# X-League (Japan)

The X-League (Xリーグ) is the top-level professional gridiron football league in Japan. It was founded in 1971 as the Japan American Football League and organized the first X Bowl in 1987. The league changed its name to the X League in 1997. The league is divided into four divisions (X1 Super, X1 Area, X2, and X3) with promotion and relegation between them. Teams are split into different divisions or blocks, depending on the tier. There are two types of teams, one being a company team in which only employees of that particular sponsoring company may play, and the other being a club team for which anyone can try out.
Game rules are based on those of the NCAA college division in the United States, with the exception of the length of quarters, which are 12 minutes instead of 15 during the first stage of the season.
The Japanese national team, which has won the first and second editions of the American Football World Cup and was runner-up, finishing second to the American team, in the 2007 installment of the tournament, was made up almost entirely of players from this league.
Americans are often recruited to play for X League teams, with a strict rule of three per team. No more than two foreign players per team are allowed on the field of play at a time.

## Season format

The league is split into 4 tiers: X1 Super, X1 Area, X2 and X3.
There are two spring tournaments as well which are used by teams to ready themselves and evaluate new players before the fall season. One is the larger Pearl Bowl which teams from eastern Japan compete in, and the other is the Green Bowl for teams in western Japan.

### Regular season

The top tier, X1 Super, includes 12 teams split into 2 divisions of 6 teams who play a 5 game regular season.
The second tier, X1 Area, contains 8 teams while X2 comprises 19 teams, and X3 with 16 teams. The teams in X1 Area is divided into three groups with each team playing six games, three inside the group and three outside.
The top tier X1 Super has 2 divisions, A and B, made up of teams from all over Japan. The next league down, X1 Area, has just one division between all 8 teams. The next two leagues below, the X2 and X3, contain east, west, and central divisions. The east and central divisions comprise teams mostly in and around the Kanto area, with the west teams being in the Kansai area.

### Postseason

At the end of the X1 Super season, the top four teams in each division head into the quarterfinals then the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals would advance to the Japan X Bowl.
The top two teams in the X1 Area compete in the X1 Area Bowl for the chance to advance to the Area/Super promotional matches against the 7th and 8th place X1 Super teams.

### Japan X Bowl

The two semifinal winners would meet for the league championship in the Japan X Bowl held at the Tokyo Dome. Since 1987, Japan X Bowl has decided the X League championship. Until 2002, it was known as the Tokyo Super Bowl. The winner of this game goes on to the Rice Bowl to face the winner of the Koshien Bowl, the national college championship game.

### Relegation and Division Replacement games

The 7th and 8th place team from X1 Super would play a relegation playoff game against the 1st and 2nd place team from the X1 Area league.
The same goes for the last place team in the X1 Area who would play the X2 champion to decide who would be the 8th team in X1 Area.

## 2025 X-League team organization
### X1 Super

| Team | City/Area | Company/Club | First season | Head coach |
| EAST |||||
| Obic Seagulls | Narashino, Chiba | Club team formerly Recruit | 1983 | Hiroshi Ono |
| Tokyo Gas Creators | Koto, Tokyo | Tokyo Gas | 1985 | Masato Itai |
| IBM Big Blue | Chiba, Chiba | IBM | 1976 | Kevin Craft |
| All Mitsubishi Lions | Hachiōji, Tokyo | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group | 2001 | Akira Hayashi |
| CENTRAL |||||
| Fujitsu Frontiers | Kawasaki, Kanagawa | Fujitsu | 1985 | Hiroshi Yamamoto |
| Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Sagamihara, Kanagawa | Club team formerly Onward Kashiyama | 2009 | Shirogataki Ichiro |
| Oriental Bio Silver Star | Kawasaki, Kanagawa | Club team | 1970 | Hayato Arima |
| Fuji Film Ebina Minerva AFC | Ebina, Kanagawa | Fuji Xerox | 1975 | Takao Asakura |
| WEST |||||
| Panasonic Impulse | Kadoma, Osaka | Panasonic | 1974 | Nobuyoshi Araki |
| SEKISUI Challengers | Amagasaki, Hyogo | Sekisui Chemical | 1978 | Takashi Masashige |
| Elecom Kobe Finies | Kobe, Hyogo | Elecom | 1975 | Masaki Tokimoto |
| PLEIADES Fukuoka Suns | Hakata-ku, Fukuoka | Marketing Applications Inc. | 2017 | Toru Yoshino |

