Fagiano Okayama

Fagiano Okayama
ファジアーノ岡山
Full nameFagiano Okayama
NicknameFagi (ファジ)
Founded2004 (2004)
StadiumJFE Harenokuni Stadium
Okayama, Okayama
Capacity15,479 [1]
ChairmanShinya Kitagawa
ManagerTakashi Kiyama
LeagueJ1 League
2025J1 League, 13th of 20
Websitefagiano-okayama.com

Fagiano Okayama (ファジアーノ岡山, Fajiāno Okayama) is a Japanese football club based in Okayama, the capital of Okayama Prefecture. The club currently plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country.

History

Foundation and early development (1975–2008)

The origins of the club trace back to 1975 with the establishment of the old Kawasaki Steel Football Club who then moved to Kobe starting a new identity now known as Vissel Kobe. With the club now gaining a new identity, they are formed as a new club known as the "River Free Kickers" (RFK)

As Fagiano Okayama

Following structural changes within the club and the broader development of professional football in Japan, the team was reorganised in the early 2000s as part of efforts to establish a professional club representing Okayama Prefecture. In 2004, the club adopted the name Fagiano Okayama. The name “Fagiano” comes from the Italian word for “pheasant,” a bird associated with the folklore and symbolism of the Okayama region. The club continued its development through the regional league system and gained promotion to the Japan Football League, the highest amateur tier at the time. After strong performances and meeting the licensing requirements for professional football, Fagiano Okayama secured entry into the professional league structure.

In 2005, Fagiano Okayama were promoted into the Chugoku Regional League. In July 2007, Fagiano became the first club ever to attain the J.League Associate Membership while still playing in a division below the JFL. On 2 December 2007, Fagiano gained promotion to the JFL courtesy of winning the first place in the regional playoff games.

Entry into J.League (2009)

In 2008, they secured 4th place in the last JFL match week, thereby qualifying for J.League Division 2 promotion below Tochigi SC and Kataller Toyama. On 1 December 2008, promotion was made official by J.League and Okayama competed in J.League Division 2 for the first time in their history from 2009 season.

In 2009, Fagiano Okayama joined the J2 League for the first time, marking the club’s debut in the professional divisions of the J.League. The step up to the national professional level proved challenging, and the club finished near the bottom of the table in its inaugural season.

Despite the early struggles, participation in the J2 League represented a significant milestone for football in Okayama Prefecture, establishing the club as the region’s representative in the national professional league system.

Establishing stability in J2 (2010–2019)

During the 2010s era, Fagiano Okayama gradually established themselves as a competitive club in the J2 League. The team improved its performances season by season and began to challenge for promotion places.

One of the club’s most notable seasons came in 2016 when Fagiano finished in the top six of the J2 standings and qualified for the promotion play-offs for the first time in their history. Although they were unable to secure promotion to the J1 League, the season marked a major step forward for the club.

Throughout the decade, Fagiano built a reputation for developing domestic players and maintaining strong support within Okayama Prefecture.

Continued growth and promotion ambitions (2020–present)

In the early 2020s, Fagiano Okayama continued to compete in the J2 League while pursuing their ambition of reaching the top division. The club remained competitive in the league and continued to strengthen its organisational structure and youth development programmes.

On 7 December 2024, Fagiano Okayama secured promotion to the J1 League for the first time in their history after defeating Vegalta Sendai 2–0 in the promotion play-off final, ending their 16-years stay in the J2 League.[2]

Team image

Name origin

Fagiano (Italian: fagiano, lit. 'pheasant') is a reference to the pheasant that was a companion of local legend character Momotarō.

Their mascot Fagimaru is based on the specific species native to Japan, the green pheasant.

Rivalries

Setouchi Rivalry

Fagiano Okayama also shares a local rivalry with Kamatamare Sanuki. The clubs are located on opposite sides of the Seto Inland Sea and have faced each other frequently in the J2 League and lower divisions.

The rivalry is driven largely by geographic proximity and regional pride, with supporters from both sides traveling across the Seto Inland Sea region to attend matches. Encounters between the clubs are often seen as important fixtures for fans in the surrounding areas.

