author

 
 
Dan Orlowitz
Dan Orlowitz is a sports writer for the Japan Times, focusing primarily on the J. League, Samurai Blue, and everything there is to print about Japanese soccer. A Philadelphia native and graduate of Simon's Rock College, he moved to Japan at the end of 2006 and fell in love with the beautiful game from behind the FC Tokyo goal. His words, photos, voice, and occasionally visage have appeared online, in print, and over the airwaves for numerous outlets in several languages since 2011.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 20, 2018
Title-chasing Frontale overcome two-goal deficit in wild win over Vissel
There is a well-worn tradition in the J. League of championship contenders making their title run much more difficult than it needs to be.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Oct 17, 2018
New stars shine for Samurai Blue
A squad in transition following a surprisingly successful run in the World Cup. A new head coach establishing his vision. A South American opponent ranked fifth in the world. A sold-out Saitama Stadium. An impressive win that fans will look back on as having set the tone for the upcoming four-year cycle...
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Oct 8, 2018
Aspiring J. League first-division clubs face licensing obstacles
With rare exceptions such as the franchise-based system of Major League Soccer, promotion and relegation are the law of the land in soccer leagues across the world. The same is true of the J. League's three divisions, with a big caveat.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 29, 2018
S-Pulse spoil FC Tokyo's 20th anniversary festivities
All that glitters was not gold for FC Tokyo, whose 20th anniversary celebrations in special gold uniforms were crashed by Shimizu S-Pulse in a 2-0 defeat at Ajinomoto Stadium on Saturday evening.
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 28, 2018
Zelvia fail to acquire J1 license in blow to promotion hopes
The J. League on Thursday announced its decision on club licenses for the 2019 season, denying Machida Zelvia a J1 license as they sit in the second automatic promotion spot with eight rounds remaining in the season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Sep 24, 2018
J. League clubs see opportunities in tourism
While Andres Iniesta has not made the matchday squad at either of Vissel Kobe's matches in the Kanto area since his midsummer arrival, his name alone has drawn thousands of fans who might not normally make the trip to western Tokyo or central Saitama.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 23, 2018
Reds pummel Vissel as Andres Iniesta sits
Well over 50,000 Urawa Reds fans made their way to Saitama Stadium on Sunday night to see their team take on former Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta and Germany great Lukas Podolski.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 22, 2018
Reysol, Sagan play to 1-1 draw
Two teams arrived at Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium in desperate need of a win on Saturday afternoon, and neither found what they were looking for as Kashiwa Reysol and Sagan Tosu battled to a 1-1 draw in the first of the day's J. League action.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 16, 2018
J. League, fans rally behind Hokkaido after quake
After a trying year that has tested Japan with severe floods, record-setting heat, and fierce typhoons, the country was yet again challenged in September when a magnitude 7 earthquake jolted the northern island of Hokkaido, causing dozens of deaths and leaving millions without electricity.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 15, 2018
Second-place Frontale thrash Consadole, move closer to top of table
Kawasaki Frontale's weekend began as so many recent weekends have: with the team staring up at what appeared to be an insurmountable point gap between it and runaway J. League leaders Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 10, 2018
Former Japan star Uchida sees gap in quality as Moriyasu era begins
Following a four-day delay caused by the recent Hokkaido earthquake, Japan's men's soccer team will make their debut under new head coach Hajime Moriyasu on Tuesday against Central American visitors Costa Rica.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Sep 4, 2018
JFA to co-host inaugural esports tournament at 2019 National Sports Festival
The Japan Football Association has taken its biggest step yet in the country's burgeoning esports scene, joining the Japan Esports Union as co-host of the newly established esports competition in the cultural program at the 2019 National Sports Festival in Ibaraki Prefecture.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Sep 1, 2018
Sho Ito scores brace as Marinos grab much-needed win over Reysol
Two goals from Sho Ito and a pair of Olivier Boumal assists delivered a much-needed win for Yokohama F. Marinos as they topped Kashiwa Reysol 3-1 on Saturday night.
SOCCER
Aug 22, 2018
Ichiritsu Funabashi becomes Japan's first public school to sign uniform deal for soccer team
Ichiritsu Funabashi High School announced a partnership with job listing site MyNavi on Tuesday, becoming the first public school in the country to sign a uniform sponsor for its soccer club.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Aug 16, 2018
Keisuke Honda's globetrotting career leads to Australia
Six weeks ago, Samurai Blue star Keisuke Honda announced that he had participated in his last World Cup and hinted that retirement was on the table.

Longform

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