Episodes

Tuesday May 21, 2019
Episode 275 - J1 Matchday 12
Tuesday May 21, 2019
Tuesday May 21, 2019
This week's episode features a full review of J1 Matchday 12, with Dan Orlowitz leading off, and Stuart Woodward and Lionel Piguet also guesting, both for the first time in 2019.
And we had to rip up the script in Part 1, because even though Dan went to two different games over the weekend, we simply had to begin with events at Saitama Stadium last Friday night, after one of the most egregious refereeing decisions in J.League history cost Shonan a goal at 2-0 down away at Urawa, but Bellmare showed remarkable spirit to fight back and win 3-2 with the last kick of the game. The moment itself, the aftermath and if Reds should have done 'the right thing', and a wider chat about DAZN's impact on the way the league is presented and discussed is all in there (to 27:40). We then move on to chat about the two games Dan attended, FC Tokyo winning again and going six points clear after Nagoya played out a 1-1 draw at Kawasaki, while third placed Oita also drew 1-1, at home against new cellar-dwellers Shimizu (to 44:55).
Then in Part 2 Stuart chats about Yokohama clicking back into gear with a convincing 4-1 home win over Kobe, a quality performance after their disappointing display away at Cerezo Osaka last week. Stuart also shares his thoughts on Kobe, and briefly updates us on how ex-Marinos midfielder Kosuke Nakamachi is getting on over in Zambia (to 1:11:57).
And finally in Part 3, Lionel is a happy man after Gamba ended a run of seven games without a win with a 1-0 triumph over Cerezo in the Osaka Derby. We also chat about the next crop of youngsters rolling off the Gamba production line, before Lionel shares his thoughts on Kobe spiraling out of control, and we finish with the other three games from Matchday 12.
Follow my guests on twitter:
Dan - @aishiterutokyo
Stuart - @stuartcw
Lionel - @lionelpiguet
The J-Talk Podcast is now on Patreon - patreon.com/jtalkpod

Tuesday May 14, 2019
Episode 274 - J1 Matchday 11
Tuesday May 14, 2019
Tuesday May 14, 2019
This week's episode features a full review of J1 Matchday 11 with Alex Bishop, Neil Debnam and Alan Gibson.
In Part 1 Alex chats about top flight table toppers FC Tokyo after their Takefusa Kubo-inspired 1-0 home win over Iwata on Sunday (to 19:00), while we also discuss Nagoya and Oita, who stayed four points behind The Gasmen with wins of their own - Grampus at home over Urawa, and Trinita away at Shonan (to 26:00).
Then Neil joins me after Kawasaki's strong recent run continued with a comprehensive 4-0 win at Shimizu, whose manager Jan Jonsson paid the price for his side's poor start to the season and was sacked after the game (to 45:45). Things aren't going all Frontale's way in the ACL though, and we move on to wrap up last midweek's group stage Matchday 5 results, with Hiroshima through to the last 16, and the other three Japanese clubs all still in with a chance of making it (to 53:22).
Finally Alan chats about the mixed fortunes for the three Kansai clubs in Matchday 11 - the good, the shocking, and the downright diabolical - Cerezo Osaka's excellent Kota Mizunuma-inspired 3-0 home win over Yokohama (to 1:00:00), Gamba's dismal loss at bottom club Tosu, and how much of a leash Tsuneyasu Miyamoto will be given in the Gamba hot seat (to 1:12:45), and Kobe managing just one shot over 90 minutes in their sixth straight loss, 1-0 at home against Kashima, along with all the drama behind the scenes at the Noevir Stadium club (to 1:27:50). We finish off the episode by wrapping up the other two games: Sendai leaving it late to beat Hiroshima 2-1 at home, and the goalless draw between Matsumoto and Sapporo.
Follow my guests on twitter:
Alex - @Abishop32
Neil - @frontalerabbit
Neil's Frontale Rabbit blog
Alan - @JSoccerMagazine
Alan's website - JSoccer.com
The J-Talk Podcast is now on Patreon - all support is greatly appreciated as we say goodbye to monthly upload limits, and take the podcast forward - patreon.com/jtalkpod