Chūgoku Derby

The main regional rivalry of Fagiano Okayama is with neighbouring club Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Matches between the two sides are often referred to as the Chūgoku Derby, reflecting the geographic rivalry within the Chūgoku region.

Although both clubs have spent much of their history in the different divisions of the J.League, encounters between them are particularly in cup competitions such as the Emperor's Cup which have attracted strong regional interest. The rivalry represents competition between the prefectures of Okayama Prefecture and Hiroshima Prefecture.

Stadium

JFE Harenokuni Stadium is the home ground of Fagiano Okayama. The stadium is located in Okayama City and has a seating capacity of approximately 15,479 spectators. Opened in 2003, the venue is a multi-purpose stadium primarily used for football and athletics. It serves as the main home venue for Fagiano Okayama’s matches in the J.League competitions, including the J2 League, as well as domestic cup tournaments such as the Emperor's Cup. Fagiano formerly played at the Tsuyama Stadium in Tsuyama before moving to the current JFE Harenokuni Stadium.

Training grounds are at the Masada Soccer Stadium and Prefecture Kanzakiyama Park Athletics Stadium, both are in Okayama City.[3]

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Fagiano main sponsor is Okayama Gas and their back sponsor is the Sanyo Shinbun, a local newspaper in Okayama.[4]

Season

Period Kit manufacturer Main sponsors
2016–present Penalty GROP

Kit evolution

Players

Current squad

As of 27 February 2026. [5] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  GER Lennart Moser
2 DF  JPN Kōta Kudō (on loan from Urawa Red Diamonds)
3 MF  JPN Kaito Fujii
4 DF  JPN Kaito Abe
5 MF  JPN Kōsei Ogura
6 DF  JPN Hiroshi Omori
7 MF  JPN Ryō Takeuchi (captain)
8 MF  JPN Ataru Esaka (vice-captain)
13 GK  JPN Shun Matsuda
14 MF  JPN Ryo Tabei (vice-captain)
17 MF  JPN Rui Sueyoshi
18 DF  JPN Daichi Tagami
22 FW  JPN Kazunari Ichimi
24 MF  JPN Ibuki Fujita
26 DF  JPN Haruka Motoyama (on loan from Vissel Kobe)
27 MF  JPN Takaya Kimura
28 MF  JPN Masaya Matsumoto
30 FW  JPN Kanshiro Suemune
No. Pos. Nation Player
31 DF  JPN Ryo Senda
32 MF  BOL Yuto Baigorria (on loan from Guabirá)
33 MF  JPN Yūta Kamiya
35 FW  JPN Aura Takahashi
40 FW  JPN Kōta Kawano
41 MF  JPN Eiji Miyamoto
43 DF  JPN Yoshitake Suzuki
45 FW  JPN Noah Kenshin Browne
48 DF  JPN Yūgo Tatsuta
51 DF  JPN Kōsuke Shirai (on loan from FC Tokyo)
52 GK  JPN Taro Hamada
55 DF  JPN Yōta Fujii
66 MF  JPN Jun Nishikawa
77 GK  JPN Goro Kawanami
88 MF  JPN Towa Yamane
98 FW  BRA Werik Popó (on loan from Red Bull Bragantino)
99 FW  BRA Lucão

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  JPN Ryunosuke Ota (at Ventforet Kofu)
— DF  JPN Seiga Sumi (at Tampines Rovers)
— DF  JPN Riku Saga (at Kagoshima United)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  JPN Koju Yoshio (at Kagoshima United)
— GK  JPN Kohei Kawakami (at Kagoshima United)
— MF  JPN Yoko Iesaka (at FC Osaka)

Management and staff

Club staff for 2025 season

Position Name
Manager Takashi Kiyama
Assistant manager Masanori Kizawa
Yuki Kosaka
Hiromasa Suguri
Goalkeeper coach Hiroshi Yoshioka
Physical coach Jun Sato
Assistant coach Kenji Yamamoto
Chief trainer Takahiro Chiba
Trainer Tetsuya Furuta
Takuya Tsuji
Interpreter (Portuguese) Fernando Aizawa
Interpreter (English) & Enhancement coach Kosuke Maruyama
Chief manager Atsuki Shimada
General affairs Nao Inamoto
Fumikazu Sato

Honours

Type Honours Titles Season
League J2 League Promotion play-off winner 1 2024
Okayama Football League 1 3 2001, 2003, 2004
Chugoku Football League 2 2006, 2007
Japanese Regional Leagues 1 2007

Bold is for those competition that are currently active.

