#Japan #Tokyo #MVP #Hockey Japan League #Kōen no Miya

Kōen no Miya Trophy 2024 Hockey Japan League Annual Award Ceremony

On February 21, 2024, the Hockey Japan League (HJL) held its annual award ceremony, known as the Kōen no Miya Trophy 2024 Hockey Japan League Award. The event was graced by the presence of Her Imperial Highness, Princess Kiko, who presented trophies to the winning teams and recognized the MVP winners for both the Sakura League and Samurai League.

Spotlight on MVPs

This year marked a celebration of exceptional athletes with Tanaka Kaho from Sony HC BRAVIA Ladies winning the MVP for the Sakura League, and Morita Yosuke from LIEBE Tochigi taking the honor in the Samurai League. Both recipients celebrated their remarkable performances throughout the season, and for many, this marked a significant milestone in their careers.

Tanaka, who plays forward for the Ladies' team, was instrumental in leading her team to victory, while Morita, a goalkeeper, showcased remarkable skills that ensured his team's triumph in the league.

Highlighting Team Achievements

Champion Teams

The awards ceremony also celebrated the champion teams of the leagues:

• - Sakura League Champion: Sony HC BRAVIA Ladies (their 13th title in three years)
• - Samurai League D1 Champion: LIEBE Tochigi (third title in two years)
• - Samurai League D2 Champion: Selrio Shimane (first-time champions)

These teams exemplified excellence and sportsmanship, contributing to a highly competitive league season.

Awards Overview

In addition to the MVPs, other notable awards included:

• - Best Team Award (Fair Play):

- Sakura League: Nanto Bank Shooting Stars (notable for having zero yellow cards)
- Samurai League: Gifu Asahi Club Blue Devils (exhibited exemplary discipline with 10 green cards but no yellow cards)

Among the personal accolades, the Best Umpire Awards were given to:

• - Junko Wagatsuma (for women's category)
• - Takuma Kato (men's category)

Scoring Leaders

The top scorers of the league also earned commendations:

• - Sakura League Scoring Leader: Shiho Kobayakawa (Coca-Cola Red Sparks) with 9 goals.
• - Samurai League D1 Scoring Leader: Shota Yamada (Gifu Asahi Club Blue Devils) with 11 goals.
• - Samurai League D2 Top Scorers: Hirotaka Zendana (Selrio Shimane), Shun Murayama (Freaks Tokyo), and Wataru Ueki (Tokyo University of Agriculture), each with 4 goals.

Special Recognitions

The event also featured special awards, including the Best Newcomer Awards, given to:

• - Mizuha Matsumura (Sakura League)
• - Ryosuke Shinohara (Samurai League D1)
• - Wataru Ueki (Samurai League D2)

Additionally, Kenji Kitazato was recognized for achieving 100 goals in the Japan League, showcasing his remarkable longevity and skill in the sport.

Coaching Excellence

The Best Coaches of the year were honored as follows:

• - Naohiko Tobita of Sony HC BRAVIA Ladies
• - Toshiaki Fukuda of LIEBE Tochigi

Both coaches played a pivotal role in guiding their teams to success and fostering a winning culture.

Best XI Teams

The awards also included the Best XI, recognizing the elite players from both leagues:

• - Sakura League Best XI: Featured exceptional players from Sony HC BRAVIA Ladies, Nanto Bank Shooting Stars, and Coca-Cola Red Sparks.
• - Samurai League D1 Best XI: Included top talents from Gifu Asahi Club Blue Devils, LIEBE Tochigi, and others.
• - Samurai League D2 Best XI: Acknowledged players from Selrio Shimane and Freaks Tokyo, among others.

Overall, the Kōen no Miya Trophy 2024 Hockey Japan League Annual Award Ceremony was a grand celebration of talent, sportsmanship, and dedication within the hockey community, highlighting the athletes' hard work and achievements throughout the season.