### X1 Area

| Club | City/Area | Company/Club | First season | Head coach |
| EAST |||||
| Dentsu Club Caterpillars | Minato, Tokyo | Club team | 1977 | Takumi Fukagawa |
| Shinagawa CC Bullseyes | Minato, Tokyo | Club team | 1993 | Takuya Yagi |
| Keishichou Eagles | Chiyoda, Tokyo | Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department | 1977 | Kosuke Sato |
| Blue Thunders | Ichikawa, Chiba | Club team | 1986 | |
| CENTRAL |||||
| Tainai Deers | Chōfu, Tokyo | Club team formerly Kajima | 1989 | Yasushi Nakagawa |
| PentaOcean Pirates | Hachiōji, Tokyo | Club team | 2005 | Fumito Kawahata |
| Mitsubishi Club Triax | Toshima-ku, Tokyo | Club team | 2000 | Song Qinghua |
| BULLS Football Club | Asaka, Saitama | Club team | 1981 | |
| WEST |||||
| AsOne Black Eagles | Osaka, Osaka | AS ONE Corp. | 1970 | Yusuke Kano |
| Nagoya Cyclones | Nagoya, Aichi | Club team | 1980 | Masaki Kobayashi |
| TRIAXIS J-Stars | Osaka | Club team | 1985 | |
| Lead Effort Ales | - | Club team | 2019 | |

### X2
#### East/Central

* ILEX Gorillas
* Hurricanes
* Club Barbarian
* Wranglers
* Yokohama Harbors
* Sony Solidstate
* Ibaraki Saviors
* Yokohama Bay Cranes
* Ox Kawasaki AFC
* Zero Fighters AFC
* Warriors

#### West A

* Golden Fighters
* Hiroshima Hawks
* Shoei Blazers
* Isono Superstars
* Okayama Standing Bears

#### West B

* Nishinomiya Bruins
* Sidewinders
* Osaka Gas Skunks
* Aichi Golden Wings

### X3
#### East

* Club Seagulls
* MERU-KYOEI Guardians
* Club Steelers

#### West

* Club Bears
* Ryukyu Gurdian Liones
* Tristars
* Club Islands
* Mie Firebird
* Osaka Prefectural Police Shields

