J1 League Kicks Off

Feb 23, 2024 | News On Japan

TOKYO - The J1 League kicked off Friday, with eyes not only on the title race between accomplished teams such as the defending champions Vissel Kobe and Yokohama F. Marinos but also on the performance of newly promoted teams like FC Machida Zelvia and Tokyo Verdy, which is making a return to J1 after 16 years.

The J.League, marking a new start after its 30th anniversary last season, will commence with a match between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Urawa Reds at the new "Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima" stadium in Hiroshima City at 2 PM on the 23rd. This season, J1 has expanded to 20 teams from the previous season and will contest 38 rounds until December to decide the champion.

Defending champions Vissel Kobe, aiming for back-to-back titles, boast key players like last season's MVP and top scorer Yuya Osako, and Hotaru Yamaguchi, who was selected for the Best Eleven. They are joined by experienced members such as former Japan national team midfielder Yosuke Ideguchi.

Yokohama F. Marinos, who finished second last season, are known for their overwhelming offensive power, leading the league with 63 goals. With Anderson Lopez, who shared the top scorer title with Vissel's Osako, their potent attack remains intact as they aim for their first championship in two seasons.

Urawa Reds, who finished fourth last season and won the ACL (Asian Champions League), are aiming for their first J1 title in 18 seasons with their league-best defense and newly strengthened attack.

Also worth watching is how the newly promoted teams will fare, including FC Machida Zelvia, led by the renowned high school soccer coach Tsuyoshi Kuroda, Jubilo Iwata, and Tokyo Verdy, returning to J1 after 16 years. The first round of J1 will have two matches on the 23rd, six on the 24th, and two on the 25th. The J2 and J3 leagues will kick off on the 24th.

Featured Matchups for J1 Round 1:

[February 23 (Friday)] - Hiroshima vs. Urawa 14:00 @ E Peace - Nagoya vs. Kashima 18:00 @ Toyota Stadium

[February 24 (Saturday)] - Iwata vs. Kobe 13:00 @ Yamaha Stadium - Fukuoka vs. Sapporo 14:00 @ Best Amenity Stadium - Tosu vs. Niigata 14:00 @ Station Stadium - Machida vs. G Osaka 15:00 @ G Stadium - Shonan vs. Kawasaki F 15:00 @ Lemon Gas Stadium - C Osaka vs. FC Tokyo 15:00 @ Yodoko Sakura Stadium

[February 25 (Sunday)] - Kashiwa vs. Kyoto 14:00 @ Hitachi Kashiwa Stadium - Tokyo V vs. Yokohama FM 14:00 @ National Stadium

Source: NHK

Typhoons No. 28 and 29 Bring High Waves to Japan's Pacific Coast

Two typhoons moving across the Pacific southeast of Japan are expected to remain well away from the Japanese mainland, but powerful swells could bring rough seas to a wide stretch of the country's Pacific coastline throughout the three-day holiday weekend, according to forecasts updated at 3 a.m. on October 10.

Cyberattacks Spread Across Japan

A series of cyberattacks has disrupted business operations and exposed millions of customer records across Japan, with a ransomware attack on a cloud service provider affecting 495 companies and local governments nationwide, while convenience store operator Lawson has disclosed a separate breach involving more than 2.15 million personal information records.

Japan's First 360-Degree Projection Mapping Opens in Osaka

Japan's first 360-degree projection mapping show will open at the Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts on October 10, transforming the historic building into an immersive world of light, music, and seasonal imagery, with organizers hoping the attraction will also help stimulate the city's nighttime economy.

Tokyo University Professor Wins Nobel Prize in Chemistry

Tokyo University of Science professor emeritus Kenzo Soai has been awarded this year's Nobel Prize in Chemistry together with French chemist Henri B. Kagan for discoveries that transformed scientists' understanding of how chemical reactions can favor one of two mirror-image forms of a molecule.

US Military Halts All Okinawa Operations for 48 Hours

The US military suspended activities by all forces stationed in Okinawa for 48 hours from noon on October 7, an unusual measure following the arrest of a US Marine in connection with a robbery and murder case that has renewed scrutiny of crimes involving American service members.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Sports NEWS

Japan Ends Asian Games With Record 83 Golds and 269 Medals

Japan brought the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to a close on October 4 with a record 83 gold medals and 269 medals overall, finishing second behind China after 16 days of competition that produced historic victories in swimming, athletics, judo, wrestling, softball and other sports, while a closing ceremony in Nagoya marked the end of the first Asian Games held in Japan in 32 years.

Japan Beats New Zealand to Win Kirin Cup

Japan defeated New Zealand 2-1 in the Kirin Cup final at MUFG Stadium, formerly the National Stadium, in Tokyo on October 5, securing the title in what was head coach Hajime Moriyasu's final home match before stepping down.

Japan's Imperial Family Watches Equestrian Event in Tokyo

Japan's Emperor Naruhito, Empress Masako and their daughter Princess Aiko attended the Asian Games individual show jumping competition at the Equestrian Park in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward on October 3, with the princess showing particular interest in how horses manage to clear high obstacles.

Asian Games Day 11: Japan Reaches 200 Medals as Judo Siblings Strike Gold

Japan passed the 200-medal mark at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 30, with siblings Mitsuki and Hayato Kondo winning judo gold medals within half an hour of each other, Ami Ishii and Taizo Yoshida taking wrestling titles, Sorato Anraku defending his sport climbing crown, and the men's soccer team surviving a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the final.

Asian Games Day 11: Japan Wins 4x400m Relay Gold

Japan captured the men's 4x400-meter relay gold medal in driving rain on September 29, clocking 3 minutes, 0.75 seconds to win the Asian Games title for the first time in 12 years as the athletics program came to a dramatic conclusion at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya.

Asian Games Day 10: Miura Leads Japan One-Two in 3,000m Steeplechase

Ryuji Miura led a Japanese one-two finish in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase on September 28, winning gold in a Games record of 8 minutes, 17.36 seconds as Ryoma Aoki surged late to take silver in 8:17.60 at Mizuho Park Athletics Stadium in Nagoya.

Onosato Wins Autumn Grand Sumo in Dramatic Showdown

Yokozuna Onosato captured his sixth career championship at the Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament on September 27, defeating Ukrainian ozeki Aonishiki in a winner-takes-all showdown at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan to finish the 15-day competition with 12 wins and three losses, ending a year-long title drought after a dramatic final weekend.

Asian Games Day 9: Japan Takes Silver in Table Tennis and Artistic Swimming

Japan's Asian Games campaign continued on September 27 with silver medals in men's table tennis doubles and artistic swimming, while the men's baseball team faced South Korea in the gold-medal final and the athletics program entered one of its busiest evenings.

< 2 3 4 5 >