Sakura + Soccer
@sakura.soccer
An ongoing diary of occasional #JLeague journeys.
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Sakura + Soccer
@sakura.soccer
· Apr 11
👋 Hello, Bluesky! This account is a mirror of a little project of mine — documenting the interesting idiosyncrasies of #JLeague soccer, through film photography and just, y’know, postin’.
For the full history, head to sakura.soccer. And follow along here! ⚽️🌸
For the full history, head to sakura.soccer. And follow along here! ⚽️🌸
Half! 1-0, #SanfrecceHiroshima with the lead. And they deserve it — and maybe more; the sheer number of chances they've had boggles the mind. #Sanfrecce #Urawa
November 9, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Half! 1-0, #SanfrecceHiroshima with the lead. And they deserve it — and maybe more; the sheer number of chances they've had boggles the mind. #Sanfrecce #Urawa
Walking to Peace Wing stadium for #SanfrecceHiroshima vs. #UrawaReds! It's a wet one!
November 9, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Walking to Peace Wing stadium for #SanfrecceHiroshima vs. #UrawaReds! It's a wet one!
Reposted by Sakura + Soccer
Huge, huge game for #SanfrecceHiroshima tonight. I will be sleeping right through it, but: up the three arrows!
(No, I have no idea if that's an actual thing they say. Still!)
(No, I have no idea if that's an actual thing they say. Still!)
September 23, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Huge, huge game for #SanfrecceHiroshima tonight. I will be sleeping right through it, but: up the three arrows!
(No, I have no idea if that's an actual thing they say. Still!)
(No, I have no idea if that's an actual thing they say. Still!)
July 20, 2025 at 7:39 AM
April 19, 2025 at 2:28 AM
I've seen four games across J1, J2, and J3 this week. #GiravanzKitakyushu put in by far the most effort — winning the ball by throwing their bodies into it, moving together in attack, creating chance after chance.
Heartbreaking for them to go out this way.
Heartbreaking for them to go out this way.
April 16, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I've seen four games across J1, J2, and J3 this week. #GiravanzKitakyushu put in by far the most effort — winning the ball by throwing their bodies into it, moving together in attack, creating chance after chance.
Heartbreaking for them to go out this way.
Heartbreaking for them to go out this way.
Personally obsessed with this graphic that appears for every #GiravanzKitakyushu corner kick.
April 16, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Personally obsessed with this graphic that appears for every #GiravanzKitakyushu corner kick.
Man. I cannot describe the number of chances #GiravanzKitakyushu is getting. It's a credit to the coach — this team uses the ball *very* well.
They're a killer striker away from being a mid-tier (or better) J2 team.
They're a killer striker away from being a mid-tier (or better) J2 team.
April 16, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Man. I cannot describe the number of chances #GiravanzKitakyushu is getting. It's a credit to the coach — this team uses the ball *very* well.
They're a killer striker away from being a mid-tier (or better) J2 team.
They're a killer striker away from being a mid-tier (or better) J2 team.
Lots has happened! #YokohamaFC got a second, then #GiravanzKitakyushu pulled one back with a penalty. They're still in it!
And I got some (hopefully great) photos from deep within the Giravanz supporters section.
And I got some (hopefully great) photos from deep within the Giravanz supporters section.
April 16, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Lots has happened! #YokohamaFC got a second, then #GiravanzKitakyushu pulled one back with a penalty. They're still in it!
And I got some (hopefully great) photos from deep within the Giravanz supporters section.
And I got some (hopefully great) photos from deep within the Giravanz supporters section.
#GiravanzKitakyushu are moving the ball so well! I have a hunch this is a #YokohamaFC B-squad, just based on the jersey numbers out there — but I'm still impressed!
April 16, 2025 at 10:38 AM
#GiravanzKitakyushu are moving the ball so well! I have a hunch this is a #YokohamaFC B-squad, just based on the jersey numbers out there — but I'm still impressed!
#GiravanzKitakyushu went down one, pretty quickly — but they've looked good since! (They're playing J1 side #YokohamaFC, two divisions above them.)
April 16, 2025 at 10:33 AM
#GiravanzKitakyushu went down one, pretty quickly — but they've looked good since! (They're playing J1 side #YokohamaFC, two divisions above them.)
Annnd it's *gorgeous.* #GiravanzKitakyushu
April 16, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Annnd it's *gorgeous.* #GiravanzKitakyushu
Found our way to the stadium! #GiravanzKitakyushu
April 16, 2025 at 10:03 AM
Found our way to the stadium! #GiravanzKitakyushu
(By the way: I don't know which politicians' palms need greasing to get a straight-shot Shinkansen down to Nagasaki, but all these transfers are a bummer!)
