Plenty of Nothing

The Sakuradamon Incident

On this day in 1860 a group of ronin from the Mito Domain attacked and killed Ii Naosuke, a powerful minister of the Shogunate, just outside the Sakurada Gate as he was being escorted into Edo Castle. They were angry about the signing of the Harris Treaty and the purge of political opponents to it. The incident recalls the tale of the 47 Ronin, and was itself a model for the February 26 Incident of 1936. Print by Taiso Yoshitoshi (1839-92). Source.

Deer and Stag Calendar, November 1910

The November 1910 page from a promotional calendar put out by the Deer and Stag Brand Silk. The illustration is by Kobayashi Kiyochika. Read about it.

Full Moon Over Kanazawa

Full Moon Over Kanazawa by Hiroshige. Source.

Yoshida Tōshi, Peggy's Cove

Source. Yoshida Tōshi.

Okochi Denjiro as Tange Sazen

Tange Sazen, the one-armed, one-eyed ronin, began as a minor character in a series of stories by Kaitarō Hasegawa in the 1920s and went on to become the main character of many films and TV shows, including The Million Ryo Pot (1935). Portrait by Natori Shunsen. Source.

98th Emperor's Cup, Round Three

Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series: Takamatsu Castle in Sanuki (1921), by Kawase Hasui. Source.

It's Round Three of the 98th Emperor's Cup. All the J3 clubs are out. Except for Nara Club, all the JFL clubs are out. Except for Kwansei Gakuen University, all the prefectural champions are out. Kamatamare Sanuki, about whom I did all this nice research, are out.

But our guys Mito HollyHock, Montedio Yamagata, Vegalta Sendai, Albirex Niigata and Consadole Sapporo are still in.

Let's carry on with this year's method and follow everyone.

Match No. 57: Kawasaki Frontale (J1) [1 - 1] Mito HollyHock (J2) [Frontale win on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 58: Shonan Bellmare (J1) [0 - 0] V-Varen Nagasaki (J1) [Bellmare won on penalty kicks.]

This is the fourth meeting between these two in 2018. Bellmare beat V-Varen 2 - 1 in the first week of the league schedule. In Group D of the League Cup V-Varen won 2 - 1, and then Bellmare won 2 - 0.

Match No. 59: Sagan Tosu (J1) [3 - 1] Tokushima Vortis (J2)

Match No. 60: Vissel Kobe (J1) [6 - 1] JEF United Chiba (J2)

Match No. 61: Kashiwa Reysol (J1) [1 - 2] Montedio Yamagata (J2) [Upset]

Match No. 62: FC Tokyo (J1) [3 - 1] Albirex Niigata (J2)

Match No. 63: Yokohama F. Marinos (J1) [2 - 1] Yokohama FC (J2)

It's a Yokohama Derby!

Match No. 64: Vegalta Sendai (J1) [1 - 0] Omiya Ardija (J2)

Match No. 65: Kashima Antlers (J1) [5 - 1] Machida Zelva (J2)

Match No. 66: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (J1) vs Nara Club (JFL)
Nagoya Grampus (J1)

The penalty kicks at the end of Game 44 were disallowed because of a procedural error, and retaken on June 28th. This time Nagoya won. Sanfrecce and Grampus have their first league game on July 22nd. (Match No. 66 is postponed because of the flooding and landslides around Hiroshima.)

Match No. 67: Urawa Red Diamonds (J1) [2 - 1] Matsumoto Yamaga (J2)

Match No. 68: Kwansei Gakuen University (Kanto Student League 1) [0 - 1] Tokyo Verdy (J2)

Match No. 69: Cerezo Osaka (J1) [3 - 0] Zweigen Kanazawa (J2)

Match No. 70: Shimizu S-Pulse (J1) [0 - 1] Ventforet Kofu (J2) [Upset]

Match No. 71: Júbilo Iwata (J1) [4 - 1] Renofa Yamaguchi (J2)

Match No. 72: Consadole Sapporo (J1) [4 - 0] Avispa Fukuoka (J2)

