Shimizu S-Pulse

Headquarters are established in Shizuoka Prefecture called the football kingdom in Japan. As a prefecture, Shizuoka had historically been a strong footballing area of Japan; in particular being noted for its nationally successful high school teams[4] and the numerous national team players which had emerged from the prefecture over the years. The prefectural police force of Shizuoka actually has an anthropomorphic football as a mascot.[5] The west of the prefecture was already home to the company team of Yamaha Motor Corporation who played in the Japan Soccer League and who would later go on to form Júbilo Iwata, but it was believed there was room for another team for the football-hungry population. An earlier attempt had been made in the 1970s with the local club belonging to Nippon Light Metal Corp., which briefly competed in the JSL Division 2 under the name Hagoromo Club.[6] With the advent of the professional league at the start of the 1990s, the concept of creating a team to both sign and represent the local footballing talent was fomented.

Shimizu S-Pulse was formed in early 1991 as Shimizu FC from the backing of local businesses and people. This was a beginning which made them unique among the founding clubs of the J.League, with all others ex-company teams turned professional. Two months after formation, the club name was officially changed to Shimizu S-Pulse.[7] S-Pulse is a combination of the S from Shizuoka, Shimizu, Supporter and Soccer, and Pulse from English to mean the spirit of all those who support the team.[8]

On February 4, 1991 S-Pulse were approved by the J.League to compete in the newly formed professional league to start the following year. The club played its first ever game against Gamba Osaka on July 4, 1992, a date which is celebrated as the club's memorial birthday.[9] The match took place at the Nagai Stadium in Osaka. The club's first competitive game was in the 1992 League Cup against Nagoya Grampus on September 5 at the Mizuho Athletic Stadium, and ended in a 3–2 defeat. Their competitive home début was held at Nihondaira Stadium shortly after on September 9 against Yokohama Marinos, which S-Pulse won 2–1. S-Pulse's first league game was played in May 1993 away to Yokohama Flügels at Mitsuzawa Stadium. Flügels won 3–2. The first home league game was a 2–1 victory against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on May 19 of the same year.

After being approved for participation in the J.League[9] S-Pulse competed in the inaugural 1992 J.League Cup and made it to their first final. However, the dream start ended with defeat at the hands of Verdy Kawasaki. In 1993, S-Pulse became one of the ten founder members of the new J.League, and finished third after the 1st and 2nd stages were combined.[10] Their second venture into the J.League Cup was another near miss, again losing in the final to Verdy Kawasaki. Finally, in 1996 the team got their hands on the trophy and also gained revenge on Verdy, beating them 5–4 on penalties in the final.[11]

The year 1999 was marked with S-Pulse's first appearance in the Japanese Super Cup, replacing Yokohama Flügels after their merger with Yokohama Marinos. However, S-Pulse lost the match 2–1.[12] After performing well in both league stages, S-Pulse were up against local rivals Júbilo Iwata in the title decider, and after a 3–3 aggregate draw, lost the tie 4–2 on penalties. The new millennium brought better results for S-Pulse. Victory in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 2000[13] and victory in the final of the Emperor's Cup in 2001 meant that the S-Pulse trophy cabinet was beginning to fill up, and victories in the 2001 and 2002 Japanese Super Cups meant that the club had won four cups in three years.[14]

S-Pulse fans make the hundred mile trip to FC Tokyo, September 2007

In 2005, S-Pulse closed the year with a run to the Emperor's Cup final in which they did not concede a single goal. However, this changed in the final against Urawa Red Diamonds, which they lost 2–1. After a near-miss in the league, avoiding a relegation play-off by only goal difference, manager Kenta Hasegawa's work started to pay off the following year. In both 2006 and 2007 S-Pulse performed strongly in the league and finished in 4th place, followed by a fifth place standing in 2008. However, early exits in both cup competitions in 2006 and 2007, means they are currently without a trophy for five years. This is the longest barren spell in their history, although in 2008 they came close, being defeated in the final of the League Cup by Oita Trinita.[15]

In 2011, S-Pulse made the "Signing of the Century" by making a move to complete the signing of Swedish and Arsenal F.C legend Freddie Ljungberg.[16] It is considered by many Japanese to be one of the greatest signings in league history. Many also believed that the signing would boost football in baseball-fanatic Japan, however Ljungberg departed, and subsequently retired, after 5+1⁄2 months with the club.[17] Later managements would turn out to be a catalyst for S-Pulse's luck to run out in the next seasons.

S-Pulse would play four more seasons in J1, until their first-tier stay was broken in the 2015 season. The club was in good standing early in the first stage until they collapsed later, falling into the bottom three. Home fans were disappointed at the way their club was playing. S-Pulse failed to improve in the second stage, being at the relegation positions. After 23 seasons in the top flight, they were relegated to J2 (and the second tier) for the first time in their history after a 1–0 home loss to Vegalta Sendai on October 17, 2015.[18]

S-Pulse bounced back to top flight football immediately, securing promotion to the J1 League on the final matchweek of the 2016 J2 League.

