Tag - j. league

 
 

J. LEAGUE

Kawasaki Frontale's Kota Takai (right) in action with Al-Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo in an Asian Champions League semifinal match in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 30
SOCCER
Jul 8, 2025
Tottenham signs Japan defender Takai from Kawasaki Frontale
British media reports said Europa League champion Tottenham paid a fee of £5 million for the 20-year-old.
Zico, Brazilian soccer legend and current technical director for Kashima Antlers, poses following an interview at the Antlers's training ground in Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, on May 28.
SOCCER
Jun 3, 2025
Zico warns Japanese players not to follow Brazilians into transfer trap
The 72-year-old says Japanese players looking beyond the J. League is a "positive" development — as long as they move at the right time.
High school soccer teams during the opening ceremony for the national championships on Saturday at National Stadium in Tokyo.
SOCCER
Dec 29, 2024
Drama and dreams: Japan's wildly popular school soccer tourney breeds future stars
The annual tournament kicked off on Saturday, with young players dreaming of playing in the final in front of tens of thousands at National Stadium in Tokyo.
Machida Zelvia players after their team was defeated by Kawasaki Frontale in Machida, western Tokyo, on Oct. 5
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Oct 16, 2024
Soccer club Machida Zelvia files complaints over alleged defamation
The number of new comments believed to be defaming players and the team's manager sometimes tops 1,000 a day, a lawyer said.
Brighton & Hove Albion's Kaoru Mitoma (left) in action with Arsenal's Ben White at Emirates Stadium in London on Aug. 31
SOCCER
Sep 17, 2024
Japanese players in vogue as British clubs widen horizons
"It feels like there is more interest in Japanese players from around the world," says Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo.
Professional soccer player Kaishu Sano has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman in her 30s at a Tokyo hotel.
JAPAN / Crime & Legal
Jul 17, 2024
Japan soccer player Sano arrested for alleged sexual assault
The 23-year-old and two acquaintances were arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in her 30s at a Tokyo hotel.
Yokohama F. Marinos coach Harry Kewell before an Asian Champions League match against Ulsan Hyundai, in Ulsan, South Korea, on April 17
SOCCER / J. League
Jul 16, 2024
Harry Kewell fired by Yokohama F. Marinos
Despite reaching the AFC Champions League final, Yokohama has been poor in the J. League and lies 12th in the 20-team J1 table.
Machida Zelvia's Yu Hirakawa (center) is challenged by Albirex Niigata's Yuto Horigome during the two teams' J. League clash at Machida Gion Stadium in Machida, Tokyo, on Saturday.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 4, 2024
From nonleague to top of the league for upstarts Machida
The team from Tokyo's suburbs tops the table approaching the halfway point of the season.
Makoto Hasebe during a news conference following his retirement, in Tokyo on Friday. Hasebe played in 114 games for Japan's national team and played over 500 professional games between Japan and Germany.
SOCCER
May 24, 2024
Makoto Hasebe at peace with retirement, says body still 'wants to kick the ball'
Hasebe will eventually return to Germany and begin to lay the foundation for his coaching career.
Yokohama's forward Ryo Miyaichi (front) jumps for a header with Ain's Guinean midfielder Abdoul Karim Traore (behind) during the AFC Champions League final first-leg football match at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, on May 11.
SOCCER / J. League
May 24, 2024
Ryo Miyaichi focused as Marinos set sights on Asian Champions League crown
Marinos are seeking to become the fourth Japanese winner in the last seven seasons of the championship.
SOCCER / J. League
Jun 18, 2023
How Japan's top soccer league is striving to become a climate leader
As the league continues to grow, and as climate change wreaks havoc on operations, its quest to bring healthier lifestyles to the Japanese public has expanded into environmental issues.
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 15, 2023
J. League's 30th season brings legacy and future into focus
The 2023 campaign will be a chance for Japanese soccer officials to celebrate three decades of growth as they chart a course for the league going forward.
SOCCER / World cup
Dec 4, 2022
How Japanese soccer evolved to produce world-beating warriors
The Samurai Blue's upset wins over Germany and Spain at the 2022 FIFA World Cup are a result of decades of effort to expand the sport's footprint across the country.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
May 20, 2022
J. League taking slow, cautious steps to reintroduce cheering at games
Fans at select games will once again be allowed to sing — in limited numbers — as part of a plan unveiled this week.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Mar 16, 2022
Departing chairman guided J. League through growth and turbulence
From a landmark broadcasting deal to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mitsuru Murai helped the league reach financial stability and gave it the tools to develop future homegrown talent.
SOCCER / J. League / From the Spot
Jan 4, 2022
Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou taps J. League experience in blockbuster triple-signing
The three are now bound for Celtic, the legendary Scottish club that has experienced a revival under the former F. Marinos boss.
SOCCER / J. League
May 14, 2021
J. League offers assistance for country's mass vaccination efforts
The league and its 57 clubs will provide logistical support and promotional muscle after reaching an agreement with the National Governors' Association.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Apr 19, 2021
J. League and NPB not moving behind closed doors
Despite a rise in new COVID-19 cases across Japan, neither Nippon Professional Baseball nor the J. League are considering going back to playing behind closed doors.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Mar 22, 2021
NPB and J. League hope to lead by example with Tokyo Games on horizon
The members of the joint task force established by Nippon Professional Baseball and the J. League hope to set a positive example for this summer’s Olympics and Paralympics by safely holding large-scale sporting events.
OLYMPICS
Mar 21, 2021
Japanese fans have attended sporting events since July. Will they be safe at the Olympics?
Thorough countermeasures and restrictions on active support introduced by the country's professional sports leagues have allowed large crowds back into stadiums.

Longform

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