The end of an era is approaching for the J.League's Kawasaki Frontale. Toru Oniki, the most successful manager in the soccer league’s history with four titles, is leaving his post at the end of the 2024 season.
An announcement was made on Wednesday, October 16.
Frontale are set to conclude their season on December 8 against Avispa Fukuoka, and Oniki's contract will not be renewed.
With Oniki at the helm since 2017, Frontale captured J.League titles in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021.
Kawasaki completed the 2023 season in eighth place, finishing below the top four for the first time under Oniki, and currently sit in 10th place with an 11-11-11 record.
"We haven't had good results this year, so I am the only one who can take responsibility after being in charge for so long," Oniki said during an online news conference, according to NHK.
Reflecting on his tenure in charge, Oniki, 50, stated that Frontale's first J.League title during his managerial stint was the most memorable.
"The title was the result of everyone's hard work, so I feel a strong sense of accomplishment in winning it together with my teammates, including the supporters," Oniki told reporters.
What does Oniki think was his imprint on the team?
"Rather than the titles, I think I have contributed to the team in some way if the players and staff could sense that the passion and enthusiasm I have shown every day has not changed," he said.
Major Accomplishments for Toru Oniki
Under Toru Oniki's leadership, Frontale emerged as a consistent winner. (The team finished third under Yahiro Kazama in 2016, the season before he took over as manager.)
In his first six seasons in charge, Frontale placed first, first, fourth, first, first and second before slipping to eighth in 2023.
At the same time, Oniki's squad collected a slew of other trophies.
Frontale won the Emperor's Cup twice (2020, 2023), a trio of Fujifilm Super Cup titles (2019, 2021 and '24) and the 2019 YBC Levain Cup crown.
After establishing themselves as quality footballers under Oniki's watchful eye, a number of talented players left Kawasaki to continue their careers in Europe.
For instance, Kaoru Mitoma of the English Premier League's Brighton & Hove Albion was an integral part of Frontale's J.League titles in 2020 and '21. Mitoma scored a combined 21 goals in those two seasons.
In addition, 2019 J.League Rookie of the Year Ao Tanaka, another former key contributor for Frontale, is now playing for second-tier English side Leeds United. Moreover, veteran defender Shogo Taniguchi left Frontale in 2022 after nine seasons with the team and now competes for Belgian team Sint-Truiden.
And Reo Hatate appeared in 61 J.League matches from 2020-21 before leaving Frontale and joining Scottish Premiership squad Celtic FC.
RELATED:
- [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Kawasaki Frontale Win the Fujifilm Super Cup
- [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Kawasaki Frontale Remain in Championship Form to Kick off 2021 Season
FC Tokyo, Shonan Bellmare Halt Unbeaten Streaks
Keita Endo and Soma Anzai scored goals to lead FC Tokyo to a 2-0 victory over reigning J.League champion Vissel Kobe on Friday night, October 18.
Vissel entered the match in Kobe riding a six-game winning streak.
"The whole team played really well against a very difficult opponent," Endo said, according to Kyodo News. "We really hung in there to get the win and it feels like a result we can build upon."
On Saturday, Shonan Bellmare topped Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2-1 in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. The decisive play was a goal by Satoshi Tanaka in second-half injury time. As a result, Sanfrecce's 11-match unbeaten streak ended.
Sanfrecce lead the J.League with 65 points (through October 19) and Vissel are second with 64.
Cycling
Yamasaki Wins Japan's 1st Men's Keirin World Title Since 1987
Kento Yamasaki edged runner-up Mikhail Yakovlev by 0.034 seconds in the fast-paced men's keirin final at the 121st UCI Track Cycling World Championships on Thursday, October 17 in Ballerup, Denmark.
Cyclists zoomed around the track during the six-lap race with average speeds of 70-plus kph.
With the win, Yamasaki joined Harumi Honda, in 1987, as the only Japanese men to win keirin world titles.
It was a thrilling accomplishment for Yamasaki.
"I still can't believe I won," the 31-year-old Nagasaki native was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
He then said, "I'm really happy I could produce this result for all the people who've supported me."