## Past League Results
### X-League Divisional Standings since 1997
#### East/Central

| Year | Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 1997 | East | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Onward Oaks | Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Apricot | Fujitsu Frontiers | Tokai Bank Red Wave | Renown Rovers |
| 1997 | Central | Kajima Deers | Nissan Prince Tokyo | Recruit Seagulls | Skylark Co., Ltd. Skylarks | Sanwa Bank Lark Hills | Sakura Bank Dainosu |
| 1998 | East | Nissan Prince Tokyo | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Skylark Co., Ltd. Skylarks | Tokai Bank Red Wave | Sumitomo Bank Springs | Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Apricot |
| 1998 | Central | Kajima Deers | Recruit Seagulls | Onward Oaks | Fujitsu Frontiers | Renown Rovers | Sanwa Bank Lark Hills |
| 1999 | East | Onward Oaks | Recruit Seagulls | Nissan Prince Tokyo | Tokyo Marine Dolphins | Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank Apricot | Sankura Bank Dainosu |
| 1999 | Central | Kajima Deers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Fujitsu Frontiers | Skylark Co., Ltd. Skylarks | Tokyo Marine Dolphins | Sanwa Bank Lark Hills |
| 2000 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Onward Oaks | Skylark Co., Ltd. Skylarks | Club Dainosu | Renown Rovers |
| 2000 | Central | Recruit Seagulls | Nissan Prince Tokyo | Kajima Deers | Tokyo-Mitsubishi Bank | Tokyo Marine Dolphins | Tokyo Skyliners |
| 2001 | East | Kajima Deers | Fujitsu Frontiers | Nissan Prince Tokyo | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull | Club Dainosu | Club Huskies |
| 2001 | Central | Recruit Seagulls | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Onward Oaks | Lions | Renown Rovers | Penta-Ocean Construction Co. Pirates |
| 2002 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | Kajima Deers | Lions | Nissan Skyliners | IBM Big Blue | Sakura Bank Dainosu |
| 2002 | Central | Seagulls | Onward Skylarks | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull | Renown Rovers | Club Huskies |
| 2003 | East | Onward Skylarks | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Fujitsu Frontiers | Nissan Skyliners | Tokyo Gas Creators | Club Huskies |
| 2003 | Central | Kajima Deers | Obic Seagulls | Penta-Ocean Construction Co. Pirates | All Mitsubishi Lions | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull | IBM Big Blue |
| 2004 | East | Kajima Deers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | All Mitsubishi Lions | IBM Big Blue | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull | Penta-Ocean Construction Pirates |
| 2004 | Central | Onward Skylarks | Obic Seagulls | Nissan Skyliners | Fujitsu Frontiers | Tokyo Gas Creators | Club Huskies |
| 2005 | East | Obic Seagulls | Onward Skylarks | Fujitsu Frontiers | Yasuda L.A. Pirates | Tokyo Gas Creators | All Mitsubishi Lions |
| 2005 | Central | Kajima Deers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | IBM Big Blue | Nissan Skyliners | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull | Renesas Hurricanes |
| 2006 | East | Onward Skylarks | Kajima Deers | IBM Big Blue | All Mitsubishi Lions | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull |
| 2006 | Central | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Obic Seagulls | Fujitsu Frontiers | Nissan Skyliners | Tokyo Gas Creators | Renesas Hurricanes |
| 2007 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | Obic Seagulls | Asahi Beer Silver Star | All Mitsubishi Lions | Renesas Hurricanes | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull |
