Purpose Seeker

Riku Hirosue was a no. 1 prodigy waiting to happen with FC Tokyo; now he’s scoring goals in the Japan Football League.

Chasing the J

Given that the JFL season has just started, what better time to make our first check-in with lower league nerd….er, expert @GifuRichy as he looks at the clubs in non-J.League represented prefectures that are looking to make the step up from the JFL & regional leagues to the promised land of the J.League. This […]

Chasing the J: JFL wrap

In the second part of @GifuRichy‘s look back at the non-professional Japanese leagues, he casts his eye over the JFL, and those clubs that were looking to get to the promised land of the J.League proper. 2016 overall standings of “J-chasing” teams: 3 Azul Claro Numazu (59pts) 7 Vanraure Hachinohe (46pts) 8 Reinmeer Aomori (45pts) […]

Chasing the J – Summer Report

“In the summertime when the weather is hot, you can stretch right up and touch the sky” so sang Mungo Jerry. But for clubs in the JFL – Japan’s de-facto fourth tier, they’re not reaching out to touch the sky, rather reaching for that precious J.League place. From his self constructed, air conditioned igloo somewhere […]

Chasing the J

Richy Palmer (@GifuRichy) is nothing if not an equal opportunist. He is longing for the day when each of Japan’s 47 prefectures are represented in the J.League. The ones which currently don’t have a J.League are in focus here, and he gives you the lowdown on which clubs might make the grade, and when. First […]