American Indoor Lacrosse Association to Train Eleven Japanese Kyoto University Players

Philadelphia, PA -

The American Indoor Lacrosse Association is excited to announce that 11 college players from the Kyoto University Men's Lacrosse team are traveling to the United States to train with AILA.

There are eleven players from Kyoto's men's lacrosse program training with AILA from February 17 until March 3, learning the In|Crosse program from Johnny Mouradian and the AILA staff. 

"When we think about being the best in Japan, we realize that we should not set our aim just there but at an even higher level --- the US, where the best games of lacrosse on earth are held," said Kyoto Team Manager Mari Kato, who is excited for the team to train with Mouradian and AILA. 

Kyoto's men's lacrosse team has won second place in the Japanese College Lacrosse League for three consecutive years. With their sights set on first place and with their visit to the U.S. coming up, Kato says that the best is yet to come for his team.

"Our team is sending 11 players to receive as much skills and training experiences as they can get. We really appreciate Mr. Mouradian for welcoming and helping us to reach our goals," Mari stated. 

These eleven players include:

Shinsuke Imai 

Masahiro Tsukao 

Takuji Yoshida 

Tomohiro Ohashi 

Seitaro Senda                                                                                

Kojiro Inoue 

Toshiki Tsuchimoto 

Tasuku Kataoka 

Shoichiro Kawai 

Ryusei Hiromi 

Koya Sato 

Kato also commented, "We hope that this expedition is successful and aspire the further development of the connection between Japanese and American lacrosse."

AILA and the Kyoto men's squad will start training at Marple Indoor Sports Arena in Broomall, PA on February 18th. They will travel to Bucksmont Indoor Sports Center in Hatfield, PA and the Flyers Skate Zone in Voorhees Township, NJ, as well. Throughout their training, they will learn from Mouradian and other AILA staff, along with competing in exhibition matches and take in a Philadelphia Wings game. 

"AILA has a global reach. The connections of our staff and partners give us access to the best programs both Nationally and Internationally. We are as excited to train these Japanese players our AILA ciriculum as they are" said Johnny Mouradian - President AILA.

About AILA: American Indoor Lacrosse Association’s Integrated Programs provide In|Crosse education and training, AILA’s proprietary system leverages the integration and convergence of the indoor version of lacrosse with the field game.  Integrated programs contribute to the building blocks of lacrosse literacy, developing well rounded field players by taking advantage of the many features of indoor lacrosse and transferring the benefits to their field game.

American Indoor Lacrosse Association has developed a number of cutting edge Programs and Services that teach the bio-mechanics, principles, strategies and tactics of indoor lacrosse taking advantage of the several features - small goals (4’x 4’9), 30 second shot clock, five on five lacrosse, players learn to play offense and defense, to name a few.  The In|Crosse Platform is the integration and convergence of the knowledge and skills to the field game.

About In|Crosse: In|Crosse is AILA’s proprietary platform that leverages the integration and convergence of indoor lacrosse with the field game. Developed by Johnny Mouradian AILA’s President and Philadelphia Wing’s GM, AILA’s integrated programs/camps emphasize a structured curriculum that combines the bio mechanics, principles, strategies and tactics associated with the indoor (box) version with the field version. The primary goal of AILA’s integrated programs/camps is the development of lacrosse literacy that differentiates and produces well-rounded highly skilled, intensely competitive field players by taking advantage of the many features of indoor lacrosse. The benefits to players and coaches provide the skills and knowledge to compete and succeed at the highest level in the field game.

About Kyoto University: Kyoto (Kyodai) University, located in Kyoto, Japan, is the second oldest and one of the highest ranked universities in Asia. As one of Japan's National Seven Universities, it was founded in 1869, enrolls 22,707 students a year and has been Japan's second consecutive best institution since 2008. There are three main campuses that make up Kyoto University, located in Yoshida and Katsura, Kyoto and the other in Gokashō, Uji. Kyoto is a leading research-oriented institution, producing eight Nobel Prize laureates, two field medalists and one Gauss Prize winner. 

Japanese Lacrosse History: Lacrosse was started in Japan, not just as a way of growing the game, but as a way of building individual communication and cultural international relation. It started when a Johns Hopkins coach, along with four players, traveled over to Japan and taught 10 Keio University freshmen the game. They were funded by the Edwin O. Reischauer Foundation, a US-Japan Cultural Exchange Fund, eventually named Lacrosse Makes Friends. In 1987, the Japan Lacrosse Association was formed. That same year, former Hopkins head coach, Dom Zimmerman, traveled over and held Japan's first lacrosse camp, along with the first ever lacrosse game recorded in a game of Keio University against Yokota Base team. Japan sent its first U19 men's team to the 1992 World Cup, including a women's national team in 1993. The World Cup games took place in japan in 1996 (U19 Men's) and 1997 (Women's). Responsibility was handed to the Japanese lacrosse Student's Association (JLSA) to spread the game of lacrosse throughout the country. Currently, there are close to 16,000 individuals playing the sport of lacrosse in Japan and they make up the 300 college and 100 club teams.