April 16, 2025 at 5:43 AM
(By the way: I don't know which politicians' palms need greasing to get a straight-shot Shinkansen down to Nagasaki, but all these transfers are a bummer!)
Said goodbye to Nagasaki today! We did everything there is to do there — zip lined over the stadium, tried all the local beer, saw the sights — and I can't say enough good things about it.
Now: north, for one more game. #GiravanzKitakyushu, see you soon!
Now: north, for one more game. #GiravanzKitakyushu, see you soon!
April 16, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Said goodbye to Nagasaki today! We did everything there is to do there — zip lined over the stadium, tried all the local beer, saw the sights — and I can't say enough good things about it.
Now: north, for one more game. #GiravanzKitakyushu, see you soon!
Now: north, for one more game. #GiravanzKitakyushu, see you soon!
Found an even better place to watch the second half. #VVarenNagasaki #JLeague
April 13, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Found an even better place to watch the second half. #VVarenNagasaki #JLeague
GOOD GOD. #VVarenNagasaki scored the sickest bicycle kick goal imaginable… except the ref had blown the whistle a half second before, for a very questionable foul on #SaganTosu's keeper.
Really, really think Nagasaki were robbed here!
Really, really think Nagasaki were robbed here!
April 13, 2025 at 6:30 AM
GOOD GOD. #VVarenNagasaki scored the sickest bicycle kick goal imaginable… except the ref had blown the whistle a half second before, for a very questionable foul on #SaganTosu's keeper.
Really, really think Nagasaki were robbed here!
Really, really think Nagasaki were robbed here!
Checked in, grabbed sushi from the grocery store attached to the stadium (?), watched opening ceremonies involving dragons…
And we're off! #VVarenNagasaki #SaganTosu #JLeague
And we're off! #VVarenNagasaki #SaganTosu #JLeague
April 13, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Checked in, grabbed sushi from the grocery store attached to the stadium (?), watched opening ceremonies involving dragons…
And we're off! #VVarenNagasaki #SaganTosu #JLeague
And we're off! #VVarenNagasaki #SaganTosu #JLeague
Reposted by Sakura + Soccer
My. God.
I did not realize how cool this would be! Soccer fans: if you’re ever in Nagasaki, you’ve got to book a room at their soccer-stadium-slash-hotel. #JLeague
I did not realize how cool this would be! Soccer fans: if you’re ever in Nagasaki, you’ve got to book a room at their soccer-stadium-slash-hotel. #JLeague
April 13, 2025 at 3:30 AM
My. God.
I did not realize how cool this would be! Soccer fans: if you’re ever in Nagasaki, you’ve got to book a room at their soccer-stadium-slash-hotel. #JLeague
I did not realize how cool this would be! Soccer fans: if you’re ever in Nagasaki, you’ve got to book a room at their soccer-stadium-slash-hotel. #JLeague
So: this is the view from the hotel lobby. #VVarenNagasaki #JLeague
April 13, 2025 at 3:04 AM
So: this is the view from the hotel lobby. #VVarenNagasaki #JLeague
Reposted by Sakura + Soccer
Hiroshima is a gorgeous, vibrant, imminently-approachable city.
If your mental image of it is the Peace Memorial Park, or “ground zero,” or whatever: update it! It’s a real, live, bustling place, not some monument to your grandfathers’ guilt.
If your mental image of it is the Peace Memorial Park, or “ground zero,” or whatever: update it! It’s a real, live, bustling place, not some monument to your grandfathers’ guilt.
April 12, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Hiroshima is a gorgeous, vibrant, imminently-approachable city.
If your mental image of it is the Peace Memorial Park, or “ground zero,” or whatever: update it! It’s a real, live, bustling place, not some monument to your grandfathers’ guilt.
If your mental image of it is the Peace Memorial Park, or “ground zero,” or whatever: update it! It’s a real, live, bustling place, not some monument to your grandfathers’ guilt.
*Explosion* of relief from the #FagianoOkayama supporters at the final whistle. They held on!
April 12, 2025 at 6:59 AM
*Explosion* of relief from the #FagianoOkayama supporters at the final whistle. They held on!
Save of the match day, surely! #FagianoOkayama's keeper keeps #SanfrecceHiroshima off the board with an absurd showing of sheer reflexes.
April 12, 2025 at 6:31 AM
Save of the match day, surely! #FagianoOkayama's keeper keeps #SanfrecceHiroshima off the board with an absurd showing of sheer reflexes.