The 5 best jerseys of the 2022 J-League season

It's really close to the first kick-off of the J-League, the major Japanese soccer league, which will take place between the Kawasaki Frontale and FC Tokyo and as always the jerseys worn will not disappoint expectations. Japanese soccer in fact has distinguished itself over the years to balance the European style with the exuberance and creativity of the East, creating cult jerseys for fans and not. Between colorful graphics and logos populated by animals, retro details and fonts never seen before this year, the teams of the J-League are a must watch. We have chosen five jerseys not to be missed.

Kyoto Sanga

The oldest club in the J-League maintains the traditional purple hues on its jerseys, the symbolic color of the Empire that was once based in Kyoto. This season's jerseys are signed by Puma, the J-League's most popular technical sponsor with four teams, and feature a print where various shades of purple follow each other like tongues of fire. The sponsor's logo dominates the chest and on the top right the beautiful crest of Sanga, which represents a chōchin, the classic Chinese lantern. 

FC Tokyo

The jersey of the capital team designed by New Balance is an exercise in understated elegance, with wide red and blue stripes descending vertically to give a sense of strength and tranquility. It is then embellished with gold details, inspired by the traditional Japanese art "Ukiyo-e". On the inside of the collar we find the words "You'll never walk alone", the Liverpool chant that has also been adopted in the Far East, further confirmation of the influence of European soccer on Japanese soccer.

Jubilo Iwata

Speaking of European heritage, Jubilo Iwata has chosen Admiral as this season's technical sponsor, the glorious English brand that in the 1982 World Cup signed some of the most iconic jerseys of the Queen's national team. A template that the Japanese team has recovered for a jersey that consciously plays with nostalgia, coming out the winner thanks to the Yamaha main sponsor on the chest and three different colors sky blue, white and shocking pink.

Yokohama Marinos

Even the Yokohama Marinos have focused on nostalgia for their season jersey, a declared reference to the one worn in 1992 with a commemorative crest for the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the team. A jersey designed by adidas with a white collar, a white, red and blue pattern on the sides and a subplot that runs through the fabric and mimics the movement of the sea around the port of Yokohama.  

Cerezo Osaka

The Osaka team continues to color their jerseys highlighter pink, for an effect that will be hard to miss on the field. Designed by Puma, who offered the Japanese team the same V-neckline also used in kits for Manchester City and AC Milan, with a translucent pattern of diagonal lines giving the jersey a sense of speed and movement.