Tokyo City Esperion FC, commonly referred to as Esperion, is a professional football club based in Tokyo, Japan. They compete in the J1 League, the top tier of Japanese football. Their home stadium is the Tokyo New Steel Stadium. They have a local rivalry with Tokyo Vans.
The football club is divided into two sections: the senior team and the academy. The academy is then further subdivided into three age brackets: Junior (under-12s), Junior Youth (under 15s), and Youth (under 18s). Esperion Youth has two teams, the A and B team. The senior team competes in the J1 League. The Youth A-Team play in the Takamadonomiya U-18 Premier League which is considered as the best youth tournament in the whole of Japan as it is where all the best J1 youth teams play; also, even some high school teams participate in the league.
Character List[]
Youth Team: Members[]
Senior Team: Members[]
Youth Team: Staff[]
Senior Team: Staff[]
Administration[]
Supporters[]
Member and Position Change[]
Youth B-Team[]
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Active • Promoted to A-Team • Temporarily joining A-Team • Demoted from A-Team • Temporary leave • Back from temporary leave • Permanent leave
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 34-61:
(1) after B Team's 7v7 intra-squad match and #29 Yūma’s subsequent promotion at the beginning of Chapter 34
(2) including B-Team’s Tokyo Metropolis League 1st match against Seikyō High and 2nd match against Kurume Daiichi High
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 62-87:
(1) after B-Team’s Tokyo Metropolis League 2nd match against Kurume Daiichi High and subsequent member changes at the beginning of Chapter 62
(2) including #33 Ashito’s switch to fullback and B-Team’s Tokyo Metropolis League 7th match against Tama Sports University High
Notes: #11 Yoshitsune is in B-Team for rehab. He began participating in matches starting from the Metropolis League's 3rd match against Tama Sports.[1]
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 88-115:
(1) after B-Team’s Tokyo Metropolis League 7th match against Tama Sports University High and subsequent member changes at the end of Chapter 87
(2) including B-Team’s Tokyo Metropolis League 8th match against Tokyo Musashino FC Youth
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
Notes: (1) #11 Yoshitsune’s rehab in B-Team ended. (2) #9 Isshiki is recovering from injury.
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 116-137:
(1) after B-Team’s Tokyo Metropolis League 8th match against Tokyo Musashino FC Youth and subsequent member changes at the end of Chapter 115 and beginning of Chapter 116
(2) roughly coincides with – after Senior Team’s Asian Champions League (ACL) match against Hanoi SC and #10 Kuribayashi’s return to Youth A-Team in Chapter 118
(3) including A-Team’s Premier League 7th match against Kashiwa Dai Business High
(4) including brief look at B-Team’s Tokyo Metropolis League 9th match against Tokuzen'in High in Chapter 126
Notes: (1) #9 Isshiki is assumed to be back from recovery. (2) #6 Kobayakawa is in B-Team for rehab. (3) In Chapter 125, A-Team’s line-up for Kashiwa Dai Business High comes out, and #19 Nagano and #21 Shimizu are sub members for the match. Though it wasn't announced outright, it’s likely that Nagano and Shimizu are back on A-Team right after the line-up announcement.
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 138-148:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League 7th match against Kashiwa Dai Business High and Coach Fukuda’s announcement at the beginning of Chapter 138 – #6 Kobayakawa returning to A-Team as fullback the next day. In Coach Benzen's words, A-Team would then be Esperion’s best lineup.
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 8th-12th matches
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
Notes: (1) #6 Kobayakawa’s rehab in B-Team ended. (2) In Chapter 144, Coach Fukuda asked #25 Asari and #27 Takeshima to play on the reserve team for the A-Team scrimmage the next day. Asari and Takeshima temporarily joins A-Team.
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 149-173:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League 12th match against FC Kashima (aka FC Tosu), A-Team’s Japan Club Youth Senshuken win, and Coach Fukuda’s subsequent announcement at the end of Chapter 148 that "4 members were selected as U-18 Japan National Team representatives and called to play in Czech for two weeks"
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 13th match against Tokyo Vans and the 14th match against Omiya Aranciano
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
Notes: In Chapter 150, 4 members retired from football in September. #5 Saitō and #8 Nakagawa couldn’t get a recommendation for their target school and is preparing to take regular entrance exams; #9 Isshiki is participating in a project overseas and going to Europe; #12 Fujimiya is retiring from football and aiming to become a physiotherapist.
