The J-Talk Podcast

Episode 356 - J1 Matchday 1

J1 returned with a bang over the weekend, and Dan Orlowitz from The Japan Times joined guests for a full review of the action on the pitch (and the pitchside monitors).

We begin at Todoroki last Friday night, where champions Kawasaki brushed aside Yokohama F.Marinos, then we move on to Shimizu's superb away win at Kashima and Sapporo's home thumping of Yokohama FC.

Next, strap yourself in for some VAR chat in wins for Cerezo Osaka over Kashiwa and Tosu away at Shonan, before we cover Kobe's Kansai Derby win over Gamba Osaka and Nagoya's away win at Fukuoka, then wrap things up with the three Matchday 1 1-1 draws.

JTET - J2 Season Preview (Part 3)

In the final part of our J2 season preview for 2021, Mike Innes & Jon Steele take a close look at last season's 17th - 22nd place finishers in the second tier, along with an in-depth check on newly-promoted Akita and Sagamihara.

It's another lengthy episode, at around 70 minutes, but we needed the extra time to go over all of the in and outs of the transfer window for these respective teams (as well as to make some pre-season predictions for the top and bottom of the table)!

Enjoy the show - J3 season previews are coming soon, and next week 'regular' pods will resume with a roundup of the opening round of J2 matches.

Mike on Twitter: @GoGoOmiyaArdija

Jon on Twitter: @JTalkETJon

*PS. As always, please let us know if there any audio issues - Jon is still learning how to edit, and (like a J2 defender) doesn't always get it right first time!

Episode 355 - J1 Preview Part 4: The Final Five

We've done it! With this episode, we've now previewed all 20 J1 clubs before the season kicks off on Friday night. Jonny Nicol guests for a look ahead at how Gamba Osaka, Nagoya, Cerezo Osaka, Kobe and Hiroshima might get on in 2021.

We begin with a look back at Saturday's Super Cup, which saw Kawasaki add another trophy to their burgeoning collection (to 12:20), then Gamba are the first club we preview (to 31:50), followed by Nagoya (to 53:40) - how will the ACL affect them both?

In Part 2 Cerezo are up first (to 1:09:30), then perennial disappointments Kobe (to 1:26:35), before we wrap up with Hiroshima (to 1:36:30).

Finally, we run through some teams who might surprise - for good or bad reasons - in the new season, and some players to watch.

JTET - J2 Season Preview (Part 2)

In the second episode of our big J2 season preview, Jon Steele & Mike Innes run the rule over the teams that finished from 10th down to 16th in last season's J2 standings (from surprise packages Tochigi down to Ryukyu).

This installment is a long one, at around 70 minutes, but there was so much to discuss that hopefully it doesn't feel like it! We spend around 10 minutes on each team, with a lot of attention given to Niigata, Matsumoto and Omiya.

Enjoy the show - Part 3 (covering the rest of J2 sides, as well as newly-promoted Akita and Sagamihara) is coming soon!

Mike on Twitter: @GoGoOmiyaArdija

Jon on Twitter: @JTalkETJon

Episode 354 - J1 Preview Part 3: Big Guns & Water Pistols

Our J1 Preview series rolls on, with Scott McIntyre guesting for the duration of our episode on a fascinating quintet of haves and have nots.

Centred on the four Kanagawa clubs, we begin with reigning champions Kawasaki (to 22:35) and 2019 league winners Yokohama F.Marinos (to 46:40).

Yokohama FC follow (to 57:05), then we finish in Kanagawa with Shonan (to 1:11:20).

Finally we skip west to Shizuoka and discuss Shimizu.

JTET: J2 Season Preview (Part 1)

In this episode, Jon Steele & Mike Innes begin their miniseries of J2 preview shows by discussing the teams that finished from 3rd to 9th in the 2020 standings (from Nagasaki down to Mito).

We hope you enjoy the 60 minutes of lively discussion, especially the use of adjectives such as 'barrel-chested' and 'willowy' - Part 2 & Part 3 of the J2 preview shows will be along soon!

*Programming note: this was my (Jon's) first attempt at editing and posting a show (usually I force Stuart or Ben to do it for me). If you have any feedback to help me get better (audio levels, other issues that you notice), please let me know & I'll do my best to improve them for future shows! Thanks.

Mike on Twitter: @GoGoOmiya Ardija

Jon on Twitter: @JTalkETJon

Episode 353 - J1 Preview Part 2: Ups & Downs

In Part 2 of our J1 previews we begin with Sendai, who look set to struggle massively again even after the (re)arrival of Makoto Teguramori to the Yurtec Stadium dugout (to 11:30), then move to the south to chat about perennial powerhouse Kashima, who might just be poised to strike in a season free of ACL commitments (to 24:08).

Then Ryan Steele hops on board to discuss Urawa, one of the most fascinating teams to watch this season under the command of Ricardo Rodriguez (to 54:30).

Next cab off the rank is Kashiwa, who are yet to fill their Michael Olunga-shaped hole up front (to 1:06:35), before Ben ums and ahs his way through a discussion about FC Tokyo.

J-Talk: Extra Time - The Pre-Warm Up

Stuart Smith & Jon Steele are back with gentle warm up for those of you who are looking forward to the return of the J.League. 

A new head injury protocol, the first female referee, fixture congestion and some notable transfers are all topics talked about. 

We hope you're looking forward to the new season!!! Enjoy the pod!

Episode 352 - J1 Preview Part 1: Islandhopping

It's preview time! In Part 1 of our look ahead to the new top flight campaign, we go on a tour of the islands outside of Honshu, and SPOILER ALERT(!) things don't look particularly rosy.

First cab off the rank is Sapporo (to 17:43), then Jon Steele, from our smash hit spinoff Extra Time, hops on board to discuss the two promoted teams, Tokushima (to 36:40) and Fukuoka (to 54:40).

Then we continue with the other two Kyushu teams, Tosu (to 1:01:47) and Oita.

Episode 351 - Away We Go Again

Happy New Season! Our first pod of the 2021 J1 season was intended to be a brief(ish) catch-up episode, but it's ended up stretching to just over an hour and a half - so we're in midseason form already!

In Part 1 Sam and Ben chat about some teams that have done some solid offseason business and looked primed for good years, then a couple of others that haven't moved the needle much at all in the winter break, with some of the more intriguing transfers in the close season also discussed (to 31:25).

Then in Part 2 Alan Gibson guests to talk about Issue 30 of JSoccer Magazine, including the terrific back story behind his interview with Daigo Nishi, and also how the three Kansai clubs are shaping up for the new campaign (to 1:03:32).

Finally in Part 3 Chris Hough joins Ben to discuss the two latest videos on his excellent Lost in Football Japan YouTube channel, and his fascinating football-going experiences in 2020.