For the first time in its 34 year history, the Japan National Lacrosse Championship finals will be broadcast live with English commentary on Japan Lacrosse Live this Saturday 18 January (UK).

The Japan National Lacrosse Championship finals represents the pinnacle of Japanese lacrosse as Japan’s best university team takes on Japan’s best club team in a bid to become the ultimate number one team in the country.

This year’s women’s final sees three-time National Champions NeO Lacrosse Club play Waseda University with Grizzlies Lacrosse Club taking on Tokyo’s Keio University in the men’s final.

By being broadcast with English commentary for the first time, this year’s event represents a key moment in promoting Japanese lacrosse on a global stage and connecting the sport to an international audience.

Lacrosse in Japan has had a meteoric rise in recent years with the men’s national team claiming a first ever bronze medal at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, USA before following that up with a fifth place finish at the 2023 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.

The women’s national team finished sixth at the 2022 World Games, fifth at the 2022 World Lacrosse Women’s Championship in Towson, USA, and have just finished top of the Asia-Pacific World Lacrosse Championship Qualifiers.

Over the next two years, Japan will play host to its first World Championships as it becomes the destination for next year’s World Lacrosse Women’s Championship and the 2027 World Lacrosse Men’s Championship.

The Japan National Lacrosse Championship finals will take place on Saturday 18 January (UK) starting with the women’s final followed by the men’s final and can be watched on Japan Lacrosse Live HERE.

Schedule (all times UK)

Women’s Final | NeO Lacrosse Club v Waseda University | 5am
Men’s Final | Grizzlies Lacrosse Club v Keio University | 7am