Defenders – Makino (Reds), Morishige (FC Tokyo), Yonekura (Gamba), Fujiharu (Gamba), Shiotani, Maruyama, Kurumaya, Shoji, Ueda

Midfielders – Kashiwagi (Reds), Endo (Yasushi – Antlers), Endo (Wataru – Reds), Muto (Yuki – Reds), Yonemoto (FC Tokyo), Shibasaki (Gaku – Antlers)

Forwards – Kohrogi (Reds, yes, that is how it is spelled officially, these days), Kobayashi (Frontale), Kanazaki (Antlers), Nagai (Grampus), Saito (F•Marinos), Usami (Gamba), Asano (Sanfrecce)

日本代表候補

G K 東口順昭  / 西川周作  / 六反勇治  / 林彰洋

D F 槙野智章  / 森重真人 / 米倉恒貴 /  藤春廣輝  / 塩谷司 丸 / 山祐市 車 / 屋紳太郎  / 昌子源  / 植田直通

MF  柏木陽介  / 遠藤康  / 武藤雄樹  / 米本拓司  / 柴崎岳  / 遠藤航

FW  興梠慎三  / 小林悠  / 金崎夢生  / 永井謙佑  / 齋藤学  / 宇佐美貴史  / 浅野拓磨

https://youtu.be/E2JUmZU47ZM

FC Seoul v Sanfrecce Hiroshima

https://youtu.be/Jdx1H6XC2_o

Gamba Osaka 1-1 Melbourne Victory (Australia)

https://youtu.be/bA0SVNTv6Go

Pohang Steelers v Urawa Reds

https://youtu.be/I9_93EO2gVA

Kashiwa Reysol (above)

Vegalta Sendai (above)

Kashima Antlers (above)

Venforet Kofu (above)

Gamba Osaka (above)

Sanfrecce Hiroshima (above)

Machida Zelvia (above)

Tokushima Vortis

Ehime FC (above)

Nagoya Grampus (above)

Matsumoto Yamaga were relegated last season. Here’s what they’ll be wearing in J2. Green home, white away, red and blue are the ‘keepers’ gear!

Graphic for Shimizu S-Pulse home shirt for their J2 season in 2016.

And S-Pulse neighbours Jubilo Iwata, who have switched places with them in J1 for 2016.

Vissel Kobe home and away, with a special close-up on their home shirt, too.

Kawasaki Frontale 2016 20th Anniversary “Gremio” shirt!

Kawasaki Frontale Home, away, “cup” shirts

V-Varen Nagasaki home (orange) and away

Yokohama F•Marinos home (blue), away (pink) and three cool GK shirts

Albirex Niigata home (orange) and away

Ventforet Kofu home (blue) and away

Kashiwa Reysol home (yellow) and blue GK shirt

Urawa Reds

Thespakusatsu Gunma home (blue away (white) and two GK shirts

FC Tokyo home / away authentic version

Nagoya Grampus home and away

Kashima Antlers home (red) and away

Fujieda MYFC home

Nara Club (JFL), home, away, GK

Montedio Yamagata away

Mito HollyHock home (blue) and away

Zweigen Kanazawa home

The only Japanese team with a fixed place in the 2016 AFC Champions League before the Emperor’s Cup victory – Sanfrecce Hiroshima – are in Group F with FC Seoul and Buriram United, plus a play-off winner to be determined.

With Gamba’s Emperor’s Cup victory over Urawa Reds the Osaka team slot into Group G of the 2016 AFC Champions League where they will face Melbourne Victory, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, and another from February’s playoffs.

Emperor’s Cup runners-up Urawa Red Diamonds, meanwhile, slip into Group H where they will meet reigning champions Guangzhou Evergrande, Sydney FC, and the winner of a Playoff that could well be (should be?) Pohang Steelers.

Meanwhile, a place in Group E is up for grabs by FC Tokyo – Japan’s fourth team in the competition – should they beat the winner of the clash between Chonburi and Yangon United in their playoff 2 on February 9th.

Group E

1. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (Korea)
2. Jiangsu Sainty (China)
3. Becamex Binh Duong (Vietnam)
4. Winner Playoff 2 (FC Tokyo?!)

Group F

1. Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2. FC Seoul (Korea)
3. Buriram United (Thailand)
4. Winner Playoff 3

Group G

1. Melbourne Victory (Australia)
2. Gamba Osaka
3. Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Korea)
4. Winner Playoff 4

Group H

1. Guangzhou Evergrande (China)
2. Sydney FC (Australia)
3. Urawa Reds
4. Winner Playoff East 1

Playoff Stage – East (February 9, 2016)

FC Tokyo v Winner of Chonburi  (Thailand) v Yangon United  (Myanmar)

Goalkeepers:
Nishikawa (Reds)
Higashiguchi (Gamba)
Hayashi (Sanfrecce)

Defenders:
Nishi (Antlers)
Makino (Reds)
Ota (FC Tokyo)
Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Nakazawa (F•Marinos)
Endo (Bellmare)
Yonekura (Gamba)
Shiotani (Sanfrecce)
Chiba (Sanfrecce)
Mizumoto (Sanfrecce)

Midfielders
Ogasawara (Antlers)
Caio (Antlers)
Kanazaki (Antlers)
Shibasaki (Antlers)
Abe (Reds)
Kashiwagi (Reds)
Nakamura (Frontale)
Nakamura (F•Marinos)
Leo Silva (Albirex Niigata)
Endo (Gamba)
Aoyama (Sanfrecce)
Kashiwa (Sanfrecce)

