Hosei University scored twice in the fourth quarter and then held off error-prone Kwansei Gakuin for a 28-21 triumph in the Koshien Bowl collegiate championship game Sunday.
Tomahawks wide receiver Shinya Ono pounced on a fumble in the end zone early in the fourth quarter for the deciding touchdown at Koshien Stadium to give Hosei its first victory in the title game in 28 years.
The win also ended six years of frustration in the Koshien Bowl for Hosei, which lost five games in six straight appearances, tying Kwansei Gakuin 21-21 for the collegiate crown in 1997.
It also puts the Tomahawks into the Jan. 3 Rice Bowl against the winner of Monday's Tokyo Super Bowl corporate team championship game between the Asahi Inryo Challengers and Matsushita Denko Impulse.
After the game, Hosei quarterback Takuro Ikawa was awarded the Mills Trophy as the Collegiate Player of the Year.
Tomahawks running back Shusaku Shiraki was named the game's Most Valuable Player.