| 2007 | Central | Kajima Deers | Onward Skylarks | IBM Big Blue | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Tokyo Gas Creators | Fuji Xerox Minerva |
| 2008 | East | Onward Skylarks | Fujitsu Frontiers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Renesas Hurricanes | Fuji Xerox Minerva |
| 2008 | Central | Kajima Deers | Obic Seagulls | IBM Big Blue | All Mitsubishi Lions | All Tokyo Gas Creators | Gakusei-Engokai Rocbull |
| 2009 | East | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Obic Seagulls | Nihon Unisys Bulls | All Mitsubishi Lions | Fuji Xerox Minerva | All Tokyo Gas Creators |
| 2009 | Central | Fujitsu Frontiers | Kajima Deers | IBM Big Blue | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Hurricanes AFC | Bullseyes Tokyo |
| 2010 | East | Kajima Deers | IBM Big Blue | Asahi Beer Silver Star | All Mitsubishi Lions | Bullseyes Tokyo | Fuji Xerox Minerva |
| 2010 | Central | Obic Seagulls | Fujitsu Frontiers | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | All Tokyo Gas Creators | Hurricanes AFC | Nihon Unisys Bulls |
| 2011 | East | Kajima Deers | Fujitsu Frontiers | All Mitsubishi Lions | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Bullseyes Tokyo | Fuji Xerox Minverva |
| 2011 | Central | Obic Seagulls | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Asahi Beer Silver Star | IBM Big Blue | All Tokyo Gas Creators | Nihon Unisys Bulls |
| 2012 | East | Kajima Deers | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Nihon Unisys Bulls | Bullseyes Tokyo |
| 2012 | Central | Obic Seagulls | Fujitsu Frontiers | IBM Big Blue | Tokyo Gas Creators | All Mitsubishi Lions | Fuji Xerox Minerva |
| 2013 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | Kajima Deers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Tokyo Gas Creators | Nihon Unisys Bulls | Hurricanes |
| 2013 | Central | Obic Seagulls | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | IBM Big Blue | All Mitsubishi Lions | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Tokyo MPD Eagles |
| 2014 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | IBM Big Blue | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Tokyo Gas Creators | Meiji Yasuda Pirates | Hurricanes |
| 2014 | Central | LIXIL Deers | Obic Seagulls | Asahi Beer Silver Star | All Mitsubishi Lions | Bulls Football Club | Taiyo Building Mgmt. Cranes |
| 2015 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Obic Seagulls | All Mitsubishi Lions | Meiji Yasuda Penta-Ocean Pirates | Tokyo MPD Eagles |
| 2015 | Central | IBM Big Blue | LIXIL Deers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Bulls Football Club | Tokyo Gas Creators | Hurricanes |
| 2016 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | IBM Big Blue | Asahi Beer Silver Star | All Mitsubishi Lions | Tokyo MPD Eagles | Bulls Football Club |
| 2016 | Central | Obic Seagulls | LIXIL Deers | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Tokyo Gas Creators | Meiji Yasuda Penta-Ocean Pirates | Bullseyes Tokyo |
| 2017 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | LIXIL Deers | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Fuji Xerox Minerva AFC | Tokyo Gas Creators | Tokyo MPD Eagles |
| 2017 | Central | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | IBM Big Blue | Obic Seagulls | All Mitsubishi Lions | Meiji Yasuda Penta-Ocean Pirates | Bulls Football Club |
| 2018 | East | Fujitsu Frontiers | IBM Big Blue | Asahi Beer Silver Star | All Mitsubishi Lions | Meiji Yasuda Penta-Ocean Pirates | Dentsu Club Caterpillars |
| 2018 | Central | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Obic Seagulls | LIXIL Deers | Tokyo Gas Creators | Fuji Xerox Minerva AFC | Bulls Football Club |

