Gateway to the Gridiron: The Japan Gridiron Association

The rise of notoriety in Japan’s sports scene has been taking over the world for some time. From baseball to soccer, Japan has showcased itself as the premier nation for sport in Asia and is ready to take on the rest of the world in… American Football? You heard that right. While to many this may seem like a tall order, the team at the Japan Gridiron Association (JGA) has taken on this challenge head-on.

Led by co-founders Joshua Cisneros and Tyler Moore, JGA aspires to serve as Japan’s premier source to connect American Football athletes to the best possible opportunities and resources to help them achieve their athletic and academic journeys. From elite trainers to offering notable events, JGA hopes to showcase their athletes’ talent to potential recruiters and further bridge the gap for Japanese athletes to compete in American Football at American Universities.

We were fortunate enough to conduct an interview with Joshua and Tyler to learn more about JGA, how they believe the association has grown over time, and their future aspirations for the association.

It is a pleasure to meet you, Josh and Tyler. We appreciate you taking the time to chat with us about the Japan Gridiron Association (JGA) today. Could you please introduce yourself and tell us how you got involved with the Japan Gridiron Association?

Josh: It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, and thank you for the opportunity to speak about the Japan Gridiron Association.

My name is Joshua Cisneros, and I am one of the co-founders of JGA alongside my partner, Tyler. My background is shaped by both football and international life. My father served in the U.S. Army, so I grew up moving around the United States and began playing American football from second grade through high school. Shortly after graduating, I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served for four years.

After completing my military service, I moved back to Japan to pursue my undergraduate studies. Even during that transition, my passion for American football never left. Once I became more familiar with the football landscape in Japan and saw the level of talent that existed here, it really opened my eyes. Tyler and I recognized that there were skilled, hardworking athletes who simply lacked access to exposure and opportunity. That realization ultimately led to the creation of the Japan Gridiron Association as a platform to connect Japanese athletes with pathways that previously felt out of reach.

Tyler: My name is Tyler Moore, and I am originally from Atlanta, Georgia. I have been involved in American football since the age of five, and the sport has been a foundational part of my life as both a player and a mentor. I attended Valdosta High School, home of the winningest high school football program in the United States, and I come from a family with a strong tradition in football. Those experiences shaped my understanding of high-level standards, discipline, and long-term athlete development.

I am the Co-Founder of the Japan Gridiron Association, an organization built to complement and support Japan’s already established football community by expanding development pathways and international exposure. Our focus goes beyond individual events — we are committed to enhancing athlete development through structured training environments, position-specific coaching, performance evaluation, and education aligned with global standards of the game.

In 2025, we launched the JGA National Combine Series to provide athletes with a standardized platform for evaluation, measurable performance feedback, and clear benchmarks for continued growth. This initiative led to the JGA International Showcase this past January, which featured athletes from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and the American military community, offering a higher-level international competitive environment designed to accelerate athlete development.

Our mission remains consistent: to develop well-rounded athletes while expanding opportunities through elite training, competition, and global exposure. Through the Japan Gridiron Association, we aim to support athletes in reaching their full potential and pursuing football opportunities at the next level and beyond.

Since American football is a “niche” sport in Japan, there appears to be a passionate community that surrounds it. What are the philosophical ideals or values that motivated you and your partner to establish the JGA, and what foundational principles guide your work today?

Absolutely — while American football is still considered a niche sport in Japan, the passion surrounding it is incredibly strong. It’s a close-knit community, and from the very beginning, the people involved in Japanese football have been welcoming and supportive of what we are trying to build.

JGA was founded on two core philosophies: providing opportunity and exposure to well-deserving talent, and contributing to the global growth of American football. Everything we do — our events, partnerships, media, and long-term planning — revolves around these two principles. We believe that talent exists everywhere, and our responsibility is to help remove barriers so that talent can be seen, developed, and respected on a global stage.

When looking at the association’s “About Us” page, it appears the JGA positions itself as a “dynamic, modernized sports organization.” What does modernizing American football development in Japan mean to you in practical terms, and what distinctions separate JGA from traditional pathways such as university teams or corporate clubs?

When we talk about being a “modernized” sports organization, we are referring to the systems and infrastructure surrounding athlete development. Our goal is to introduce proven development models that already exist in the modern American football ecosystem — systems that support athletes not just physically, but academically and professionally as well.

JGA itself is not a traditional pathway like a university team or corporate club. Instead, we function as a connector and catalyst. We help build pathways by preparing athletes for the next level and linking them to opportunities at the collegiate and professional levels, both domestically and internationally. In that sense, we complement existing structures rather than replace them.

You highlight that becoming one of the world’s top football nations begins with identifying the best athletes at all levels. How do you evaluate talent within the Japanese system, and what qualities do you believe uniquely characterize promising Japanese football players? Could you also explain the development pathway for these athletes, from first exposure to the sport all the way to potential international recruitment?

Globally, football is highly competitive because many athletes begin structured training at a very young age. We believe that early identification, combined with proper development systems, dramatically increases an athlete’s chances of success in the recruiting process.

At JGA, we evaluate talent through multiple channels: attending games, hosting camps and showcases, producing and distributing game and combine film, and collaborating with credible evaluators. Our objective is simple — get as many qualified and trustworthy eyes on Japanese athletes as possible. That’s why we partner with experienced coaches, professional players, scouts, and organizations that have both the résumé and the network to truly help athletes advance.

