2024 Market Week – Leaps & Renegades

2025 is coming soon – the 2024 season is approaching the end, and many changes will come through. For the next year, clubs will look towards new heroes, possible bargains, and reboots. That’s indeed what we’re gonna talk about in “Market Week”, a two-days festival over possible moves, why they should happen and the players to watch out for next Winter. 

We start with the first part, that we called “Leaps & Renegades”. On one side, we’ll talk about the players who would deserve a step forward in their career by staying in Japan, and maybe climbing up the ladder. On the other one, we’ll find the players who need a step back to regain confidence, and maybe rebuild a bit their career after some slumps.

To talk about “Leaps”, we took four examples from the J2 League (leaping towards the first division) and two from J3 (leaping towards the second division). We didn’t focus on obvious choices or players from teams who could get promoted. Furthermore, no players who are living their rookie season in their career.

That said, we can start running!

Asahi Masuyama

V-Varen Nagasaki

Winger, Wing-Back / Age: 27

The Past – Can you believe Masuyama’s career started in… 2015?! He was just 18 when Vissel Kobe opted to sign him from high school. For five seasons – four in Kobe and on loan to Yokohama FC -, the winger failed to find enough pitch-time. Then a loan in Fukuoka – when Avispa got promoted from J2 to J1 – was kind of a breakthrough. Then again back to Kobe, and two years with Oita Trinita before the present. 

Why Leaping? – Nagasaki was the right choice for Masuyama. He became a bit of a ductile player there, becoming a pillar of the line-up – he played more games with V-Varen in just two years than in his whole career in Kobe. Masuyama became a Swiss knife, capable of playing on both flanks, in all positions (whether it’s full-back, wing-back, side midfielder, or even his original role – winger).

What’s Next? – V-Varen could go up, and maybe Masuyama won’t need any change of teams. But if they don’t, he maybe ready for another try at J1 – we’d be personally very curious to see him with Albirex Niigata. He could fit their bill, and play several positions for a club which might need new faces after two solid seasons back into the top-flight.

Hiiro Komori

JEF United Chiba

Striker / Age: 24

The Past – Komori had a wonderful rookie season with JEF United Chiba, scoring 13 goals in his debut year in J2, and bagging another one in the play-offs semifinals against Tokyo Verdy. “Second year-syndrome” is always around the corner, but Komori didn’t seem to suffer at all – even taking the no. 10 left by Tomoya Miki.

Why Leaping? – Because the 22 goals scored by Komori until now give him a large lead as the favourite to be the top-scorer in J2, and rarely the top-scorer in J2 stays in the division the year after (it happened only to Juanma Delgado in the last five years). Komori has proved his worth in J2.

What’s Next? – To be honest, it’d be nice to see him with JEF United Chiba back in J1, and the play-offs should be there to grasp as a chance for a comeback. But if that doesn’t materialise, Vissel Kobe could try to add Komori to their offensive department – given that Yuya Osako will be 35 years old next season, and Yoshinori Muto will be 33.

Masaaki Goto

Montedio Yamagata

Goalkeeper / Age: 30

The Past – Shonan Bellmare invested on him and had his ownership for three seasons, but Goto barely featured with Bellmare. First Zweigen Kanazawa to take Yuto Shirai’s starting spot, then Montedio Yamagata from 2022. 16 clean sheets on his first year up in the North, Goto is repeating himself this season (34 goals conceded, 12 clean sheets).

Why Leaping? – Goto might be on the final part of his career, and he’s still has to taste the top-flight at a proper level. Bellmare fielded him just three times in 2020, when J1 didn’t feature any relegation spots. He holds now the adequate experience to give it a go, especially after these positive seasons up in the North.

What’s Next? – It might seem too much to handle, but Mitchell Langerak will be leaving Japan after a super-successful stint with Nagoya Grampus, a jersey with which he wrote many record pages in J1. Goto could be a safe pair of hands for a swift transition, especially given how Grampus are not exactly enjoying major success in the last years.

Kaili Shimbo

Renofa Yamaguchi

Side-Back, Wing-Back / Age: 24

The Past – Football runs in the family, since Shimbo is actually the son of Hayuma Tanaka, one of the most decorated J.Leaguers – with more than 400 games in J1 spread through Yokohama F. Marinos, Matsumoto Yamaga, and Nagoya Grampus. Shimbo first featured with the U-23 of Cerezo Osaka, then joined Renofa Yamaguchi.