Kamatamare Sanuki in the Emperor's Cup:

98回        R2        Yokohama FC 2 - 0 Kamatamare Sanuki

97回        R2        Ehime FC 2 - 1 Kamatamare Sanuki

96回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 1 - 0 FC Imabari

                R2        Kamatamare Sanuki 0 - 2 Ehime FC

95回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 1 - 0 Kochi University

                R2        Montedio Yamagata 3 - 1 Kamatamare Sanuki

94回        R2        Matsumoto Yamaga 1 - 0 Kamatamare Sanuki

93回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 7 - 2 Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu Commercial High School

                R2        JEF United Ichihara Chiba 5 - 0 Kamatamare Sanuki

92回        R1        Saga University 0 - 5 Kamatamare Sanuki

                R2        Sagan Tosu 0 - 1 Kamatamare Sanuki

                R3        Kamatamare Sanuki 1 - 2 Urawa Red Diamonds

91回        R1        Yonago Kita High School 1 - 3 Kamatamare Sanuki

                R2        Yokohama F. Marinos 3 - 1 Kamatamare Sanuki

90回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 1 - 1 Kochi University (Kamatamare won on penalty kicks.)

                R2        Omiya Ardija 4 - 1 Kamatamare Sanuki

89回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 1 - 0 Tottori Dreams FC

                R2        FC Tokyo 4 - 0 Kamatamare Sanuki

88回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 1 - 0 Gainare Tottori

                R2        Tokushima Vortis Second 2 - 1 Kamatamare Sanuki

87回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 1 - 4 Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC

86回        R1        Kamatamare Sanuki 0 - 5 Rosso Kumamoto

In 2005 Kamatamare Sanuki were known as Takamatsu FC.

From 2000 to 2004 they were known as Sun Life FC.

81回        R1        Sun Life FC 0 - 4 Kunimi High School

80回        R1        Sun Life FC 0 - 5 Otsuka Pharmaceuticals

From 1991 to 1999 they were known as Kagawa Shiun FC.

79回        R1        Kagawa Shiun FC 4 - 3 Nissei Plastic Industrial

                R2        Honda FC 6 - 0 Kagawa Shiun FC

78回        R1        Kagawa Shiun FC 1 - 9 Kawasaki Frontale

77回        R1        Kagawa Shiun FC 1 - 0 Waseda University

                R2        Jatco 6 - 0 Kagawa Shiun FC

76回        R1        Toa University 3 - 4 Kagawa Shiun FC

                R2        Honda FC 3 - 2 Kagawa Shiun FC 

98th Emperor's Cup, Round Two

The Hakkō ichiu monument in Miyazaki was built in 1940 on the site of Emperor Jimmu's palace to promote the cause of Japanese expansionism. It was later rebranded for peace. Print by Tokuriki Tomikichiro. Source.

This is the round where J1 and J2 clubs enter and reality kicks in for a lot of prefectural champions. Again, let's watch all the games:

Match No. 25: Kawasaki Frontale (J1) [3 - 2] Sony Sendai (JFL)

Match No. 26: Mito Hollyhock (J2) [2 - 0] Ehime FC (J2)

Match No. 27: Shonan Bellmare (J1) [1 - 0] Hokkaido University of Education Iwamizawa (Hokkaido Student League 1)

Match No. 28: V-Varen Nagasaki (J1) [2 - 1] Matsue City FC (Chugoku League)

Match No. 29: Sagan Tosu (J1) [7 - 0] Tadotsu FC (Shikoku League)

Match No. 30: Tokushima Vortis (J2) [1 - 0] Tochigi SC (J2)

Match No. 31: Vissel Kobe (J1) [3 - 0] Fukuoka University (Kyushu University League 1)

Match No. 32: JEF United Chiba (J2) [2 - 2] ReinMeer Aomori (JFL) [JEF win on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 33: Kashiwa Reysol (J1) [6 - 0] Vonds Ichihara (Kanto League)

