Category Archives: J.League

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Kawasaki Frontale 2015 Season Preview

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by FRsoccerNathan

Kawasaki Frontale were very much the nearly men again in 2014, contesting for the title before falling short in the closing weeks of the campaign. Eventually finishing sixth, Frontale couldn’t match their achievements of 2013 which saw them finish third and qualify for the AFC Asian Champions League.

Arguably Kawasaki’s most important piece of business in the off- season was to retain the services of 32-year-old striker Yoshito Okubo. The J.League’s top scorer for the last two campaigns, Okubo was heavily linked with a move away to FC Tokyo, and former clubs Cerezo Osaka and Vissel Kobe, but the Japanese international has decided to remain in Kanagawa for another season. He will again be complemented by Brazilian winger Renato, the effervescent Kengo Nakamura, and his fellow international Yu Kobayashi. Future Samurai Blue hopefuls Shogo Taniguchi and Ryota Oshima were also key men last season and will be looking to take further steps forward in 2015.

Many of Frontale’s squad players have been cleaned out. The likes of Junichi Inamoto (Consadole Sapporo), Yasuhito Morishima (Jubilo Iwata, loan) and Sota Nakazawa (Cerezo Osaka, loan) have moved on. The most notable outgoings are defenders Yusuke Tanaka and Jeci who have moved to Australia and returned to Brazil respectively.

The attacking side of the team has been bolstered by two prominent additions. Takayuki Funayama, who fired Matsumoto Yamaga to J1 last season with 19 goals has been signed along with Kenyu Sugimoto. Once hotly tipped as a future international, Sugimoto’s career stalled last season as his former club Cerezo Osaka were shockingly relegated. The 22-year-old will be looking to breathe new life into his game at Frontale, and at his best he certainly strengthens manager Kazama’s options.

Other incomings include former Vegalta Sendai defender Makoto Kakuda and Brazilian full- back Elsinho, from Brazilian Serie B side América. However, Frontale still look light at the back which is surprising given that this was their main failing last season.

After a couple of seasons of near misses the new two stage system and end of season champion- ship play-offs are likely to benefit Kawasaki Frontale, who found it difficult to sustain a challenge at the top over the full 34 matches last season.

Web site – www.frontale.co.jp/
English – www.frontale.co.jp/about/club_profile_e. html
Twitter – @frontale_staff

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Kawasaki Frontale 2015 shirts

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

Shonan Bellmare 2015 Season Preview

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by @FRsoccerFraser

As expected following promotion Shonan Bellmare have made wholesale changes, welcoming in 12 new players and parting with 18 as they hope to re-establish themselves in J1.

The most notable departures are two of their main goalscorers – powerful Brazilian striker Wellington netted 20 times for them last season and returns to his homeland to join Ponte Preta, while Kosuke Taketomi’s nine goal haul from midfield was enough to gain the interest of Kashiwa Reysol.

Experienced centre back Andre Bahia has signed from Brazil’s relegated Serie A side Botafogo and will look to form a strong defensive line along-side current players Wataru Endo and Yuto Misao, joined by former Urawa Reds stalwart Keisuke Tsuboi. Bellmare also welcome in South Koreans Lee Ho-Seung, a GK from Consadole Sapporo, and defensive midfielder Kim Jong-Pil (Tokyo Verdy), both of whom will need to fight for their place in the side.

Portuguese forward Bruno ‘Guima’ Guimaraes was set to bolster the attack, but medical checks confirmed knee cartilage damage, and the deal fell through. Bellmare instead add 19 year old Henrique ‘Alison’ Mira from Brazil’s Serie D side Sao Caetano. With Shuhei Otsuki sidelined since June with hamstring tendon trouble, the other forward option comes in the form of Yoshihito Fujita (Yokohama F•Marinos).

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Twelve players have left from midfield alone, though most of them are fringe players loaned to lower leagues. Among those, though, were two regular starters – Masashi Kamekawa and Ken Iwao, who join Avispa Fukuoka and Mito HollyHock respectively. Andrew Kumagai ends his loan spell and returns to F•Marinos while Hirokazu Usami transfers to Montedio Yamagata.

Amongst the new arrivals is the familiar face of Kaoru Takayama, who re-joins Bellmare from Kashiwa Reysol, having left the club in 2013. He is accompanied in midfield by Naoki Yamada (Urawa Reds) and loanee Masataka Kani (Kawasaki Frontale).

Having wrapped up the J2 title with 43 days to spare, Cho Kwi-Jae will have had plenty of time to consider the challenge ahead they look to banish the memory of J1 relegations in 2010 and 2013. Managed by a former defender they will have great insight into stopping the likes of Muto, Usami and co., and if they can find a worthy replacement for Wellington’s number 9 shirt I can see them avoiding the drop. Predicted finish 12th-14th Overall.