What makes Japanese football players unique is their unwavering passion for the game and their discipline. Discipline is deeply embedded in Japanese culture, and it translates directly onto the field—in preparation, attention to detail, and commitment to improvement. Those qualities give Japanese athletes a strong foundation to succeed at higher levels.

It was especially interesting to see the JGA’s development of the first-of-its-kind national combines, camps, and ranking systems for American football in Japan. What inspired this structure, and how do you and your partner envision it transforming athlete visibility and talent identification nationwide?

The inspiration behind our national combines, camps, and ranking systems comes directly from models that already exist in the United States. We understand how important these structures are in an athlete’s journey, and we wanted to make that same framework accessible in Japan.

These systems dramatically increase visibility. Our media platforms are followed by coaches, professional players, scouts, and major football organizations, which helps introduce Japanese talent to both domestic and international audiences. Additionally, having coaches, scouts, and former professional players attend our events allows for direct, in-person evaluation. Beyond visibility, the network we’ve built enables us to actively connect athletes with real opportunities.

The creation of player rankings and standardized evaluation systems are things that can dramatically shift the competitive landscape and be highly regulated. What metrics, philosophies, or scouting principles typically guide your athlete evaluations?

At the end of the day, our philosophy is straightforward: we aim to evaluate athletes according to the highest standards in American football, which are set in the United States. The metrics, drills, and evaluation processes we use mirror those used for athletes being recruited at the collegiate and professional levels in America. This ensures credibility and allows international scouts to accurately compare Japanese athletes within a global context.

From what your website describes, the JGA aims to be a bridge between American and Japanese sports traditions. What aspects of Japanese athletic culture, such as shokunin spirit, teamwork, or discipline, do you think naturally elevate the quality of American football development in Japan? On the other hand, what lessons from American football culture, competitive style, player marketing, and coaching philosophy do you think can enrich Japanese athletes’ growth?

Cultural exchange is a major pillar of what we do, especially for athletes who are exposed to different football environments at a young age. Japanese athletic culture brings tremendous strengths to football development — discipline, teamwork, respect for coaching, and a shokunin-like dedication to mastering one’s craft. These qualities naturally elevate the level of play and professionalism.

At the same time, American football culture offers valuable lessons in competitive mindset, player branding, assertive communication, and adaptive coaching philosophies. When athletes are able to experience both cultures, they gain a more complete understanding of the game and of themselves. We believe that American and Japanese football cultures can learn a great deal from one another, and JGA exists in that space between the two.

Carrying on towards the ambitions of the JGA, part of the vision of the association is to become Japan’s number one source for career and academic advancement in American football. What does the current and future infrastructure look like within the next 5 to 10 years?

Currently, JGA focuses on providing opportunities and exposure through camps, showcases, media coverage, and direct connections. Looking ahead five to ten years, our vision is to build comprehensive development systems that support the athlete as a whole.

This includes structured strength and conditioning, nutrition guidance, recovery protocols, educational support, and life skills development. Ultimately, our goal is to establish dedicated facilities — fields, weight rooms, and classrooms — where athletes can receive full-service development. We believe that true success comes from developing not only better football players, but better people.

For yourself, what is one transformation you hope JGA brings to Japan’s sports environment that goes beyond football itself, whether cultural, educational, or social?

More broadly, we recognize that the Japanese sports environment is already evolving and modernizing. Our goal is not to disrupt that progress, but to contribute to it in a meaningful way. We see JGA as part of a larger movement that supports athlete empowerment, global connectivity, and long-term personal development. If we can help push that evolution forward — even slightly — then we believe we are fulfilling our responsibility.

Thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview with us! Before we leave, what message would you like to leave with travelers, sports enthusiasts, or student athletes who are interested in the association and would like to participate in a future combine or help in the association’s mission? Additionally, if you would like to announce any new events or partnerships that are coming soon, you are more than welcome to.

To the players specifically: if you are an American football player in Japan, we are here to support you in any way we can. Every athlete who participates in our events becomes part of the JGA family, and that support doesn’t end when the event does. If you’re interested in joining, you are already welcome.

To coaches, supporters, travelers, and football enthusiasts: American football in Japan is real, and it’s growing. If you’re interested in being part of what we’re building — whether as an athlete, partner, or supporter — we encourage you to reach out through our website, social media, or email. We’re always open to connecting with people who believe in the mission.

Thank you again for the opportunity to share our story.

As the JGA continues to grow, it remains a guiding light for aspiring players and a strong model for similar organizations across Japan. We would like to thank Joshua and Tyler for sharing the JGA’s story and continuing to strive for greatness for each player who walks through their door. Hopefully, we are able to work with them in the future to help them expand their vision not just to our readers, but current and future travelers to Japan.

Follow the Japan Gridiron Association On:

Website: https://japangridironassociation.com/

Facebook: Japan Gridiron Association

Instagram: @jga_americanfootball

X: @JGA_Recruit

Feature photo credit: JGA

If you’re looking to discover more about the sports world in Japan whilst visiting the country, contact our Tailored Travel team today, and we’ll make sure to shape your itinerary around all your sporting needs!