Cerezo Osaka was founded in 1957 as the Yanmar Diesel football club. One of the "Original Eight" founding members of the Japan Soccer League (JSL) in 1965, Yanmar won multiple league titles during the 1960s and 70s and was home to legendary Japan international striker Kunishige Kamamoto. Though the club missed the inaugural J-League season in 1993, they won the JFL championship in 1994 and joined the top flight in 1995.

"Cerezo" is Spanish for "cherry blossom", chosen as the sakura is both Osaka's official city flower and a symbol of Japan. After periods of fluctuation between J1 and J2, the club has been a permanent J1 fixture since their return in 2021. The 2017 domestic cup double -- winning both the Levain Cup and Emperor's Cup -- remains the crowning achievement in the club's modern history.

Cerezo Osaka operates one of the most productive youth academies in Japanese football. Shinji Kagawa rose through the Cerezo youth system before starring at Borussia Dortmund -- where he won back-to-back Bundesliga titles -- and Manchester United. Takumi Minamino, another Cerezo academy graduate, went on to play for Red Bull Salzburg, Liverpool, and Monaco, cementing Cerezo's reputation as a talent factory.

The club also made headlines in 2014 when Diego Forlan, the 2010 World Cup Golden Ball winner, joined the squad. More recently, Sota Kitano earned a move to Red Bull Salzburg, demonstrating that the academy pipeline continues to thrive. In 2023, Kagawa made an emotional return to Cerezo, coming full circle at the club where it all began.

Yodoko Sakura Stadium (Nagai Stadium) is a purpose-built football venue that opened in 2021, with a capacity of approximately 25,000. The close proximity between the stands and the pitch delivers an outstanding matchday atmosphere. Located within Nagai Park in Osaka's Higashisumiyoshi ward, it is easily accessible from JR and Metro Nagai stations.

The naming rights agreement with Yodoko (Yodogawa Steel Works) expired in March 2026, and the stadium's future branding is yet to be confirmed.