After six years at J1 League, in which they spent five of the six years on the lower half of the table, S-Pulse returned to J2 League after being confirmed relegation from the J1 on the last matchweek, having finished in 17th place, just above their rivals Júbilo Iwata.

In common with other J.League teams, S-Pulse have a colourful and noisy collection of supporters who follow the team around the country. A supporter band is present at games home and away to help galvanise support and raise the decibel levels. The band models itself to a large degree after its Brazilian counterparts, and Latin rhythms and samba sounds predominate. For home games, S-Pulse's more vocal supporters gather in the second tier of The Kop; the stand behind the west goal at Nihondaira Stadium.[19] Also in this area can be found S-Pulse's various organised supporter groups. These groups include fan clubs dedicated to specific players and are often identifiable by unique uniforms. These fan clubs work to organise events which include mass choreographed displays and the supporter band.[20] Also housed in The Kop are S-Pulse's band of ultras, who each game take over a central area behind the goal which has been dubbed The Dragon Zone. Often physical, it is not uncommon for the area to descend into a mosh pit after important goals, and signs posted around the stand inform and caution general supporters of the area's lively nature. The club's official fan club has several branches around the country, and S-Pulse supporters are officially listed as the team's twelfth player.

Although Suzuyo & Co., Ltd., which is a local major logistics company,[21] had become a parent company just at the present, since the Shimizu S-Pulse was born as a citizen club from the start, vulnerable time suited it in the past in terms of a fund. As well as originally gathering its playing staff almost exclusively from Shizuoka prefecture, local corporation S-Lap Communications ran and financed the club. This was a company funded in part from Shimizu citizens, but in main by Shizuoka Television. After the J.League bubble burst in the late 1990s,[22] Shizuoka Television withdrew backing, and in 1998 only a drastic restructuring kept the club afloat. Ownership of S-Pulse was reorganized between local companies under the leadership of Shimizu-based Suzuyo.[21] It is now run under the company title of S-Pulse, Inc.

Despite their relatively short history, S-Pulse have had some impact on popular culture beyond football. Current manager and former player of some eight years and over 200 appearances, Kenta Hasegawa, makes occasional appearances in popular manga and anime series Chibi Maruko-chan. In the show a boy with his name and referred to as Kenta-kun is sometimes seen. He loves football and is a classmate of title character Chibi Maruko.[23] The author of the manga, Momoko Sakura, created this character after Hasegawa. Sakura and Hasegawa attended the same primary school during the same period. Unique S-Pulse related Chibi Maruko goods are also produced.[24] In another example, two fictional characters from the popular Captain Tsubasa manga, who, on becoming professional footballers, join S-Pulse.

In October 2008 it was announced that naming rights would be sold for Nihondaira Stadium.[27] In late November 2008 a deal was announced which would rename the stadium Outsourcing Stadium Nihondaira. The contract will run for four years starting from the 2009 season, and would be worth 90 000 000 per year.[28]

A new 5-year deal sponsorship deal with IAI Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial robots, took effect on 1 March 2013. The stadium was renamed IAI Stadium Nihondaira, shortened by the club and supporters to I Sta.[29] This sponsorship deal was extended a further five years in 2018.

After filling Nihondaira on average over 81% for league games in 2008, in November of the same year the club expressed its desire for the ground, which is owned by Shizuoka City, to have its capacity expanded.[30]

In 2020 the club restated their hope to build a new, larger home.[31] In recent years various locations have been cited as a potential location for a new stadium, including next to Higashi-Shizuoka Station,[32] and next to Shimizu Station.[33]

Shimizu S-Pulse shirts.

First-choice goalkeeper colours

Since the team's inception, the same colour combination for home shirts have been used each year. The colour scheme of orange shirts, shorts and socks was selected to reflect the famous local product of Shizuoka Prefecture; the mikan.[41] The current bright orange hue, named S-Pulse Orange by the club, is the result of a gentle evolution from a more yellow/orange shade during the team's early years. At the advent of the J.League, S-Pulse were the only top division club in the country to wear orange, a distinction which is now shared with other top flight mainstays, such as Albirex Niigata and Omiya Ardija. There is currently no third kit. Goalkeeping colours have changed more over the seasons, with the current first choice kit all black, and all green being the second choice.

