J-Football Journals Round-Up #11

Welcome to issue #11! Autumn is upon us, 2025 is moving quickly and the European football season has kickstarted. We've got a lot to look forward to, including a fruitful Premier League, Champions League, and the crown jewel 2026 World Cup which is just around the corner!

We do plan to cover the Japanese National Team on J-Football Journals, but to what extent it remains unknown - we want to see if we can report from the ground at the USA, but that's wishful thinking.

We've got a deeper dive into the WE League, more Kashiwa fan excitement with Shimpei, and a thanks to a brilliant senior journalist. Amidst more!

Sit back, enjoy the latest news and curiosities which I have garnered from the past few days.

Pro Sport Media Features Japanese Football - My Contribution

Pro Sport Media is a sports journalism outlet which mainly focuses on worldwide football, but with the root of the company in between England and Scotland, Denis Devlin took it upon himself to undertake the promotion of local football clubs and the passion the fans share.

However, with a step out of the local football scene, Denis ever so kindly gifted me the opportunity to write Japanese Football on his website -- Pro Sport Media. 

I talk about the impact of Japanese Celtic players on football in Scotland and back in Japan, as well as the history of the Japanese team and the World Cup stories of 1998 and 2002.

Denis puts his heart and soul into the work he does, and I cannot appreciate it more. It is something he takes pride in, making me even more so priviledged to contribute for.

We at J-Football Journals would like to put together a great big THANK YOU to our senior journalist Denis Devlin for not only giving us opportunity but teaching us valuable life lessons, and supporting.

An introduction to the WE League

J-Football Journals Japanese Women’s Football journey continues! This time, we will tackle the WE League’s current situation, some of the standout players and clubs. This complete package will have you ready to pick a team, support, and track promising players.

@inac_kobe2001 on X.

The WE League is the first fully-professional women’s football league in Japan. The current title holders are Tokyo Verdy Belleza. Urawa Red Diamonds hold the most titles, with two. There are several J-League affiliations within the women’s teams.

Urawa Red Diamonds currently tops the league on course to try and grasp their third title - 29-year-old Miki Ito being one of the standout footballers for the club, most recently scored a hattrick and notched an assist in their 5-0 hammering of Albirex Niigata ladies.

A member of the U17 Japanese Women’s National side, Hina Hirakawa most recently made her first mark for Urawa Red Diamonds against Albirex Niigata, rippling the net with a skillful and cold touch of the ball into the left post, bouncing past the line.

Hirakawa seems to be one of the names to feature in October 2025 in Morocco, for the U17s Women’s World Cup, for her nation.

Hiroshima Regina, the women’s counterpart of the J-League Sanfrecce Hiroshima team. Their highest rated player is Yoshina Nakashima - midfielder with a cool head, she controlled the game against INAC Kobe and ensured the 2-1 win.

Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Belleza are the female counterparts of J-League Tokyo Verdy. Miharu Shinjo is a promising midfielder, at 18 years old, she is already shining at the top level of Japanese women’s football. She found the net against Nojima Stella Sagamihara in Verdy’s 5-0 steamrolling.

Ami Kitazawa turned out well for JEF United Chiba’s women’s team as the 21-year-old found the net in both of their games. Averaging three shots per game, it is a good goal return and expands on the fact the striker is clinical.

An additonal; The Nadeshiko League 1 and 2

With there being more to women's football than the illustrious WE League, there is also the Nadeshiko league with a plethora of players to be discovered. Some of the player details are tough to retain, but at J-Football Journals, research is our essence.

Loveledge Nagoya are the current table toppers with a great form to match - Iga Kunoichi sitting just second with a few points off.

Ehime FC also have their own female counterparts competing in the league, too.

J-LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT; Kashiwa Reysol 4-2 Urawa Reds - Mao Hosoya Courted by Hajime Moriyasu

Credits: Shimpei Watanabe

A cracking evening, at the “Theatre of Dreams Hitachidai” as stated by our Kashiwa Reysol Correspondent Shimpei Watanabe, who attended the dramatic match between Reysol and Urawa Reds.

Yoichi Naganuma opened the scoring for the Urawa Red Diamonds early on in the fifth minute, before Yusuke Matsuo added a second just before half time. The Reds went into the tunnel with the game on a plate.

A goal back by Yusuke Segawa gave way to the eventual substitution of Mao Hosoya. The striker came on with a mission - to add to the tally. That is exactly what the Kashiwa ace did, equalising in the 83rd minute mark.

Shimpei had a great view of the game!

Hosoya’s equaliser inspired another goal minutes later - Konishi’s left-footed finish into the top right meant Reysol’s gung-ho approach in the dying minutes snatched the points from Urawa. 

Tojiro Kubo then ensured the win with a close range drive to end the match 4-2. A fantastic comeback at the Hitachidai gave the sea of Reysol fans a reason to celebrate into the evening.

A Look into the Japan Football League; The Fourth Tier of Japanese Football

It’s a fight between Shiga, Verspah Oita, Reinmeer Aomori and several others for the hotly contested title of JFL - Japanese Football League - the league which sits at the fourth tier of the Japanese football pyramid.

Before the matches, there are often cultural shows of traditional Japanese dancing, performing, and even cheerleaders. It makes for a comfortable and warm experience. Prior to the match between Reinmeer and Honda, there were performances with drums, singing, and instruments native to Aomori.

All of the teams are keen-eyed on the chance to try and grasp J-League football. But it also means success in the commercial sides of the game, too. A regular 30 thousand home attendance and a big enough ground is required to be invited to the J3 League.

However- clubs such as Reinmeer Aomori- despite not having the biggest fanbase, are still at large attempting to win the trophy. The unique club embodies the Northern Japanese spirit and plays an attractive style of possessive football.

Japanese legend and one of the oldest players in the world, Kazuyoshi Miura, turns out for Atletico Suzuka in this league, too. The 58-year-old continues to play a fruitful football career, garnering the respect of many fans around the world.

@TheAthleticFC on X / Gualter Fatia / Getty

Atletico Suzuka also don one of the youngest players in the league - 19-year-old Ibuki Morita - who joined the club from Riseisha High School on a free transfer. The defender has played four games for the club so far - most recently having played 88 minutes and starting at right-back in Suzuka's 4-2 loss against table toppers Shiga.

However the youngest player in the league, also at 19 years old, belongs to Honda FC - Akihiko Terada who was signed from Jubilo Iwata's U18s set up after his 19th birthday. The midfielder has had six outings for the club- including 56 minutes in their 1-0 loss against Fukui United in the first round of the Emperor's cup.

Another featured player we discovered is Veertien Mie's Shinnosuke Ito, an Osaka-born centre-back with dynamic height - standing at 190 metres tall. With two assists in the league and a goal in the Emperor's Cup to his name in a combined twelve appearances, Ito could be a name to keep track of.

At J-Football Journals, we will look to expand our reach to this league and eventually with fan contribution! Keep a look out for more.

Premier League Influence; Nagoya Grampus X Everton Football Club

Merseyside Premier League outfit Everton have made an official strategic partnership with Nagoya Grampus in a deal which will see both clubs work in tandem to develop talents.

Everton/Nagoya Official Accounts.

This will not only include youth training, but most likely also the sharing of youth development theories and high-standard knowledge. While Japanese football sides are known for creating players with steel mindsets, the Merseyside men are situated in a league standards above.

The link between the two clubs has dated years back - with Gary Lineker and Jo - both turning out for the clubs. This could have possibly played a crucial part in the decision.

It will see improvements on both sides of the deal - many Japanese sides are now exploring partnerships overseas not only to create further opportunity but also to better push the J-League standard.