Football writer covering the game in Japan. Author of 'Between the Lines: Navigating the World of Japanese Football'. フリーランスサッカーライター。「ニッポンとサッカー: 英国人記者の取材録」の著者。
Thanks to the sterling efforts of
@BackheelMedia
and
@honoroakguy
, physical copies of Between the Lines have arrived in Tokyo. If you’ve already ordered one, I’ll be in touch soon to arrange delivery. If you haven’t, what are you waiting for?!
This Autumn my book on football in Japan will be published in Japanese. Fifteen years in the making, it covers the game from a variety of angles and includes insight from a huge range of interviewees. I'm considering an English version too, so here's a summary of the chapters.
Referee Masaaki Iemoto getting quite the send-off from the Yokohama F.Marinos and Kawasaki Frontale players and fans after the last match of his 516-game career. Can’t imagine many countries where you’d get this.
Tokushima Vortis manager Ricardo Rodriguez takes time to greet the club’s fans in the cold outside Hiratsuka Stadium, after his side narrowly failed to secure promotion to J1 with a 1-1 away to Shonan Bellmare.
Fans of various other J.League teams congratulating Ventforet Kofu supporters after the J2 side beat perennial Thai champions Buriram United 1-0 in the Asian Champions League at Japan National Stadium.
Scott McIntyre’s trial began this morning in Tokyo. He cut an emotional figure, apologised for his offence and any harm caused, and stated his love for and desire to see his children. Sentencing will be next week.
Andres Iniesta is waving goodbye to Japan, and as the Spain legend exits with something of a whimper perhaps it’s also time for J.League clubs to move on from the process of signing fading stars from overseas
It sounds as if Musashi Suzuki could be Beerschot's record signing, which would suggest a fee of at least €1.5 million.
ベルギーの関係者によると、鈴木武蔵はベールスホットの最も高価な獲得になりそう。移籍金は少なくとも約1億9000万円みたい。
The May issue of the Number 1 Shimbun is out! Reporting on sport in Japan, Henry Scott-Stokes tribute, union bashing in Osaka, Hokkaido diary, Asahi reporter row, Ukrainian and Afghan refugees, the return of inflation.
The queue for the bus to Machida Zelvia’s stadium. Have been told to expect to arrive in around 80 minutes. Kick-off against Gamba Osaka is in 80 minutes.
After
@mcintinhos
’ sentencing,
@KushidaOf
invited Scott, his family, and various other supporters to his office to discuss the trial and what needs to happen next.
The overpriced tat-peddlers are primed, the branding’s in place, and Brighton Pier amusements are being set up at a sweltering National Stadium in Tokyo. New Seagulls manager Fabian Hürzeler and Kaoru Mitoma will speak soon ahead of tomorrow’s friendly against Kashima Antlers.
Today's 3-1 win over Yokohama F.Marinos means Kawasaki Frontale's goal difference (+31) remains higher than the number of goals scored by the next highest scorers (Marinos, 29).
今日の3-1勝利で、首位川崎フロンターレの得失点差(+31)はまだマリノスの得点数(29)より高い。あり得ない。
I don't fully understand what just happened. Japan were utterly outclassed in the first half, but an entirely different team after the break. What on earth did Hajime Moriyasu say at halftime? An absolutely sensational effort, and the Samurai Blue are into the R16. Phenomenal.
It’s finally here! Official release date is November 26th, but available for pre-order now at all the usual places!
出来上がりました! 発売日は11月26日ですが、ただいま予約受付中。ぜひよろしくお願いいたします!
“Hi, the Japanese footballer at Celtic is doing well isn’t he!” This message from my mum confirms that Kyogo Furuhashi has officially broken through into the mainstream.
@YamagamiShingo
A disingenuous and offensive response to Japan’s child abduction issue. Avoids the organised manner in which lawyers facilitate single parent custody, instead obfuscating with reference to the utterly unrelated North Korean abduction issue.
Japanese football has developed at an incredible rate since the J.League was launched in 1993, and the recent 30th Anniversary celebrations highlighted the fact there is still vast potential for further growth in the country...
Few gave J2 side Ventforet Kofu much of a hope in this season’s AFC Champions League, but heading into the final matchday Yoshiyuki Shinoda’s side have their fate (almost) in their own hands…
“You reflect, reach conclusions. Which doesn’t mean what I say is the truth and I don’t share it assuming it’s right. But it’s my way of confronting life.”
This is an absolutely superb interview with Edinson Cavani by Sid Lowe.
Three hours until kick off in the second leg of the ACL final between Urawa Reds and Al-Hilal and Urawa Misono station is already bursting at the seams.
The National Stadium pitch is looking a bit raggedy in patches for today’s high school decider between perennial finalists Aomori Yamada and Ohmi, who are appearing for the first time.
The regular J2 season wraps up this weekend, with matters still to be decided with regards to automatic promotion and the play-off places.
More important than all of that, though, is the announcement of my eagerly-anticipated 2023 J2 Team of the Year!
@graceleenews
Same here. As a freelancer, I’m my own liaison. I missed the training back in May (although doesn’t sound like I missed much!), but my emails asking for advice over the past week have all been ignored.
Ange Postecoglou arrived at Yokohama F.Marinos promising glory without sacrificing his principles, and with two rounds of the 2019 J1 season remaining he is on the verge of achieving it…
I'm not saying Kawasaki Frontale are bad at defending, but Ryo Germain has never scored more than three league goals in a J1 *season* and he's scored four against Toru Oniki's side at Todoroki tonight.
Harry Kewell has expressed his excitement at "working with players that want to learn and get better" at Yokohama F. Marinos, and promised to add his "gold-dust" to the team as he follows in the footsteps of Ange Postecoglou and Kevin Muscat at the J1 side.
For the first time in several years it looks like there’s a proper title race brewing in J1, and any of half-a-dozen teams could still be crowned 2023 J.League champions...
The likes of Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Miki Yamane all started in J2 before going on to bigger and better things. With that in mind, here's 11 players (plus subs) to keep an eye on from the 2021 Japanese second division.
I had the pleasure of helping put together a special feature on J2 leaders Machida Zelvia for the latest J.League Monthly, including interviews with several key players and manager Go Kuroda. And yes, I know I need to smile more!
Now that the Samurai Blue have beaten a former world champion, can the stories/tweets about the clean changing rooms and stands they and their fans leave behind please, please, please cease.
A piece on how strange it feels for Brighton and Hove Albion to be drawing plaudits from around the world, with a Japanese player as one of the jewels in their crown...
Just came across a group protesting Japan’s archaic custody laws outside Nakano station. Great to see the battle being fought by
@mcintinhos
,
@FichotVincent
,
@hayarinacat
and thousands more picking up increasing traction.
The All-Japan High School Football tournament yet again provided a great start to the new year, serving up three very entertaining games at Tokyo National Stadium and more than enough drama to ring in 2023...
Unfortunately, because of the coronavirus I was unable to travel home over the summer and won’t be able to for Christmas either. Thanks to Pringles, however, I can get the authentic taste of Britain in Tokyo with their new fish and chips flavour!