History Talk

These days the name YC&AC (Yokohama Country & Athletic Club) is rarely mentioned in either the foreign or Japanese media in Japan. When it is mentioned, it is usually because of some event in the Club’s sports history before WW2. This lack of outside interest in YC&AC is a far cry from the early decades of the 20th century, when the playing of western sports spread across Japan like wildfire. Fledgling Japanese teams in the Kanto region playing rugby, soccer, hockey, basketball, and even American football, etc. all wanted to play against YC&AC. In those days the name “YC&AC” (often referred to in newspapers as “the Y. C. and A. C.”) was one of the most prominent sporting names in English-language publications like the Japan Times and the Japan Advertiser, and also regularly appeared in news reports about sports in the Japanese media.

In this talk, sports historian and long-term YC&AC member Mike Galbraith explains the background and events immediately leading to the creation of the multi-sports club YC&AC 140 years ago in 1884, and introduces the key personalities behind it.

Of course, without an excellent ground and good facilities—at a time when Japan had almost no green playing fields other than the Meiji Jingu ground in Tokyo—the YC&AC could not have achieved what it did. That ground, which YC&AC maintains to this day, was opened 110 years ago, in 1914. The talk will also illuminate this important anniversary.

The talk will be in English and will be followed by a Q & A session. To attend, please complete the form below. Admission is free.