Web site – www.bellmare.co.jp
Facebook – https://ja-jp.facebook.com/teambellmare
Twitter – @bellmare_staff

Shonan Bellmare

2015 Bellmare kit – like it?

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

Giravanz Kitakyushu 2015 Season Preview

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by @GiravanzWombat

This year is the first stage of Giravanz’s plan to “hop, step and jump” to J1. After a fantastic 2014 season, hopes and expectations are high for 2015. With club hero and top scorer, Tomoki Ikemoto leav- ing to join new J1 boys, Matsumoto, who will score for Giravanz this year? Up front sees regular starter Kazuki Hara joined by Yusuke Kondo from Tochigi SC, Rui Komatsu from Oita Trinita and Shohei Otsuka from JEF United Chiba. Hara is a popular player and played in every J2 game for us last year. He said his goal for this season is to score 20 goals (13 more than in 2014) – let’s hope he does! And hopefully we can see more of exciting young forward, Daiki Watari and his celebration dance this year, too.

The midfield should remain pretty much the same this year, but two of the team’s best defenders have left. Yuki Fuji has moved to FC Gifu and Daiki Watanabe to Ventforet Kofu. Experienced defender, Hiroyuki Nishijima has come in from Yokohama FC, at time of writing, the defensive line looks undecided. Koki Otani had a great season on loan in goal but unfortunately Urawa Reds have called him back. This season former Shonan Bellmare keeper, Nobuyuki Abe will wear No.1. So a few ins and outs, but still the best-looking team in the J.League!

Giravanz Captain Kazuya Maeda wants to finish in the top three (1st or 2nd if possible). There are a few changes but I am sure that Giravanz will finish in the top six again. Whatever the result I’ll be cheering the best (J2) club in Kyushu! Kitakyushu we love you!

Otsuka copy

Shohei Otsuka (C) Giravanz Kitakyushu

Web site – www.giravanz.jp
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/GIRAVANZ.KITAKYUSHU
Twitter – @Giravanz_staff
YouTube – www.youtube.com/user/giravanzkitakyushu

 

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

Sagan Tosu 2015 Season Preview

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By @FRsoccerFraser

Those of you who follow Sagan Tosu will remember that Yoon Jong Hwan left his post as manager in early August with his team atop J1, citing the transfer policy in place for 2015 as one of the main reasons. Caretaker Manager Megumu Yoshida steered them to 5th and has now stepped aside for Hitoshi Morishita, previously of Jubilo Iwata.

Last season’s play was built on a foundation of solid defence, with Akihiro Hayashi protected by a dependable back four of Michihiro Yasuda, Kim Min-Hyeok, Naoya Kikuchi and Ryuhei Niwa. Heading into this season they will be without the services of left back Yasuda, who joins Vissel Kobe, but welcome a replacement in the form of Yutaka Yoshida from Shimizu S-Pulse. They have also loaned out fringe defender Tatsuya Sakai to Matsumoto Yamaga and sold Takashi Kanai to JEF United.

The midfield will see Kei Ikeda sit in front of Naoyuki Fujita and Yoshiki Takahashi, with younger players Choi Sung-Kuen and Tomotaka Okamoto pushing for starts.

The front of their 4-3-3 will be made up of the same faces – having scored 54 goals in 98 J1 appearances Yohei Toyoda will look to challenge again for the Golden Boot, flanked by the creative Kota Mizunuma and South Korean international Kim Min-Woo. Competition on the wings will be from Ryota Hayasaka, as well as new signings Baek Sung-Dong from Jubilo Iwata and 19-year-old Ryosuke Tamura from Kyoto Sanga.

Boasting the smallest hometown in J1, Sagan Tosu mirror that in their relatively small squad. They landed 5th place through consistent performances, particularly against the weaker sides, but will have to be careful, as a run of injuries would highlight their lack of depth. As self-proclaimed underdogs they will not expect to compete for the top places and would do well to reproduce last season’s results.

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Image from web site.

As it says on their web site:

FROM TOSU JAPAN , THE TIME HAS COME TO CHANGE THE WORLD

The day has come to unite as one. With a population of 20,000, we have landed in the J.League’s smallest home town. We have no facilities, no sponsors. We simply spend every day covered in mud, chasing down balls. With an environment rarely seen and hard work rarely experienced at the professional level, we have continued to challenge ourselves day in and day out. Continually reflecting and continually changing, our supporters have over time transformed from fans into family. We now have reached a point where victory is within reach. We will capture this dream as one. Through passion comes dreams. So we can fly.

