A Guide to the Football in Japan

Just promoted FC Tokyo won the emperor's cup beating the second division final in Tokyo. FC Tokyo is the first club J2 club to win this cup. Following the 2011 promoted League Champion Kashiwa Reysol, this final illustrates the high level of our second division league. FC Tokyo will particopate to AFC Champions League 2012.

Kyoto Sanga 2. FC Tokyo 4. National Stadium Tokyo

2011.12.18
One Night Show in Yokohama

No need to report the result of the FCWC Final. I would say, more than 5,000 Brazilian supporters (who came from Brazil?) joined together in Yokohama. The scene reminded me of the final of the 2002 World Cup in the same venue. They produced the beautiful circumstance and tons of garbage in front of the stadium. The team could not play their way, because more skilled players played more devotedly for their team. The young talent could not shine.

2011.12.15
The Final will be Santos vs Barcelona

http://www.goal2002.com/2011/fcwc.html

2011.12.11
Kashiwa Reysol; J.League Dream Goes On

Kashiwa Reysol beat Monterrey from Mexico in penalty shoot out. At first, Monterrey's skills and tactics are superior than Kashiwa's, but after Kashiwa players adjust to the Monterrey's how they play, they took back their standard play in 2001 J.League and in the second half and the extra time, Kashiwa controled the match. The result seems to be an upset, it is proper for Kashiwa.
Nobody thoght 2011 promoted Kashiwa would win the league, the dream still goes on for Kashiwa. It is the very big victory for those who love Japanese football.

On the same day, Asian champions Al Saad won against Esperance from Tunisa to qualify to the semifinal. Semifinals will be as follows.

http://www.goal2002.com/2011/fcwc.html

FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2011 Semifinals

2011.12.14

Wed

19:30

Kashiwa Reysol

Santos FC (BRA)

Toyota

2011.12.15

Thu

19:30

Al Saad (QAT)

FC Barcelona (ESP)

Yokohama Int'l

Takahashi Katsumi (takahasi@goal2002.com)

2011.12.04
Kashiwa Reysol won the tight race

	Kashiwa
	Nagoya
	G-Osaka
	Sendai
	Yokohama-M
	Kashiwa
	Hiroshima
	Iwata
	Kobe
	Shimizu
	Kawasaki-F
	C-Osaka
	Omiya
	Niigata
	Urawa
	Kofu
	Fukuoka
	Yamagata

2011 J.League Chart

2011.12.03
Promoted Kashiwa Reysol Won 2011 J.League

Kashiwa Reysol won this year's league title beating Urawa Reds in Saitama Stadium, 3 Decemeber 2011. The 2011 promoted club lead the league by their attractive football with careful Brazilian coach Nelsinho Baptista and talented striker Leandro Domingues. Congratulations Kashiwa Reysol.

2011 J.League Champions. Congratulations Kashiwa Reysol

2011 J.League Division 1 Table (Final)
	PT	GP	W	D	L	GD	(GF	GA)
Kashiwa Reysol	72	34	23	3	8	23	65	42

Nagoya Grampus	71	34	21	8	5	31	67	36
Gamba Osaka	70	34	21	7	6	27	78	51

Vegalta Sendai	56	34	14	14	6	14	39	25
Yokohama F-Marinos	56	34	16	8	10	6	46	40
Kashima Antlers	50	34	13	11	10	13	53	40
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	50	34	14	8	12	3	52	49
Jubilo Iwata	47	34	13	8	13	8	53	45
Vissel Kobe	46	34	13	7	14	-1	44	45
Shimizu S-Pulse	45	34	11	12	11	-9	42	51
Kawasaki Frontale	44	34	13	5	16	-1	52	53
Cerezo Osaka	43	34	11	10	13	14	67	53
Omiya Ardija	42	34	10	12	12	-10	38	48
Albirex Niigata	39	34	10	9	15	-8	38	46
Urawa Reds	36	34	8	12	14	-7	36	43

Ventforet Kofu	33	34	9	6	19	-21	42	63
Avispa Fukuoka	22	34	6	4	24	-41	34	75
Montedio Yamagata	21	34	5	6	23	-41	23	64

2011 J.League Division 2 Table (Final)
	PT	GP	W	D	L	GD	(GF	GA)
FC Tokyo	77	38	23	8	7	45	67	22
Sagan Tosu	69	38	19	12	7	34	68	34
Consadole Sapporo	68	38	21	5	12	17	49	32