Match No. 34: Montedio Yamagata (J2) [2 - 2] FC Gifu (J2) [Montedio won on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 35: FC Tokyo (J1) [4 - 2] Ryutsu Keizai University Dragons (JFL)

Match No. 36: Albirex Niigata (J2) [0 - 0] Kochi United (Shikoku League) [Albirex won on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 37: Yokohama F. Marinos (J1) [4 - 3] FC Osaka (JFL)

Match No. 38: Yokohama FC (J2) [2 - 0] Kamatamare Sanuki (J2)

Match No. 39: Vegalta Sendai (J1) [4 - 0] Thespakusatsu Gunma (J3)

Match No. 40: Omiya Ardija (J2) [1 - 0] Nagano Parceiro (J3)

Match No. 41: Kashima Antlers (J1) [6 - 1] Honda FC (JFL)

Match No. 42: Fagiano Okayama (J2) [0 - 1] Machida Zelvia (J2)

Match No. 43: Sanfrecce Hiroshima (J1) [2 - 0] Gainare Tottori (J3)

Match No. 44: Nagoya Grampus (J1) [1 - 1] Nara Club (JFL) [Nara Club win on penalty kicks. Upset!]

Match No. 45: Urawa Red Diamonds (J1) [3 - 0] YSCC (J3)

Match No. 46: Matsumoto Yamaga (J2) [1 - 1] Roasso Kumamoto (J2) [Matsumoto win on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 47: Gamba Osaka (J1) [1 - 2] Kwansei Gakuen University (Kansai Student League 1) [Big upset!]

Match No. 48: Tokyo Verdy (J2) [3 - 2] Kataller Toyama (J3)

Match No. 49: Cerezo Osaka (J1) [1 - 0] Tegevagaro Miyazaki (JFL)

Match No. 50: Kyoto Sanga (J2) [1 - 3] Zweigen Kanazawa (J2)

Match No. 51: Shimizu S-Pulse (J1) [1 - 0] FC Imabari (JFL)

Match No. 52: Ventforet Kofu (J2) [3 - 1] Ryutsu Keizai University (Kanto University League 1)

Match No. 53: Júbilo Iwata (J1) [3 - 2] Chukyo University (Tokai Student League 1)

Match No. 54: Oita Trinita (J2) [1 - 2] Renofa Yamaguchi (J2)

Match No. 55: Consadole Sapporo (J1) [2 - 1] MIO Biwako Shiga (JFL)

Match No. 56: Avispa Fukuoka (J2) [1 - 0] Kagoshima United (J3)

Notice how every J1 team gets home field advantage and an opponent from J3 or below, as do six J2 teams (the three demoted from 2017 J1, plus teams 4, 5 and 6 from 2017 J2).

Which teams play in Kyushu?

Kyushu is the southernmost of the four big Japanese islands. It's divided into seven prefectures: Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Nagasaki, Oita, Saga, Kagoshima, Miyazaki. Though far to the south of it , Ryukyu (Okinawa) often gets rolled into Kyushu organizationally. The top soccer teams are:

J1    Sagan Tosu

J2    Avispa Fukuoka, Oita Trinita, Roasso Kumamoto, V-Varen Nagasaki

J3    Kagoshima United, Giravanz Kitakyushu

JFL    Honda Lock, Verspah Oita, Tegevagaro Miyazaki

Kyushu Soccer League:    Okinawa SV, NIFS (National Institute of Fitness and Sports) Kanoya SC, Nippon Steel Oita, J.FC Miyazaki, Kumamoto Teacher Kickoff Foundation, Kyushu Mitsubishi Motors SC, Kawasoe Club, FC Nakatsu, Kaiho Bank SC, Saga Lixil FC

Honda Lock SC are a JFL club based in Miyazaki on the east coast of Kyushu. Like Honda FC they are an affiliate of Honda Motors. They didn't make it to Round One this year, knocked out of the Miyazaki Prefecture final by Tegevagaro.

