The Samurai Blue are set to put the Japan crest over their hearts and play for their country again as the journey to the 2023 Asian Cup and 2026 FIFA World Cup begins with friendlies against Uruguay and Colombia.Japan are fresh off of their inspiring 2022 World Cup, which saw them defeat former champions Spain and Germany en route to topping the group and m…

Vissel Kobe showed no after effects from their first loss of the season last week, bouncing right back to pick up all three points in a very professional showing that has them sitting all alone in first place again, but the cadre of challengers continues to grow as the title race sets up to be an exciting battle.Let’s check in on that and the rest of the ac…

Yokohama F·Marinos are the title holders and Kashima Antlers are a very talented team with the richest history in the entirety of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Before the season, they were two of the favorites to take the top flight crown, but, after four weeks, they are outside the top three and are now taking aim at the top instead of standing at the summit…

Albirex Niigata put their undefeated mark on the line17 Meiji Yasuda J1 League teams have taken a loss this season, leaving just one unbeaten team left - Albirex Niigata.The new promoted team has taken to the top flight with aplomb, running off two wins and two draws to begin their season. Their attack has scored seven goals to pace the team and push them t…

Japan had a spectacular 2022 FIFA World Cup, beating former champions Spain and Germany en route to winning their group and making the knockout stages in consecutive tournaments for the first time ever.Now, the Samurai Blue turn to the 2023 Asian Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and their journey there begins this month with Kirin Challenge Cup matches agai…

The Meiji Yasuda J1 League’s streaming schedule for Matchweek 5 features some of the country’s biggest clubs in a tantalizing slate of four matches that can be viewed around the world.Yokohama F·Marinos and Kashima Antlers kick things off as last year’s title winners take on the club with the most titles in J1 history. Both have ambitions of reclaiming the …

There are no perfect teams left in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League after Vissel suffered their first defeat of the season. Check in on that and all the other action from Matchweek 4:Vissel Kobe 0, Urawa Reds 1A gorgeous long ball was expertly nodded down for an onrushing Atsuki Ito, who blasted the ball home with his first touch to end Vissel’s perfect start to …

Kawasaki Frontale’s 2023 campaign has not gotten off to the start they envisioned. They’re already dropped five points, which didn’t happen until Matchweek 6 last year, or Matchweek 24 in 2021. Toss in a J.League YBC Levain Cup defeat and Frontale, who have won four of the last six titles, have just one win from four this season.Nobody is pressing the panic…

One perfect team leftVissel Kobe are the last perfect team remaining in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. The Ushi have scored eight goals, tops in J1, and only conceded once, which is the fewest in the league. With such good play in front of both goals, it’s no surprise that they have three wins from three matches.This week, the Ushi put their perfect record on …

The 2023 J.League YBC Levain Cup is underway!16 teams kicked off action on Wednesday with the first matches of the group stage. Let’s see how they fared:Group AYokohama F·Marinos started the competition off right, riding a Kaito Suzuki own goal to a 1-0 victory over Júbilo Iwata.There was nothing to separate Sagan Tosu and Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in the …

Matchweek 4 in the Meiji Yasuda brings four more matches live to the J.League International YouTube channel.Vissel Kobe, who have taken nine points from three matches to top the table, kick things off with a visit from Urawa Reds on Saturday. The Ushi’s perfect record will be on the line against the AFC Champions League finalists, but with their high flying…

The Meiji Yasuda J1 League season is only three weeks old, but there is just one perfect team remaining - Vissel Kobe.Let’s see how the Ushi made it nine points from three matches, and where the other previously perfect clubs faltered, as well as all the other action from Matchweek 3:Vissel Kobe 4, Gamba Osaka 0Yuya Osako scored after just three minutes, Go…

Three teams remain perfectIt’s only been two weeks, but the list of perfect Meiji Yasuda J1 League teams is already down to just three - Vissel Kobe, Yokohama F·Marinos and Nagoya Grampus.Vissel and Marinos’ success has been built on good, balanced play. They’ve each scored four goals and allowed just one so far, kicking off the season in nearly ideal fashi…

Yokohama F·Marinos were tipped as favorites to win the 2023 Meiji Yasuda J1 League, which isn’t surprising considering they were the defending champions, but the question is who would challenge them for the crown.Sanfrecce Hiroshima were a popular choice to chase down the Tricolor, but the start of their season hasn’t gone according to plan. They played to …

Matchweek 3 in the Meiji Yasuda J.League brings another slate of four games that will be streamed worldwide on the J.League International YouTube channel.Kicking things off is Friday Night J.League action as defending champion Yokohama F·Marinos take on Sanfrecce Hiroshima. The Tricolor are one of three J1 teams who have taken six points from their first tw…

Due to technical issues identified, the distribution platform for the FUJIFILM SUPER CUP 2023 held on Saturday, February 11th was changed in China on the day of the game.The J.LEAGUE deeply apologizes for the inconvenience caused to viewers in China by the sudden change on the day of the event and would like to reiterate that the following changes have been…

The Meiji Yasuda J1 League season is only two weeks old, but there are only three perfect teams left. It’s been a competitive start to the season, as Yokohama F·Marinos look great in attempting to repeat as champions, but challengers are emerging.Let’s check out all the Matchweek 2 action:Yokohama F·Marinos 2, Urawa Reds 0The Tricolor were on the front foot…

Giants meet in KashimaKawasaki Frontale have been the dominant team of this era in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, but no club has dominated the 30 years of J.League football like Kashima Antlers.This weekend, those two clubs meet, but while they both have dreams of lifting another title this year, the way their campaigns started were not similar at all.Both Fr…

Kawasaki Frontale have dominated this era of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. They have won four of the last six titles and have added a second place finish, two Fujifilm Super Cups, an Emperor’s Cup and a J.League YBC Levain Cup crown in that span.Before Frontale came to define J1, though, Kashima Antlers stood atop the league. They remain the only team to clai…

The Meiji Yasuda J.League embarked on a historic plan for the 2023 season to stream up to four J1 matches per week to all areas of the world that do not have existing TV rights agreements, and the schedule for Matchweek 2 is in.The modern giants of J1, Kawasaki Frontale, head to play the historical kings Kashima Antlers, in a match that will be streamed liv…