In 2024 I went to 32 soccer matches in Japan which was probably the most I’ve ever executed together with my years as a season ticket holder at Leicester Metropolis again within the Nineteen Nineties. It was deliberate to scale issues again a bit this 12 months, and certainly I did within the first half of the 12 months, however a busy July and August has meant that I bought near final 12 months’s tally.
That is the third and remaining batch of matches that includes 8 totally different stadiums/grounds with all of them happening within the Higher Tokyo space encompassing surrounding prefectures Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba. The majority of them weren’t actually thought-about to be worthy of a solitary put up so I’ve collated them into this rankings listing. It’s definitely not one to be taken too critically because it’s primarily based on a mix of event, climate, individuals I met, the stadium and perhaps even the soccer itself! As ever, I loved all of them in numerous methods.
1o. Toshima Aries 3-0 Joyful Honda Tsukuba @ Chihaya Sports activities Subject, Toshima-ku (Tokyo), Sunday seventh September (15:00 KO)
Reasonably than standing behind the objective watching by glass and netting I made a decision to use for a ticket (nonetheless free!) this time and solely have nets obstructing my view reasonably than that plus a glass display as was the case a number of months earlier! The situations had been pretty ridiculous with temperatures within the mid-30s!
Climate: Scorching, Worth: 0 yen, Attendance: Unknown.
9. Tokyo United FC 2-1 Toin College of Yokohama FC @ Ajinomoto Subject Nishigaoka, Kita-ku (Tokyo), Sunday thirty first July (18:30 KO)
There have been only a few possibilities on this intently fought contest apart from a superb free kick hitting the bar earlier than some late targets received it for the house workforce.
Climate: Heat, Worth: 0 Yen, Attendance: Unknown.
8. Chifure AS Elfen Saitama 0-3 Urawa Reds Girls @ Kawagoe Athletic Stadium, Kawagoe-shi (Saitama Prefecture), Sunday 2nd November (12:00 KO)
It’s been an extended, lengthy wait to get to see a match at this stadium. Native workforce Kawagoe solely appear to play one recreation a 12 months there, and normally once I’m not out there. Once I noticed that this Saitama Derby within the girls’s recreation could be performed there although I simply needed to go. It was a very good ambiance and a reasonably spectacular attendance for such a recreation too.
Climate: Shiny, Worth: 2000 Yen, Attendance: Unknown.
7. Tokyo Verdy Beleza 3-1 Nagano Parceiro @ Ajinomoto Subject Nishigaoka, Kita-ku (Tokyo), Sunday thirtieth November (13:00 KO)
A cracking third objective sealed the comeback for Beleza having trailed on the break on this Kracie Cup match . Their two targets earlier than that had been well-worked passing strikes too. It might need been the ultimate day of November but it surely was nonetheless okay to observe with no sweater or jacket on!
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 2500 Yen, Attendance: 1,131.
6. Kashiwa Reysol 1-3 Sanfrecce Hiroshima @ Japan Nationwide Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), Saturday 1st November (13:05 KO)
After two cup remaining defeats on the Nationwide Stadium I hoped it’d be third time fortunate! It wasn’t to be although as Sanfrecce had the sport just about sewn up by half time once they led 3-0. It turned out to be a massively disappointing day which actually was not fulfilling in any method apart from maybe the pre-match choreography! Extra particulars right here.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 4000 Yen, Attendance: 62,466.
5. Tokyo 23 FC 5-1 Nihon College N. @ Ajinomoto Subject Nishigaoka, Kita-ku (Tokyo), Sunday thirty first August (15:30 KO)
The ultras group for the house aspect could also be small in quantity however they actually do liven issues up with their continuous rhythmic chanting, drumming and trumpet enjoying. I truly walked spherical the 2 stands which had been open and hand-counted the attendance however not as a result of I used to be bored. Removed from it as there have been some incredible targets however I used to be simply curious!
Climate: Boiling, Worth: 0 yen, Attendance: 223.
4. JEF United 5-0 FC Imabari @ Fukuda Denshi Enviornment, Chuo-ku (Chiba Prefecture), Saturday twenty ninth November (14:00 KO)
JEF stands out as the Chiba prefecture rivals of my workforce however I don’t actually have any hatred in the direction of them. Having stated that, I’ll by no means go of their part at any recreation so was with the Imabari contingent for this match. The ultimate rating most likely flattered the house aspect a bit who did all they might to try to clinch automated promotion on a tense remaining day in J2. At one time they had been going up however a objective elsewhere within the 68th minute meant they needed to accept the Play-Offs.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 2900 Yen, Attendance: 19,103.
3. Machida Zelvia 1-2 Melbourne Metropolis @ Machida Gion Stadium, Machida (Tokyo), Tuesday 4th November (19:00 KO)
Although I’ve been fortunate sufficient to attend two Asian Champions League finals I’ve by no means truly been to a gaggle recreation or knock-out spherical. A possibility fortunately introduced itself to me to attend a match between Japanese and Australian groups which is one thing I’ve truly lengthy wished to do. Not precisely bucket listing stuff for a lot of followers! My A-League workforce is Melbourne Victory so it was reasonably apt that I bought to cheer in opposition to their rivals Melbourne Metropolis in what was a very incredible ambiance. Attending to and from the stadium was not so nice although!
Climate: Delicate, Worth: 2200 yen, Attendance: Unknown.
2. Sfida Setagaya 1-2 Okayama Yunogo Belle @ AGF Subject, Chofu (Tokyo), Sunday twelfth October (13:00 KO)
The match itself wasn’t an excessive amount of to write down residence about however the event was! It was the ultimate match of the Nadeshiko League season and the retirement ceremony of Sfida’s defender Ayumi Yue (nee Toda) who I met once more after the match. She surprisingly remembered me from two years in the past and once more was so pleasant and revealed greater than she most likely wished to me about her post-football profession!
Climate: Delicate, Worth: 1800 Yen, Attendance: Unknown.
1. Kawasaki Frontale 4-4 Kashiwa Reysol @ Todoroki Athletics Stadium, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki (Kanagawa Prefecture), Sunday twenty eighth September (19:00 KO)
A topsy-turvy eight objective thriller with some incredible targets from either side. At 2-1 up Reysol had been dominant and searching so as to add a 3rd. All of the sudden a nook for Reysol turned a breakaway objective and it was stage simply earlier than half time. The house aspect led twice within the second half however Reysol pulled it again each instances. A basic match that justifiably holds high spot on this rating.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 3900 yen, Attendance: 21,652.
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