Kamatamare Sanuki
Encyclopedia
Kamatamare Sanuki is a football (soccer) club based in Takamatsu
, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture
of Japan. They play in the Japan Football League
. The first part of their name was coined by combining the Japanese word Kamatama (a type of udon
noodle bowl) and the Italian Mare ("Sea"). The second part is what Kagawa Prefecture used to be called
. Their name as well as their crest, which also features a kamatama udon bowl, are so unique that the club instantly became one of the most well-known non-J. League sides in Japan when announced in October 2005.
by winning the Shikoku League, the Shakaijin Cup
and the Regional Promotion Series
, and by virtue of the latter they were at last promoted to the Japan Football League
.
Takamatsu, Kagawa
is a city located in central Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku in Japan, and is the seat of the prefectural government. It is designated a core city by the Japanese Government. It is a port city located on the Seto Inland Sea, and is the closest port to Honshu from Shikoku island...
, the capital city of Kagawa Prefecture
Kagawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku island. The capital is Takamatsu.- History :Kagawa was formerly known as Sanuki Province.For a brief period between August 1876 and December 1888, Kagawa was made a part of Ehime Prefecture.-Battle of Yashima:...
of Japan. They play in the Japan Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
. The first part of their name was coined by combining the Japanese word Kamatama (a type of udon
Udon
is a type of thick wheat-flour noodle of Japanese cuisine.Udon is usually served hot as noodle soup in its simplest form as kake udon, in a mildly flavoured broth called kakejiru which is made of dashi, soy sauce , and mirin. It is usually topped with thinly chopped scallions...
noodle bowl) and the Italian Mare ("Sea"). The second part is what Kagawa Prefecture used to be called
Sanuki Province
was an old province of Japan on the island of Shikoku, with the same boundaries as modern Kagawa Prefecture. It was sometimes called .It faced the Inland Sea and bordered on Awa and Iyo Provinces. Across Naruto strait it bordered Awaji Province too. Administratively it was included as a part of...
. Their name as well as their crest, which also features a kamatama udon bowl, are so unique that the club instantly became one of the most well-known non-J. League sides in Japan when announced in October 2005.
History
The club was founded in 1956 as Takasho OB (Old Boys) Soccer Club (高商OBサッカークラブ) by the former students of Takamatsu Commercial High School's soccer club. Since renaming themselves Kagawa Shiun Football Club (香川紫雲フットボールクラブ) in 1991, they have been the leading football club in Kagawa, winning the Shikoku League Championship twice. The club's name changed again in 2000 to Sun Life (サンライフ) Football Club, when a consumer loan company Sun Life signed a sponsorship deal that continued until the end of the 2004 season. In October 2005, after briefly being called Takamatsu Football Club, the club officially announced their intention to rise to J. League status, and changed their name to Kamatamare Sanuki. In 2010 they won the non-league trebleThe Treble
The term treble or Treble is used in association football to refer to a team winning three trophies in a single season. Honours usually considered to contribute to a treble are the top-tier domestic league competition, domestic cup competitions, and continental tournaments; although this depends to...
by winning the Shikoku League, the Shakaijin Cup
All Japan Senior Football Championship
The All Japan Senior Football Championship is a football cup competition in Japan. It is run by the Japan Football Association. As it only involves non-league teams The All Japan Senior Football Championship (Zenkoku Shakaijin Sakkā Senshuken Taikai, 全国社会人サッカー選手権大会) is a football (soccer) cup...
and the Regional Promotion Series
All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series
The All Japan Regional Promotion League Series is a play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japanese football clubs competing in regional leagues to the bottom national tier .-History:Until 1976, the main entrance route for regional clubs to the Japan Soccer League was...
, and by virtue of the latter they were at last promoted to the Japan Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers...
.
League record
| Season | League | Pld | Pts | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Shikoku League | 14 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 6th |
| 1978 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8th | |
| 1979 | Kagawa Pref. League | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Champions |
| 1980 | ? | ? | ? | ? | ? | Champions | |
| 1981 | Shikoku League | 14 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 5th |
| 1982 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 8th | |
| 1983 | 16 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 2nd | |
| 1984 | 14 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2nd | |
| 1985 | 14 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 6th | |
| 1986 | 14 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 7th | |
| 1987 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 8th | |
| 1988 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 7th | |
| 1989 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6th | |
| 1990 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 6th | |
| 1991 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2nd | |
| 1992 | 14 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 3rd | |
| 1993 | 14 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 2nd | |
| 1994 | 13 | 23 | 11 | 1 | 1 | Champions | |
| 1995 | 14 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 2 | 2nd | |
| 1996 | 14 | 31 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 2nd | |
| 1997 | 14 | 30 | 9 | 3 | 2 | Champions | |
| 1998 | 14 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3rd | |
| 1999 | 14 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 2nd | |
| 2000 | 14 | 25 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 4th | |
| 2001 | 14 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 3rd | |
| 2002 | 14 | 30 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 2nd | |
| 2003 | 14 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 6th | |
| 2004 | 14 | 24 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 3rd | |
| 2005 | 14 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 4th | |
| 2006 | 14 | 37 | 12 | 1 | 1 | Champions | |
| 2007 | 14 | 37 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 2nd | |
| 2008 | 14 | 40 | 13 | 1 | 0 | Champions | |
| 2009 | 14 | 36 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 2nd | |
| 2010 | 14 | 38 | 12 | 2 | 0 | Champions |
- Note: The 1994 season saw one game cancelled due to the disqualification of Alex SC who fielded ineligible players.
Honours
- Shikoku Football League (5): 1994, 1997, 2006, 2008, 2010
- Shakaijin CupAll Japan Senior Football ChampionshipThe All Japan Senior Football Championship is a football cup competition in Japan. It is run by the Japan Football Association. As it only involves non-league teams The All Japan Senior Football Championship (Zenkoku Shakaijin Sakkā Senshuken Taikai, 全国社会人サッカー選手権大会) is a football (soccer) cup...
: 2010 - Regional Promotion SeriesAll Japan Regional Football Promotion League SeriesThe All Japan Regional Promotion League Series is a play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japanese football clubs competing in regional leagues to the bottom national tier .-History:Until 1976, the main entrance route for regional clubs to the Japan Soccer League was...
: 2010
In pop culture
The Kamatamare players made cameo appearances in the 2006 film "UDON" directed by Katsuyuki Motohirohttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0609399/.External links
- (Japanese)Official Site