2026 will soon be between us, but with a big news: the calendar will change. No more a February-December season, but rather a six months-break to accommodate the passage to the August-May calendar. And in the middle, a FIFA World Cup to play in North America. That’s why for many players the next year will be crucial, as well as the choices they will take to proceed with their careers on the pitch.
Clubs will look towards new heroes, possible bargains, and players will look towards fresh starts and/or reboots. In the end, which better time than this one, given the impromptu change of calendar? 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!
We kept him out, but also Tsuyoshi Ogashiwa would need a fresh start.
Yuto Yamashita
Iwaki FC
Defensive midfielder | Age: 29
The past – Born in Chiba, Yamashita firstly came through with Aomori Yamada High School, before enrolling into the Toin University of Yokohama. From there, in 2019, he joined Iwaki FC – at that time, just a club from the Tohoku Soccer League. In reality, Yamashita has been the heart and soul of Iwaki’s climb through the Japanese football ladder, winning the JFL and J3 titles, while also being nominated MVP of the JFL in 2020 and in the “Best XI” of both leagues.
Why the leap? – He’s been six years with Iwaki FC, going through the growth of the club, and it seems that growth has reached a tipping point. But that doesn’t mean it has to be like that for Yamashita, who has scored four goals and dished eight assists this season, keeping a production level worthy of a J1 shot.
What’s next? – Since Avispa Fukuoka lost Hiroyuki Mae to Machida Zelvia, I feel like the club could really use a guy like Yamashita. Sure, Fukuoka have Daiki Matsuoka and Hiroki Akino in the middle, but Yamashita brings decent experience to the table, and he’s going to be 30 in the next season. It’s a good mix.
Kota Muramatsu
Blaublitz Akita
Centre-back | Age: 28
The past – Once becoming a pro in 2020, Muramatsu became immediately a leader within Giravanz Kitakyushu, who had a good ride in that season as a newly-promoted team. In 2022, the centre-back moved to V-Varen Nagasaki, but it wasn’t an easy ride. This triggered a move first back on loan to Kitakyushu in 2023 in the third division, then back to the J2 League with Blaublitz Akita in 2024. It seemed to have worked.
Why the leap? – He found himself back in Akita, especially with such a defensive side like the one led by Ken Yoshida. Blaublitz always built their salvations in J2 on their defence, and Muramatsu has been instrumental for this – Akita had the third-best defence in 2024 and the centre-back featured 32 times in that season. In 2025, he added two goals and six assists to complete his performances.
What’s next? – Against all odds, Fagiano Okayama will 99% enjoy another year of J1 in 2026-27 ad they could really use some reinforcements in their defensive department. Okayama could be the right leap for Muramatsu to try his way at J1.
Ren Asakura
Fujieda MYFC
Offensive midfielder | Age: 24
The past – You wouldn’t say, but Ren Asakura is another product of the prolific youth ranks of Kawasaki Frontale, although he then decided to attend Shizuoka Gakuen High School. After winning the High School Championship, he enrolled into the Takushoku University. In 2023, Fujieda MYFC smelled a good deal and they signed him as a special designated player, before becoming a first team player in 2024.
Why the leap? – It’s incredible how Asakura’s learning curve is seeable through data. Just five caps in 2023, 23 matches and two goals in 2024, and already nine goals and three assists in 28 games of the 2025 J2 League. As Fujieda MYFC lost some pieces over the years – Tojiro Kubo to Nagoya Grampus, Ryota Iwabuchi to FC Ryukyu, and Akiyuki Yokoyama to JEF United Chiba –, Asakura became central for their fortunes.
What’s next? – After 2.5 years in the second division, a jump to the top-flight seems in the cards. Personally, I’d love to see him with Kashiwa Reysol – I think it would be an interesting match with how Ricardo Rodriguez fields his team. And if you wanna know more about him, you can read the report on “Shogun Soccer” by Ryo Nakagawara.
Yoshiaki Torikai
Ventforet Kofu
Offensive midfielder, winger | Age: 27
The past – A good high school prospect, Torikai enrolled into the Toin University of Yokohama back in 2017, into a team stacked with future J.Leaguers (Ryo Endo, Wataru Iwashita or Toki Kagami). He joined Ventforet Kofu back in 2021, just before the team embarked on a magical period, between lifting the 2022 Emperor’s Cup (scoring the winner in the quarter finals), playing the 2023 Japanese Super Cup, and even progressing to the Round of 16 of the 2023-24 AFC Champions League.
Why the leap? – After five seasons in Kofu – while wearing as well the captain’s armband sometimes –, Torikai has kept a certain level of performances. Four goals in 2021, same in 2022 and in 2023, six goals in 2024 and already seven in 2025 in only 22 games, with many matches to go. He’s been pretty ductile on the pitch, playing in different roles, and Torikai seems ready to take the next step at 27 years old.
