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In 2024 I went to 32 soccer matches in Japan which was essentially the most I’ve ever finished together with my years as a season ticket holder at Leicester Metropolis again within the Nineties. Issues have been scaled again a bit this 12 months however (all being effectively!) I ought to nonetheless handle to see 20-something matches in 2025. These are the primary 12 of the 12 months that includes 11 totally different stadiums/grounds (together with 4 I’d by no means been to earlier than) in six totally different prefectures.
Just a few of those have had their very own weblog posts however the majority of them weren’t actually thought-about to be worthy of a solitary submit so I’ve collated them into this rankings listing. It’s relatively Reysol away-day heavy however as ever, it’s actually not one to be taken too critically because it’s primarily based on a combination of event, climate, individuals I met, the stadium and possibly even the soccer itself! For the file, I’ve loved all of them in several methods.
12. Aries Toshima 0-3 Toho Titanium @ Chihaya Sports activities Discipline, Toshima-ku (Tokyo), Sunday 18th Could (15:00 KO)
A brand new floor for me albeit one with each netting and a transparent plastic display proscribing imaginative and prescient of this fifth tier soccer match. If it’s ok to characteristic on the Futbology floor hopping app then it’s ok for me to incorporate right here. Fortunately it was free and never so far-off from the Tokyo Fox World Operations Centre.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 0 yen, Attendance: Unknown.
11. Tokyo United 1-0 RKU Dragons @ Akabane Sports activities-no-mori Park, Kita-ku (Tokyo), Saturday fifth July (18:00 KO)
To be trustworthy, I missed concerning the first 20 minutes of this one as a consequence of work. It was a intently fought contest determined by a single aim the place the goalie spilled a low cross proper onto the foot of the attacker who might hardly imagine his luck. Apart from that messy aim, there have been a couple of good curling efforts on aim which simply narrowly missed the goal. This match was most likely extra memorable for the blended climate with scorching and humid situations within the first half making manner for wet ones within the second interval.
Climate: Blended, Worth: 0 yen, Attendance: Unknown.
10. Tokyo United 2-1 Vonds Ichihara @ Koishikawa Sports activities Floor, Bunkyo-ku (Tokyo), Sunday eighth June (17:30 KO)
Extra individuals than anticipated have been in attendance right here, and the environment was higher than my earlier go to thanks primarily to a gaggle of younger youngsters getting the chanting and clapping going sometimes. When the house staff scored two targets inside the first ten minutes I actually thought it was going to be a rout however removed from it. Some nice makes an attempt on aim from each groups simply did not yield the reward they deserved and it was an in depth end ultimately.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 0 yen, Attendance: Unknown.
9. Aries Toshima 0-2 Nankatsu SC @ Ajinomoto Discipline Nishigaoka, Kita-ku (Tokyo), Sunday sixth July (18:30 KO)
My first time to go behind the away aim at Nishigaoka as I joined a couple of dozen Nankatsu ultras to cheer their guys on to victory. They dominated the primary half with some good passing strikes which created a good few possibilities however none have been transformed earlier than an amazing end from an acute angle broke the impasse within the second half.
Climate: Heat, Worth: 1000 yen, Attendance: Unknown.
8. Yokohama FC 1-1 @ Nippatsu Mituszawa Stadium, Sunday twenty fifth Could (14:00 KO)
This was truly fairly a great recreation however sadly the very best of the motion was on the far finish from me with the house staff on prime within the first half earlier than Reysol picked issues up within the second forty-five to take dwelling their share of the spoils which was most likely a good consequence. I used to be feeling actually drained on this match which is why it ranks decrease than it most likely deserves.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 2600 yen, Attendance: 8,779
7. Tokyo Verdy 0-1 Shimizu S-Pulse @ Japan Nationwide Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), Sunday sixteenth February (13:00 KO)
My first soccer match of the 12 months sadly wasn’t the spectacle many hoped for on the Nationwide Stadium. Tokyo Verdy actually have been fairly poor and missing in any aim menace by any means however I actually loved watching the match within the firm of a good friend and his household. Receiving a free baseball-style shirt was fairly cool too.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 2300 yen, Attendance: 52,541
6. FC Tokyo 1-1 Kashiwa Reysol @ Japan Nationwide Stadium, Shinjuku-ku (Tokyo), Friday eleventh April (19:00 KO)
Fortunately the situations have been dry earlier than and after the match once I cycled to and from the stadium however in between all of that the climate was fairly atrocious. I didn’t suppose FC Tokyo seemed too good however neither did I see an equaliser coming from Reysol. Fortunately it did come deep in further time and I left happier.
