Starting to feel the nerves and hope in combination now for Sanfrecce to hold form and win the title.
I think they should definitely prioritise the league and ignore any other competition they may be in.
5 Likes
Up the mighty Bellmare. Late winner against Sanfrecce.
Cerezo Osaka and the city working together in a campaign for both the club and Osaka tourism, how good.
These banners are all the way up and down Dotonbori. Would be amazing to see Sydney FC do something like this someday.
1 Like
For anyone curious as to the meaning of the banner in the 3rd picture, here is a brilliant explanation.
Saw at the far end a Gamba banner, an FC Osaka banner and a Cerezo banner all together… and all politely requesting pissed folks not to dive into the canal. 
I feel sad to be back in Australia after the amazing week across Osaka and Hiroshima but at least I can enjoy looking at the results of the weekend J.League games. We are getting closer to the finish line across the leagues and promotion and relegation is starting to shape up.
J2 League Round 36 results:
Iwaki FC 1-2 Mito Hollyhock (4,951)
Fujieda MYFC 2-3 JEF United Chiba (7,190)
V-Varen Nagasaki 4-1 Kagoshima United (17,978)
Blaublitz Akita 0-2 Oita Trinita (3,426)
Tochigi SC 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse (16,476)
Thespa Gunma 0-2 Tokushima Vortis (4,309)
Renofa Yamaguchi 2-0 Ventforet Kofu (5,193)
Montedio Yamagata 1-0 Roasso Kumamoto (12,296)
Yokohama FC 2-4 Fagiano Okayama (10,555)
Ehime FC 0-2 Vegalta Sendai (4,089)
J2 League Round 36 standings:
- Shimizu S-Pulse - 76 {PROMOTED}
- Yokohama FC - 74 {Playoffs}
- V-Varen Nagasaki - 69 {Playoffs}
- JEF United Chiba - 61
- Fagiano Okayama - 61
- Vegalta Sendai - 61
- Montedio Yamagata - 60
- Iwaki FC - 51
- Renofa Yamaguchi - 51
- Tokushima Vortis - 51
- Blaublitz Akita - 48
- Fujieda MYFC - 46
- Mito Hollyhock - 44
- Roasso Kumamoto - 43
- Ventforet Kofu - 42
- Oita Trinita - 40
- Ehime FC - 39
- Tochigi SC - 32 {RELEGATED}
- Kagoshima United - 29 {RELEGATED}
- Thespa Gunma - 19 {RELEGATED}
J3 League Round 34 results:
YSCC Yokohama 0-2 Matsumoto Yamaga (3,627)
Nara Club 2-2 Kamatamare Sanuki (1,570)
Giravanz Kitakyushu 1-2 Zweigen Kanazawa (4,738)
FC Gifu 4-1 FC Imabari (3,791)
FC Ryukyu 1-1 Vanraure Hachinohe (2,397)
Iwate Grulla Morioka 1-2 Omiya Ardija (1,336)
Gainare Tottori 2-2 Kataller Toyama (2,345)
Fukushima United 2-3 SC Sagamihara (1,966)
Azul Claro Numazu 1-1 AC Nagano Parceiro (2,534)
Tegevajaro Miyazaki 1-0 FC Osaka (1,504)
J3 League Round 34 standings:
- Omiya Ardija - 80 {PROMOTED}
- FC Imabari - 61
- Kataller Toyama - 56
- Azul Claro Numazu - 51
- FC Osaka - 51
- Fukushima United - 49
- SC Sagamihara - 49
- Matsumoto Yamaga - 48
- Giravanz Kitakyushu - 48
- Vanraure Hachinohe - 47
- Gainare Tottori - 47
- Zweigen Kanazawa - 46
- FC Ryukyu - 46
- FC Gifu - 45
- Tegevajaro Miyazaki - 40
- Kamatamare Sanuki - 39
- AC Nagano Parceiro - 35
- Nara Club - 32
- YSCC Yokohama - 31
- Iwate Grulla Morioka - 21
Promotion and relegation between J3 and the semi-pro JFL is not guaranteed, it requires either 1st or 2nd place in JFL to have a J3 license before any changes can be made.
Currently the top 3 teams in JFL are all J3 license holders so we are going to see potentially two promotion and relegations between the 3rd and 4th tier.
Right now in 1st place (automatic promotion at the expense of Iwate Grulla Morioka) is Tochigi City, a real great story of a season for the, their first back in the JFL after spending 6 seasons in the 5th tier Kanto Soccer League.
2nd place is Kochi United (likely to enter into a pro/rel playoff with YSCC Yokohama). They’ve been in the JFL for 5 seasons.
We are down to the final two in both of the Japanese domestic cups.
This Saturday is the final of the J.League Cup, and will be Albirex Niigata vs Nagoya Grampus.