THE TOP OF JAPAN IS FINALLY IN VIEW, LET’S GRAB IT

オフィシャルサイトリニューアルオープン！

Web site – www.sagantosu.jp

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/pages/SAGANTOSU/495527923859368

Twitter – @saganofficial17

Sagan Tosu TV – www.top.dhc.co.jp/tv/sagantosu/

 

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

Cerezo Osaka 2015 Season Preview

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On first look, the fact that Cerezo have retained the services of the likes of Hotaru Yamaguchi and Takahiro Ogihara among others, as well as Diego Forlan and Cacau, would suggest that they’ll walk this division. But they were one of the pre-season favourites for J1 last season. The rest is history! Cerezo did lose Kenyu Sugimoto to Kawasaki Fron- tale, and Takumi MInamino to Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg but this may well free up some space for the likes of Forlan and Cacau to be be able to show what they can do given the starts. Both players were certainly a huge disappointment last season and may well not be missed at all! Also coming in to bolster the forward line is 34-year-old former national teamer Keiji Tamada, who was released by Nagoya Grampus.

New faces include Pablo Felipe (on loan from Atlético Paranaense) and Sota Nakazawa (Kawasaki Frontale – loan), while FC Tokyo defender Kenta Mukuhara – who played at Cerezo in 2013 joins on a full transfer. Other notable changes include Daiki Kogure returning from his loan spell at Tokushima Vortis, the return of Teruyuki Moniwa from his stint in Thailand, and Hideo Hashimoto coming in from Vissel Kobe.

The team also, of course, welcomes a new manager in former Kashima Antlers boss Paulo Autuori. The Cerezo job is his 28th appointment in 27 years as a manager since he first took the top job at Portugal’s Nacional in 1987! The seemingly revolving door of the manager’s office at Cerezo might not be too much of a shock for him, then!

Cerezo SHOULD be easily challenging for the top spot and will be EXPECTING to win an automatic promotion spot. Anything less will be considered a failure.

Web site – www.cerezo.co.jp
English at www.eng.cerezo.co.jp
Thai at www.thai.cerezo.co.jp
Bahasa Indonesian at www.indn.cerezo.co.jp
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/officialcerezoosakaenglish
English Twitter – @crz_english
YouTube – www.youtube.com/user/CerezoOsakaOfficial

Cerezo away 13824 Cerezo home 13824

The 2015 shirts!

Front Page, J.League

Happy New Season – The J-Talk Podcast is BACK!

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https://archive.org/details/TheJ-talkPodcast-2015J2Preview

Jon Steele and Stuart Smith guested on the first J.League podcast of 2015 – The J2 Season Preview. It’s a long one, so conveniently broken into three parts:

Part 1 (to 34:27) – The three clubs relegated from J1 and last season’s vanquished playoff teams.
Part 2 (to 1:01:05) – The clubs who finished outside the playoffs that Stuart and Jon think could push for a top six place in 2015.
Part 3 (to end: 1:33:12) – The teams most likely to struggle.

Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

J.League Shirts 2015 – Order Now for Delivery from Japan!

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Due to the huge demand we are now offering a “proxy” service to get you the J.League shirts that you need. See below for shirts available, or ask for a quote for your desired shirt now! We will add more as they become available! All shirts subject to availablity.

Our prices are ALL-INCLUSIVE and cover ordering, any postage within Japan to our office, Japanese taxes, Paypal commissions, exchange rate fluctuations, gas, shopping time, etc., as well as EMS Express postage – trackable and insurable and very fast (and safe).

Payment upon ordering (refund made if jersey does not arrive for any reason) via Paypal only – which covers YOU the buyer for non-delivery.

Shipping via EMS which also covers the buyer and is trackable, insurable and VERY fast!

Make your decision, size, name set, tell me and I’ll let you know if available /orderable and how to pay via Paypal.

Special note – we are willing to take off the tags and declare as “polyester t-shirt”, at a value of $20 if it will help you get it without paying customs duties. Just ask for the “customised shipping” and tell us exactly what you need done!

GAMBA OSAKA  home / away (replica)

Gamba home UDS6516A-WHT

GAMBA OSAKA HOME and AWAY replica 16,800 yen

Sizes  SS-S / M-L / O-XO

21,500 with (single, eg. Endo 7) name/number set

22,500 with double digit number (eg. Usami 39).

GAMBA OSAKA  home / away (authentic)

 

Gamba away authentic

32,500 all inclusive (nameset extra, if available, desired). Ask about HOME availability.

