The J-Talk Podcast

JTET - 2025 Summer Special

In a 35-minute JTET bonus episode, Jon Steele borrowed Jonny Nicol from Big Pod for a long-overdue 'Two Jonnies' reunion chat!

The focus this time is on the summer friendly matches that have taken place across Japan during late July and early August.

First of all, Jon runs through the results from the games that involved Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Sociedad, and State Reims.

After that, the Two Jonnies compare notes on their experiences (at Yokohama FC v Sociedad and Gamba Osaka v Reims respectively), and comment on the overall slate of summer matches from 2025.

We hope everyone enjoys the pod!

JTET - Emperor's Cup Round 3 Review

After a summer break, the JTET boys are back with a 15-minute mini-pod to clean deck before J2 returns!

This time, James and Jon look back at Round 3 of the Emperor's Cup (held on 16th July) from a J2 perspective. Recording solo, James covers 5 of the pertinent matchups, with Jon (also in isolation this time) talking you though the other 5 (including Hiroshima's high-scoring win at Fujieda).

Before time is up, Jon also briefs you on the forthcoming Round 24 fixtures in J2 this weekend, and casts a glance at the midweek Emperor's Cup Round of 16 games on the horizon for Akita and Yamagata.

Thanks for waiting patiently for the uploads during our slow summer - we'll have a full review of J2 Round 24 as usual next week!

Episode 580 - Ralf's Reds Review

Live and direct from Germany, Ralf Seidl joined Jonny and Ben to chat about Urawa's two games in the past week, his thoughts on Reds' prospects for the rest of the season, and his experience following the club in the Club World Cup in the US.

Then in Part 2 Jonny and Ben round up some other business from around the league. Thanks to all of our patrons who submitted questions for both parts of the episode.

JTET - J2 Round 23 Review

After a longer than expected (and accidental!) summer break, James and Jon return to catch up on the last round of J2 fixtures played before the holiday interval (Round 23 of the season).

With work and family pressures weighing heavy on the guys in July, it's a mini-pod this time. In Part 1, James covers the bulk of the Round 23 action, including yet another impressive win for runaway leaders Mito (I still can't get used to typing this combination of words).

Then in Part 2, Jon wraps things up with a check on in-form Tosu, & their home victory over near neighbors Oita (plus a quick comment on a Most Bravo Player for the round).

We hope everyone enjoys the review (and accepts our apologies for the tardy upload)!

Later this week, stay tuned for a review of the Emperor's Cup Round 3 games from a J2 perspective, along with a preview of the J2 Round 24 games coming up this weekend!

Episode 579 - J1 Matchday 24 with Alan Gibson

J1 returned with a bang after the EAFF Cup break, and Alan Gibson joined Jonny and Ben to chat about our new leaders, Kobe, and which of the top six might be their most likely challengers (to 59:15).

Then in Part 2 Jonny and Ben celebrate wins for Gamba and FC Tokyo, and round up the situation at the foot of the table.

Thanks, as always, to Alan, the pleasure was all ours. Check out Alan on Bluesky and X/Twitter, and consider supporting his Patreon.

Episode 578 - Japan Win the EAFF Cup, and more with Ryo Nakagawara

After the Samurai Blue won the EAFF Cup for the second straight time on Tuesday night, Ryo Nakagawara joined Jonny and Ben to chat about: The standout performers for Japan in South Korea; three players who might be destined for a move to Europe in the future; and the state of the top and bottom of J1.

Check out Ryo's terrific work on his Shogun Soccer site, and follow him on Bluesky and X.

JTET - J2 Round 22 Review

After a busy 7 days in the real world (gulp), James and Jon look back on last weekend's J2 action.

In Part 1, James casts a glance over 5 of the J2 matches from Round 22, and talks about his Most Bravo Players for this matchday.

Then in Part 2, Jon does similar for the rest of the Round 22 games. There's also a preview of this weekend's Round 23 fixtures, and a look ahead to the midweek Emperor's Cup Round 3 games with a J2 participant!

Hope everyone enjoys the show, and thank you for being patient with the upload this week!

Episode 577 - J1 Matchday 23

After another terrific J1 matchday, Stuart Woodward joined Jonny and Ben in Part 1 to chat about Yokohama F.Marinos' away win in the Yokohama derby on Saturday night, as well as the pre-match kerfuffle that led to the away supporters missing most of the first half at Mitsuzawa, and other goings-on at F.Marinos, including Anderson Lopes' departure, and new coach Hideo Oshima (to 28:15).

Then in Part 2 Jonny and Ben review the other eight games from Saturday night, including Kashima's third straight loss that saw them tumble from the summit, new leaders Kashiwa taking over at the top with a win over FC Tokyo, and Kobe roaring up to second after two wins in four days.

J-Talk: Extra Time – J2 Matchday 21

James Taylor and Jon Steele return with another action-packed JTET. In part 1, James rounds up 9 games from J2 matchday 21. In part 2, James and Jon discuss the recent managerial changes at Yamaguchi and Yamagata, analyse Sapporo v Kumamoto, offer a tribute to Hitoshi Morishita, select their Most Bravo Player, and preview the coming weekend’s fixtures.

 

Thank you for your support of the J-Talk Podcast and J-Talk: Extra Time.

*Join the J-Talk Podcast Patreon here: https://patreon.com/jtalkpod

*Find our JLeague Chat Discord server here: https://discord.gg/UwN2ambAwg

*Follow JTET on Bluesky here: @jtalket.bsky.social

Episode 576 - J1 Matchday 22

After a very eventful J1 matchday, and some housekeeping at the start of the episode (to 12:10), Jonny and Ben were joined by first time guest Seamus Johnston to chat about Kashiwa Reysol, who went joint top of the top flight with a character-building 2-0 away win over Shimizu on Saturday. Seamus chats about his expectations coming into the season under new manager Ricardo Rodriguez, some of the standout players thus far, and whether or not the club will be active in the summer transfer window (to 35:20).

Then Jonny and Ben run through the other games played over the weekend, when, with the notable exception of Kyoto, the rest of the top six struggled.