Next game: 2009-12-05 vs Kyoto Sanga

Sanfrecce’s last game of the season is at home, against Kyoto Sanga.

J1 Table and results

2009-11-03 Mitsubishi Mizushima 0-3 Gainare Tottori (Gainare’s road to J2, part two)

Kone HAMED (centre) after scoring Gainare's first goal - stefanole

Official match report

A rogue fixture scheduled for the Culture Day national holiday saw me and Claire take local trains from Okayama to Kasaoka on the Sanyo main line. Kasaoka is the last stop in Okayama prefecture before you enter Hiroshima prefecture, and it is not a particularly attractive town. It is however the home of the JFL’s ‘lovable losers’ Mitsubishi Mizushima, which made it important enough to warrant a visit.

2009-11-18 Hisato scores on return to Japanese national team

SATO Hisato back in July - stefanole

Sanfrecce captain SATO Hisato scored the second goal, as Japan strolled to a 4-0 victory in Hong Kong.

2009-11-12 Sanfrecce Update, October 2009

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

Sanfrecce's NAKAJIMA Koji and Gamba Osaka's NAKAZAWA Sota challenge for the ball during their teams' 2-2 draw at the Big Arch - stefanole

October was a very disappointing month for Sanfrecce, as fans’ hopes of both a surprise title and an Emperor’s Cup run were dashed within a week of each other. The team’s steady performance over the summer, where the team peaked in third place and looked set to make a serious bid for the Asian Champions League place that would bring, was wasted as autumn set in and circumstances conspired against them.

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.