#### West

| Year | Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 1997 | West | Matsushita Electric Works Impulse | Sunstar Finies | MYCAL Bears | Osaka Black Eagles | Iwatani Sidewinders | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers |
| 1998 | West | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Matsushita Electric Works Impulse | MYCAL Bears | Iwatani Sidewinders | Sunstar Finies | Iuchi Black Eagles |
| 1999 | West | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | MYCAL Bears | Matsushita Electric Works Impulse | Kohaku Finies | Iuchi Black Eagles | Iwatani Sidewinders |
| 2000 | West | Matsushita Electric Works Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | MYCAL Bears | Kohaku Finies | Iuchi Black Eagles | Iwatani Sidewinders |
| 2001 | West | Matsushita Electric Works Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | MYCAL Bears | Iwatani Sidewinders | Kohaku Finies | AS ONE Black Eagles |
| 2002 | West | Matsushita Denko Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Iwatani Sidewinders | Hankyu Bruins | Kohaku Finies |
| 2003 | West | Matsushita Denko Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Naigai Denki Marvies | Hankyu Bruins | Iwatani Sidewinders |
| 2004 | West | Matsushita Denko Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Naigai Denki Marvies | Finies Football Club | Hankyu Bruins |
| 2005 | West | Matsushita Denko Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Naigai Denki Marvies | AS ONE Black Eagles | Iwatani Sidewinders | Kobe Finies |
| 2006 | West | Matsushita Denko Impulse | Nagai Denki Marvies | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | SRC Kobe Finies | AS ONE Black Eagles | Iwatani Sidewinders |
| 2007 | West | Matsushita Denko Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Naigai Denki Marvies | AS ONE Black Eagles | SRC Kobe Finies | Nagoya Cyclones |
| 2008 | West | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Panasonic Denko Impulse | SRC Kobe Finies | Naigai Denki Marvies | Asahi Pretec Golden Fighters | AS ONE Black Eagles |
| 2009 | West | Panasonic Denko Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Suita Marvies | Elecom Kobe Finies | Asahi Pretec Golden Fighters | AS ONE Black Eagles |
| 2010 | West | Panasonic Denko Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Suita Marvies | Elecom Kobe Finies | AS ONE Black Eagles | Nagoya Cyclones |
| 2011 | West | Panasonic Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Elecom Kobe Finies | Nagoya Cyclones | Fuji Xerox J-Stars |
| 2012 | West | Panasonic Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Elecom Kobe Finies | Nagoya Cyclones | Nishinomiya Bruins |
| 2013 | West | Panasonic Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Elecom Kobe Finies | Nishinomiya Bruins | Nagoya Cyclones |
| 2014 | West | Elecom Kobe Finies | Panasonic Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Nagoya Cyclones | Nishinomiya Bruins |
| 2015 | West | Panasonic Impulse | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Elecom Kobe Finies | AS ONE Black Eagles | Nagoya Cyclones | Fuji Xerox J-Stars |
| 2016 | West | Panasonic Impulse | Elecom Kobe Finies | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Nagoya Cyclones | Sidewinders |
| 2017 | West | Panasonic Impulse | Elecom Kobe Finies | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Nagoya Cyclones | Club Hawkeye |
| 2018 | West | Panasonic Impulse | Elecom Kobe Finies | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | AS ONE Black Eagles | Nagoya Cyclones | Sidewinders |
* Until 2008, the top 2 teams in each division qualified for the playoffs to the Japan X bowl known as the Final6. Starting 2009, the top 3 teams in each division qualified for the Super9 in the 2nd stage.

#### X1 Super

| Year | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
| 2019 | Fujitsu Frontiers | Obic Seagulls | Panasonic Impulse | Elecom Kobe Finies | IBM Big Blue | Tokyo Gas Creators | All Mitsubishi Lions | Nojima Sagamihara Rise |
| 2021 | Panasonic Impulse | Fujitsu Frontiers | Obic Seagulls | IBM Big Blue | Nojima Sagamihara Rise | Tokyo Gas Creators | Elecom Kobe Finies | All Mitsubishi Lions |
| 2022 | | | | | | | | |

#### X1 Area East/Central

| Year | Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 2019 | East | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Fuji Xerox Minerva AFC | Dentsu Club Caterpillars | AFC Cranes |
| 2019 | Central | LIXIL Deers | Meiji Yasuda PentaOcean Pirates | Tokyo MPD Eagles | Bullseyes Tokyo |
| 2021 | East | Asahi Beer Silver Star | Tokyo MPD Eagles | PentaOcean Pirates | Fuji Xerox Minerva AFC |
| 2021 | Central | Deers Football Club | Dentsu Club Caterpillars | Bullseyes Tokyo | Bulls Football Club |

#### X1 Area West

| Year | Division | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| 2019 | West | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Fukuoka Opatsu Suns | Nagoya Cyclones | AS ONE Black Eagles |
| 2021 | West | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers | Equal One Fukuoka Suns | AS ONE Black Eagles | Nagoya Cyclones |

