The J-Talk Podcast

We head west for this week's previews, and we were thrilled to be joined by Daniel Kuroda, one half of the Vivi Cast podcast , to chat about Nagasaki's 2025 campaign, and their long-awaited return to J1 in the Chaos Energy J.League Cup (to 42:30). In Part 2 Jonny and Ben begin with a depth chart explainer and praise for the collaboration between Yokohama FC and J.League Journeys , then run the rul...

We kick off our Chaos Energy J.League Cup previews with five teams from the East group, and after Jonny and Ben run the rule over J1 Champions Kashima (to 14:13), Jon Steele guests to chat about the sensational promotions achieved by J2 Champions Mito and Playoff winners Chiba, and how both teams might fare in the top flight (Mito to 45:20, Chiba to 1:08:10). In Part 3 Jonny and Ben finish off the...

The JTET team (with special guests) are back to conclude their J2 retrospective for 2025. In the first segment, James and Jon discuss the fortunes of Kofu (Start to 06:35), Fujieda (06:35 to 11:00), and then Oita (11:00 to 19:25). Then we hand over to pod debutant Tom for his take on Sapporo's 2025 campaign (19:25 to 24:55). After that, we welcome Fin back to the show for his thoughts on Sendai (2...

Happy New Year to you all, and welcome back to another season of The J-Talk Podcast. We're beginning the year with a bang, as we celebrate our 600th episode, and after a brief catch-up (and explanation of the pod for new listeners), Jonny and Ben welcome in Dan Orlowitz, to chat about the highs of 2025, as detailed in the J.League Season Review, (all in Japanese, use browser translation) and to lo...

Happy New Year, everyone! In a vainglorious attempt to get 2026 off to a flying start, we do our best to review the J2 season across a pair of bumper episodes (Part 2 is on the way). In the early stages of this pod, James and Jon wax lyrical about a quartet of J2 clubs: champions Mito (Start to 04:30), runners-up Nagasaki (04:30 to 08:30), as well defeated Play-Off sides Tokushima (08:30 to 11:00)...

Jon Steele and James Taylor sign off for 2025 by compiling a best eleven for J2, along with MVP and Manager of the Year (to 30:10). Then in part 2, Jon quizzes James on his J3 team (to end).   Thank you for your support of the J-Talk Podcast and J-Talk: Extra Time. Keep an eye and an ear out for J2 season reviews over the next few weeks. *Join the J-Talk Podcast Patreon here: https://patreon.com/j...

The curtain came down on another season in J2, J3 and the JFL last weekend, and Jon Steele and James Taylor have analysis of the three big games: JEF United v Tokushima (to 20:00), FC Osaka v Miyazaki (to 35:40), and Numazu v Shiga (to 56:45). They also pick a Most Bravo Player from each of the matches (to 1:02:35) and round off the episode with news about the J2/J3 100 Year Vision League and J.Le...

In the final episode of Big Pod for 2025, Alan Gibson guests as we piece together our Team of the Season. After Jonny and Ben begin the episode with some housekeeping - brief J2 Promotion Playoff and ACL reviews, as well as the groupings for the Chaos Energy J.League Cup - (to 16:26) we first get Alan's thoughts on some early offseason managerial appointments, before working from back to front in...

Jon Steele and James Taylor are back with a full review of all five postseason games from last weekend. The JTET section of the pod begins with a discussion of JEF v Omiya (to 17:05) and Tokushima v Iwata (to 23:35), then a preview of the playoff final, MBP chat and news of managerial changes in J2 (to 39:30). Then, in the JTSC section, the boys discuss Osaka v Kanazawa (to 48:35), Miyazaki v Kago...

Kashima claimed a record-extending ninth top flight title in Saturday's final round, and in Part 1 of this episode Jonny and Ben run through the key events in both games that mattered, as a Leo Ceara-inspired Antlers held off a gallant Kashiwa side to win the league by a point (to 25:50). Then in Part 2, Reysol correspondent Seamus Johnston - armed with a killer stat - returned to the pod to celeb...

The regular season ended in dramatic fashion in both J2 and J3, so James Taylor and Jon Steele tried to get their heads around just what exactly happened. They start by going through the first half of the J2 matches (to 07:00), then the second half (to 11:25), and reflect on automatic promotion, the playoffs, and relegation in turn (to 33:05). Then they elect their Most Bravo Player (to 36:05), ca...

This week's bumper episode features a star turn from Ryo Nakagawara, who joins Jonny and Ben to review the crunch games involving the top two in J1 Matchday 37 (to 28:45), and preview the final day matchups between Kashima & Yokohama F.Marinos, and Kashiwa & Machida (to 48:50), before we stick our necks out and make predictions on the destination of the title (to 55:42). Then in Part 2 Jon...