Why Leaping? – Renofa Yamaguchi were smart not fielding him right away, but rather loaning him twice to J3 sides. First a year in Miyazaki with Tegevajaro, then another one with Iwate Grulla Morioka in 2023. Now he’s repeating the same numbers, but in a higher level, and repeating certain performances is the hardest part.

What’s Next? – Another J2 season could be useful, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see him going back to a place where he actually already featured – Kashiwa Reysol need some fresh faces to avoid the drop and keep a certain quality. Furthermore, Shimbo played in their youth ranks before signing for Cerezo Osaka.

Tatsunari Nagai

FC Osaka

Goalkeeper / Age: 29

The Past – Nagai’s career is an hymn to perseverance. He joined Roasso Kumamoto back in 2014, then moved to Kyoto Sanga in 2017. The leap didn’t work out, so Nagai ended up with Iwaki FC first and then Asuka FC, playing Prefectural football in Tohoku and Kansai. His stint with FC TiAmo Hirataka in JFL brought him to the attention of FC Osaka.

Why Leaping? – Nagai joined FC Osaka in 2022, being one of the pillars who brought the club to J3. Despite having three different managers, the keeper had wonderful performance – his goal conceded-per-game ratio is (for now) under 1.00. He had 16 clean sheets last season, we’re already at 15 in 2024 – and there are still some games to go.

What’s Next? – He clearly deserves an upper chance in J2, especially after the seasons he’s enduring with FC Osaka. Ventforet Kofu could need a new no. 1, given that no one clearly stepped up to be Kohei Kawata’s successor in blue and red.

Ryo Shiohama

Fukushima United FC

Attacking Midfielder / Age: 24

The Past – Enrolled by the Juntendo University, Shiohama joined Fukushima United FC in 2023, proving already his value in the rookie season – 37 caps, five goals, and two assists. But in 2024 he took a further leap in development, scoring 10 times, and providing the five assists.

Why Leaping? – Fukushima United FC are having indeed a solid season – they’re on the run to qualify for the first-play-offs ever in J3! -, but it’s very hard to imagine them actually going up. If that doesn’t happen, there are few chances to see him play a third straight season in J3.

What’s Next? – If they survive what would be an unexpected relegation (they’re currently +5 on Tochigi SC), Oita Trinita could be a landing spot for the next challenge. Yamato Machida is 34 years old, Naoki Nomura is 33, Daigo Takahashi is just on loan – there’s surely space to find minutes on the pitch.

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About the part talking over “Renegades”, we featured players older than 24, with less than 10 league games in 2024 (until now), and coming from J1.

Takuya Iwanami

Vissel Kobe

Center-back / Age: 30

The Past – Do you remember the time when Iwanami was a national team candidate? Back then, the 2014 FIFA World Cup showed how Yoshida and Konno + Morishige were not enough to be a solid defence. Iwanami progressed from Kobe, featuring also with Urawa Red Diamonds for many years. Then 2023 happened.

Why a Clean Slate? – At 29, and without Ricardo Rodríguez anymore as their coach, Reds decided to put Iwanami away. The centre-back then opted to come back to Kobe, but even with Vissel he hasn’t played that much – just two matches in J1. Which is so strange for someone who was starting regularly a couple of years ago.

What’s Next? – Despite almost 400 games as a pro, Iwanami never played for Japan, and didn’t feature in one single match at Rio 2016 for the Olympic team. Nevertheless, we can see a place like JEF United Chiba needing a player like him – following the route of another former JNT and Urawa Reds player, Daisuke Suzuki.

Yuya Fukuda

Gamba Osaka

Winger, wing-back / Age: 25

The Past – You know what’s incredible? Fukuda was already featured in the last number of this column, back in 2022 – we were advocating for him to go on loan. Then Dani Poyatos became Gamba Osaka’s head coach, and Fukuda started to find some space. But he never played THAT much, and he’s been all over the pitch, in any possible position.

Why a Clean Slate? – Because he’s 25, he’s been with Gamba since his youth days, and Gamba haven’t found a purpose for him. Furthermore, he played just 82 minutes this season with them in J1 because of a tough tendon injury. That’s the lowest amount of minutes with Gamba Osaka since… 2018, his rookie season in the top-flight. 

