This is the first installment of a regular weekly report that we will be providing this season. It should be self-explanatory what the report is about - it is a recognition of those individuals who, in my view, are the weekly best 11 Japanese players in the J1. In keeping with the topic of "samurai", I will not be including any foreign players. This is a subjective, imperfect analysis which does not pretend to be providing any sort of "ultimate truth". I hope, however, that by reporting on some of the best performences of each week, it will stimulate interest and debate about the best national talents, and possible prospects for the National Team.

How do I compile this report? I watch highlights from all games, and usually 4-5 entire games. I also read opinions of my Japanese colleagues on magazines and websites. Feel free to comment on these choices and to contact me if you think I am missing something, or if you think I better follow closely a certain player. Enjoy!

Cesare Polenghi

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This Week’s Eleven Samurai:  Week 1 (4-4-2)

GK: Hitoshi SOGAHATA (Antlers) 

A couple of his extraordinary saves prevent Urawa Reds to stay in the game. All this on the same day when Nishikawa flops on his debut at Sanfrecce. The race for South Africa is open, and Okada might have noticed...

DF: Kodai WATANABE (Sendai)

A pleasant surprise: aggressive in the 1-on-1, and tactically mature when it comes to hold the line and defend with calm. Welcome to J1.

DF: Daiki IWAMASA (Antlers)

Few rivals for him in Japan, one hopes he could bring the same confidence when called to play for the National Team.

DF: Masahiko INOHA (Antlers)

One simple question: did the Antlers really need to bring aboard Lee Jung-soo?

DF: Kunie KITAYAMA (Vissel)

Directs the defense and systematically stops any attempt coming from Kyoto Sanga’s forwards. The kind of veteran that any team would love to have.

MF: Masaru KUROTSU (Frontale) THIS WEEK’S MVP

With Juninho and Kengo Nakamura kaputt, out-of-shape Frontale needs its supersubs to step up. Kurotsu surely read the writing on the wall: a super-goal, and a lot of headaches for Albirex’s defenders. Bravo!

MF: Junichi INAMOTO (Frontale)

Unlike some of his colleagues in the past, returns from Europe and seems immediately in control. Nothing exceptional, but a very-very solid game, exactly what his team needed.

MF: Mu KANAZAKI (Grampus)

Not yet completely comfortable with he new team-mates, shows anyway he has class and imagination. The second, decisive goal is basically his.

MF: Naohiro ISHIKAWA (FC Tokyo)

Comes in and inspires the winning goal. The mark of the champion.

FW: Sota HIRAYAMA (FC Tokyo)

Scruffy, sloppy, imprecise, but still has the will to make that last dash to slot home an after all deserved goal. Not yet a superstar, but constantly improving.

FW: Shinzo KOROKI (Antlers)

Flies like a hawk on Ogasawara’s cross and restarts the season where he had finished the last one: with a goal against Urawa Reds.

Manager: Makoto TEGURAMORI (Vegalta)

Seemingly, he has debunked J1 already. A very promising start for his Vegalta, especially if compared with the performances of the other two newly-promoted clubs.

Team of the week: OMIYA ARDIJA

A flamboyant victory: deserved, exciting and moving. Dedicated of course to the unlucky Tsukamoto, forced to retire from soccer because of a career-ending operation to treat bone cancer.

Donkey’s hat: Yojiro TAKAHAGI (Sanfrecce)

A few moments into the game dribbles on the right, dives into the goalkeeper on the left. The following pantomime on the penalty kick (Makino’s faint) could have been funny only if Sato would have missed. Unasked for.