Vissel Kobe have been the class of the league and they got some breathing room at the top last week, but they still have a long way to go in their title chase. This week, that quest for the crown takes them to Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday at 4 pm JST in a contest that will be streamed live on the J.League International YouTube channel.The Ushi are undefeated …

Whenever you tune into a Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo match, you know you’re going to get one thing for sure - goals. The team leads the Meiji Yasuda J1 League in goals and Kyoto Sanga will be charged with trying to slow down potential Consa when the two sides meet on Friday Night J.League at 7:30 pm JST in a match that will be streamed live on the J.League I…

Douglas Vieira had a fabulous April, establishing himself as the ultimate match-winner for Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and that terrific play has earned him Konami Monthly MVP.The Brazilian came off the bench in all five of the Viola’s April matches and scored five goals. He didn’t just find the back of the net with regularity - he won matches. Douglas Vieira’s tw…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima had a blinding April, leaping up into the title race with four wins in five matches and, for that, Michael Skibbe has been named J1 Manager of the Month.The Viola kept clean sheets in three of their five April contests and outscored opponents by a combined score of 8-3. When the month started, Sanfrecce were ninth in the table, but by th…

Ryoma Watanabe has been awarded Konami Goal of the Month for April, a deserved honor for a spectacular finish by the F.C.Tokyo man that will never be forgotten.Watanabe’s goal came in Matchweek 8, when he took a pass off the chest at a full sprint and, from the half-volley, smoked a shot that left the goalkeeper no chance. Every part of that goal is a…

Top European clubs will journey from Europe to Japan this summer as the J.League helps play host to the MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE WORLD CHALLENGE 2023 (JWC) on Sunday, July 23rd and the Audi Football Summit（AFS) on Wednesday, July 26th at the Japan National Stadium.The MEIJI YASUDA J.LEAGUE WORLD CHALLENGE 2023 will see reigning Meiji Yasuda J1 League champions…

The J.League’s first three decades has seen a slew of incredible players grace the pitches all across Japan, but one player has stood above them all. Yasuhito Endo has starred for 26 years, leading his teams to magnificent heights across almost the entirety of the league’s existence, and for that he has been named the J30 MVP of the league’s first 30 years.…

The J.League has had an amazing first 30 years. Since its founding on May 15, 1993, the league has seen phenomenal players join the league and other fabulous players be developed by its clubs.To celebrate the league’s first three decades, this is the J30 Best XI:Goalkeeper Yoshikatsu KawaguchiKawaguchi joined Yokohama Marinos in 1994 at just 18 years old. A…

30 years ago, the J.League officially kicked off. Verdy Kawasaki and Yokohama Marinos took the pitch at the Tokyo National Stadium on May 15, 1993 and, with that, the league was officially live.In the three decades since, the league has brought spectacular football to Japan and grown the standard and quality of the sport across the country.The Japan nationa…

After weeks of teams breathing down Vissel Kobe’s necks for the top spot in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League table, the Ushi finally put some space between them and the challengers. Vissel notched another win, while the next three teams in the table all lost to lift the pressure off of the excellent Ushi in the title race.Let’s check in on all the Matchweek 13 ac…

Japan have been drawn into Group D at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, pitting them against Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam in the opening stage of the tournament.The Samurai Blue will open the tournament against Indonesia on January 14, followed by Iraq on January 19 and finishing with Vietnam on January 24. The top two teams in the group and four best third place team…

Kashima Antlers are winners of four in a row, giving them the longest winning streak in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League at the moment. Meanwhile, Nagoya Grampus have gone nine in a row without a loss, giving them the league’s longest unbeaten streak. That sets the stage for Sunday at 1:30 pm JST, when the two red hot sides will clash in a match that will be stre…

Urawa Reds made history by winning the AFC Champions League for a Japanese record third time, but now they are back in MeijI Yasuda J1 League play and are hoping to carry over the same form that made them Asian champions. This weekend, that means taking on Gamba Osaka on Sunday at 4 pm JST in a match that will be streamed live on the J.League International …

Yokohama F·Marinos’ pursuit for another Meiji Yasuda J1 League title is in full flight and it will take continued excellent play to catch table topping Vissel Kobe. That puts full pressure on the Tricolor to get the best of Albirex Niigata when the two sides meet on Sunday at 1:30 pm JST in a match that will be streamed on the J.League International YouTube…

Kawasaki Frontale have found their best form of the season of late, winning three straight to climb up to sixth place. Now, they try to keep their terrific play going when they travel to F.C.Tokyo for Friday Night J.League at 7:30 pm JST in a match that will be streamed live on the J.League International YouTube channel.Frontale’s slow start to the season i…

The top four teams in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League table all won over the weekend, protecting their places, while two other challengers added wins of their own to make the entire top six fresh off of wins. As the fight at the top heats up, it’s going to take phenomenal play to keep pace and in Matchweek 12, they were all up to the challenge.Let’s dive into th…

Urawa Reds have conquered the continent once again, winning a third AFC Champions League crown!The boys from Saitama beat defending champions Al Hilal 1-0 in the second leg of the final to win 2-1 on aggregate and lift Asia’s most coveted trophy in front of more than 53,000 adoring fans.Urawa entered the match in good position after drawing 1-1 in the first…

Kawasaki Frontale have won four of the last six MeijI Yasuda J1 League titles and, after finishing in second place a year ago, entered 2023 dead set on climbing just a bit higher to put Japan’s most treasured piece of silverware back in their trophy case. Things did not go as planned to begin the campaign, with just two wins from their first nine matches, b…

Vissel Kobe have been the top team in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League for nine weeks running and this week they get a visit from the league’s bottom team when Yokohama FC come to town on Sunday at 2 pm JST in a match that will be streamed live on the J.League International YouTube channel.The Ushi have stumbled a bit of late, taking full points from just one of …

Yokohama F·Marinos are unbeaten in their last five, a run that has taken them up to second in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League table. Now, they aim to make it six and maybe leap up to the top spot in the league as Kyoto Sanga come to town on Sunday at 2 pm JDT in a match that will be streamed live on the J.League International YouTube channel.The Tricolor’s unbea…