Cerezo Osaka earned promotion to the Meiji Yasuda J1 League in 2017 and celebrated their reintroduction to the top flight with a third place finish and cup double. That remains the most accomplished season for the Sakura, but after a strong 2022, they have dreams of reaching the heights of six years ago in 2023.Last seasonThe Sakura had a difficult 2021, bu…

F.C.Tokyo are in the midst of their most successful stretch in club history, finishing in the top half of the table in each of the last four seasons. That includes a second place finish in 2019 and the J.League YBC Levain Cup crown in 2020. Can the capital club keep it going in 2023?Last seasonAfter failing to score in their first two matches of the season,…

Kashiwa Reysol bounced back from a lackluster 2021 with a good 2022 campaign and now the question for the Gold and Black is whether the arrow will keep pointing up at Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium.Last seasonThe season started spectacularly for Reysol, with five wins and a draw in their first seven matches. They beat Yokohama F·Marinos, climbed to the top…

Nagoya Grampus are traditionally built upon an excellent defense and last season Kenta Hasegawa was hired to jumpstart the attack. With a year under Hasegawa under their belt, Grampus are now hoping to have both the sturdy defense and inventive attack that can push them towards the top of the table. Will they reach those heights in 2023?Last seasonHasegawa’…

It’s going to be a big year at Saitama Stadium 2002, where Urawa Reds are aiming not just to have a great Meiji Yasuda J1 League season, but also to win the AFC Champions League. What’s in store for the Reds in 2023?Last seasonUrawa were the kings of the draw in 2023, playing to a stalemate an astounding 15 times. They had an 11-match winless streak, but ni…

Yokohama F·Marinos started 2023 right where they finished 2022 - on top.The Tricolor defeated Ventforet Kofu, 2-1, thanks to goals by Élber and Takuma Nishimura to win the Fujifilm Super Cup and lift the first trophy of the new year.It was a captivating scene at the new Japan National Stadium as the match pitted a goliath in Meiji Yasuda J1 League champion …

J.LEAGUE has announced that FUJIFILM SUPER CUP 2023 will be available for viewing worldwide on the following broadcasting networks and platforms.Continuing from last year, the match will be broadcast on SIAMSPORT’s YouTube channel and digital terrestrial television channel PPTV in Thailand and will be broadcast in Australia and China as well.In addition, J.…

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo have spent the bulk of their time in the midtable since rejoining the top flight in 2017, but they did have one fourth place finish in 2018. Can they challenge to be among J1’s better teams in 2023 like they did five years ago?Last seasonIt took eight weeks for Consa to notch their first win last season as draws reigned supreme in…

Sagan Tosu made their Meiji Yasuda J1 League debut in 2012 and have been in the top flight ever since. As they get ready for an even dozen years in the first division, what can we expect from Sagan in 2023?Last seasonKim Myung-hwi’s defense-first approach came to define Sagan, but the team kept things going in 2023 even after Kenta Kawai took over as manage…

Shonan Bellmare are set to embark on their sixth straight season in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, equalling their longest stretch in the top flight. What does 2023 have in store for Bellmare?Last seasonThings did not start great for the club, who spent the first 18 matchdays in the bottom three, but Shuto Machino’s breakout campaign led a climb up the table a…

The curtain raiser for the 2023 Japanese football season is here - it’s Meiji Yasuda J1 League champion Yokohama F·Marinos vs. Emperor’s Cup winner Ventforet Kofu in the Fujifilm Super Cup at Japan National Stadium.Here’s what to watch for as the two teams get set to kick off the new season.The giant slayers take on another goliathVentforet earned their spo…

Vissel Kobe have big backing, big stars and big support, but the results in 2022 were not up to par. What will it take for them to right the ship this season?Last seasonThe Ushi backed up their club-record finish of third place in 2021 with a 2022 that saw them battling relegation from the very start. They didn’t win a match until mid-May and spent 13 match…

Avispa Fukuoka returned to the Meiji Yasuda J1 League in 2021 and they’ve had two solid seasons back among Japan’s best. Can they keep it going in 2023?Last seasonAvispa slid back from eighth place in 2021 to 14th last season, battling to stay out of the drop zone. The goal scoring woes that dated back to the previous year reared its ugly head again and gav…

Ventforet Kofu can trace their history back to 1965, when Kofu Club was formed. A name change to Ventforet Kofu in 1995 and arrival in the J.League come 1999 continued the legacy of one of Japan’s proudest clubs, but despite a rich history and fervent support, they never had a major trophy to their name.Then they went on one of the most remarkable cup runs …

Gamba Osaka are one of the J.League’s Original Ten clubs and have spent all but one season since in the country’s top flight, but they’ve slipped in recent seasons. They last won the Meiji Yasuda J1 League in 2014 and, after finishing second in 2020, fell into the relegation fight the last two seasons. Can they turn things around in 2023?Last seasonThe seas…

Yokohama F·Marinos are set to kick off the 2023 Japanese football season against Ventforet Kofu at the National Stadium in the Fujifilm Super Cup.How did the Tricolor get into the Fujifilm Super Cup? By winning the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J1, of course.It was clear from the beginning of the season that Marinos would conquer the league, though. They won just one o…

The founding of the J.League in 1993 brought us another new competition - the Fujifilm Super Cup, featuring the champions of the Japanese top flight and the defending Emperor’s Cup winners.

Kyoto Sanga returned to the Meiji Yasuda J1 in 2022 and barely survived to see another season in the top flight. Some big changes are on the horizon as they aim for a stronger sophomore campaign, but will it be enough?Last seasonKyoto Sanga started the season decently, spending most of the first 20 matchweeks in the top 10 of the table. Veteran striker Pete…

Albirex Niigata’s 14-year stint in J1 came to an end in 2017, but they are back after five years in the second division wilderness. What are Albi bringing to the top flight?Last seasonEver since being relegated to J2, Albirex slowly climbed the table of the league year-by-year and it culminated in a spectacular 2022 campaign. They were nothing short of bril…

Shinji Kagawa is returning to where it all began, signing with Cerezo Osaka.The 33-year-old began his career with the Sakura and broke into the national team before heading to Europe, where he spent the last 12 years playing at the very highest level. He won the Premier League with Manchester United and two German Bundesliga titles with Borussia Dortmund in…