This is Albirex first ever appearance in a cup final, their best run in this competition prior to this was a semi final in 2015. Grampus are a 1-time winner, lifting the cup in 2021.
In the Emperor’s Cup on November 23, it is a powerhouse final Gamba Osaka vs Vissel Kobe. Gamba are 4 time winners (2008, 2009, 2014, 2015) and Vissel one time, in 2019.
Kyoto Sanga with a big upset win, 1-0 away at the Edion Peace Wing. Vissel Kobe now 2 points clear with 3 games to go, although Sanfrecce maintain superior GD so if they win out will only need Kobe to drop 2 points via a draw. It’s gonna be tight!
Starting to feel nervous, or resigned, now.
Hiroshima Carp had a great lead in first place earlier in the baseball season and collapsed so badly they didn’t even make the playoffs.
I’m used to my teams from that city disappointing me by now!
1 Like
Vissel Kobe defeated Gamba Osaka 1-0 in the Emperor’s Cup final.
Vissel’s second triumph (first was 2019) and Gamba taste their 4th defeat in a final (2006, 2012, 2020, 2024).
J1 League is still alive with much to play for at the top, even if things at the bottom have already been sorted.
J2 and J3 however, have all the places decided. Let’s take a look at where things finished up and who is moving up or down for 2025.
Shimizu S-Pulse win the J2 and return to J1 after 2 seasons. The J2 championship is their first league win in any division and their first taste of any silverware since they won the Emperor’s Cup back in 2001. Yokohama FC return to J1 after one season, continuing their long running trend of not being good enough for J1, but just too good for J2. Since 2021 they have gone J1, J2, J1, J2, J1.
V-Varen Nagasaki have their best J2 finish since 2020 and will be chasing a return to J1, six years after their one and only campaign in the top flight.
It’s been a great campaign for Montedio Yamagata, 4th place is their best J2 finish since a 2nd place in 2008. They haven’t been in J1 since a one year stay in 2015.
This will just be Fagiano Okayama’s 3rd appearance in the promotion playoffs in their 16 years in J2. They’ve never tasted J1 football before.
Vegalta Sendai have been 3 seasons now in J2 and this is their first playoffs appearance since relegation from J1. They had a 12 year J1 run before falling in 2021.
A 9th place finish for Iwaki FC is their new highest ever finish. The same goes for Blaublitz Akita in 10th.
Tochigi SC are relegated ending a 7 year stay in J2. Kagoshima United go down immediately, they came up only this season. Both of their two J2 runs have only lasted one season. Five years in J2 are over for Thespa Gunma, back into J3 after a diabolical season.
J2 League final standings:
- Shimizu S-Pulse - 82 {PROMOTED}
- Yokohama FC - 76 {PROMOTED}
- V-Varen Nagasaki - 75 {Playoffs}
- Montedio Yamagata - 66 {Playoffs}
- Fagiano Okayama - 65 {Playoffs}
- Vegalta Sendai - 64 {Playoffs}
- JEF United Chiba - 61
- Tokushima Vortis - 55
- Iwaki FC - 54
- Blaublitz Akita - 54
- Renofa Yamaguchi - 53
- Roasso Kumamoto - 46
- Fujieda MYFC - 46
- Ventforet Kofu - 45
- Mito Hollyhock - 44
- Oita Trinita - 43
- Ehime FC - 40
- Tochigi SC - 34 {RELEGATED}
- Kagoshima United - 30 {RELEGATED}
- Thespa Gunma - 18 {RELEGATED}
Omiya Ardija cruised through the J3 season, finishing comfortably 12 points clear of second place. It’ll be a relief for them to be back in J2 after just one year in the 3rd tier. It’s their first taste of silverware since they won J2 in 2015.
It will be a big new adventure for FC Imabari, their 2nd place finish is the highest placing in club history, and they will be advancing into J2 for the first time ever after a five year apprenticeship in J3.
It will be a 3rd consecutive playoffs appearance for Kataller Toyama as they hope to end a long 9 years in J3. 3rd place is the highest they have ever finished in this division.
A 2nd playoffs campaign in 3 seasons for Matsumoto Yamaga, hard to imagine they had a season in J1 as recently as five years ago before suffering two relegations in 3 years.
5th place is a an equal best ever finish for Fukushima United, they have been in J3 now for 10 years.
FC Osaka continue an impressive run of improvements, 11th in their debut J3 season and 6th this year. Best ever season for the club.
YSCC Yokohama have their worst ever J3 season and will need to fight for their survival. As 2nd bottom finisher, they have a two-legged playoff coming up with the JFL second placed team. The opponent will be Kochi United who had their best ever JFL season after 5 years in the division.