What’s next? – One of the newly-promoted sides could definitely use him to expand the rotation upfront. If JEF United Chiba somehow finish in the Top 2, I can see him there as well to integrate a squad that needs this kind of experience, especially if they won’t be able to clinch a J1 promotion after the incredible start of their 2025 season.
Kanta Jojo
Fukushima United FC
Central midfielder | Age: 24
The past – Son of a former Japan U-20 member, Kanta Jojo attended the Sannoh University, where he won the Kanto Soccer Tournament in 2021. He then joined Fukushima United FC back in 2023, where he gradually found more and more space: 14 games in his rookie year, then 36 matches in 2024 (when Fukushima reached the play-offs), and now he’s already at four goals and five assists in just 25 games. Which means he’s balling in J3.
Why the leap? – Three years at Fukushima United FC seem right to grow into something better. Despite Iwaki FC going up, FUFC built a reputation in the last 3-4 years as a developing team, in which you can nurture talent (e.g. Yuto Ozeki, Masaki Ikeda, Ryo Shiohama, Hiroto Morooka, Junya Takahashi, Kazuki Dohana, Hiromu Kamada). This is working also for other profiles in this year’s squad, including Jojo, a talented mezzala in the 4-3-3 of head coach Shuhei Terada.
What’s next? – I don’t see Fukushima doing another run at play-offs, so it’s fair to assume they’ll stick around in the third division. If so, Fujieda MYFC would be an interesting experiment to see, and maybe Jojo could be particularly helpful if the aforementioned Asakura would decide to leave Shizuoka for a J1 team.
Paulo Junichi Tanaka
Tochigi City FC
Winger | Age: 31
The past – Who would have thought, right? Tanaka’s career seemed died on a cliff at a certain point. He had some J1 caps with Kawasaki Frontale, then a lot in J2 – doing especially well with FC Gifu. His stint with Matsumoto Yamaga blew off his sparkle, and Tanaka found himself in the Regional Leagues in 2023. A terrible fallback, but also needed to restart his career: he dominated both the Kanto Soccer League and the JFL with Tochigi City FC, and now he’s doing the same in J3.
Why the leap? – This is not an accident. Whether Tochigi City FC will make it to J2 or not, Tanaka is ready to take back what was his already a few years ago. Between 2017 and 2019, he was poised to make a first leap back to J1, but now coming back to J2 would be already a success, given that Tanaka turns 32 in October. Beside the TikTok shenanigans in the celebrations, he’s gathered already eight goals and seven assists.
What’s next? – If Tochigi City FC won’t come up, I’d love to see him back in J2, maybe with Montedio Yamagata. It could be a strange match, but I think it could be a nice to watch in the second division.
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.
Ryotaro Meshino
Gamba Osaka
Central midfielder, winger | Age: 27
The past – We had so many expectations. Remember the goals he was scoring back in 2019? He seemed a kid destined to greatness. And that’s why Manchester City wanted him, although Meshino never wore a Citizens jersey ever; he was on loan to Hearts, Rio Ave and Estoril before coming back to Gamba Osaka in 2019. I’d personally compare him to Ryo Miyaichi – the hype over him was massive.
Why a clean slate? – For two reasons mostly. First: we got in return a 27-years-old player who changed role, and yet didn’t find any tactical stability at his home club. Second: five J1 games are not so many. Head coach Dani Poyatos doesn’t trust him and there’s no turning back after a second Gamba stint. I feel like it’s time to see him blossoming somewhere else, or do a “make it or break it” attempt. Once it for all.
What’s next? – There’s a manager whom I see particularly fit to give it a try at cracking the Meshino’s mystery and that’s Takeshi Oki, who raised and developed so many talents in his career. If Roasso Kumamoto will keep the category and retain their head coach, seeing Meshino under Oki in Kumamoto could be a tantalizing experience.
Daiki Sugioka
Kashiwa Reysol
Centre-back, full-back, wing-back | Age: 27
The past – Sugioka seemed to be a revelation; he became a pro right after high school and joined Shonan Bellmare. Under Cho Kwi-jea, he developed as a solid wing-back on the left flank, being a part of Shonan’s rise and scoring the winning goal in the J. League Cup final of that year. Then he joined Kashima Antlers in 2020 and things kinda fell apart from there: a 18 months-new loan to Bellmare, the confirm from Shonan for 2023 and 2024, the loan again to Machida Zelvia, and now he’s at Kashiwa Reysol, where he’s not playing.
Why a clean slate? – He’s not considered by Rodriguez, and he doesn’t fit the new directions of Reysol. Only seven J1 matches this year and, in general, with aging he seemed to become more of a left centre-back rather than a wing-back itself (at least that’s where the Spanish head coach sees him on the pitch). And surely the football style at Reysol is very different from where Sugioka thrived.
