Obic Seagulls players celebrate after their win over the Panasonic Impulse during the 2026 X League season opener at Tokyo Dome on Sunday. | John Gunning

There was an electric atmosphere inside Tokyo Dome on May 3 as the X League inaugurated its new XPremier top division with a thrilling pair of hard-fought contests.

Kicking off the daylong football extravaganza was a repeat of last season’s Rice Bowl between the Panasonic Impulse and the Obic Seagulls.

Japanese gridiron’s two most decorated clubs once again went back and forth, but this time it was the Seagulls that emerged victorious, clawing back a 14-point halftime deficit to edge the Impulse 21-20.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

SUBSCRIBE NOW