Football Season Guide

J2 League
Japan
J2 League
2024
Iwaki FC
Clean filter

Iwaki FC

In


Hyun-jin Joo (gk) Taxation; Kotaro Tachikawa (gk) Shonan Bellmare; Jin Ikoma (def) Renofa Yamaguchi; Hayato Teruyama (def) Imabari; Jun-yeong Park (def) Ansan Greeners; Rio Omori (def) FC Tokyo – on loan; Yuma Tsujioka (def) Pacific University; Rui Osako (mid) Cerezo Osaka – on loan; Jun Nishikawa (mid) Cerezo Osaka – on loan; Yusuke Onishi (mid) Kokushikan University; Kanta Sakagishi (mid) Niigata University; Yuma Kato (mid) Takushoku University; Yoshihito Kondo (att) Nagoya Gakuin; Keita Shirawachi (att) Toin University; Keita Buwanika (att) JEF United; Ryo Tanada (att) Sanfrecce Hiroshima – on loan;

Out


Toru Takagiwa (r) (gk) Tokyo Verdy – end of loan; Rei Ieizumi (r) (def) Consadole Sapporo; Genki Egawa (r) (def) FC Osaka; Ryo Endo (r) (def) Albirex Niigata – end of loan; Eiji Miyamoto (r) (mid) Albirex Niigata; Ryo Arita (r) (att) Montedio Yamagata; Takumi Kawamura (sp) (def) Tokyo Verdy; Sota Nagai (sp) (mid) Tokyo Verdy; Hiroto Iwabuchi (sp) (att) Fagiano Okayama; Shu Yoshizawa (sp) (att) Miyazaki; Yoshihito Kondo (sp) (att) Nagoya Gikuin – end of loan; Wataru Kuromiya (def) Fukuyama City; Tomoki Yoshida (def) Kochi Utd; Asahi Haga (mid) FC Osaka – on loan;

In their first-ever season in J2 the newly promoted Iwaki did well and in the end finished 8 points away from the relegation zone in 18th place. Iwaki showed ability to steal narrow wins in 2023 and this was very useful for them. The main issues, as was expected, were in defence. Iwaki conceded 69 goals in 42 rounds, with only 3 teams having worst records and 2 of those were the relegated sides. In terms of forward contributions Ryo Arita was huge and his goals literally brought 4 of the 12 league wins. Arita was sold this winter so his absence from the attack is bound to be felt. Buwanika and Tanada have been signed to fill the void, but some fans are worried with those moves as both of them are prone to injuries. Iwaki lost 5 other regulars from 2023 this winter, including 3 of their main defenders and the starting goalkeeper. Made moves already to fill those gaps and in the early rounds of the new season the displays might not be very good as the many new players try to build synchrony.

Target


Survival is the only goal. It will be a hard battle to achieve it.