Next game: 2009-11-08 @ Omiya Ardija

Sanfrecce’s should manage to get a point against Ardija in the league.

J1 Table and results

2009-10-25 Gainare Tottori 2-2 Arte Takasaki (Gainare’s road to J2, part one)

TANAKA Yasuhiro (right) shoots for Takasaki as Tottori's HASHIUCHI Yuya looks on - stefanole

Last Sunday saw me and Claire take another road trip, this time to Tottori. Our destination was the Tottori Bird Stadium, where we were planning on watching Gainare Tottori take on Arte Takasaki. More than that though, we were here to watch as a small town struggles to achieve its dream of reaching the J-League.

2009-10-03 Vissel Kobe 1-1 Kyoto Sanga

Kobe and Kyoto face-off during a corner - stefanole

My Flickr set for this match is here.

The first weekend of October saw me and Claire make our second sporting trip to Kansai. Our destination was Kobe, the stage for a match billed as the “Kansai Derby” as the home side took on neighbours Kyoto.

2009-10-17 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-2 Gamba Osaka

HASHIMOTO Hideo, scorer of Gamba's first goal, breaks into the Sanfrecce box - stefanole

It was a tale of two halves at the Big Arch, as Sanfrrecce squandered a two-goal lead to draw with Gamba Osaka 2-2.

2009-09-20 Cerezo Osaka 2-1 Shonan Bellmare

Cerezo Osaka celebrate their second goal - stefanole

Flickr set

Exactly a month ago today, I travelled to Osaka with Claire to watch this Sliver Week game. I was sure of an exciting game, with promotion to J1 at stake for both sides.

2009-10-12 Emperor’s Cup Update (2nd Round), Sanfrecce 5-0 Japan Soccer College

KOBAYASHI looks rueful as Sanfrecce's TAKAYANAGI Issei celebrates scoring the fourth goal - stefanole

Sanfrecce (J1) 5-0 Japan Soccer College (Niigata)

Sanfrecce breezed into the third round of the Emperor’s Cup with an easy victory over Niigata’s Japan Soccer College.

2009-10-12 20th Prince Takamado Cup (U18)

INAMI Sena : Scored a goal for Sanfrecce Youth (photo from August) - stefanole

The 20th Prince Takamado Cup concluded last weekend, with Yokohama F. Marinos Youth lifting the trophy for the first time. This year’s competition saw 16 teams play in a straight knockout format over three weekends.

45th All Japan Senior Football Championship, and Politics of Japanese Football

The 45th All Japan Senior Football Championship will kick off on the 17th of October in Ichihara, Chiba. The competition is run by the JFA and is open to all non-league teams (J4 and below). As such, it is equivalent to the FA Trophy or FA Vase in England. It is a straight knockout competition fought between 32 teams that will run over four days.

2009-10-03 Shimizu S-Pulse 1-1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima

SATO Hisato, scorer of Sanfrecce's goal, with S-Pulse's KODAMA Arata (photo from May) - stefanole

Sanfrecce’s title charge looks to have stalled as they held S-Pulse to a drew at the Nihondaira.

2009-10-02 Sanfrecce Update, August & September 2009

SATO Hisato has been named in the Japan squad for October's friendlies (photo from June) - stefanole

This article first appeared in my column at the Wide Island View, the online magazine for JETs in Hiroshima prefecture.

The past few months have literally been historic for Sanfrecce Hiroshima. They completed a nine-game unbeaten streak from July to September, their best ever run of form in J-League Division 1 (J1) since its first season in 1993. As a result, Sanfrecce find themselves in a heated race for the J1 title, in the same season they were promoted from J2. It was also announced yesterday that Hiroshima’s captain and striker, SATO Hisato, has been included in the Japanese national team squad for three upcoming friendlies in October against Hong Kong, Scotland and Togo.

2009-09-26 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-2 Albirex Niigata

HIRASHIGE looks back at the celebrating Niigata fans as Sanfrecce do the walk of shame - stefanole

Sanfrecce saw their hopes of a first J1 title dealt another blow as their historic unbeaten streak was halted by Albirex Niigata. The nine game streak was the longest Sanfrecce have gone unbeaten in J1 since the genesis of the J-League in 1993.