It may be five weeks behind schedule, but finally the J. League season is beginning to hit its stride.
A flurry of action over Golden Week means every team barring those involved in the Asian Champions League has now played five games, with Kashiwa Reysol topping the table on 12 points ahead of Yokohama F. Marinos and Vegalta Sendai on 11.
The continental commitments of ACL quartet Nagoya Grampus, Gamba Osaka, Cerezo Osaka and Kashima Antlers have undoubtedly skewed the picture, but that should take nothing away from the leading trio's impressive start to the campaign.