Kashiwa Reysol were founded in 1940 as the football club of Hitachi, one of Japan's largest industrial conglomerates. The name "Reysol" is Spanish for "Sun King," an elegant reference to Hitachi's corporate name, which translates to "rising sun" in Japanese. As a founding member of the Japan Soccer League in 1965, the club has been woven into the fabric of Japanese football from the very beginning.
The defining chapter of modern Reysol history was written in 2010-2011. After relegation at the end of 2009, Brazilian manager Nelsinho Baptista rebuilt the squad and won the J2 title in 2010 for immediate promotion. Then came the fairytale: in 2011, Kashiwa became the first club in Japanese football history to win J1 the season after promotion from J2. This extraordinary achievement remains one of the most remarkable stories in J.League lore.
From 2010 to 2014, Reysol amassed an impressive six titles in five consecutive seasons — the J2 League (2010), J1 League (2011), Emperor's Cup and Super Cup (2012), J.League Cup (2013), and Suruga Bank Championship (2014). They also represented Japan at the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup, reaching the semi-finals before falling to Santos.
Nestled in the Hitachidai district of Kashiwa City, this football-specific stadium has a capacity of 15,109 — compact by J1 standards, but that intimacy is precisely what makes it special. The proximity of the stands to the pitch creates a cauldron of noise, and the "Kashiwa Nettai-chi" (Kashiwa Hot Zone) behind one goal is regarded as one of the most intense supporter sections in all of Japanese football.
Originally a 5,000-capacity facility, it was expanded over the years to meet J.League requirements. The "Hitachidai" nickname reflects the club's deep connection to their parent company, and the stadium remains an inseparable part of Reysol's identity.
- Average age
- 28.4
- Average height
- 177cm
- Nationalities
- 1
- Right / Left / Both
- 22 / 6 / 1
- Youngest
- R. Shimano 22
- Oldest
- Hayato Nakama 34
- K. EndoLWfrom FC Tokyo
- M. MitsutaCAMfrom Gamba Osaka
- S. AsadaCBfrom Kyoto Sanga
- T. WakaharaGKfrom JEF United Chiba
- Y. KomiLMto Cerezo Osaka
Only moves where both clubs are covered on this site are listed.