## Playing venues

| Stadium | Location | Capacity |
| East/Central Division |||
| Kawasaki Stadium | Kawasaki, Kanagawa | 2,700 |
| Yokohama Stadium | Yokohama, Kanagawa | 20,000 |
| Sagamihara Asamizo Park Stadium | Minami-ku, Sagamihara | 11,808 |
| Amino Vital Field | Chōfu, Tokyo | 3,000 |
| Akitsu Soccer Stadium | Narashino, Chiba | 2,100 |
| Tokyo Dome | Bunkyo, Tokyo | 55,000 |
| Oi Futo Central Seaside Park Field | Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo | 5,000 |
| Chiba Marine Stadium | Chiba City, Chiba | 30,082 |
| Yurtec Stadium Sendai | Sendai, Miyagi | 19,694 |
| Todoroki Athletics Stadium | Kawasaki, Kanagawa | 26,232 |
| Sendai City Athletic Stadium | Sendai, Miyagi | 7,000 |
| West Division |||
| Expo Flash Field | Suita, Osaka | 3,000 |
| Kobe Prince Stadium | Nada-ku, Kobe | 3,000 |
| Nagai Stadium | Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka | 47,816 |
| Kincho Stadium | Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka | 20,500 |
| Minato Soccer Stadium | Nagoya, Aichi | 20,000 |
| Tsurumi Ryokuchi Field | Tsurumi-ku, Osaka | 3,710 |
| Osaka Nagai Second Stadium | Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka | 15,000 |
| Handa Athletics Stadium | Handa, Aichi | 9,074 |
| Amagasaki Memorial Park Stadium | Amagasaki, Hyogo | 10,000 |
| Suzuka Sports Garden | Suzuka, Mie | 3,300 |
| Toyota Athletic Stadium | Toyota, Aichi | 5,500 |

## Awards and honors
### All X-League Team

Since 2000, the X-League honors outstanding players by electing them to the All X-League Team. 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players and 3 special team players are voted by the Head Coaches and 5 players on each of the 18 X1 teams to be selected for the team. Starting 2019, the All X-League team was divided between 2 classifications: The 8-team X1 Super and 12-team X1 Area with both selecting 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players and 3 special team players and are voted by the Head Coaches and 5 players on each of the teams. In 2020, the X1 Area All X League Team was expanded to include a West and East team due to the shortened season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

### X-League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award

The X-League Most Valuable Player award (X-League MVP) is an award given to the Japanese Gridiron football player who is considered most valuable to his team in the X-League. Started in 2012, the award was divided between the best player in each division until 2014 when one overall MVP was awarded. Starting in 2019, the award was divided between the best player in each classification.
| Year | Division | Winner | Position | Team |
| 2012 | East | Yasuhiro Maruta | Running back | Kajima Deers |
| 2012 | Central | Noriaki Kinoshita | Wide receiver | Obic Seagulls |
| 2012 | West | Ryohei Imanishi | Cornerback | Panasonic Impulse |
| 2013 | East | Keiya Hiramoto | Quarterback | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2013 | Central | Noriaki Kinoshita | Wide receiver | Obic Seagulls |
| 2013 | West | Tetsuo Takata | Quarterback | Panasonic Impulse |
| Year | Winner | Position | Team |
| 2014 | Gino Gordon | Running back | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2015 | Tetsuo Takata | Quarterback | Panasonic Impulse |
| 2016 | Colby Cameron | Quarterback | Fujitsu |
| 2017 | Benjamin Anderson | Quarterback | Panasonic Impulse |
| 2018 | Trashaun Nixon | Running back | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| Year | Classification | Winner | Position | Team |
| 2019 | X1 Super | Samajie Grant | Running back | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2019 | X1 Area | Garret Safron | Quarterback | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers |
| 2021 | X1 Super | Jaboree Williams | Linebacker | Panasonic Impulse |
| 2021 | X1 Area | Hiroshi Kawamura | Running back | Asahi Beer Silver Star |
| 2022 | X1 Super | Trashaun Nixon | Running Back | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2022 | X1 Area | Aaron Ellis | Quarterback | Dentsu Club Caterpillars |
| 2023 | X1 Super | Trashaun Nixon | Running Back | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2023 | X1 Area | John Gibbs | Quarterback | All Mitsubishi Lions |
| 2024 | X1 Super | Samajie Grant | Wide Receiver | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2024 | X1 Area | Aaron Ellis | Quarterback | Dentsu Club Caterpillars |