Volleyball
Olympic Gold Medal-Winning Mentor Tillie to Fill Japan Coaching Vacancy: Reports
Laurent Tillie, who led France to the men's volleyball title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, is set to be appointed Japan's next head coach, according to published reports. An announcement is imminent.
Fellow Frenchman Philippe Blain stepped down from the top coaching post following the 2024 Paris Olympics, creating a vacancy for the Japan national team.
Tillie, 60, guided the France national team from 2012-21. He currently coaches Osaka Bluteon, a men's pro squad in the SV.League.
Basketball
NeoPhoenix Playmaker Sasaki Having a Successful Start to 2024-25 B.League Season
After the first two weeks of the 2024-25 B.League season, San-en NeoPhoenix guard Ryusei Sasaki is first overall in assists (9.0 per game).
Sasaki had a pair of 12-assist efforts on the road against the SeaHorses Mikawa on October 12 and 13, helping to lead the NeoPhoenix (2-2) to a weekend sweep. The 28-year-old playmaker's team won the series opener 85-72 and triumphed 81-71 the next day.
Sasaki dished out a game-best nine assists in a season-opening four-point win over the Ryukyu Golden Kings on October 5 at Okinawa Arena.
Asked if he's focused on registering more assists this season, Sasaki told reporters that's not how he thinks about his role.
"I don't really have that kind of mindset, but my opponents will be taking countermeasures based on last season's results," he said after the series finale against Mikawa, a game in which he also scored 12 points. "So I feel that I would like to assist them and become a more difficult player to defend."
Then Sasaki said, "I am grateful to my teammates for the assists, as they are the ones who make the decisions for me."
Sasaki averaged 3.0 assists in 42 games in 2022-23, his second season with San-en.
In other news involving B.League teams, the 2024-25 East Asia Super League season got underway on October 16. The Ryukyu Golden Kings defeated the visiting Meralco Bolts 77-74 and the Hiroshima Dragonflies prevailed 78-67 at home over Hong Kong Eastern.
RELATED:
Tominaga to Play for NBA G League's Mad Ants
Former University of Nebraska guard Keisei Tominaga will begin his pro career with the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League, it was announced on Wednesday, October 16.
Tominaga was released by the Indiana Pacers in the preseason on September 27.
By joining the Mad Ants, the Pacers' G League affiliate, Tominaga will remain under the watchful eye of the organization's decision makers.
The Mad Ants open their season on the road against the Cleveland Charge on November 9.
Tominaga, 23, said he's determined to make a positive impact for the Mad Ants.
"I hope to contribute to the team winning by displaying my strength, 3-pointers and passion," Tominaga said in a statement, Kyodo News reported.
Added Tominaga, "I want to develop further and keep challenging myself to realize my dream of becoming an NBA player."
Briefly...
In the latest Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, released on Monday, October 14, Ayaka Furue maintained her position as the sixth-ranked golfer. Meanwhile, Miyuu Yamashita climbed four spots in the rankings to 13th.
The Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks have advanced to the Japan Series by sweeping the Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters in the Pacific League Climax Series Final Stage. SoftBank, Japanese baseball's powerhouse team between 2011 and 2020 with seven titles in that span, will play the winner of the Yomiuri Giants-Yokohama DeNA BayStars showdown in the Central League Climax Series Final Stage in the upcoming Japan Series, starting on October 26.
Quotes of the Week
"This is my dream stage. Whether I'm on for 40 minutes or one, I'll be giving it my 100 percent."
―Point guard Yuki Kawamura on playing for the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies in the preseason. Kawamura led the Grizzlies in assists with eight and seven, respectively, in back-to-back games on October 12 and 14 against the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers. After having a productive preseason (averaging 3.4 points, 4.2 assist and 15.1 minutes in five games), Kawamura received a two-way contract from the Grizzlies, the team announced on October 19. Per terms of the contract, Kawamura can play for the Grizzlies and their NBA G League affiliate, the Memphis Hustle.
"That’s a fight I would love to see. At this stage of his career, you want to see [Naoya] Inoue in big fights. Why take a risk fighting someone without a name? I would love to see that fight."
―Boxing analyst Raul Marquez on an anticipated future blockbuster fight between Inoue, the undisputed super bantamweight titlist, and current WBC bantamweight champion Junto Nakatani, Boxing Scene reported.
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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