Friday May 10, 2019
REPOST: Episode 267 - J1 Matchday 5
Friday May 10, 2019
Friday May 10, 2019
Chances are you have already listened to this episode, originally posted at the beginning of April, but if for whatever reason you haven't, and need to binge old episodes of the pod to catch up on the 2019 J1 season, I'm reposting it. This episode was the casualty of the five Tuesday April that meant I had to delete one pod in order to post our first April J2 Special pod at the end of the month. Upload limits and all that - the reason we are now on Patreon.
Ryan Steele guests to chat about Urawa 1-1 FC Tokyo from Matchday 5 (to 23:05), Alan Gibson reviews a brighter time for Vissel Kobe - their 4-3 away win over Gamba Osaka - and many of the other games from the round, as well as Japan's most recent friendlies (to 1:13:30), and Neil Debnam returns after Kawasaki had posted their first win of the new season away at Matsumoto.
#Also experimenting for the first time with ads on Podbean, this repost is a perfect opportunity to do so.#

Tuesday May 07, 2019
Episode 273 - J1 Matchday 10
Tuesday May 07, 2019
Tuesday May 07, 2019
On this terrific new episode of J-Talk Sean Carroll and Sam Robson review J1 Matchday 10, and we chat about the major top flight storylines almost a third of the way through the season.
We begin with the top three - FC Tokyo continue to lead the way despite a goalless draw at Gamba Osaka on Saturday, with Nagoya (held away at Shonan) and Oita (comfortable home winners over troubled Tosu) leading the chasing pack.
Next we move on to the rest of the teams in the top half of the table, with Kawasaki lurking ominously, Sapporo and Yokohama well placed after a fruitful Golden Week, and the other three ACL clubs struggling to hit consistent form, with a chat about Kobe (not quite as wonky as Tosu but in serious disarray) thrown in here too after their dismal loss at Sapporo on Saturday.
The final part of the podcast looks ahead to this week's ACL (& Levain Cup) fixtures, before we finish with Cerezo Osaka's away win over Matsumoto.
Follow my guests on twitter:
Sean - @seankyaroru
Sam - @FRsoccerSam
The J-Talk Podcast is now on Patreon - all support is greatly appreciated. For more information please visit patreon.com/jtalkpod
Gabriele Anello was kind enough to feature the podcast on J.League Regista, our Q & A can be found here.

Wednesday May 01, 2019
Episode 272 - April J2 Special Part 2
Wednesday May 01, 2019
Wednesday May 01, 2019
It wouldn't be a J-Talk J2 Special without Stuart Smith and Jon Steele sharing their thoughts on the second tier, so in this, our second episode of the week, we give the people what they want. And whether they know it or not, the people want an hour of the dynamic duo riffing on the movers and shakers in the league two months - a quarter of the way - into this 42 game marathon.
Follow my guests on twitter:
Stuart - @sushi_football
Jon - @J2KantoBites

Wednesday May 01, 2019
Episode 271 - April J2 Special Part 1: Omiya, FC Ryukyu & Kyoto
Wednesday May 01, 2019
Wednesday May 01, 2019
To round out the Heisei Era, and welcome in the new Emperor, we're going large for all you J2 aficionados out there: Two April J2 Special episodes for the price of one, and all the second tier chatter you need.
This is Part 1, with Stuart Smith riding shotgun throughout as we chat in-depth with three terrific guests. First cab is Steve Fryer on Omiya's tremendous surge up the table (to 23:35), then Geoff Osborne returns to discuss goings-on at FC Ryukyu (to 45:05), and we wrap things up with first time guest Nick Bolton, who brings the knowledge on Kyoto.
Follow my guests on twitter:
Stuart - @sushi_football
Steve - @ardija01talk
Geoff - @OkinawaOzzy
Nick - @UkSangaUltra