### X-League Rookie of the Year (ROY) award

The X-League Rookie of the Year award (X-League ROY) is an award given to the player who is considered have made a big impact during his first year with his team. Started in 2012, the award was divided between the best player in each division until 2014 when one overall ROY was awarded. Starting in 2019, the awarded was divided between 2 classifications: X1 Super and X1 Area.
| Year | Division | Winner | Position | Team |
| 2012 | East | Kohei Arai | Center | Kajima Deers |
| 2012 | Central | Kevin Craft | Quarterback | IBM Big Blue |
| 2012 | West | Hisashi Kurokawa | Offensive tackle | Panasonic Impulse |
| 2013 | East | Junpei Yoshimoto | Wide receiver | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2013 | Central | Kealakai Maiava | Offensive tackle | Obic Seagulls |
| 2013 | West | David Motu | Linebacker | Panasonic Impulse |
| Year | Winner | Position | Team |
| 2014 | Colby Cameron | Quarterback | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2015 | Mason Mills | Quarterback | Asahi Beer Silver Star |
| 2016 | Devin Gardner | Quarterback | Nojima Sagamihara Rise |
| 2017 | Taku Li | Running back | Obic Seagulls |
| 2018 | Michael Birdsong | Quarterback | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| Year | Classification | Winner | Position | Team |
| 2019 | X1 Super | Samajie Grant | Running back | Fujitsu Frontiers |
| 2019 | X1 Area | Garret Safron | Quarterback | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers |
| 2021 | X1 Super | Jerod Evans | Quarterback | Tokyo Gas Creators |
| 2021 | X1 Area | Satoshi Konuki | Wide receiver | Dentsu Caterpillars |
| 2022 | X1 Super | Jaylon Henderson | Quarterback | Panasonic Impulse |
| 2022 | X1 Area | Kento Shibata | Running Back | PentaOcean Pirates |
| 2023 | X1 Super | Boogie Knight | Wide Receiver | Asahi Soft Drinks Challengers |
| 2023 | X1 Area | Ryushi Ando | Linebacker | FujiXerox Minerva AFC |
| 2024 | X1 Super | Tay Cunningham | Wide Receiver | Nojima Sagamihara Rise |
| 2024 | X1 Area | Yuito Ikeda | Running Back | Shinagawa CC Bullseyes |

### X-League Fairplay award

Since 2012, the X-League Fairplay award is awarded to the team that had accumulated the fewest penalties during the regular season.
| Year | Division | Team |
| 2012 | West | Panasonic Impulse |
| 2013 | Central | All Mitsubishi Lions |
| 2014 | East | Hurricanes (X-League) |
| 2015 | Central | Hurricanes (X-League) |
| 2016 | East | Keishichou Eagles |
| 2017 | East | Keishichou Eagles |

## Team names

* Silver Star → Asahi Beer Silver Star
* Matsushita Electric Works Impulse → Panasonic Electric Works Impulse
* Kohoku Finies → Sunstar Finies → Kohoku Finies → Finies Football Club → Kobe Finies → SRC Kobe Finies　→ Elecom Kobe Finies
* Recruit Seagulls → Seagulls → Obic Seagulls
* NEC Falcons (dissolved in 1997)
* Renown Rovers (dissolved in 2003)
* Onward Oaks → Onward Skylarks(Combined with Skylark Skylarks in 2001) → Onward Oaks (dissolved in 2009)→ Sagamihara Rise (Remnants of the Onward Oaks formed a new team called the Sagamihara Rise (same uniforms and colors, although different logo) and played one level down in the X2 league through the 2010 season. They subsequently won the challenge game against the Renesas Hurricanes to move back up to X1 in December 2010, and will play again in the X1 Central Division for the 2011 season, with the Hurricanes moving down to X2)