Honda Lock in the Emperor's Cup:

96回        R1        FC Ryukyu 1 - 0 Honda Lock

94回        R1        Mitsubishi Heavy Industry Nagasaki SC 1 - 2 Honda Lock

                R2        Yokohama F. Marinos 3 - 0 Honda Lock

90回        R1        Hoyo Atletico Elan 1 - 2 Honda Lock

                R2        Oita Trinita 3 - 2 Honda Lock

89回        R1        Honda Lock 4 - 0 Kumamoto Gakuen University

                R2        Tokyo Verdy 0 - 1 Honda Lock

                R3        Nagoya Grampus 2 - 0 Honda Lock

88回        R1        New Wave Kitakyushu 1 - 1 Honda Lock (Kitakyushu won on penalty kicks.)

87回        R2        Honda Lock 3 - 1 Wakayama High School of Kinki University

                R3        Cerezo Osaka 4 - 2 Honda Lock

85回        R1        Hachinohe University 2 - 6 Honda Lock

                R2        Mie Chukyo University 1 - 2 Honda Lock

                R3        Tochigi SC 0 - 1 Honda Lock

                R4        Kashima Antlers 7 - 0 Honda Lock

84回        R1        Honda Lock 4 - 1 Teikyo Daisan High School

                R2        Honda Lock 4 - 1 Nagano Elza

                R3        Consadole Sapporo 2 - 1 Honda Lock

81回        R1        Hosei University 1 - 0 Honda Lock

80回        R1        NTT Kumamoto 0 - 2 Honda Lock

                R2        Urawa Red Diamonds 9 - 0 Honda Lock

79回        R1        Honda Lock 0 - 5 Vegalta Sendai

Naruto Whirlpools

Detail from an ukiyo-e by Hiroshige showing the whirlpools in the Naruto Strait. Source.

98th Emperor's Cup, Round One

Hamamatsu on the Tokaido, by Kitsushika Hokusai. Source.

It's the first round of the 98th Emperor's Cup, when prefectural champions meet. Let's follow all the games.

Match No. 1: Iwaki FC (Tohoku League 2) [1 - 2] Sony Sendai (JFL)

In last year's cup Iwaki FC beat Norbritz Hokkaido and Consadole Sapporo before going down to Shimizu S-Pulse in Round Three.

Match No. 2: Hokkaido University of Education Iwamizawa (Hokkaido Student League 1) [1 - 1] Nirasaki Astros (Yamanashi League 1) [Hokkaido won on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 3: SRC Hiroshima (Chugoku League) [0 - 4] Matsue City FC (Chugoku League)

These two have already met in league play this season, with Matsue City winning 5 - 1 in Hiroshima.

Match No. 4: Tadotsu FC (Shikoku League) [2 - 2] Tokai University Kumamoto (Kyushu University League 1) [Tadotsu won on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 5: Fukuoka University (Kyushu University League 1) [1 - 0] FC Tokushima Celeste (Shikoku League)

Match No. 6: Sakushin Gakuin University (North Kanto University League) [3 - 3] ReinMeer Aomori (JFL) [ReinMeer won on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 7: Blaublitz Akita (J3) [0 - 1] Vonds Ichihara (Kanto League)

Match No. 8: Ryutsu Keizai University Dragons (JFL) [2 - 0] Yamagata University (Tohoku University League)

Match No. 9: Kochi United (Shikoku League) [2 - 0] Mitsubishi Mizushima (Chukogu League)

Kochi United beat Mitsubishi Mizushima 5 - 2 in the All Japan Regional Football Champions League last November.

Match No. 10: FC Osaka (JFL) [3 - 0] Tokuyama University (Chukogu University League 1)

Match No. 11: Thespakusatsu Gunma (J3) [2 - 1] Komazawa University (Kanto University League 1)

Match No. 12: Nagano Parceiro (J3) [3 - 2] Niigata University of Health and Welfare (Hokushinetsu University League 1)

Match No. 13: Arterivo Wakayama (Kansai League 1) [2 - 3] Honda FC (JFL)

Match No. 14: Gainare Tottori (J3) [1 - 1] Verspah Oita (JFL) [Gainare won on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 15: Nara Club (JFL) [2 - 0] Kanazawa Seiryo University (Hokushinetsu University League 1)

