The J-Talk Podcast

Japan made history with a stunning 3-2 win over Brazil on Tuesday night, and Ryo Nakagawara joined Jonny and Ben for a deep dive on the game, the standout performers, and what the result means for the Samurai Blue going forward (to the hour mark), before we briefly looked back at the draw against Paraguay, and Ryo and Jonny ran through their lists of which players Hajime Moriyasu already has on th...

In this episode of JTET, James Taylor rounds up 9 games from J2 matchday 32 (to 07:45), then chats to Jon Steele about the Shikoku Derby between Tokushima and Imabari (to 25:00). Then it’s time for Most Bravo Player and a quick preview of the most interesting games coming up this weekend (to end).   Thank you for your support of the J-Talk Podcast and J-Talk: Extra Time. *Join the J-Talk Podcast P...

J1 Matchday 33 was chock full of drama, and after a brief review of the ACL action from last midweek, Jonny and Ben run through the weekend's games involving the title contenders in Part 1, culminating with the huge Kashima vs Gamba Osaka game on Sunday (to 43:10). Then in Part 2 our Tokyo Verdy correspondent Lewis White returns to the pod to chat about Verdy's vital win on Friday night, the seaso...

Jon Steele and James Taylor are back with all the latest from J2. James kicks things off with a review of 9 games from matchday 31 (to 08:45). Jon takes over for a chat with James about Oita v Ehime (to 31:35), before moving on to general J2 news and Most Bravo Player (to 50:55). To finish, the co-hosts preview the biggest games coming up this weekend (to end).   Thank you for your support of the...

With two bumper matchdays in the top flight in the past week to review, Jonny and Ben were joined first by Yokohama FC correspondent Jon Steele, who then stuck around as F.Marinos correspondent Stuart Woodward made it a Yokohama-centric Part 1 after both sides won on Sunday evening. With six games left, which club will survive in J1, or could they both overhaul some of the dogfight adjacent teams...

In this week’s JTET, James Taylor reviews all the action from J2 matchday 30, picks his Most Bravo Player, and previews the matchday 31 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: @jtalke...

Jonny and Ben kick off the episode with a review of ACL action from last midweek (to 9:00), before diving in on the eight games played from J1 Matchday 30 on Saturday night, as Kashima moved back to the summit after Kyoto slipped at home. We rule a couple of big fish out of the title race, before moving on to all of the action in the dogfight (to 1:06:00). We then wrap up the pod with a look ahead...

In this double episode of JTET, Jon Steele and James Taylor review all the action from the last two rounds of J2. First, Jon has a review of all 10 games from matchday 28 (to 13:35), then James reviews most of the games from matchday 29 (to 21:00). After that, the co-hosts discuss Omiya v Nagasaki (to 41:10), their Most Bravo Players and the J.League’s monthly awards for August (to 49:40). Finally...

Sean Carroll joined Jonny and Ben to give his thoughts on Japan's two friendlies in the United States, and the state of the J1 title race and relegation dogfight after the weekend's J1 Matchday 29 (to 56:25). Then in Part 2, Jonny and Ben wrap up the remaining four games.

Jon Steele welcomes back a jetlagged James Taylor for the latest checkup on J3. The episode begins with a brief recap of Sagamihara’s Emperor’s Cup quarter final (to 02:45), before discussing teams near the top of the table: Nara (to 05:55), Kagoshima (to 09:15), Tochigi City (to 15:40), FC Osaka (to 20:40), and Hachinohe (to 29:25). Then attention turns to the bottom and the perilous predicaments...

After Jonny and Ben begin the episode by rounding up the Levain Cup quarter finals (to 14:15), they were joined by first time guest Naoya Kanai to chat about Kawasaki Frontale's progression to the Levain semis and their season so far, before we moved on to Japan's scoreless draw against Mexico in Oakland, and looked ahead to the Samurai Blue's meeting with the USA in Columbus, also touching on sim...

After Kyoto moved clear on top of J1 with ten rounds left, Jamie Meikle made a very welcome return to the pod to discuss Sanga's 5-0 romp over Okayama on Saturday, and what's gone so right in his side's remarkable campaign to this point (to 32:07). Then Jonny and Ben round up the rest of the top flight results, beginning with Kashiwa's controversy-tinged home win over Fukuoka, and Kobe edging past...

Very late this time (apologies!), Jon Steele rounds up all of last weekend's J2 action in a 15-minute solo pod. Also includes the regular Most Bravo Player segment, a check on the top and bottom of the table, and a preview of this weekend's action (Round 28)! Sorry again for the late upload, and thanks for the continued support! *You can join the J-Talk Podcast Patreon here: https://patreon.com/jt...

Kyoto and Kashima lead the way at the top of J1 after the weekend's Matchday 27, and after rounding up their very contrasting results (to 16:30), Jonny and Ben are joined by Kashiwa correspondent Seamus Johnston to chat about Reysol's brilliant come from behind home win over Urawa on Friday night and other talking points around the club (to 39:50). Then Jonny and Ben run through the other results...

After another busy round of J2 action, Jon Steele (flying solo this time) checks in on all of the main talking points in a 15-minute mini-pod. Also includes the usual segments - Most Bravo Player chat, and a look ahead to this weekend's Round 27 fixtures! *You can join the J-Talk Podcast Patreon here: https://patreon.com/jtalkpod *You can join our JLeague Chat Discord server here: https://discord....

With Ben back in Australia, Alan Gibson joined Jonny to run through all the major talking points from Round 26 of the J1 season. Time Stamps: Start - 01:50 Intro / Emperor’s Cup 01:50 - 1:36.24 Round 26 Review  1:36.25 - End Round 30/27 Preview Thanks again for listening!

Embarrassingly late this week, JTET is back with all of the latest news from a J2 standpoint. This time, Jon kicks off Part 1 with a review of the recent Emperor's Cup Round of 16 ties (from a J2 perspective), and rounds up all of last weekend's J2 action (Round 25 of the season). After that, Jon was joined by Big Pod regular (but JTET debutant) Ryo Nakagawara to talk in detail about Imabari's hom...

With J3 taking a short summer break at the moment, it seemed like the ideal time to record our latest J-Talk: Short Corner J3 Special for 2025! In this August edition, Jon Steele was joined by long-suffering Gifu supporter, groundhopper extraordinaire, and J3 expert Richy Palmer for a look at the current state of the third tier. In Part 1, Jon quizzes Richy on his trip to Nagasaki's beautiful Peac...

With Ben enjoying a well earned break back in Australia, Sam Robson made a welcome return to the pod. Together, Sam and Jonny took an in-depth look at all the drama and talking points from Round 25 of the 2025 J1 season. Time stamps as follows:  Start - 03:03 Emperor’s Cup wrap / Kunishige Kumamoto tribute  03:03 - 1:34.15 Round 25 Review  1:34.15 - End Round 26 Preview  Thanks again for all your...

After a long break between drinks, it's time for another JTET 'Two Jonnies' takeover! In Part 1 of this episode, Jon Steele runs though all of the key talking points from Round 24 of the J2 season. After that, Jon is joined by Jonny Nicol (on loan from Big Pod) for a deep dive on Kumamoto's home win over Mito, plus a chat about the state of J2 with 14 rounds left to go in 2025. Jonny also weighed...

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 Jon...

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). Befor...

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...

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...

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 Bluesk...