If Kashima Antlers' rivals were hoping the champions' thirst for success had been quenched by three straight championships, the first month of the new campaign suggests otherwise.
Antlers occupy a familiar position in first place in the embryonic league table, standing two points clear of Shimizu S-Pulse after winning three and drawing one of their opening four games.
Having exposed a chink in their armor during a post-summer slump of five defeats in a row last year, and with key midfielder Masashi Motoyama missing the start of this season through injury, there was reason enough for the pretenders to Kashima's throne to believe the champions might not have it all their own way this time.