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 174-206:
(1) after the 4 U-18 Japan National Team representatives’ return from Czech at the beginning of Chapter 174
(2) only including A-Team’s Premier League post-poned 8th match against Funabashi Academy High
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
- Playing in B-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 207-230:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League post-poned 8th match against Funabashi Academy High and subsequent member changes in Chapters 202-207
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 15th-16th matches, J-Youth Cup matches up until quarter finals match against Ganon Osaka, Premier League 17th match against Funabashi Academy High, and Aomori Seiran High’s postponed Premier League 16th match against Funabashi Academy High
- Not in B-Team during this time period:
Notes: In Chapter 207, #24 Myojin is seen to be on the bench in Premier League 16th match. In Chapter 217, #15 Numatsu, and #34 Roan are also seen on A-Team. Though it wasn't announced outright, it’s likely that the 3 of them were promoted to A-Team some time after the 8th match against Funabashi.
Youth A-Team[]
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Active • Promoted from B-Team • Temporarily joining from B-Team • Demoted to B-Team • Joining/Rejoining Senior Team • Temporarily joining Senior Team • Taking a break from Senior Team • Temporary leave • Back from temporary leave • Permanent leave
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 34-61:
(1) after B-Team’s 7v7 intra-squad match and #29 Yūma’s subsequent promotion at the beginning of Chapter 34
(2) including B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 1st match against Seikyō High and 2nd match against Kurume Daiichi High
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes: #10 Kuribayashi is registered with both Youth Team and Senior Team. He's playing in Senior Team as an amateur, not a pro; he didn't sign the pro contract until Chapter 205.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 62-87:
(1) after B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 2nd match against Kurume Daiichi High and subsequent member changes at the beginning of Chapter 62
(2) including #33 Ashito’s switch to fullback and B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 7th match against Tama Sports University High
Notes: In Chapter 62, Coach Nozomi announces, “Until #11 Yoshitsune recovers, #4 Akutsu is moving to FW.”
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes: #11 Yoshitsune is in B-Team for rehab.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 88-115:
(1) after B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 7th match against Tama Sports University High and subsequent member changes at the end of Chapter 87
(2) including B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 8th match against Tokyo Musashino FC Youth
Notes: (1) #11 Yoshitsune’s rehab in B-Team ended. (2) Since Yoshitsune is back, #4 Akutsu is moving back to DF.
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 116-137:
(1) after B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 8th match against Tokyo Musashino FC Youth and subsequent member changes at the end of Chapter 115 and beginning of Chapter 116
(2) roughly coincides with — after Senior Team’s Asian Champions League (ACL) match against Hanoi SC and #10 Kuribayashi’s return to Youth A-Team in Chapter 118
(3) including A-Team’s Premier League 7th match against Kashiwa Dai Business High
(4) including brief look at B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 9th match against Tokuzen'in High in Chapter 126
Notes:
(1) In exchange for letting #10 Kuribayashi participate in Youth Team's matches, he must still take part in Senior Team’s practices.[3]
(2) Different to the member positions listed in Chapter 61 of the manga, #13 Takasugi’s and #22 Taira’s positions have both changed to MF only.
(3) In Chapter 127-128, #22 Taira reinjured the same place on his leg during the match against Kashiwa Dai Business High and was subbed out in the second half. Though it wasn’t announced outright, it’s likely that Taira went on temporary leave right after the match to recover from his injury.
Regulars
Reserves
That one guy who's so good that his coach hardly lets him play[3]
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes: (1) #6 Kobayakawa is in B-Team for rehab. (2) In Chapter 125, A-Team’s line-up for Kashiwa Dai Business High comes out, and #19 Nagano and #21 Shimizu are sub members for the match. Though it wasn't announced outright, it’s likely that Nagano and Shimizu are back on A-Team right after the line-up announcement.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 138-148:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League 7th match against Kashiwa Dai Business High and Coach Fukuda’s subsequent announcement at the beginning of Chapter 138 that “#6 Kobayakawa is returning to A-Team as fullback the next day” (In Coach Benzen's words, A-Team would then be Esperion’s best lineup.)
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 8th-12th matches
Notes:
(1) #6 Kobayakawa’s rehab in B-Team ended.
(2) In Chapter 144, Coach Fukuda asked #25 Asari and #27 Takeshima to play on the reserve team for the A-Team scrimmage the next day. Asari and Takeshima temporarily joins A-Team.
(3) In exchange for letting #10 Kuribayashi participate in Youth Team's matches, he must still take part in Senior Team’s practices.[3]
Regulars
Reserves
That one guy who's so good that his coach hardly lets him play[3]
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes: #22 Taira is recovering from injury.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 149-173:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League 12th match against FC Kashima (aka FC Tosu), A-Team’s Japan Club Youth Senshuken win, and Coach Fukuda’s subsequent announcement at the end of Chapter 148 that "4 members were selected as U-18 Japan National Team representatives and called to play in Czech for two weeks"
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 13th match against Tokyo Vans and the 14th match against Omiya Aranciano
Notes: In Chapter 150, Coach Fukuda announced that #18 Kiriki is Captain of A-Team.
