Jon and James begin their big review of the J2 season by looking at the five teams that finished in the bottom quarter of the standings in 2024.

In Part 1 of this episode, the relegation zone comes under the microscope as the boys cover Gunma (Start to 08:00), Kagoshima (08:00 to 12:50), and Tochigi SC (12:50 to 19:40).

Then in Part 2, the focus shifts to just above the drop zone, with Ehime (19:40 to 26:45) and Oita (26:45 to Finish) being analyzed in detail.

We hope everyone enjoys the pod - more review episodes coming soon!

Jonny and Ben welcomed Dan Orlowitz back to the pod to chat about Japan's World Cup qualifying victories over China and Indonesia, and how Hajime Moriyasu might approach more than a year of 'dead rubbers' after the Samurai Blue clinch qualification, which will almost certainly come in the next international break, in March (to 27:20), and also Peter Cklamovski's departure from FC Tokyo, after a year and a half in charge (to 39:35).

Then in Part 2 we round up the two J1 games played last weekend, and look ahead to the resumption of Urawa v Kawasaki on Friday, and the big one: The Emperor's Cup Final between Gamba Osaka and Kobe, at the National Stadium on Saturday.

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In this week’s standalone J-Talk: Short Corner, Mike Innes has a full review of all the action from anentertaining penultimate round of J3 fixtures, and a preview of what promises to be a dramatic final day of the regular season.

Thanks as always for your support of JTET, JTSC, and the J-Talk Podcast!

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