Gamba Osaka ACL shirts coming in April

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KASHIMA ANTLERS  home / away (replica)

 

Antlers Home 12852 Antlers away 12852

Kashima Antlers home / away replica 17,500 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S  M  L  XL  2XL

With name and number 23,000 ALL inclusive.

KASHIMA ANTLERS  home (authentic)

Antlers home auth. 19440

Kashima Antlers home authentic 26,500 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S  M  L  XL  2XL

Name and number extra, if available. Ask for a quote!

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URAWA REDS  home / away (replica)

 

Reds home 12852 Reds away 12852

Urawa Reds home / away replica 17,500 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S  M  L  XL  2XL

With name and number 23,000 ALL inclusive.

URAWA REDS  home  LONG slv. (replica)

 

Reds Home LONG 15012

Urawa Reds home LONG SLEEVES replica 20,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S  M  L  XL  2XL

With name and number 25,400 ALL inclusive.

URAWA REDS  home (authentic)

 

Reds authentic 19440

Urawa Reds home authentic 26,500 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S  M  L  XL  2XL

Name and number extra if available, please ask.

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SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA  H/A (replica)

 

Sanfrecce home 12852 Sanfrecce away 12852

Sanfrecce Hiroshima home / away replica 17,500 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S  M  L  XL  2XL

With name and number 23,000 ALL inclusive.

SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA  home (authentic)

 

Sanfrecce home auth 19440

Sanfrecce Hiroshima home authentic 26,500 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S  M  L  XL  2XL

Name and number extra if available, please ask.

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YOKOHAMA F•MARINOS  H/A (replica)

Marinos home 11340 Marinos away 11340

Yokohama F•Marinos home / away replica 15,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S   M   L   O  XO  2XO  3XO  4XO

With name and number 21,500 ALL inclusive.

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ALBIREX NIIGATA  home (replica)

 

Albirex home

Albirex Niigata home / away replica 15,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S   M   L   O  XO  2XO  3XO  4XO

Name and number extra if available, please ask.

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 VEGALTA SENDAI  home (authentic)

 

Vegalta home

Albirex Niigata home / away replica 19,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S   M   L   O 

Name and number extra if available, please ask.

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 SHIMIZU S-PULSE  H/A (authentic)

S-Pulse home auth 13824

S-Pulse away auth 13824

 

Shimizu S-Pulse  home / away authentic 18,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S   M   L   O   XO

Name and number extra if available, please ask.

SHIMIZU S-PULSE  L/S  Home (authentic)

S-Pulse home auth LS 15984

Shimizu S-Pulse  home LONG SLEEVES authentic 21,000 yen ALL inclusive.
Name and number extra if available, please ask.

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NAGOYA GRAMPUS  H/A (replica)

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Nagoya Grampus HOME and AWAY replica 16,800 yen

Sizes  S  M  L  O  XO

NAGOYA GRAMPUS  H/A (authentic)

Grampus home 16848 Grampus away 16848

Nagoya Grampus  home / away authentic 25,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S   M   L   O   XO

Name and number extra if available, please ask.

NAGOYA GRAMPUS  G’Keeper (authentic)

Grampus GK black 11880 Grampus GK pink 11880jpg

Nagoya Grampus  GOALKEEPER authentic 16,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S   M   L   O   XO   XA

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CEREZO OSAKA  home/away  (replica)

Cerezo home 13824

Cerezo away 13824

CEREZO OSAKA  home / away authentic 18,900 yen ALL inclusive.

Sizes  S   M   L   O   XO  2XO  3XO

Name and number extra if available, please ask.

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Front Page, In the Mix, J.League

Mitchell Duke joins Shimizu S-Pulse – another Australian in the J.League

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The Central Coast Mariners can today confirm that striker Mitchell Duke is set to join Japanese J.League outfit Shimizu S-Pulse effective immediately.

Duke has signed a pre-agreement and will leave for Japan on Tuesday February 10th to link up with Shimizu S-Pulse for a training camp to complete his obligatory medical.

A-League Rd 1 - Central Coast v Newcastle

Duke has scored on three occasions this season and 16 in total across all competitions since making his debut for the yellow and navy back in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season.

During his time with the Mariners Duke was a part of the club’s Hyundai A-League 2012/13 Championship winning season and his form with the yellow and navy also warranted a Socceroos call up where he featured and scored twice in the 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup.

Duke paid homage to the development, supporters, mates and memories he attained from his time at the Central Coast Mariners.

“I came through the youth stages of the Mariners for two years and was rewarded with a first team contract, so my time at the Mariners has been unbelievable… the J.League is well-respected around the world, all you have to do is take a look at the Japanese national team to see the quality players the J-League can produce. ..” Duke said.

Edited from the Central Coast Mariners official web site at:
http://www.ccmariners.com.au