Match No. 16: YSCC (J3) [3 - 2] Tokyo International University (Kanto League 2)

Match No. 17: Suzuka Unlimited FC (Tokai League 1) [0 - 1] Kwansei Gakuin University (Kansai Student League 1)

Match No. 18: Kataller Toyama (J3) [1 - 0] Ococias Kyoto AC (Kansai League 1)

Match No. 19: Saga Lixil (Kyushu League) [0 - 3] Tegevajaro Miyazaki (JFL)

Match No. 20: FC Ryukyu (J3) [1 - 1] FC Imabari (JFL) [Imabari won on penalty kicks.]

Match No. 21: Grulla Morioka (J3) [1 - 2] Ryutsu Keizai University (Kanto University League 1)

RKU have two teams in this tournament.

Match No. 22: Saurcos Fukui (Hokushinetsu League) [2 - 3] Chukyo University (Tokai Student League 1)

Match No. 23: NK Kani (Gifu League) [0 - 3] MIO Biwako Shiga (JFL)

Match No. 24: Kagoshima United (J3) [3 - 0] Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science (Kyushu University League 1)

Honda FC have been around since 1971. They play at Miyakoda Soccer Stadium in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. Hamamatsu is the original home of Honda Motor Company, now headquartered in Tokyo. The club participated in the top level of Japanese soccer in the 1980s, but the club's corporate owners staunchly refuse to get involved in the J League. This seems a strange policy, especially as Júbilo Iwata, the former Yamaha Motor Company FC, also from Shizuoka, has attained all kinds of success in J1.

Honda FC in the Emperor's Cup:

97回        R1        Honda FC 3 - 1 Biwako Seikei Sport College

                R2        Júbilo Iwata 2 - 2 Honda FC (Júbilo won on penalty kicks)

96回        R1        FC Gifu 1 - 2 Honda FC

                R2        Matsumoto Yamaga 1 - 2 Honda FC

                R3        Grulla Morioka 1 - 2 Honda FC

                R4        FC Tokyo 2 - 1 Honda FC

90回        R1        Honda FC 7 - 2 FC Gifu Second

                R2        Shimizu S-Pulse 2 - 0 Honda FC

89回        R1        Mie Chukyo University 0 - 7 Honda FC

                R2        JEF United Chiba 3 - 0 Honda FC

88回        R1        Yokkaichi University 1 - 3 Honda FC

                R2        Hannan University 0 - 4 Honda FC

                R3        Sagan Tosu 4 - 0 Honda FC

87回        R2        Honda FC 2 - 0 Saitama SC

                R3        Tokyo Verdy 0 - 1 Honda FC

                R4        Kashiwa Reysol 2 - 3 Honda FC

                R5        Honda FC 2 - 0 Nagoya Grampus

                QF        Kashima Antlers 1 - 0 Honda FC

86回        R3        Honda FC 1 - 0 Kochi University

                R4        Kashima Antlers 4 - 0 Honda FC

85回        R3        Honda FC 3 - 1 Fukuoka University

                R4        Cerezo Osaka 1 - 1 Honda FC (Cerezo won on penalty kicks)

84回        R2        Honda FC 3 - 2 Sapporo University

                R3        Honda FC 8 - 0 FC Central Chūgoku

                R4        Nagoya Grampus Eight 3 - 0 Honda FC

83回        R3        FC Tokyo 2 - 2 Honda FC (Tokyo won on penalty kicks)

82回        R1        Okinawa Kariyushi 2 - 3 Honda FC

                R2        Honda FC 3 - 0 Oita Trinita U-18

                R3        Gamba Osaka 3 - 1 Honda FC

81回        R1        Kochi University 0 - 1 Honda FC

                R2        Honda FC 6 - Kainan

                R3        Shimizu S-Pulse 2 - 1 Honda FC

80回        R1        Tenri University 0 - 6 Honda FC

                R2        Honda FC 2 - 0 Nippon Steel Oita (?)

