2016 Japanese club football

[MipoFanatic]

Anyone watching the J. League this season? Interesting to see Kawasaki leading overall in the J1 thus far.

Down in the J2 League, I notice that former non-league side Renofa Yamaguchi are doing quite well, considering they've been promoted three seasons in a row. Just below the playoff zone, so they could be going for a fourth.

The 96th Emperor's Cup starts this weekend. Already two upsets:
* Machida Zelvia (J2 League) 0-1 Kanagawa University (Kanto University Socer League Second Division)
* FC Gifu (J2 League) 1-2 Honda FC (JFL/4th-tier)

Some of the Emperor's Cup matches are shown live on JFATV's YouTube channel, albeit without commentary, replays or many camera angles.

Of interest to many on here is that EverSport.tv is currently streaming J2 League matches live and on-demand in high definition for free. The original plan was to broadcast free between April-June and start charging in July, but it still seems to be free. It's available everywhere outside of Japan and Vietnam.

British-based Perform Group just secured online rights to the J. League in Japan, and will be offering a streaming package on their DAZN service that contains all matches from all three J. League divisions, live and on-demand. The international online rights for J. League come up for bid in two years, and Perform plans to bid for that as well.

Even I would be tempted to pay for such a service if I could watch wee Fujieda MyFC of the J3 League on-demand in HD video.

[MipoFanatic]

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[paquebot]

Of interest to many on here is that EverSport.tv is currently streaming J2 League matches live and on-demand in high definition for free.

Looks great. Thanks for sharing!

[Henry14]

@MipoFanatic

Thanks for your sharing. I used another website for watching J-League 1st and 2nd division. Unfortunately, they do not own J-League's streaming rights anymore.

Anyway, I agree with you. According to the board, there are 6 teams who can claim the 1st rank at any moment. Gamba Osaka's is doing very well theses last weeks. So many potential from this league.

[MipoFanatic]

I just noticed that the J3 League allows clubs to have foreign goalkeepers. Nagano has two: a Swiss and a South Korean. I assume the J1 and J2 don't allow foreign 'keepers?

[SteveW]

Erm.... you do know where Jung is currently Jung-ing it, right?

And Kim Jin-hyeon?

And Kim Seung-gyu?

[MipoFanatic]

Ahhh. I don't pay much attention to Korean players outside of Korea.

Interesting that the J. League hasn't followed the K League's ban of foreign goalkeepers. Which country would you say has the better national team 'keepers?

[RoqueJunior]

Both I would say.

[Holyjoe]

No idea who is the first choice goalkeeper for Japan these days but if it's the bloke that was at Dundee United last season then even Jung Sung-ryong is miles better than him...

[RoqueJunior]

Nagoya Grampus Eight relegated for the first time.

[MipoFanatic]

Nagoya Grampus Eight relegated for the first time.

Osaka Gamba, Jubilo Iwata, Nagoya Grampus... Japan's never-been-relegated founding clubs all seem to fall, one by one. Only Kashima Antlers and Yokohama Marinos (spit) remain.

Kawasaki Frontale matched their best historical tally by finishing second, while The Squirrels (Omiya Ardija) set a club record by finishing fifth the season after winning the J2, and Vissel Kobe achieved their best-ever result by finishing seventh.

I'm hoping Yokohama FC can sneak into the last-remaining J2 playoff spot, and if not, that Fagiano Okayama can win it (the latter has never been in J1).

[RoqueJunior]

It will be difficult as both Yamaga and Shimizu are very strong.