Tokushima Vortis	65	38	19	8	11	13	51	38
Tokyo Verdy	59	38	16	11	11	24	69	45
JEF Utd Ichihara Chiba	58	38	16	10	12	7	46	39
Kyoto Sanga FC	58	38	17	7	14	5	50	45
Giravanz Kitakyushu	58	38	16	10	12	-1	45	46
Thespa Kusatsu	57	38	16	9	13	0	51	51
Tochigi SC	56	38	15	11	12	5	44	39
Roasso Kumamoto	51	38	13	12	13	-11	33	44
Oita Trinita	50	38	12	14	12	-3	42	45
Fagiano Okayama	48	38	13	9	16	-15	43	58
Shonan Bellmare	46	38	12	10	16	-2	46	48
Ehime FC	44	38	10	14	14	-10	44	54
Kataller Toyama	43	38	11	10	17	-17	36	53
Mito Hollyhock	42	38	11	9	18	-9	40	49
Yokohama FC	41	38	11	8	19	-14	40	54
Gainare Tottori	31	38	8	7	23	-24	36	60
FC Gifu	24	38	6	6	26	-44	39	83

2011.11.28
Promoted Kashiwa Reysol Move Closer to the League Title

J1: Will Kashiwa or .. ?


28 Nov. Tosu Promotion (almost ok)	19 Nov. FC Tokyo Promotion

J1: Promoted Kashiwa Reysol stays top to play away match in Urawa. 2nd and 3rd place Nagoya and G-Osaka have chance to be the champ, both to play in away stadium on 4th December.

J2: FC Tokyo already confirmed top J1 return a week ago. Sagan Tosu will finish in the 2nd place with their first top league. Promotion zone 3rd will be Sapporo or Tokushima. League will be closed on next Saturday.

2011 J.League Division 1 Table (updtd 11.27)
	PT	GP	W	D	L	GD	(GF	GA)
Kashiwa Reysol	69	33	22	3	8	21	62	41

Nagoya Grampus	68	33	20	8	5	30	66	36
Gamba Osaka	67	33	20	7	6	25	75	50

Yokohama F-Marinos	55	33	16	7	10	6	45	39
Vegalta Sendai	53	33	13	14	6	12	37	25
Kashima Antlers	49	33	13	10	10	13	52	39
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	47	33	13	8	12	1	49	48
Vissel Kobe	46	33	13	7	13	1	44	43
Shimizu S-Pulse	45	33	11	12	10	-7	41	48
Jubilo Iwata	44	33	12	8	13	7	51	44
Kawasaki Frontale	44	33	13	5	15	0	51	51
Cerezo Osaka	40	33	10	10	13	8	60	52
Albirex Niigata	39	33	10	9	14	-7	38	45
Omiya Ardija	39	33	9	12	12	-12	35	47
Urawa Reds	36	33	8	12	13	-5	35	40

Ventforet Kofu	33	33	9	6	18	-19	41	60
Avispa Fukuoka	22	33	6	4	23	-35	33	68
Montedio Yamagata	21	33	5	6	22	-39	22	61

2011 J.League Division 2 Table (updtd 11.27)
	PT	GP	W	D	L	GD	(GF	GA)
FC Tokyo	77	37	23	8	6	46	66	20

Tosu	68	37	19	11	7	34	66	32
Sapporo	65	37	20	5	12	16	47	31

Tokushima	65	37	19	8	10	14	51	37
Tokyo Verdy	58	37	16	10	11	24	67	43
Kitakyushu	57	37	16	9	12	-1	43	44
Tochigi SC	56	37	15	11	11	9	44	35
Ichihara	55	37	15	10	12	6	44	38
Kyoto	55	37	16	7	14	3	47	44
Kusatsu	54	37	15	9	13	-4	47	51
Kumamoto	50	37	13	11	13	-11	31	42
Oita Trinita	49	37	12	13	12	-3	40	43
Shonan	45	37	12	9	16	-2	44	46
Okayama	45	37	12	9	16	-16	42	58
Toyama	43	37	11	10	16	-15	36	51

Mito	42	37	11	9	17	-8	39	47
Ehime FC	41	37	9	14	14	-12	40	52
Yokohama FC	38	37	10	8	19	-16	38	54
Tottori	31	37	8	7	22	-22	34	56
FC Gifu	24	37	6	6	25	-42	38	80

2011.11.27
Urawa Reds' Relief in Fukuoka


Before	and After

Urawa Reds reached 36 to confirm J1 stay practically. I was one of 5,000 Reds supporters who travelled over 1,000 kilometers flight. When Fukuoka scored first, many thoght of the final life-or-death match against the leader Kashiwa.
1-2 victory relieved Reds, with Fukuoka and Yamagata already down, Kofu sit third from bottom in the final relegation spot, three points and 14 goals shy of Urawa.