Regulars
Reserves
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes:
(1) #4 Akutsu, #7 Yamada, #11 Yoshitsune, and #13 Takasugi are on temporary leave to play for U-18 Japan National Team.
(2) #10 Kuribayashi was called back to Senior Team. However, he'd still play in the 8th match against Funabashi – the only Premier League match he’d play in after he's back on Senior Team.
(3) #22 Taira is recovering from injury.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 174-206:
(1) after the 4 U-18 Japan National Team representatives’ return from Czech at the beginning of Chapter 174
(2) only including A-Team’s Premier League post-poned 8th match against Funabashi Academy High
Notes:
(1) #4 Akutsu and #13 Takasugi are back from temporary leave to play for U-18 Japan National Team.
(2) #10 Kuribayashi is actually already called back to Senior Team. However, he'd play in one last Premier League match, which is the 8th match against Funabashi.
(3) #22 Taira is back from recovery.
(4) In Coach Fukuda’s words, the enormous gap between regulars and reserves has greatly decreased, so the distinction between them doesn’t matter as much as before. Starting lineup for this match includes both regulars and reserves.
(5) For #13 Takasugi, #23 Matsunaga, and #31 Togashi, their positions have changed for this match.
Starting Lineup
Not in Starting Lineup
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes:
(1) #7 Yamada and #11 Yoshitsune are back from temporary leave to play for U-18 Japan National Team. However, it was announced in Chapter 173 that Yamada and Yoshitsune, along with #3 Shimura, are promoted to Senior Team. The Senior Team doesn’t want them pushing themselves, so they won’t be playing in the 8th match against Funabashi.
(2) All 3 members signed the pro contracts and are considered as professional players. They should’ve already received their Senior Team numbers by then, but they weren’t shown to the readers.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 207-214:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League post-poned 8th match against Funabashi Academy High and subsequent member changes in Chapters 202-207
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 15th-16th matches, and all J-Youth Cup matches before quarter finals match against Ganon Osaka
Notes:
(1) In Chapter 204, #4 Akutsu became Captain of A-Team, and #13 Takasugi became Vice-Captain of A-Team on the night of the 8th match against Funabashi.
(2) In Chapter 207, #3 Shimura and #7 Yamada have returned from Senior Team to play in Youth Team’s matches.
(3) In Chapter 207, #24 Myojin is seen to be on the bench in Premier League 16th match. In Chapter 217, #15 Numazu, and #34 Roan are also seen on A-Team. Though it wasn't announced outright, it’s likely that the 3 of them were promoted to A-Team some time after the 8th match against Funabashi.
(4) In Chapter 229, it’s revealed that 2nd-year GK #16 Akiyama suffered an injury after colliding with the post during the 8th match against Funabashi. Therefore, 3rd-year GK #1 Nikadō became a regular, and 1st-year GK #24 Myojin became a sub for the following matches.
(5) It’s uncertain when #6 Kobayakawa changed positions, but in Chapter 229, it’s shown that he’s MF, so it’s assumed he’s changed to MF since before J-Youth Cup quarter finals against Ganon Osaka, probably after the 8th match against Funabashi.
Regulars
Reserves
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes:
(1) In Chapter 229, it’s revealed that #16 Akiyama suffered an injury after colliding with the post during the 8th match against Funabashi. He has been recovering since then.
(2) #22 Taira retired from football. In Chapter 202, his withdrawal letter was processed after the 8th match against Funabashi. In Chapter 206, he vacated the Esperion dorms 3 days after the match.
(3) In Chapter 205, #10 Kuribayashi returns to Senior Team and gets his pro contract on the day after the 8th match against Funabashi, becoming a professional player.
(4) In Chapter 207, #11 Yoshitsune is called to play in Senior Team, and his Senior Team number is shown to be #39.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 215-230:
(1) after #18 Kiriki suffering an injury just before “A-Team’s J-Youth Cup quarter finals match against Ganon Osaka in Chapter 215” (mentioned in Chapter 229)
(2) including A-Team’s J-Youth Cup quarter finals match against Ganon Osaka, Premier League 17th match against Funabashi Academy High, and Aomori Seiran High’s postponed Premier League 16th match against Funabashi Academy High
Regulars
Reserves
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes: In Chapter 229, it’s revealed that 3 members have suffered injuries. #16 Akiyama suffered an injury after colliding with the post during the 8th match against Funabashi; he has been recovering since then. #18 Kiriki suffered an injury just before the Ganon match; he has been recovering since the Ganon match. #6 Kobayakawa has been on the bench since the Ganon match due to the effects of a previous injury. All 3 of them return for Premier League 18th match against Aomori Seiran High.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 231-280?:
(1) after A-Team’s Aomori Seiran High’s postponed Premier League 16th match against Funabashi Academy High and 2 members’ return from recovery.