Tuesday Apr 23, 2019
Episode 270 - J1 Matchday 8
Tuesday Apr 23, 2019
Tuesday Apr 23, 2019
Scott McIntyre guests for a full review of J1 Matchday 8.
We begin with the top of the table clash in Hiroshima last Friday night, as FC Tokyo went three points clear at the summit thanks to a moment of magic from Diego Oliveira, then we move on to the other game from Friday as Kawasaki won at home for the first time this season in a Kanagawa derby against Shonan (to 15:47).
Next we cover home wins for Nagoya, Sapporo, Kashima and Matsumoto (to 48:18), before finishing with more upheaval at Kobe and another underwhelming weekend for the three Kansai clubs.
Follow Scott on twitter - @mcintinhos
Check out The Asian Game podcast, featuring Scott and Paul Williams.

Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Episode 269 - J1 Matchday 7
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
Tuesday Apr 16, 2019
This week's episode wraps up J1 Matchday 7 with Sam Robson and Tobias Dreimann.
In Part 1 Tobias shares his thoughts on the season to date for top flight leaders Hiroshima, after they retained their hold on top spot with a come from behind 4-2 win at Kobe on Sunday. We then move on to the contrasting victory secured by second-placed FC Tokyo, who burst out of the gates and put Kashima away in the first half hour at Ajinomoto Stadium, before moving on to preview the crunch clash between the top two in Hiroshima on Friday night (to 41:35).
Then after we bid Tobias farewell, Sam runs through the other results from the round, beginning with Oita going third after their home win over Sendai, and including the action-packed draw between Yokohama and Nagoya, and Shimizu claiming a huge first win of the season in the Shizuoka Derby against Iwata.
Follow my guests on twitter:
Sam - @FRsoccerSam
Tobias - @ConDrei

Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
Episode 268 - J1 Matchday 6 & J2 Update
Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
Sam Robson, Dan Orlowitz and Stuart Smith guest on this week's podcast to round up another weekend of J.League action.
In Part 1 Dan joins Sam to chat about FC Tokyo's 2-1 home win over Shimizu on Saturday, and new table toppers Hiroshima, who climbed to the summit on goal difference ahead of Tokyo after sweeping aside Gamba Osaka 3-0 at home (to 30:12).
Then after we bid Dan farewell Sam and I round up the rest of the J1 Matchday 6 action, beginning with the three games last Friday night, and finishing with first wins of the season for Iwata and Sendai (to 1:00:50).
Next we turn our attention to J2, and Stuart chats about new leaders Yamagata and the rest of the top five, including Sunday's big FC Ryukyu vs Kashiwa showdown (to 1:14:35), before we move on to some other talking points around the league (to 1:26:20), and finish with a brief check on J3.
Follow my guests on twitter:
Sam - @FRsoccerSam
Dan - @aishiterutokyo
Stuart - @sushi_football

Tuesday Mar 26, 2019
Episode 266 - March J2 Special
Tuesday Mar 26, 2019
Tuesday Mar 26, 2019
On our first J2 Special of the new second tier campaign, Geoff Osborne, Steve Barme and Jon Steele guest to review the first month of the season.
In Part 1 Geoff makes a barnstorming J-Talk debut as he chats about surprise leaders FC Ryukyu's superb start to life in J2, and also discusses some of the special challenges the club faces in establishing a football culture down in Okinawa in such a unique setting (to 24:14).
Then Steve visits to talk about Omiya's teething problems under new manager Takuya Takagi, and another underwhelming start to the season for the Squirrels (to 37:50), before Jon rounds up the rest of the big stories from Matchday 5 and the first month of the season as a whole (to 1:03:35), with a brief check on J3, who played Matchday 3 over the weekend, thrown in at the end of the episode at no extra charge.
Follow my guests on twitter and the web:
Geoff - @OkinawaOzzy
Geoff's FC Ryukyu Updates blog
Steve - @AgentOrange2009
Jon - @J2KantoBites

