Sagan Tosu made their debut in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE in 2012 and they’ve stuck in the top flight ever since. Now, as they embark on their second decade in the first division, can they dream of the even bigger goal of winning their first-ever trophy?

Last season

Sagan took the league by storm to start the season, riding an impenetrable defense to be firmly in the AFC Champions League chase for the first half of the season. They stayed among the best teams for months, but eventually fell off a bit and finished in seventh place thanks to that defense. Only two teams allowed fewer goals than Sagan in 2021.

Key additions

The big news in Tosu, though, is the trio of attacking players brought in on loan - Taisei Miyashiro from Kawasaki Frontale, Yuki Kakita from Kashima Antlers and Jun Nishikawa from Cerezo Osaka. These three should give Sagan an infusion of talent and youth in the frontline, albeit potentially only a seasonal one.

Elsewhere, Naoyuki Fujita comes over from Cerezo Osaka and Yuji Ono joins from Gamba Osaka to provide help in the middle of the pitch. Diego will provide depth on the left side of defense after being acquired from Tokushima Vortis.

Key departures

Sagan Tosu’s steely rearguard took a hit when Eduardo joined Yokohama F·Marinos in the offseason, leaving a hole at center back. The left side is also considerably thinner as Ayumu Ohata left for Urawa Reds and Noriyoshi Sakai went to Nagoya Grampus. A couple more strong performers are gone as well, with Keita Yamashita off to F.C.Tokyo and Yuta Higuchi signing with Kashima Antlers.

Goal for 2022

Sagan have never finished in the top half of the table in consecutive seasons. When they’ve leapt up before, they stumbled the following season. Finishing in the top half again and making a run in a cup toward silverware would represent consistency - and therefore success.

What to watch for

There was a lot of turnover at Sagan Tosu this winter, with so many players leaving and even more coming in. That turnover even extended to the dugout and it’s likely fans can expect widespread change at Ekimae Real Estate Stadium, where Kenta Kawai will take the reins this season.

These changes bring an opportunity for a potentially more dynamic style of play. That makes the trio of attacking loanees, all 24 or younger, a compelling watch.

Miyashiro is especially worth keeping an eye on after a terrific season on loan at Tokushima Vortis last season. The 21-year-old had seven goals and two assists for the team, proving that he could be a game-changer in the top flight. If Miyashiro continues to improve, not only will Sagan have a spectacular player to put anywhere along the front line, but we could see the emergence of the next great Japanese attacker.