It’s all over for Iwate Grulla Morioka, relegated into the 4th tier just three seasons after appearing in J2. Taking their place in J3 next season will be JFL champions Tochigi City, racing into J3 after just one season in JFL.
J3 League final standings:
- Omiya Ardija - 85 {PROMOTED}
- FC Imabari - 73 {PROMOTED}
- Kataller Toyama - 64 {Playoffs}
- Matsumoto Yamaga - 60 {Playoffs}
- Fukushima United - 59 {Playoffs}
- FC Osaka - 58 {Playoffs}
- Giravanz Kitakyushu - 56
- FC Gifu - 53
- SC Sagamihara - 53
- Azul Claro Numazu - 52
- Vanraure Hachinohe - 52
- Zweigen Kanazawa - 50
- Gainare Tottori - 50
- FC Ryukyu - 47
- Tegevajaro Miyazaki - 46
- Kamatamare Sanuki - 43
- Nara Club - 39
- Nagano Parceiro - 37
- YSCC Yokohama - 32 {Relegation Playoff}
- Iwate Grulla Morioka - 22 {RELEGATED}
Even further down the pyramid, there is no direct relegation out of JFL due to the disbanding of Sony Sendai at the end of the season. 2024 Japan Regional Football Champions League winners Asuka FC will play JFL for the first time ever.
Minebea Mitsumi finished last in JFL and will fight for their place in a pro/rel playoff against JRFCL runner-up Vonds Ichihara. Vonds are a powerhouse of the Kanto Soccer League Division 1. In 11 seasons they have never finished lower than 4th, and have won the division 4 times.
3 Likes
Huge moment in the potential outcome of the league.
Vissel Kobe down 1-0 to Kashiwa Reysol, awarded a penalty in the 91st minute. It took almost three minutes before the kick was taken, and it was blazed wildly over the bar. Kobe have the ball in the net just as the clock ticks over 100 minutes (13 minutes stoppage time) it was instantly called for offside, but after 4 minutes of VAR analysis, the goal was awarded.
Vissel Kobe hold on to 1st place, they are on 69 points with one game left. FC Machida Zelvia defeat Kyoto Sanga to move into 2nd place on 66.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima on 65 points play tomorrow afternoon. A win for them against already relegated Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo will move them into 2nd place, one point behind Vissel.
It’s Kobe’s league to lose now thanks to that beyond last minute VAR intervention.
Some say that game is still in injury time.
1 Like
Sanfrecce did their part to keep their chances alive, rolling over Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo to the tune of 5-1.
J1 League table looks like this as we come into the final round next week. It’s Vissel Kobe’s league title to lose, their last game is at home to 15th placed Shonan Bellmare. Sanfrecce are away to Gamba Osaka. That one super late VAR decision this weekend could be the moment that decided the league.
Down the other end, Jubilo Iwata need three points from already relegated Sagan Tosu, and need to hope that Albirex Niigata lose to Urawa Reds for Iwata to have any hope of clawing their way out of the drop zone on the last day.
- Vissel Kobe - 69
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima - 68
- FC Machida Zelvia - 66
- Gamba Osaka - 63
- Kashima Antlers - 62
- Tokyo Verdy - 55
- Yokohama F. Marinos - 52
- Cerezo Osaka - 52
- FC Tokyo - 51
- Avispa Fukuoka - 50
- Kawasaki Frontale - 49
- Urawa Red Diamonds - 47
- Nagoya Grampus - 47
- Kyoto Sanga - 46
- Shonan Bellmare - 45
- Kashiwa Reysol - 41
- Albirex Niigata - 41
- Jubilo Iwata - 38
- Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo - 34 {RELEGATED}
- Sagan Tosu - 32 {RELEGATED}
1 Like
Far stranger things have happened in J1, hard to imagine there won’t be a mental twist of some sort next weekend.
The promotion playoffs started yesterday and there were some emphatic results in J2.
Vegalta Sendai beat V-Varen Nagasaki 4-1 and Fagiano Okayama beat Montedio Yamagata 3-0.
Next Saturday will see Vegalta vs Fagiano, one team attempting a J1 return after 3 years, one seeking to reach the promised land for the first time ever. If the game finishes as a draw, Fagiano will be promoted as the higher placed finisher in the league.
In J3, we saw that rule in effect in both semi finals.
3rd placed Kataller Toyama advance after a 1-1 draw with 6th placed FC Osaka. 4th place Matsumoto Yamaga advance after a 1-1 draw with 5th placed Fukushima United.
In the pro/rel playoff over two legs, the first leg between YSCC Yokohama and Kochi United finished 1-1. YSCC have 90 minutes left next weekend to save their J.League status.
Vonds Ichihara’s JFL dreams have fallen short once again, Minebea Mitsumi win the JFL/regional league playoff 1-0. It is another season in Kanto Soccer League Division 1 for Vonds.