2020 Japan Cup hockey (Asia League Ice Hockey)

The 2020 Japan Cup hockey tournament was a domestic ice hockey competition held in Japan, organized under the umbrella of the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH). Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related travel restrictions, the 2020-2021 Asia League Ice Hockey season was significantly impacted. As a result, the league's international teams were unable to participate in regular season play. To provide competitive opportunities for the Japanese teams normally participating in the ALIH, the Japan Ice Hockey Federation (JIHF), in coordination with the ALIH, organized the Japan Cup.

The Japan Cup featured the Japanese teams that usually compete in the Asia League Ice Hockey. These teams included, but were not necessarily limited to, the Oji Eagles, Nippon Paper Cranes, and Tohoku Free Blades. The tournament was structured to allow these teams to play meaningful games against each other during a period when international competition was not feasible.

The competition format involved a series of games played between the participating teams. The results of these games determined the standings and ultimately crowned a champion. The Japan Cup served as an important bridge, allowing Japanese ALIH teams to maintain a competitive level and provide entertainment for fans during a challenging period for international sports. The tournament did not award the official Asia League Ice Hockey championship. It was a separate, domestically focused competition arising from the unique circumstances of the pandemic.