The Jan. 1 Emperor's Cup final brought the curtain down on the 2015 Japanese soccer season, but already J. League clubs are gearing up for the new campaign ahead.
Teams around the country are marking the official start of their 2016 activities, with some already starting training after the shortest of winter breaks. The season kicks off in February for the first time as the J. League looks to accommodate a crowded schedule, and some players and managers are still getting used to their new surroundings.
"I'm not going to stand here and make any big statements or blow my own trumpet," said new Albirex Niigata manager Tatsuma Yoshida, who led Kashiwa Reysol last season, at the club's 2016 season launch event on Tuesday. "I want to build a firm base for the team. I want to start this year in a way that allows us to live up to people's expectations."