What’s Next? – Fukuda needs to spread his wings and fly on his own. Montedio Yamagata could be a decent destination, where many found their breakthrough as offensive players, even late in their careers (Sakamoto, Ide, etc).

Fuma Shirasaka

Yokohama F. Marinos

Goalkeeper / Age: 27

The Past – It’s funny how the goalkeeping position at Yokohama F. Marinos gives so many topics. We mentioned their decline, their messy season, the need of new faces… but also the need to let go the ones who are not fitting their situation. Shirasaka, who was very good on his loan to Kagoshima United FC in J3, came back in 2023.

Why a Clean Slate? – Because Shirasaka played just four matches in two years – one in the 2023 AFC Champions League, and the other three in this year’s J1. 248 minutes, eight goals conceded, only one clean sheet. Maybe it’s not his level, but he can be surely helpful somewhere else, and prove that the year in Kagoshima wasn’t just a fluke.

What’s Next? – Renofa Yamaguchi have lived through a solid season in J2, but senator and starting keeper Kentaro Seki will be retiring at the end of this year. Yes, they have Junto Taguchi as a back-up – but why not give Shirasaka a chance? He might be a silent option to steal, a good bargain for J2.

Keita Yamashita

FC Tokyo

Striker / Age: 28

The Past – It’s incredible to talk about Yamashita in such an eerie way, despite he’s just 28 years old. He was never an explosive no. 9, but he was also good in linking up with the rest of the team. Solid seasons between Renofa Yamaguchi, JEF United Chiba, and Sagan Tosu granted him a chance at the big table with FC Tokyo in 2022.

Why a Clean Slate? – The result? The last goal from Yamashita in official games came three years ago. I don’t know if other players have this kind of stat – but Yamashita played 21 games in 2022 with FC Tokyo, eight more on loan to Shonan Bellmare, and then came back to Tokyo to basically not play at all (due to injuries and other strikers in the roster).

What’s Next? – He clearly needs a clean slate, somewhere easy in J2. Blaublitz Akita haven’t had once a season in J2 where his major scorer reached double-digits of goals. This could help Yamashita starting anew, and recovering his form, while being also a more expert option up front.

Ryosuke Shindo

Cerezo Osaka

Centre-back / Age: 28

The Past – Shindo was one of the prospects launched by Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo, shining as a right centre-back within the 3 CBs-line up of Mihailo Petrovic (scoring goals, taking headlines, and attracting interest from other clubs). He was supposed to the next step at Cerezo Osaka, but he never really switched to the 4-4-2 applied by Akio Kogiku.

Why a Clean Slate? – Injuries didn’t help, but Shindo anyway wasn’t at the level seen in Sapporo. He struggled in the first two seasons endured in Osaka, only to play more in 2023 (28 caps in J1), then an injury put him on the bench and he’s just slightly regaining form in the final part of this season.

What’s Next? – Kogiku is gone, and maybe Shindo will have a clean slate from the next manager in Osaka… but what if a comeback was possible? It’s probable that Sapporo won’t see J1 football next season, so restarting where everything leaped for him could be a good option in the future.

Takuya Yasui

Machida Zelvia

Defensive Midfielder / Age: 25

The Past – He’s just 25, but his career has seen already a lot, despite having played for just two teams. Yasui was one of the most promising players rising from Vissel Kobe’s youth ranks a few years ago, until the club decided to bet on experience rather than Yasui himself. He left Kobe in 2021 for Machida Zelvia, and he rebuilt his career. 

Why a Clean Slate? – Yasui immediately had an impact on Zelvia, playing as a starter for 18 months. Then Kuroda took a different direction, plus some injuries rattled his form. At that point, Yasui lost his starting spot, and making a case for himself in J1 became harder, especially given how Zelvia were running at the top.

What’s Next? – Yasui lost half of this season because of a broken tibia, but he’s about to turn 26, and he cannot afford to stay in a place where he won’t play. Fagiano Okayama will probably take a play-offs spot, but if they don’t, Yasui could be another good piece to add for that goal.

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Stay tuned for another episode! “Market Week” is coming back tomorrow with another episode, this time around players on loans, and the ones who might come back after shining away from home. If you want to look at this format from previous years, enjoy the reading in this category here.