J1 first half of the season Best XI. Yu Hirakawa of table-topping Machida season’s breakout star; fully-recovered Takashi Usami leads Gamba’s resurgence

On 23 June the J1 League completed its 19th matchday, and halfway through the season Machida Zelvia sit top of the table. The J1 debutant’s sensational start is probably the biggest story of the first half of the season.

Trailing Machida by two points are Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka. Both of these clubs have been in the doldrums in recent years, but have developed new styles and are poised for prestigious revivals. These three teams are being chased by last season’s champions Vissel Kobe and top scorers Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Who has shone brightest in the league so far, with the competition far tighter than in recent years? We have selected what we consider to be the Best XI from the first half of the season.

The goalkeeper has to be Gamba’s Jun Ichimori. The shot-stopper returned this season after gaining experience with Yokohama F. Marinos and has supported the team, which boasts the tightest defence in the league, from the back. He is one of the best goalkeepers in Japan, tied for the league lead with seven clean sheets.

Shinnosuke Nakatani, also from Gamba, has been selected at centre-back. The experienced defender, who joined from Nagoya Grampus ahead of this season, has shown strength in one-on-one battles and strong leadership, and has successfully rebuilt a defence that conceded the most goals in the league last season.

The other centre-back is Ibrahim Dresevic from Machida. The Kosovo international, who boasts impressive physicality, not only capitalises upon his strength against opponents but also has excellent footwork and can play a key role in the team’s attacking play with his highly accurate balls out from the back. He is a strong presence in both attack and defence, and has been one of the key players in Machida’s breakout season.

At full-back, Kashima’s Kimito Nono has been selected. Despite playing just his first professional season after leaving  university, he immediately secured a place in the starting line-up and has played in every game so far. Nono has been particularly impressive in attack, scoring in three consecutive games from the eighth round against Kyoto Sanga, and has already found the net five times – an astonishing feat for a full-back.

Another attacking wing-back making an impact is Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Naoto Arai. He made a splash with his sudden transfer from Albirex Niigata at the start of the season, scoring on his debut for Hiroshima against Gamba and then claiming an impressive hat-trick against Kyoto in Round 15. He has gone on to make the wing-back position his own, and has invigorated Hiroshima’s attacks from wide.

Chinen, converted to a central midfielder, is showing new qualities

In midfield, Kashima’s Kei Chinen has experienced a surprising revival. The striker, who has scored 29 goals in his J1 career, has been moved into a midfield role by new manager Ranko Popovic this season, allowing his sleeping talent to flourish. Chinen’s strength in individual battles is outstanding, and he boasts by far the best figures in the league when it comes to contesting duels, having won an impressive 83. His defensive prowess has been one of the reasons for Kashima’s success, with him also having made the most tackles in the league.

In Kobe’s bid for back-to-back championships, the presence of Hotaru Yamaguchi shines through. His physicality is undiminished as he tightens up the midfield defensively, and his presence in front of goal is also decisive. The former Japan international is not a standout player, but always delivers above-par performances to maintain the team’s stability.

Machida’s Yu Hirakawa can also not be overlooked. His sharp dribbling cuts down the flanks, and his precision crosses have led to several goals. He is also capable of scoring himself from cut-ins. The 23-year-old attacker has been a revelation in J1 this season, and has been undaunted in his first top flight campaign.

On the frontline, Cerezo Osaka’s Leo Ceara, who leads the scoring charts with 14 goals, is a must pick. He scored in six consecutive games from Round 6 onwards, and in his 19 appearances so far he has only failed to find the net in six matches. The Brazilian is leading Cerezo’s attack impressively as they aim for a long-awaited first league title.

Kashima, who are in contention for the championship for the first time in a long time, are led by their ace Yuma Suzuki. Not only has Suzuki already scored 10 times, but he is also a key player up front thanks to his enthusiastic defensive contributions. Above all, the way Suzuki continues to inspire the team with his passionate play is what makes him so valuable.

Another player who has experienced an impressive revival this year is Gamba’s Takashi Usami. After an injury-plagued and disappointing season in 2023, he got off to a good start this time out by scoring in each of his team’s opening three games, and has maintained a high performance ever since. As well as scoring and assisting, Usami has also led the team as captain. The former prodigy has transformed into a fighting general, helping the team with his dedicated defensive play. Usami holds the key to Gamba’s destiny, as they aim to win their first J1 crown since 2014.

J1 first half of the season Best XI

GK
Jun Ichimori / Gamba Osaka 19 matches / 14 goals conceded

DF
Shinnosuke Nakatani / Gamba Osaka / 19 matches, 1 goal, 0 assists
Ibrahim Dresevic / FC Machida Zelvia / 15 matches, 2 goals, 0 assists
Kimito Nono / Kashima Antlers / 19 matches, 5 goals, 0 assists
Naoto Arai / Sanfrecce Hiroshima / 18 matches, 5 goals, 1 assist

MF
Kei Chinen / Kashima Antlers / 18 matches, 0 goals, 2 assists
Hotaru Yamaguchi / Vissel Kobe / 19 matches, 2 goals, 0 assists
Yu Hirakawa / FC Machida Zelvia / 15 matches, 2 goals, 4 assists

FW
Leo Ceara / Cerezo Osaka / 19 matches, 14 goals, 1 assist
Yuma Suzuki / Kashima Antlers / 19 matches, 10 goals, 2 assists
Takashi Usami / Gamba Osaka / 19 matches, 7 goals, 3 assists