(2) only including A-Team’s Premier League 18th match against Aomori Seiran High
Notes: #16 Akiyama and #18 Kirki are back from recovery.
Starting Lineup
Not in Starting Lineup
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Notes: #6 Kobayakawa is back from recovery. However, J2 Yamagata has sent him an offer to participate in their practice, and it overlaps with the day of the Aomori match. Kobayakawa decides to go, hoping to come back with a pro offer.
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 280?-310?:
Starting Lineup
Not in Starting Lineup
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
- Playing in A-Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 311-?:
Starting Lineup
Not in Starting Lineup
- Not in A-Team during this time period:
Senior Team[]
Active • Joining/Rejoining from Youth A-Team • Temporarily joining from Youth A-Team • Taking a break to Youth A-Team • Temporary leave • Back from temporary leave • Permanent leave
- Playing in Senior Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 23-118:
— starting from #41 Kuribayashi being called to season’s opening match in Chapter 23
- Not in Senior Team during this time period:
- Playing in Senior Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 118-148:
(1) more accurately — after Senior Team’s Asian Champions League (ACL) match against Hanoi SC and #41 Kuribayashi’s return to Youth A-Team in Chapter 118
(2) roughly coincides with — after Youth B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 8th match against Tokyo Musashino FC Youth and subsequent member changes at the end of Chapter 115 and beginning of Chapter 116
(3) including A-Team’s Premier League 7th match against Kashiwa Dai Business High
(4) including brief look at B-Team’s Tokyo Division League 9th match against Tokuzen'in High in Chapter 126
- Not in Senior Team during this time period:
Notes: In exchange for letting #41 Kuribayashi participate in Youth A-Team's matches, he must still take part in Senior Team’s practices.
- Playing in Senior Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 149-173:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League 12th match against FC Kashima (aka FC Tosu), A-Team’s Japan Club Youth Senshuken win, and Coach Fukuda’s subsequent announcement at the end of Chapter 148 that "4 members were selected as U-18 Japan National Team representatives and called to play in Czech for two weeks"
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 13th match against Tokyo Vans and the 14th match against Omiya Aranciano
Notes: #41 Kuribayashi was called back to Senior Team. However, he'd still play in the match against Funabashi Academy High – the only Premier League match he’d play in after he's back on Senior Team.
- Not in Senior Team during this time period:
- Playing in Senior Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 174-206:
(1) after the 4 U-18 Japan National Team representatives’ return from Czech at the beginning of Chapter 174
(2) only including A-Team’s Premier League post-poned 8th match against Funabashi Academy High
- Not in Senior Team during this time period:
Notes:
(1) #41 Kuribayashi is actually already called back to Senior Team. However, he'd play in one last Premier League match, which is the 8th match against Funabashi.
(2) #3 Shimura, #7 Yamada, and #11 Yoshitsune signed the pro contracts and are considered as professional players. They should’ve already received their Senior Team numbers by now, but they aren’t shown to the readers. The Senior Team doesn’t want them pushing themselves, so they won’t be playing in the 8th match against Funabashi.
- Playing in Senior Team during this time period:
Manga Chapters 207-230:
(1) after A-Team’s Premier League post-poned 8th match against Funabashi Academy High and subsequent member changes in Chapters 202-207
(2) including A-Team’s Premier League 15th-16th matches, J-Youth Cup matches up until quarter finals match against Ganon Osaka, Premier League 17th match against Funabashi Academy High, and Aomori Seiran High’s postponed Premier League 16th match against Funabashi Academy High
Notes: (1) In Chapter 205, #10 Kuribayashi returns to Senior Team and gets his pro contract on the day after the 8th match against Funabashi, becoming a professional player. (2) In Chapter 207, #11 Yoshitsune is called to play in Senior Team, and his Senior Team number is shown to be #39.
- Not in Senior Team during this time period:
Notes: In Chapter 207, #3 Shimura and #7 Yamada have returned from Senior Team to play in Youth Team’s matches.
Trivia[]
- The Esperion is based on the real-life J-League club Kashiwa Reysol. While the Reysol's main sponsor is Hitachi, Esperion's sponsor is Kaidō. Both companies have similar motto "Inspire the Next" for Hitachi, and "Inspiration Works" for Kaidō. However, the Reysol is based in Chiba, a large city next to Tokyo.