Soccer is said to be the largest sport in the world. As a matter of course, the soccer landed in Japan, this time we will introduce the top teams of the J1 league. Although baseball is popular in Japan, the development of soccer is expected in the wake of this league.
Japan is known as a country that is enthusiastic about certain sports such as martial arts and baseball, but soccer is also growing rapidly as a popular sport. The J1 League is the highest league in Japan’s professional soccer league system. Speaking of association soccer in Asia, J1 is probably the largest league except China.
J1 was established in 1992 on behalf of the Japan Soccer League. Before J1, JSL was made up of amateur clubs and attracted a lot of fans. From the late 1960s to the early 1970s, it was a time of soccer boom, such as winning a bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics.
With the launch of J1, eight clubs from JSL, one club from the second division league, and a new club called Shimizu S-Pulse at that time were selected. J1 was born by these 10 teams, and it came to play the role of Japan’s top league.
At that time, J1 was showing great excitement. The stadium at the match venue was always filled with about 19,000 spectators, but it has decreased with the times. It is worth noting that Arsenal’s legendary director Arsene Wenger was in the J1 of this era as the director of Nagoya Grampus Eight.
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J1 format
As of the 2021 season of J1, there are 20 teams in the league. However, it has been decided to return to the 18-club system in 2022, and it is scheduled to be changed. This 18-season system existed for 15 years before J1 preferred to adopt the 20-team system. However, they didn’t like what was seen in the new system, so the 2022 season returned to the classic format.
As with many soccer leagues, the J1 relies on a points system. In the 20-team system, all teams will play 38 games per season, but that will be reduced to 36 games. In other words, each team will play twice during the season.
If you win, you get 3 points. In the case of a draw, both teams will get one point each in the J1 league match. Let’s take a look at the notable teams in the J1 league standings and why they are a good choice to bet.
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Popular teams in the J1 league
Kawasaki Frontale
Looking at the recent history, J1 is monopolized by Kawasaki Frontale. Since Toru Oniki took office, he has reigned in the strongest position in J1. Since he took office, Frontale has lost in the J1 only once in 2019. He has won four J1 trophies, all under the guidance of Toru.
The achievements of the head coach are great, but the ability of the players themselves is also certain. Yu Kobayashi has established himself as a star player since the contract in 2010.
Also, Yu Kobayashi is not the only star player. Brazilian forward Leandro Damian is also one of the top scorers in the 2021 season and deserves special mention. Damian and Kaoru Mitoma are solid players who play a leading role in the offense of the team with Kobayashi.
If you want to bet on a club that always ranks high in the J1 League, Frontale seems to be a good choice. However, while the trends of the last few years have been favorable to Frontale, we do not know what will happen in J1.
Yokohama F. Marinos
Before becoming J1, Yokohama F. Marinos was already playing in the top league of Japanese soccer. Since 1982, he has been playing in the top league, so he is the longest-serving team. Marinos is one of only two clubs that have played each year since the start of Japan’s top league.
In J1, it has won four championships at the end of 2019 in the middle of the Frontale era, and it is a club with some success. It’s a stable team that’s always on top of J1, so it’s a solid choice if you’re betting.
In terms of credibility for betting, it’s a good idea to look at Marinos as a strong candidate who will always step up when needed.
In the 2021 season, Daizen Maeda was one of the most impressive players in the league. The team is an aggressive powerhouse and can score better than their opponents at any night, making it a solid choice.
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Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers, like Marinos, is the second club to remain in Japan’s top league since 1982. Kashima is the most successful club in J1 history, with eight wins. There are a total of 19 trophies in Japan, which is surprising considering that soccer is not so popular in Japan.
In the 2021 season, Kashima finished fourth in the J1 league rankings. This year was a downfall for the club, but we can expect it to recover. Especially since 2016 is the last trophy in J1, fans are patiently waiting to win again.
As reliable players, Ayase Ueda and Ryotaro Araki can be expected to step up when needed. If you’re looking for a reason to bet on this historically successful team, you can look at the potential of the two young players as long-term starting members.
Nagoya Grampus Eight
Nagoya just returned to J1 in 2017 and is arguably the most historically important team in the league. The club was founded as Toyota Motor SC in 1939 and became its current name in 1991.
He won one J1 trophy in 2019. They have been successful for many years, but at the same time struggle with consistency. It can be a J1 champ, but it can quickly drop out of the league and fall into J2.
The club is best known for being in the 1990s before Wenger went to Arsenal. That was a solid achievement, but Nagoya has more than Wenger’s impact. It’s a club that has been successful without an international star head coach, and that’s why it should be seen as influential. Looking at the J1 League standings over the years, they are improving and that trend should convince them to bet.
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Vissel Kobe
VISSEL KOBE is on a good track, although it is not expected to participate in the competition every year. Vissel, who ranked 3rd in the 2021 campaign and has many excellent players, wants to constantly improve.
If you’re looking for a consistent team to play exciting football, Vissel is the perfect team. It would also be a great help if the captain is Andres Iniesta, the legend of Barcelona.
He was the biggest reason for making Japanese soccer known overseas. However, it seems that the other members are also solid. If you want to bet on a dark horse team, Vissel is a good choice. He will be surprised at the J1 and it would be a wise choice to choose as a betting option.
Urawa Red Diamonds
Urawa Red Diamonds aren’t usually the clubs that perform at the highest level each season, but they can be dark horses when playing “A + games.” Their peak dates back to the mid-2000s when they won the J1 in 2006. I haven’t been on the top team since then, but there have been some flashes, including the 2016 season.
Urawa is a solid choice if you want a team that runs surprisingly and wins. It will be difficult to win, but we can expect the team to fight for the first time.
Cerezo Osaka
Cerezo Osaka is usually a mid-sized team, but you can expect to fight in J1 every year. The club is always in the middle of the J1 league, but may go to battle in the top four races. That’s a big deal for teams that are often found in the middle of the J1 League standings.
The club never falls unreliably low, which is the perfect reason to establish itself as a solid betting option. You can expect the success of this club as you can be the top team in the roster composition and there is a supporting group behind them. Like other top teams, you have to go through some circles, but there’s a good chance.
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Sanfrecce Hiroshima
In recent years, Sanfrecce Hiroshima has been functioning in the middle like Cerezo Osaka, but with promising talent in the future, this team will be even better. In the past, he won the league title three times in the mid-2010s and has already reached the top of Japanese soccer.
If you want to bet on a team that isn’t expected to be in the top position in the future, this team is sure to be a good option. It has become a popular choice as it can succeed if it develops top talent and keeps its well-behaved machines.
FC Tokyo
As a club with the name of the capital, FC Tokyo is strong in cup games, but has not yet reached the top. Although he has been demoted to J2, he is fighting in the top league again with a sense of stability.
Sometimes it’s difficult to bet, but it has good potential. If you want to bet on a surprise team, FC Tokyo may be a solid choice for you.
Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka, which has a solid track record in the past, is a giant who can always sleep. They can wake up at any time and transform into a championship-level team, which is why they can be a top betting option.
Gamba has proven that it has won titles in the past, so it will be a good option. They have two J1 trophies and are trying to add more.
J1 gets even better
These are just a few big teams in J1, but you can expect more. The league changes every year, and one team may surprise everyone. In J1, in most cases all teams can fight on an equal footing. We hope you can enjoy your bets and earn solid rewards. There are many questions about when the J1 league will start, but every season starts in February every year.
