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Looking for a dark horse for the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship?

Cast an eye in the direction of Japan, where they have been playing the sport they call American football for 75 years.

Only New Zealand will have further to travel to Canton, Ohio, than Japan, but don't expect distance and the effects of jetlag after a 12-hour flight to knock this team out of its stride.

Seeded fourth having impressed at previous international tournaments during recent years, Team Japan will arrive Stateside full of confidence having just won a warm-up exhibition game in true style. Whether passing, running or defending the ball, Japan oozes confidence on the football field.

At the end of March, Team Japan took on a traveling American all-star squad, Team Stars and Stripes, in front of an expectant crowd at the 5,000-capacity Kawasaki Stadium on the outskirts of Tokyo. Hopes were high since Japan had triumphed 24-14 in the corresponding fixture a year earlier in the inaugural Global Challenge Bowl.

The American visitors also arrived full of confidence, boasting an improved lineup from the previous year that included high school seniors committed to schools such as Ball State, San Jose State, Furman and Wake Forest. The writing appeared to be on the wall early in the contest when running back Jason Simpson dashed 19 yards into the end zone on an inside counter out of the Wing-T formation for an early lead.

But then Team Japan kicked it into gear. After a 65-yard touchdown pass, 22-yard field goal and a short scoring run, the hosts led 17-6 at halftime. They then scorched to a 31-6 lead at the end of the third quarter, scoring an impressive 14 unanswered points. The final score: a conclusive 38-21 victory for Team Japan.

So where does their strength lie? Just about everywhere.

Quarterback and game MVP Yuichirou Araki hit an impressive 9 of 12 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 47 yards and a score. He has height and good size at 6-1, 205 pounds, poise in the pocket and an accurate arm.

The main rushing threat came from Shun Kitagawa, who scored on a one-yard run, and Shu Inoue, who also claimed a touchdown as he carried the ball 4 times for 43 yards. Inoue and Araki combined to execute a perfect reverse play that caught everyone off guard and allowed the running back to dance untouched into the end zone.

The kicking game is strong with Shoma Endo impressive from long distance and defensively, Team Japan forced turnovers and its offense capitalized on advantageous field position. Kohei Unuma looks every bit the team leader in his middle linebacker position. And don't fall into the stereotype that all Japanese players will be small. The running backs may be diminutive and speedy, but more than a quarter of the team's roster stands more than six feet tall and brings some size to the line on both sides of the ball.

Head coach Takao Yamazaki has put together an experienced coaching staff that includes two former NFL Europe players in offensive coordinator Takayuki Sunaga and quarterbacks/wide receivers coach Masato Itai. Sunaga was the first non-American quarterback ever to take a snap in NFL Europe.

Japan will open its 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship campaign against reigning European junior champion Germany.