Kit manufacturers have been exclusively Puma since 1997, and prior to this was shared with Mizuno. Shirt sponsors have been fairly consistent over the team's sixteen-year history (see table below). The team's current main shirt sponsor is the local Suzuyo Group,[42] with additional sponsorship panels on the lower neck and arms from confectionery company Glico,[43] and Japan Airlines, respectively.[44]

From the club's formation up to 1996, the club used an earlier version of the team crest.[45] while different, the previous design featured the same central lettering as the present badge.[46] Unveiled for the 1997 season, the current team crest was designed around a globe to reflect the club's ambitions as a world class professional team. The head of the badge takes the iconic shape of Mount Fuji's perfect cone to symbolise the team's representation of Shizuoka; the home of Mount Fuji. The choice of blue to accompany the team's orange evokes Shimizu's history as an industrial port town and its proximity to the sea of Suruga Bay. The team crest differs from the team logo which is often used to represent the club. The logo uses the central lettering from the crest, an example of which being the club's shop sign.

Club mascot Palchan and co performing at the 2007 All Star game.

Named Palchan and sporting big, winglike ears, S-Pulse's mascot supports the team and entertains fans by performing choreographed, and often acrobatic, dance routines during the buildup to home games. He often performs with the help of his two younger siblings.[47] Designed by professional cartoonist Guy Gilchrist, Palchan's name is taken from the English pal and the pul of S-Pulse.[48] The suffix chan is an affectionate title commonly used in Japan. Sporting team number zero, Palchan goods are a consistent best seller with various merchandise available. S-Pulse also have a cheer leading team named Orange Wave. The team perform routines prior to kick off and half time as well as making various appearances at S-Pulse themed events in and around Shizuoka.[49]

Cup

• Emperor's Cup
  • Winners: 2001
• J.League Cup
  • Winners: 1996
• Japanese Super Cup
  • Winners: 2001, 2002

• Asian Cup Winners' Cup
  • Winners: 1999–2000

As of 17 August 2023.[57][58]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  JPN Takuo Ōkubo 2 DF  JPN Reon Yamahara 3 MF  BRA Ronaldo 4 DF  JPN Yuji Takahashi 5 DF  JPN Kengo Kitazume 6 MF  JPN Ryo Takeuchi 7 MF  JPN Yuta Kamiya 9 FW  BRA Thiago Santana 10 FW  BRA Carlinhos Júnior 11 MF  JPN Katsuhiro Nakayama 13 MF  JPN Kota Miyamoto 14 FW  JPN Ryohei Shirasaki 15 MF  JPN Takeru Kishimoto 16 MF  JPN Kenta Nishizawa 17 MF  KOS Benjamin Kololli 20 FW  KOR Oh Se-hun 22 MF  BRA Renato Augusto 24 DF  JPN Shuta Kikuchi 27 DF  JPN Takumu Kenmotsu 28 DF  JPN Yutaka Yoshida

No. Pos. Nation Player 31 GK  JPN Togo Umeda 33 MF  JPN Takashi Inui 34 DF  JPN Taketo Ochiai 35 DF  JPN Sen Takagi DSP 37 FW  JPN Yosuke Morishige 38 DF  JPN Akira Ibayashi 41 GK  JPN Kaito Shibasaki Type 2 42 MF  JPN Narumi Ota Type 2 43 MF  JPN Naru Hoshito Type 2 44 FW  JPN Jigen Tanaka Type 2 45 FW  JPN Koya Kitagawa 46 GK  JPN Ryoya Abe 47 MF  JPN Ryunosuke Yada Type 2 48 MF  JPN Sean Kotake Type 2 49 FW  JPN Takumi Kato 50 DF  JPN Yoshinori Suzuki (captain) 51 GK  JPN Yui Inokoshi DSP 52 DF  JPN Kaiga Iwazaki Type 2 57 GK  JPN Shūichi Gonda 70 MF  JPN Teruki Hara

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

No. Pos. Nation Player 18 FW  JPN Sena Saito (at SC Sagamihara) 40 MF  JPN Hikaru Naruoka (at Renofa Yamaguchi) — GK  JPN Kengo Nagai (at Yokohama FC) — DF  BRA Yago Pikachu (at Fortaleza EC) — MF  JPN Daiki Matsuoka (at Grêmio Novorizontino) — MF  JPN Nagi Kawatani (at Fagiano Okayama) — MF  JPN Yasufumi Nishimura (at AC Nagano Parceiro)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  JPN Aoi Ando (at Azul Claro Numazu) — FW  JPN Kanta Chiba (at Tokushima Vortis) — FW  JPN Riyo Kawamoto (at Thespakusatsu Gunma) — FW  JPN Yuta Taki (at Matsumoto Yamaga)

World Cup 1994

• Ronaldão

World Cup 1998

• Teruyoshi Ito
• Toshihide Saito

World Cup 2002

• Daisuke Ichikawa
• Ryuzo Morioka
• Alex
• Kazuyuki Toda

World Cup 2006

• Cho Jae-Jin

World Cup 2010

• Shinji Okazaki