Round1 Japan Cup

{{Short description|Annual bowling event between the American and Japanese professional bowling associations}}

ROUND1 Japan Cup is an annual PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) and JPBA (Japan Professional Bowling Association) bowling event sponsored by ROUND1. In its earlier years, the tournament typically featured the top 16 bowlers from each organization, but has recently enjoyed an expanded field. It has been dominated by PBA Tour professionals since 1989. Until Yuya Katoh's win in 2013, the last JPBA bowler to win the event was Takeo Sakai in 1988.

The tournament celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010. The 2010 Dydo Japan Cup featured a starting field of 144 bowlers, which included JPBA members from Japan and South Korea, PBA members, and Japanese amateurs.Thomas, Jason. "Six PBA Players, Two Koreans Advance to Sunday's DyDo Japan Cup Championship Round." Article at www.pba.com on April 24. 2010. [http://news.pba.com/post/2010/04/24/Six-PBA-Players-Two-Koreans-Advance-to-Sundaye28099s-DyDo-Japan-Cup-Championship-Round.aspx]

The event was not held in 2011, due in large part to the earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan.

The 2013 edition of the Japan Cup was held from November 28 through December 1, 2013.[http://www.round1.co.jp/japancup/2012/index.html ROUND1 Japan Cup Official Site] The top 16 PBA Tour players (based on 2012-13 competition points), plus a handful of at-large PBA Tour invitees, joined a large field of players from Japan and South Korea.[http://news.pba.com/post/2014/1/12/Yuya-Katoh-Upsets-Field-to-Win-Round1-Japan-Cup-End-25-Year-Home-Country-Title-Drought.aspx Yuya Katoh Upsets Field to Win Round1 Japan Cup, End 25-Year Home-Country Title Drought] Vint, Bill at pba.com on 12 January 2014.