The picture at the top and bottom of J2 isn’t getting any clearer, but James Taylor and Jon Steele combined their brain power to try and make sense of it in this week’s JTET. First, James reviews 9 games from the penultimate matchday of the season (to 06:55). Then, he and Jon discuss Nagasaki’s win over Mito (to 25:35), Most Bravo Player (to 30:30), and look ahead to a blockbuster final day (to 41...

After Machida won their first major title in Saturday's Emperor's Cup final over Kobe, Dan Orlowitz joined Jonny and Ben to chat about their deserved success, and the progress the club has made in recent seasons, as well as lessons the JFA might learn from the disappointing attendance at the National Stadium (to 28:20), before we chat about the half season at the start of 2026 and the FC Tokyo Pla...

As the end of the season approaches, Jon Steele and James Taylor take a look at the state of play in J3 with just two games left. They begin with the mess at Matsumoto (to 12:00), then turn their attention to automatic promotion (to 15:45), the playoffs – including the scrap for 6th place (to 23:30), the bottom of the league and the top of the JFL (to end).   Thanks again to Mike Innes for suggest...

After Jonny revels in Scotland's qualification for the World Cup, we round up another productive international break for the Samurai Blue following wins over Bolivia on Tuesday, and Ghana last Friday. We discuss the standout performers, and whether any of the recent call-ups can force their way on to the plane next year (to 21:27). Then in Part 2 we hand out Player of the Season awards for the bot...

Things are getting tighter at both ends of J2, so James Taylor and Jon Steele got together to try and make sense of it all. First, James reviews 9 games (to 09:45) from J2 matchday 36. Then he and Jon talk about Mito’s loss to Omiya and the implications for promotion and the playoffs (to 37:25). Next, there are Most Bravo Players to be elected (to 43:20), and the episode finishes with a look ahead...

We finally had some clarity at both ends of the table in J1 Matchday 36, as the title race is down to just two teams, and at the bottom, Yokohama FC's relegation to J2 was confirmed. In Part 1 of this episode, Kyoto correspondent Jamie Meikle guests to help us celebrate Sanga's remarkable season, even though their title hopes ended on Sunday at home against Yokohama F.Marinos. We ask Jamie about K...

James Taylor and Jon Steele are back with a review of the latest round of J2 fixtures. In the first part of the episode, James rounds up 8 games (to 07:45). Then, in the second part, James is joined by Jon to discuss Iwata’s win over Nagasaki (to 21:30) and Yamaguchi’s triumph away at Kumamoto (to 35:50). After that, the co-hosts nominate their Most Bravo Player (to 42:40) and take a look at the m...

With Ben taking a well earned break, Jonny was joined by Alan Gibson to discuss the Levain Cup final between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Kashiwa Reysol.   They also took a deep dive on the clubs respective bosses, Michael Skibbe and Ricardo Rodriguez (to 38:48).   After that they chatted about the Samurai Blue and the fast approaching friendlies with Ghana and Bolivia (to 44:52) before looking ahead t...

James Taylor and Jon Steele got together again to review all the action from J2 matchday 34. First, James rounds up 9 games (to 07:50) and then talks to Jon about Sendai’s dramatic comeback against Tosu (to 34:20). That’s followed by Most Bravo Player and a quick preview of the most interesting games coming up this weekend, as the promotion picture isn’t getting any clearer and teams at the bottom...

As the top flight enters the final stretch, things tightened at the top in Matchday 35, but two dogfighters saw their fates sealed in a dramatic round of games. Jonny and Ben begin the pod with an ACL review, then cover the games involving the title chasers, including Kashima's stunning late equalizer at Kyoto, Kashiwa's win over Yokohama FC, and Kobe's late collapse at already relegated Niigata (...

The JTET team are back in action to review all of the big stories from last weekend's J2 action (Round 33 of the season). In Part 1, James puts in a solo shift, running through 9 of the matches from the Round 33 slate (Start to 08:00). Then in Part 2, Jon sat down with special guest and JEF Chiba correspondent Allen for a deep dive into their last-gasp 1-0 win at promotion rivals Mito (08:00 to 27...

J1 returned with a bang after the international break, and in Part 1 of this new episode Jonny and Ben were joined by Kashiwa correspondent Seamus Johnston to chat about a fascinating set of results for the title chasers - Kobe and leaders Kashima drawing on Friday night, before Seamus's Reysol demolished Gamba (sorry Jonny) on Saturday and Kyoto gutted out a dramatic late point with ten men on Su...

Jon Steele and James Taylor catch up on the situation in J3 with 7 games left. They start with the automatic promotion places (to 05:00), then discuss the playoffs (to 12:35), before a look at the battle to avoid relegation (to 32:10). They have a brief look ahead to this weekend’s big fixtures to end the episode.   Special thanks to Mike Innes for the detailed taking points.   Thanks for your sup...