For the second season running, the J.League 1 will welcome a debutant club amongst their ranks after Fagiano Okayama had book their spot in the top-flight after beating heavy favorites Vegalta Sendai 2-0 in the 2024 J.League 2 promotion play-offs on December 7th.
Fagiano finally reached the top-flight after being the joint-longest resident of the J2 at 15 years, effectively passing on that title to Mito HollyHock on their way up.
During those 15 years, Fagiano have established themselves as a solid J2 side, slowly gaining a reputation as a proper mid-to-top half finisher and sometimes a contender for promotion to the J1, with Fagiano only failing to make the top half just three times in the last 10 years.
Current head coach Takashi Kiyama is a man who has somewhat of a cursed reputation, having brought his side to the promotion play-offs four times and failing at each time. Enjoying his third year at Fagiano, Kiyama took the Pheasants to the play-offs during his first year there, only for Fagiano to succumb to a shock 3-0 defeat to Montedio Yamagata in the first hurdle.
Fagiano kept their faith in Kiyama, even after a 10th placed finish in 2023, and that trust was paid in full in 2024. Fagiano exacted their revenge on Montedio in the first one with a comprehensive 3-0 demolition job at Yamagata, before prevailing past a Vegalta side who were tipped for promotion despite finishing sixth in this season’s J2.
Kiyama had coached in the J1 before, ironically at Vegalta during the pandemic-ridden 2020 season, and his tenure there was a disappointment as Vegalta finished second-last…it was a good thing that relegation was abolished for that season. Now with Fagiano, Kiyama would be hoping for a shot of redemption as the Pheasants seek to cement themselves in the top-flight.
Fagiano built their success and reputation as a competitive side in the J2 thanks to a combination of their excellent academy and some shrewd signings. The likes of NEC Nijmegen’s Kodai Sano, Gamba Osaka’s shot-stopper Jun Ichimori, and Kashima Antlers star Hayato Nakama came from the Fagiano conveyor belt, while the likes of Yudai Tanaka, Takaya Kimura, and Kaito Abe were honed within Fagiano after being recruited from their respective schools and universities.
There’s also the signings of goal-scoring Yasutaka Yanagi, Takahiro Yanagi that provided some calm at right-back, German goalkeeper Sven Brodersen, who bounced back form the heartbreak of relegation with Yokohama FC back in 2023, and top-scorer Hiroto Iwabuchi, who banged in 13 goals as a bargain signing from Iwaki FC.
Should Fagiano retain their consistency both on-field and at the transfer market, we might see them establish themselves as a proper J1 side in due time. They won’t pull off a shock title challenge like Machida Zelvia did last season, but they might do a Tokyo Verdy – being thoroughly consistent all-season, establishing themselves as a tricky side to play against, and who knows, they’ll might end up finishing higher than everyone expected. But for now, the Pheasants of Okayama will just enjoy the moment and savor the upcoming days in the top-flight. And perhaps build a fledging regional rivalry with last season’s runners-up Sanfrecce Hiroshima? Only time will tell.