Forwards
Muto (Reds)
Cristiano (Reysol)
Okubo (Frontale)
Ademilson (F•Marinos)
Usami (Gamba)
Patric (Gamba)
Douglas (Sanfrecce)

＜ ２０１５Ｊリーグ　優秀選手賞　受賞選手（32名） ＞
※下記32名の中から「最優秀選手賞」、「ベストイレブン」が選ばれます

■ゴールキーパー（3名）
西川　周作 　浦和レッズ
東口　順昭 　ガンバ大阪
林　卓人 　　サンフレッチェ広島

■フィールドプレーヤー（29名）
●ＤＦ
西　大伍 鹿島アントラーズ
槙野　智章 浦和レッズ
太田　宏介 ＦＣ東京
森重　真人 ＦＣ東京
中澤　佑二 横浜Ｆ・マリノス
遠藤　航 湘南ベルマーレ
米倉　恒貴 ガンバ大阪
塩谷　司 サンフレッチェ広島
千葉　和彦 サンフレッチェ広島
水本　裕貴 サンフレッチェ広島

●ＭＦ
小笠原　満男　　鹿島アントラーズ
カイオ　　　　　鹿島アントラーズ
金崎　夢生　　　鹿島アントラーズ
柴崎　岳　　　　鹿島アントラーズ
阿部　勇樹　　　浦和レッズ
柏木　陽介　　　浦和レッズ
中村　憲剛　　　川崎フロンターレ
中村　俊輔　　　横浜Ｆ・マリノス
レオ　シルバ　　アルビレックス新潟
遠藤　保仁　　　ガンバ大阪
青山　敏弘　　　サンフレッチェ広島
柏　好文 サンフレッチェ広島

●ＦＷ
武藤　雄樹　　　　浦和レッズ
クリスティアーノ　柏レイソル
大久保　嘉人 　　 川崎フロンターレ
アデミウソン　　　横浜Ｆ・マリノス
宇佐美　貴史　　 ガンバ大阪
パトリック　　　　ガンバ大阪
ドウグラス 　　　 サンフレッチェ広島

At the bottom of J1, S-Pulse are down, and Montedio are all but gone, but mathematically in with a chance of survival as I write. Again, worth noting just in case there is any confusion, the relegation places are decided on the overall season/two stages combined table. Matsumoto Yamaga need to make up five points on Vissel Kobe, or six on Sagan or Albirex to reach safety. A tall order, right?

At the top of J2, Omiya Ardija appeared to have the Championship sewn up weeks ago but are now doing their best to lose it. Jubilo are just two points clear of Avispa Fukuoka with the top two going up to J1 without a play-off fight. Fukuoka seem to be the favourites of many now, while Cerezo Osaka have faded away in the last few games although are still well withing the play-off spots.

The play-offs will be 3rd-placed team v 6th placed, and 4th v 5th, over two legs, with a final play-off for a spot in J1 between the winners of those two ties.

Verdy have dropped a few points recently, while Ehime have also flirted with that 6th spot. Giravanz looked good for the play-offs earlier in the season but are not five points away, while the unlikely names of Roasso Kumamoto and Tokushima Vortis have risen into the frame, although it would be a huge surprise, but there are still 15 points to play for in five remaining games. Anythong COULD (and will?) happen.

At the bottom of J2 Tochigi are six points away from safely, although only two points away from earning a play-off spot – as opposed to straight relegation – against the 2nd placed J3 team. FC Gifu have flirted with wins but have dropped back into danger, just four points clear of Oita in that 2nd relegation (play-off) spot. With five matches to go Kyoto Sanga and Mito HollyHock are still well within reach of the lower teams, too.

At the top of J3 Yamaguchi Renofa are looking good for promotion as the Champions, while Machida Zelvia have pulled away from Nagano going for that play-off spot.

At the bottom of J3 we see the J.League Under 22 selection who, of course couldn’t be relegated anyway, although it seems will be replaced by an Under 19 team next season?! Fujieda MYFC are ten points clear of Y.S.C.C. although it should be noted that no teams will be relegated this season as the J3 expansion continues. With rumours of four (at least) “2nd XI” teams from J1 being added to J3 next season, including Gamba Osaka and Urawa Reds, interesting times are ahead! Not necessarily well-received times, though?!

Issue 8 signed by Beverly (Goebel) Yanez is here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221259663013?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Issue 15 available here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321694573707?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Bargain Issues 1 to 6 PDF easy-pack available here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221259663014?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Or mail alan@jsoccer.com with any questions, or requests for a specially tailored-for-you bargain pack!!

Thank you for your support!

It must be confidence-boosting for Sanfrecce and Vissel to be “riding high” and for the likes of Reysol, Grampus and Kofu, for example, to be gaining points and entering the top 6.

A long way to go but confidence and a winning mentality always help in the long run.

Points shown only

1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 9
2 Vissel Kobe 7
3 Kashiwa Reysol 6
4 Kawasaki Frontale 4
4 Ventforet Kofu 4
6 Nagoya Grampus 4
6 Gamba Osaka 4
8 Sagan Tosu 4
9 Urawa Reds 4
9 F.C.Tokyo 4
11 Kashima Antlers 4
11 Shonan Bellmare 4
13 Montedio Yamagata 3
14 Albirex Niigata 3
15 Matsumoto Yamaga F.C. 3
16 Yokohama F･Marinos 2
17 Shimizu S-Pulse 2
18 Vegalta Sendai 1