Managerial history

Manager Period Honours P W D L W%
Satoshi Tezuka 1 January 2007–31 January 2010 55 12 12 31 021.82
Masanaga Kageyama 1 February 2010–31 December 2014 200 66 64 70 033.00
Tetsu Nagasawa 1 February 201531 January 2019 168 56 59 53 033.33
Kenji Arima 1 February 2019–31 January 2022 126 45 39 42 035.71
Takashi Kiyama 1 February 2022–present – 2024 J2 League Play-offs 0 0 0 0 !—
Key

Season by season record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
League J. League
Cup		 Emperor's
Cup
Season Div. Teams Pos. P W(PKW) D L(PKL) F A GD Pts Attendance/G
2005 Chūgoku
League 		7 2nd 12 9(0) 0 2(1) 37 13 24 28 Not eligible Did not qualify
2006 8 1st 14 11(1) 0 2 62 16 46 35
2007 1st 17 17 0 0 87 4 83 51
2008 JFL 18 4th 34 17 9 8 63 43 20 39 3,665 3rd round
2009 J2 18th 51 8 12 31 40 54 -44 60 6,164 2nd round
2010 19 17th 36 8 8 20 27 51 -24 32 7,161 2nd round
2011 20 13th 38 13 9 16 43 58 -15 48 7,258 3rd round
2012 22 8th 42 17 14 11 41 34 7 65 7,985 3rd round
2013 12th 42 13 17 12 52 48 4 56 8,574 3rd round
2014 8th 42 15 16 11 52 48 4 64 8,404 2nd round
2015 11th 42 12 18 12 40 35 5 54 8,412 1st round
2016 6th 42 17 14 11 58 44 14 65 10,017 3rd round
2017 13th 42 13 16 13 44 49 -5 55 9,471 3rd round
2018 15th 42 14 11 17 39 43 -4 53 8,599 2nd round
2019 9th 42 18 11 13 49 47 2 65 9,444 3rd round
2020 † 17th 42 12 14 16 39 49 -10 50 3,072 Did not qualify
2021 † 11th 42 15 14 13 40 36 4 59 4,153 3rd round
2022 3rd 42 20 12 10 61 42 19 72 7,065 2nd round
2023 10th 42 13 19 10 49 49 0 58 8,495 3rd round
2024 20 5th 38 17 14 7 48 29 19 65 9,188 2nd Round 2nd round
2025 J1 13th 38 12 9 17 34 43 -9 45 14,534 1st round 2nd round
2026 J1 10 TBD 18 N/A N/A
2026-27 20 TBD 38 TBD TBD
Key
  • Pos. = Position in league; P = Games played; W = Games won; D = Games drawn; L = Games lost; F = Goals scored; A = Goals conceded; GD = Goals difference; Pts = Points gained
  • Attendance/G = Average league home attendance
  • † 2020 & 2021 seasons attendance reduced by COVID-19 worldwide pandemic
  • Source: J.League Data Site

References

  1. ^ "City Light Stadium official capacity". www.jleague.co/clubs/Fagiano-Okayama/#stadiums. Retrieved 17 December 2024.
  2. ^ "Fagiano Okayama Gain J1 Promotion for 1st Time Since its Foundation in 2004". 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  3. ^ "Training ground details". jleague.jp/. Official J. League website. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  4. ^ "スポンサー ご紹介｜ファジアーノ岡山Fc". Archived from the original on 2010-01-03. Retrieved 2009-10-10.
  5. ^ "選手・スタッフ｜チーム｜ファジアーノ岡山［Fagiano OKAYAMA］公式サイト". ファジアーノ岡山［Fagiano OKAYAMA］公式サイト (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 February 2022.
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