2011.10.30
Tradition Again. Kashima Antlers won the League Cup over Urawa Reds

Kashima Antlers 1 Extra Time 0 Urawa Reds. 29 October, 2011
Kokuritsu (National Stadium) Tokyo

Relegation threatened Urawa came back to the scene. Urawa goes down to the bottom three two weeks ago, club fired coach Petrovic. They won the dramatic Yokohama match and escaped from the relegation zone temporary one week ago, they came back to the final in the National Stadium Tokyo.

The match was exciting. Both player were sent off in the second half. Urawa concentrated on the ball but in the extra time Kashima scored and won the cup.

Urawa is happy to be back in this traditional match. Kashima won their five-years-in-a-row title with coach Oswaldo Oliveira.

2011.10.16
2007 Asian Champion is being killed by the worst club managemnt

2007 ACL Champion Urawa Reds is suffering J2 relegation. The loss on Saturday in Saitama derby match, let Omiya six points advance and the victory of Kofu let Urawa be in the relegation zone.

Urawa is known with the largest supporters along with the poorest club management, this year the poorer management outstripped the resource Urawa has had. Although manager Zeriko Petrovic has proved his very poor ability in tactics and team control earlyer in this season, the club won't fire him. Yesterday, confused manager announced his retirement plan in front of the media, but today the club president is said to request him to stay. (Petrovic announced "I've decided that I won't remain with the club next season" and club's misterious answer says that the club will support resigning manaer.)

Where does the irresponsible club bring Urawa Reds?

2011 J.League Division 1 Table
	PT	GP	W	D	L	GD	(GF	GA)
Kashiwa Reysol	59	29	19	2	8	14	52	38

Gamba Osaka	57	29	17	6	6	18	66	48
Nagoya Grampus	56	29	16	8	5	23	55	32

Yokohama F-Marinos	52	29	15	7	7	10	41	31
Vegalta Sendai	50	29	13	11	5	13	37	24
Kashima Antlers	44	29	12	8	9	11	47	36
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	43	29	12	7	10	2	42	40
Shimizu S-Pulse	41	29	10	11	8	-6	35	41
Jubilo Iwata	38	29	10	8	11	9	45	36
Kawasaki Frontale	37	29	11	4	14	-3	45	48
Cerezo Osaka	36	29	9	9	11	9	54	45
Vissel Kobe	36	29	10	6	13	-6	35	41
Albirex Niigata	35	29	9	8	12	-2	33	35
Omiya Ardija	35	29	8	11	10	-10	29	39
Ventforet Kofu	30	29	8	6	15	-17	36	53

Urawa Reds	29	29	6	11	12	-4	31	35
Montedio Yamagata	21	29	5	6	18	-24	22	46
Avispa Fukuoka	18	29	5	3	21	-37	24	61

2011.10.09
Urawa Reds in Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Final

Urawa Reds will survive with this guy. Umesaki Tsukasa

Urawa 2. Gamba Osaka 1. Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Semifinal

Urawa Reds beat the league leader Gamba Osaka to qualify to the league cup final on 29th October in National Stadium Tokyo. The victry is precious for fans who kept supporting Reds. Because, in season 2006 Urawa completed both the league and the cup title just in front of Gamba in succession. After that Urawa stopped winning against Gamba and this is the first victory over Gamba for 12 league and cup matches since that days. But, the most important fruit from the match is the rebirth of the striker Umesaki Tsukasa by his one goal and one assist to beat Urawa's rival. As he joined to Urawa in 2008 but he threw last two seasons from serious injuries. This beloved guy takes the team to the cup final and encourages relegation-threatened team. Urawa will win and survice with the name - Umesaki Tsukasa.

2011.10.07
Japan 1. Vietman 0. Friendly in Kobe

Japan won the International A match, friendly against Vietnam in Kobe.

Zaccheroni tested the pending system 3-4-3 to prepare the option of the team, but it did not work out again for this match.
Vietnamese players worked hard and impressed Japanese audiences. In my knowledge, no Vietnam players have played in J.League before. They have discipline and staying power with enough speed. The team includes their first player played in Portugal TV announces, how about inviting Vietnamese to play in Japan.

Japan vs Vietnum in Kobe

2011.09.28
Yokohama-M, Urawa, Iwata, and Niigata advanced to the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Quarterfinal

Saitama Derby in Omiya

2011.09.25
Top 3 Lose Home Match to Play Close League

Gamba Osaka, Kashiwa Reysol, and Yokohama F-Marinos lose in their home that leads four top clubs to be within three points. These upsets players include relegation-threatened Ventforet Kofu and Omiya Ardija.