                R3        Kashiwa Reysol 2 - 1 Honda FC

79回        R1        Nangoku Kōchi FC 3 - 7 Honda FC

                R2        Honda FC 6 - 0 Kagawa Shiun Club

                R3        Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3 - 2 Honda FC

78回        R1        Tenri University 2 - 3 Honda FC

                R2        Honda FC 4 - 0 Hosho High School

                R3        JEF United Ichihara 0 - 2 Honda FC

                R4        Honda FC 1 - 3 Verdy Kawasaki

77回        R1        Blaze Kumamoto 0 - 2 Honda FC

                R2        Honda FC 3 - 1 Albirex Niigata

                R3        Kyoto Purple Sanga 3 - 2 Honda FC

76回        R1        Aoyama Gakuin University 0 - 4 Honda FC

                R2        Honda FC 3 - 2 Kagawa Shiun Club

                R3        Avispa Fukuoka 3 - 1 Honda FC

75回        R1        Yokohama Marinos 3 - 2 Honda FC

72回        R1        Honda FC 1 - 0 NEC Yamagata

                R2        Fujita Industries 3 - 1 Honda FC

71回        R1        Honda Motors 2 - 1 Fujitsu

                R2        Honda Motors 2 - 1 PJM Futures

                R3        Honda Motors 2 - 2 Mitsubishi Motors (Honda won on penalty kicks)

                SF        Honda Motors 1 - 1 Nissan Motors (Nissan won on penalty kicks)

70回        R1        Fujitsu 1 - 2 Honda

                R2        Mitsubishi Motors 0 - 0 Honda (Honda won on penalty kicks)

                R3        All Nippon Airways 1 - 2 Honda

                SF        Honda 1 - 2 Mitsushita Electric

69回        R1        Honda 4 - 3 Tsukuba University

                R2        Honda 1 - 3 Yanmar Diesel

68回        R1        Aoyama Gakuin University 0 - 8 Honda

                R2        Cosmo Oil 0 - 2 Honda

                QF        Yamaha Motors 2 - 0 Honda

67回        R1        Honda 2 - 0 Fujitsu

                R2        Honda 0 - 0 Fujita Industries (Honda won on penalty kicks)

                QF        Yomiuri 1 - 1 Honda (Yomiuri won on penalty kicks)

66回        R1        Honda 3 - 0 Kofu

                R2        Honda 5 - 1 All Nippon Airways

                QF        Honda 2 - 2 Yamaha Motors (Yamaha won on penalty kicks)

65回        R1        Toshiba 1 - 2 Honda

                R2        Toyota Motors 2 - 1 Honda

64回        R1        Honda 2 - 2 Tsukuba University (Honda won on penalty kicks)

                R2        Honda 1 - 0 Hitachi

                QF        Honda 0 - 1 Furukawa Electric

63回        R1        Honda 4 - 2 Toshiba

                R2        Honda 3 - 0 Sumitomo Metals

                QF        NKK 2 - 1 Honda

62回        R1        Fujitsu 4 - 3 Honda

61回        R1        Aichi Gakuin University 0 - 3 Honda

                R2        Nissan Motors 1 - 2 Honda

                QF        Honda 2 - 4 NKK

60回        R1        Honda 2 - 3 Tanabe Pharmaceuticals

59回        R1        Honda 3 - 0 Osaka University of Commerce

                R2        Honda 1 - 2 Yanmar Diesel

58回        R1        Honda 2 - 1 Kokushikan University

                R2        Honda 0 - 3 Furukawa Electric

57回        R1        Honda 1 - 0 Nissan Motors

                R2        Honda 0 - 2 Mitsubishi Motors

56回        R1        Yanmar Club 2 - 1 Honda

54回        R2        Honda 1 - 2 Waseda University

53回        R2        Kyoto Shiko 2 - 2 Honda (Honda won on penalty kicks)

                R3        Yanmar Diesel 4 - 1 Honda

Onjuku, Chiba

Onjuku, Chiba by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957). Source.