Climate: Wet, Worth: 3900 yen, Attendance: 43,813
5. Tochigi SC 1-1 Tochigi Metropolis FC @ Kanseki Stadium Tochigi, Utsunomiya (Tochigi Prefecture), Sunday thirtieth March (14:00 KO)
Not solely the primary ever Tochigi derby but additionally a match that might be seen as a conflict between the usage of British and American English within the staff names with the soccer membership (Tochigi SC) internet hosting the soccer membership (Tochigi Metropolis FC). The $130 million stadium is a reasonably trendy one having simply been open for about 5 years, and that was the principle motive for my go to so it was an enormous bonus to have the ability to mark my first look there by seeing Japan’s latest league derby. The 2 targets have been implausible ones too. Extra particulars right here.
Climate: Cloudy, Worth: 2700 yen, Attendance: 12,807
4. Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina 1-1 Nojima Stella @ Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima (Hiroshima Prefecture), Sunday 4th Could (14:00 KO)
My first time to go inside Japan’s latest prime flight stadium might have been for a WE League match but it surely was by far the very best environment I’ve ever skilled at a girls’s match, and the man with the megaphone did a advantageous job of main the followers behind him (a standard sight at most Japanese stadia) in a medley of typical soccer chants and songs all through the afternoon while some huge flags have been waved. Regina’s equaliser was an absolute gorgeous aim too. Extra particulars right here.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 2500 yen, Attendance: 11,879
3. Tokyo Verdy 0-3 Kashiwa Reysol @ Ajinomoto Stadium, Chofu (Tokyo), Sunday fifteenth June (18:00 KO)
The third of three matches in opposition to Verdy in 12 days and a 100% file was achieved with an amazing efficiency. It was fantastic to fulfill up with my good friend and his household earlier than the match however this time we have been very a lot on reverse sides. For some motive I made a decision to put on denims for this one regardless of the new and humid situations within the late 20s. They acquired drenched in sweat after which soaked in heavy rain on the best way dwelling!
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 3900 yen, Attendance: 15,375
2. Urawa Reds 0-2 Kashiwa Reysol @ Saitama Stadium 2002, Midori-ku (Saitama Prefecture), Sunday 2nd March (15:00 KO)
Having been ailing for the 2 days earlier than this match I needed to relaxation my voice I might solely stand and mime to the continual songs and chants. It was my first time to witness the brand new period of tiki-taka soccer below new supervisor Ricardo Rodriguez and what a show it was, and Reysol went prime of the league with a convincing win which acquired off to an amazing begin with an early surprise aim.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 4000 yen, Attendance: 51,009
1. Vegalta Sendai 2-3 Jubilo Iwata @ Miyagi Stadium, Rifu (Miyagi Prefecture), Sunday twenty third March (13:00 KO)
The longest and costliest away day but but it surely was at a stadium that I had lengthy wished to go to because it was used within the FIFA World Cup in 2002 (in addition to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics). Additionally it is a hardly ever used stadium however J2 aspect Vegalta Sendai performed a number of video games there while their stadium had new turf laid. By pure probability, fellow Reysol fan Benny was additionally current and fortunately the match was a great one which softened the blow of my extreme spending! Unforgettable! Extra particulars right here.
Climate: Sunny, Worth: 3200 yen, Attendance: 11,530
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