What’s next? – He left Shonan Bellmare in 2020 when he was about to leap, then he came back, then he left again. It seems like Bellmare took the best out of him and other environments have not been able to do the same. Probably time to come home, whether it’s J1 or J2.
Marcos Júnior
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Offensive midfielder | Age: 32
The past – Personally there’s a lot at stake. Marcos Júnior was part of an article back in 2019 in which I highlighted how good foreigners in the J.League come often from players (and men) who want to stay in Japan not just because they’re playing there, but because they embraced the environment. And the Brazilian did just that in Yokohama, staying 4.5 years with Marinos before leaving to another destination.
Why a clean slate? – After two years, it’s clear that Sanfrecce Hiroshima have not worked out. Like the loan of Makoto Mitsuta to Gamba Osaka and the departure of Tsukasa Morishima to Nagoya Grampus both proved, head coach Micheal Skibbe seem to enjoy way more a physical side, and Marcos Júnior is clearly not that player. Not just that kind of player, and surely not that one anymore – he’s turning 33 in January.
What’s next? – I have no doubt that a healthy Marcos Júnior could still help a J1 side and make the difference in J2. I think Júbilo Iwata could need him, especially if all their offensive midfielders are not staying in the second division: Ken Masui could be back in Nagoya, Jordy Croux already left for Yokohama, and even Koshiro Sumi could be scooped by other teams in the next Winter.
Go Hatano
FC Tokyo
Goalkeeper | Age: 27
The past – Just like Meshino, Hatano has been a “player to be” for a long time. His destiny was kind of written: he supported FC Tokyo from the age of 2, joined a school associated to the club at age 6, and his favourite player was Yoichi Doi. But despite all this attachment and the promises over his talent (he played in the U-23 team in 2016, and got promotion to FC Tokyo’s top team in 2017), that time never materialized itself.
Why a clean slate? – FC Tokyo have used several keepers since 2020 – Akihiro Hayashi, Jakub Slowik, Taishi Brandon Nozawa – instead of him. Hatano has been the starting keeper just in 2021. And even now, when Nozawa left for Europe, FC Tokyo preferred bringing in expert Kim Seung-gyu. At 27, it’s time to look somewhere else (also because it worked when he was loaned out to V-Varen Nagasaki in 2023, where he was the starter keeper).
What’s next? – He needs a team which can give him a no. 1 spot without any pressures, especially if it’s one team who might need a bit of young blood. And that name could be Ventforet Kofu, since the whole roster might need a re-do after the wonderful cycle between the win in the 2022 Emperor’s Cup and the participation in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League. Kohei Kawata is still a reliable keeper and a legend in Kofu, but he’s turning 38 in a few weeks.
Yasutaka Yanagi
Fagiano Okayama
Centre-back | Age: 31
The past – It’s incredible how a folk hero of J2 League found himself suddenly not considered once Fagiano reached J1. Between Tochigi SC and Fagiano Okayama, Yanagi had some incredible seasons, becoming an asset also offensively (he scored 14 GOALS in two seasons in Tochigi), and anchor also emotionally in Okayama. Once reached J1, he disappeared from rotation and he’s now the fourth choice in that role.
Why a clean slate? – It’s a strange development, but somehow head coach Takashi Kiyama saw others – even newcomers – being more of a fit in J1. And he was right in the end, since Fagiano made it through J1 without him, but… it’s still strange to see an expert 31 years old-centre-back not being rewarded with some J1 glory. I doubt things will change next season; Yanagi started once this season in the league and had just four caps in J1.
What’s next? – Speaking of realities needing an experience injection, FC Imabari could rely on his profile as one of the last additions to try a run at the play-offs next season (although they’re really close in 2025 as well). Or he could be back with Albirex Niigata if the club really drops to J2 – and all the signs are pointing in that direction.
Masahito Ono
Nagoya Grampus
Winger | Age: 29
The past – Ono was one of the products of the youth ranks of Omiya Ardija, emerging in the first team right when the club was about to begin their descent into relegation zone in J2. After studying at the Meiji University, Ono stayed there for four years, disclosing something interest. That caught the eyes of Montedio Yamagata, who signed him in 2023 and he had another solid season, before joining Nagoya Grampus back in 2024.
Why a clean slate? – To be honest, there’s no space for him in Nagoya. Head coach Kenta Hasegawa barely played him this season, with just seven caps in J1, and Nagoya Grampus have way too many choices in the roster. Furthermore, Hasegawa has stopped the development of several players of that kind (e.g. Tojiro Kubo is now the key-player in a title-contention team, and Yuki Soma is having an MVP calibre-season with Zelvia).
What’s next? – There’s no point for Ono in staying in Nagoya, especially since he’s turning 30 next year, and profiles like Masui are coming back from a loan possibly taking their spot. Looking at alternatives in J2, Oita Trinita definitely need a proper reboot upfront, especially with a new no. 10, because Naoki Nomura isn’t getting any younger.
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.
