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 Player of the Season award (to 43:43).

Then in Part 2 we hand out more MVP gongs, and look ahead to Sunday's J1 Matchday 37.

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 suggesting talking points.

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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 bottom six teams in J1 (to 40:33), then review the Emperor's Cup semi finals from Sunday, and look ahead to Saturday's final between Machida and Kobe.

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 to matchday 37 (to end).

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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 Kyoto's 2025 Player of the Year, the future of Manager Cho Kwi Jae, and where the club can strengthen in the offseason (to 28:27).

Then in Part 2 Jonny and Ben round up the wins for Kashima and Kashiwa that left them as the last two teams standing in title contention, and work their way through the rest of the games, before finishing with a check on the national team squad and a look ahead to the Emperor's Cup semi finals.

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 matchday 36 games, including permutations regarding relegation, promotion and the title (to end).

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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 are just about clinging on (to end).

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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 (to 28:28).

Then in Part 2, Yokohama F.Marinos correspondent Stuart Woodward joins us again after his side's 3-0 home win over Hiroshima took them to the brink of securing safety, while we also discussed Shonan's relegation (to 58:58). And finally, Jonny and Ben round up the other five games, and look ahead to the Levain Cup final on Saturday.

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 27:00).

Discussion then turned to Most Bravo Player nominations (27:00 to 32:30), followed by look ahead to the upcoming games in Round 34 this weekend (32:30 to Finish).

*Thanks to Allen for guesting on the pod this week! Find him on BlueSky @mynameisjef.bsky.social

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