New Evidence on the 1919 FA Silver Cup: A Forgotten Chapter in Japanese Football History

Abstract

The Japan Football Association (JFA) was founded in 1921, following the donation of a silver cup by the Football Association (FA) in 1919. This trophy became the centerpiece of a tournament that later evolved into the prestigious Emperor's Cup. While the conventional narrative attributes the donation to William Haigh's efforts, historical records indicate that the event was deeply intertwined with British wartime propaganda strategies in Japan. Uchida Tairei's account, published in Kaihō (1922), has long been the dominant source regarding the donation, yet his lack of direct involvement in the process raises doubts about its accuracy. Recent discoveries, including telegrams from the British Foreign Office and Ministry of Information, letters from the FA Chairman, and Haigh's own memoranda, reveal a broader geopolitical context behind the donation. These documents highlight the roles of key figures such as Haigh, British diplomats like Greene and Parlett, and Japanese educator Dōmei Nagai in facilitating the donation. The study finds that the donation was a product of British efforts to promote cultural influence in Japan through football. While Haigh was instrumental in the initiative, Nagai also played a crucial role in inspiring and receiving the cup. The FA's swift preparation of the trophy and the British government's strategic use of football as propaganda helped shape Anglo-Japanese relations. Although originally a wartime initiative, the silver cup's impact extended far beyond propaganda. It contributed to the development of Japanese football and strengthened cultural ties between Japan and Britain. Despite the dissolution of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the eventual loss of the cup during World War II, the JFA and its national tournament thrived, cementing the donation's legacy as one of the most enduring examples of British influence in Japan.

Keywords: Japan Football Association (JFA), Silver Cup Donation (1919), British Propaganda in Japan, William Haigh, Anglo-Japanese Football Relations