 

Football in Japan- William Haigh

In 1919 a British diplomat by the name of William Haigh asked his superior, Sir William Conyngham Greene  (who delighted in the title Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to His Majesty the Emperor of Japan) if the Football Association would present a cup to be contested by clubs in Japan. 
The FA obliged, and the  FA Silver Cup was donated - known as The Emporer's Cup it was presented to the winners of the  All-Japan Association Football Championship Tournament . 
The donation of  a prestigious trophy also contributed to the foundation of the Greater Japan Football Association in September 1921.
 William Haigh, a graduate of Cambridge University, went to Japan in 1913 at the age of 22. He worked for the  British diplomatic service, initially as a translator in Tokyo, becoming  Vice-Consul in Yokohama in 1920. Haigh was a keen footballer. He played for the British Embassy XI and in 1918 established the  British Embassy Cup Challenge League. This included local sides such as Tokyo Football Club, and Tokyo Normal Higher School. 

06.04.18- Tokyo v. Yokohama, Association Football League Challenge Cup

06.04.18 British Embassy Tokyo  2 Yokohama 1  

 Haigh's commitment to nurturing football in Japan, both through administration and coaching, saw him named as one of the founding patrons of the Japan Football Association. 
On 1st September 1923 Haigh was killed in an earthquake.  He was 32 years old.  A football tournament was held in his memory in December 1923, and the Haigh Memorial Cup was held the following year. 
He was inducted into the Japan Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Czech Soldiers in Japan

 Kobe First Junior High School vs Czech soldiers 1919.

The Czechs were Austro- Hungarian soldiers who were captured fighting for the Central Powers against Russia. 

The Czechs took the long eastwards route home when they were released, taking in Siberia, Japan and the United States. During a stay in Kobe, they played  matches against teams including Kwansei Gakuin and Kobe First Junior High School.

The young players of Kobe First Junior High School, who had previously learned the English style of football, were astonished by the short-passing, central European style of play (the result of Scottish or Scottish influenced coaches) employed by the Czechs.

Far Eastern Games

Japan 1927

The Far Eastern Games were a multi sport event run under the supervision of the IOC. They were conducted between 1913 and 1934.  The ten football tournaments were dominated by China and also featured plenty of controversy.

China wins-9 runners up-1
Phillipines wins-1 runners up-6 third-2
Japan runners up-2 third-5
Dutch East Indies runners up-1 

The first Football competition, in 1913 (Manila), was contested by Philippines and China. The records are vague over what actually took place. The RSSSF lists two matches, (China 1-0, Philippines 2-1) whereas other sources list a single match and credit Philippines with either a 2-1 or 3-1 victory. China were represented by club side South China A.A., and Philippines by Bohemians. This was a source of controversy as the team consisted of British, Spanish and American players.

In 1915 (Shanghai) South China A.A. again represented China (having won a tournament for the right to do so). They drew 0-0 with Philippines in a game that saw both sides have a player dismissed and won the second game 1-0.

There was mayhem at the 1917 tournament (Tokyo). Japan (represented by  Tokyo Higher Normal School) lost their first game 15-2 to Philippines.  When in the next match China scored a penalty to take a 4-0 lead the Philippines goal keeper responded by punching the goal scorer. A brawl ensued and Philippines withdrew from the tournament.

Japan didn't enter the football tournament of 1919 (Manila)- China prevailed in a three game series against Philippines

1921 (Shanghai) Japan returned but South China A.A made it 4 wins a row.
1923 (Osaka) and 1925 (Manila) saw the Hong Kong based club extend their winning streak with little drama.

Controversy returned in 1927 (Shanghai). China beat Japan 5-1 in the opener and then Japan secured their first win, beating the Philippines 2-1. Then all hell broke loose in the final match of the round- robin. China were awarded an early penalty and the Philippines team walked off the pitch in protest. Persuaded to return after some ten minutes they then had a player dismissed. China's second goal led to fighting on the pitch. Philippines forfeited the match at half-time.

 1930- China

1930-Japan

 1930-Philippines

Philippines star was waning, and Japan benefited from both this and their own improvement.
1930 (Tokyo) Both Japan (7-2) and China (5-0) made light work of Philippines, but when the decisive match was tied at 3-3 Japan refused extra time, choosing instead to forfeit.

1934 (Manila)- the opening game , in which China beat the hosts 2-0, was a very spirited affair. China, apparently reduced to 7 men by injuries and the Philippines to 9 suggests it was a very physical encounter (one newspaper report described the pitch as a battlefield) and both Japan and the Dutch East Indies lodged complaints with the tournament organizers after watching this fixture. The following day Dutch East Indies made their international debut in style, beating Japan 7-1.
China were the eventual winners, undefeated in their 3 matches.

4th Meiji Shrine Tournament 1927

During the 1920's The Emperor's Cup was incorporated in the Meiji Shrine Tournament.

東京蹴球団

Tokyo Shukyu-dan (Tokyo Soccer Club), founded in 1917, was the first Japanese association football club.
The club has retained its amateur ideals, and plays in the fifth tier of the Japanese football pyramid.
It has the honour of being the first ever winner of Japan's domestic cup competition, The Emporer's Cup, in 1921.

The Emporer's Cup 1921.

First Round:

 Nagoya Shukyu-dan 0-4 Mikage Shukyu-dan (Kobe)

Yamaguchi High School (retired) - Tokyo Shukyu-dan

Final 

Mikage Shukyu-dan 0-1 Tokyo Shukyu-dan