The future is hardly set in stone after one round of matches, but as the J. League kicked off its 20th season on Saturday, there were some tantalizing glimpses of what lies ahead.
The day began with a poignant meeting between two teams who were temporarily displaced from their stadiums after last year's March 11 disasters, with Vegalta Sendai beating Kashima Antlers 1-0 thanks to a typically robust header from new signing Taikai Uemoto. Vegalta defied expectations with a best-ever fourth-place finish last season, and after deftly handling an experienced Kashima side, Makoto Teguramori's men may well prove to be more than just a flash in the pan.
Ambitious Vissel Kobe put their money where their mouth is with a 3-2 win over Gamba Osaka, for whom the defensive frailties of previous manager Akira Nishino's reign were as pronounced as ever under new man Jose Carlos Serrao, despite the presence of star signing Yasuyuki Konno.