Vissel Kobe have been the best team in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League through five weeks. They’re first in the table, paced by the league-best attack and excellent defense, proving that they are back amongst the country’s top teams.Now, coming off of the international break, the Ushi are tasked with protecting their place on top, and that begins with a trip to …

F.C.Tokyo have made a habit of developing some of Japan’s best footballers, from Yuto Nagatomo to Shuichi Gonda. Now, they have another generation of great youngsters ready to make their mark on Japanese football.Naoki Kumata is one of the brightest young talents in the country, having starred at various youth national team levels before leading the U-20 As…

Yokohama FC’s promotion to the Meiji Yasuda J1 League has not gone as planned. They have just one point from five matches, leaving them bottom of the table and in need of a spark to pick up their first win of the campaign.The Fulie’s struggles have had nothing to do with Koki Ogawa, though. The striker has scored four goals already to lead the league, showi…

Kawasaki Frontale’s season has not gone according to plan, but they have a chance to get things back on track when they play away to Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo on Saturday at 7 pm JST in a match that will be streamed live on the J.League International YouTube channel.Frontale have just one win from five matches and sit 14th in the table. It’s an unfamiliar …

Yokohama F·Marinos’ quest to repeat as Meiji Yasuda J1 League champions takes them to Cerezo Osaka on Saturday at 4 pm JST in a match that will be streamed live on the J.League International YouTube channel.The Tricolor started out the season on top of the table, but two matches without a win saw Vissel Kobe overtake them and put Marinos in pursuit. They re…

Kashiwa Reysol will host Urawa Reds on Friday Night J.League at 7 pm JST in a match that will be streamed live worldwide on the J.League International YouTube channel.Reysol entered the season with high expectations after an excellent 2022 campaign, but are still searching for their first win of the campaign and will be hoping that Mao Hosoya can lead them …

Japan gathered for friendlies against Uruguay and Colombia with a clear goal: get ready for the 2023 Asian Cup.This was the Samurai Blue’s first gathering since the FIFA World Cup and with eyes now on the Asian championship, they have to build quickly for the upcoming tournament After a draw against Uruguay and a hard fought match with Colombia, Hajime Mori…

The FIFA international break saw some of Japan’s best players suit up for the Samurai Blue, but that wasn’t all the best action in Japanese football. This weekend saw 20 of the country’s best teams competing in J.League YBC Levain Cup action, so how did Matchday 2 of the group stage go?Group AYokohama F·Marinos sit top of the group after picking up their se…

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…