2011 J.League Division 1 Table (as of 09.25)
	PT	GP	W	D	L	GD	(GF	GA)
Gamba Osaka	54	27	16	6	5	20	64	44
Nagoya Grampus	53	27	15	8	4	22	51	29
Kashiwa Reysol	53	27	17	2	8	12	50	38
Yokohama F-Marinos	51	27	15	6	6	12	38	26
Vegalta Sendai	44	27	11	11	5	9	32	23
Kashima Antlers	41	27	11	8	8	11	45	34
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	39	27	11	6	10	1	40	39
Jubilo Iwata	37	27	10	7	10	10	43	33
Shimizu S-Pulse	37	27	9	10	8	-8	32	40
Cerezo Osaka	36	27	9	9	9	14	53	39
Vissel Kobe	35	27	10	5	12	-5	34	39
Kawasaki Frontale	34	27	10	4	13	-3	43	46
Omiya Ardija	32	27	7	11	9	-9	28	37
Urawa Reds	29	27	6	11	10	-2	31	33
Albirex Niigata	29	27	7	8	12	-5	27	32
Ventforet Kofu	27	27	7	6	14	-20	32	52
Montedio Yamagata	20	27	5	5	17	-23	21	44
Avispa Fukuoka	15	27	4	3	20	-36	22	58

2011.09.21
Fredrik Ljungberg joined to Shimizu S-pulse

Fredrik Ljungberg have moved to Japan to join Shimizu S-Pulse and recorded his first appearance for J.League on 10th September against the Derby clube, Jubilo Iwata.

We welcome you Freddy.

2011.09.08
Nadeshiko Japan won London Olympic 2012 Women Football Ticket

Slippy sports papers began to sell
a premium pdf extra edition :)

Japan Women confirmed 1st or 2nd place of the Asian qualofying round leaving the final match against China. As Japan allow one point to DPR Korea in the last minutes in the day match, China was beaten by Australia in the evening that lead the result. DPR Korea, Australia and China have chance to win the Asian second ticket.

As this tournament is held as the single-round-robin of five teams in Jinan City, China. Nadeshiko Japan faild to prepare the perfect condition to play "five matches in 11 days" because of the post World Cup Feter. They could not show thier top form but played doggedly.

This crash program brought unexpected benefit for Japan. The World Cup victory brought new fans of soccer. Every two days' matches attracted Japanese new fans that lead about 30% of TV rating. London Olympic game will be played from 27 July to 12 August, 2012. We are happy to see Sawa's play in London!! Congratuations "Nadeshiko Japan".

Women's Olympic London 2012 AFC Final Round
	PT	GP	W	D	L	GD	(GF	GA)
Japan Women	10	4	3	1	0	5	7	2
DPR Korea Women	8	4	2	2	0	2	5	3
Australia Women	6	4	2	0	2	3	6	3
China Women	5	4	1	2	1	1	2	1
Korea Women	4	4	1	1	2	1	6	5
Thailand Women	0	4	0	0	4	-12	1	13

2011.09.02
95 minutes of drama. Japan 1-0 DPR Korea

Japan won their first qualifier for Brazil 2014 in Saitama Stadium. They created many chances but the North Korean defence was organized not to let Japan goal. In the last minutes of the second half additional time, defender Yoshida's headder broke the brave visitor. Zaccheroni's boys kept posession based football with their philosophy. Mon of the match should go to captain Hasebe because his proper choice of dribbling, feeds, and early crosses knocked the North Korean organization.

Results and fixtures FIFA World Cup 2014 Asian 3rd Round

Japan squad vs DPR Korea 2011.9.2

Lee

Kagawa

Kashiwagi

Okazaki

Endo

Hasebe

Komano

Konno

Yoshida

Uchida

Kawashima (GK)

2011.09.01
International Week, Men for World Cup Qulifiers Women for Olympic Qualifiers

World Cup 2014 qualifiers for Japan starts from this week. Japan faces with DPR Koria in Saitama on Friday evening and goes to Uzbekistan on next Tuesday. Two teams will be qualified to the Asian final round after the home-and-away round robin.

Women's World Campions "Nadeshiko Japan" goes to China to win a ticket from two Asian seats of 2012 London Olympic Games. They will play the single-round-robin of six teams in 11 days in Jinan China.

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Asian Qualifying 3rd Round Group C

2011.09.02

Fri

19:20

Japan

DPR Korea

Saitama

2011.09.06

Tue

19:00

Uzbekistan

Japan

Pakhtakor (UZB)

2011.10.11

Tue

19:45

Japan

Tajikistan

Nagai

2011.11.11

Fri

Tajikistan

Japan

TBD (TJK)

2011.11.15

Tue

DPR Korea

Japan

TBD (PRK)

2012.02.29

Wed

Japan

Uzbekistan

Toyota

Women's Olympic Football Tournament London 2012 AFC Final Qualification Round

2011.09.01

Thu