The long-term league, the "Prince Takamado Trophy U-18 Premier League 2015", which decides the strongest team of the U-18 generation in Japan will be held again from Saturday 21 to Monday 23 November. This season has been approximately eight months and there are only three matches to go. Each team will show their final strength.

Four teams, Aomori Yamada High School (Aomori), Kashima Antlers Youth (Ibaraki), Omiya Ardija Youth (Saitama), and Ichiritsu Funabashi High School (Chiba) will play for first place in the EAST. As they are within a four-point difference, each match can change the final order.

Aomori Yamada in the lead are unbeaten since the sixth Sec. Although they lost two consecutive matches in the fourth and fifth Sec. with long-distance travel, the coach KURODA Go commented: "we found our problems through these two games – we must improve our basics, including our stamina as well as switching speed between attack and defence rather than tactics."

After reviewing their basic skills, the team earned winning points one after another with a strength in running, which can last until the final whistle of the game, and precise set pieces. They are now in the lead.

Although Omiya, on the other hand, were unbeaten from the opening match to the 13th Sec., they lost two games in a row in the 14th and 15th Sec. The team ceded the top spot to Aomori Yamada, lost the lead to Kashima, and are now sitting in third place. In the late summer, the players could not run at the end of the game due to tiredness from their losses and tours.

However, the team has some advantages – they will play two home games in Saitama out of three remaining matches, and none of them will be against those vying for first place. We cannot wait to see whether they win the championship in their first year of the league.

The teams from Osaka and Kyushu gave a boost to the league in the WEST. Gamba Osaka Youth (Osaka), who are in the lead, have been playing well both in attack and defence, winning three consecutive matches 2-0 since the 13th Sec. The two forwards, TAKEDA Taichi and MIYAMORI Yuki, especially showed off their abilities. The team has strength in depth. The midfielder DOAN Ritsu made a debut as a forward in the match against Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka) in the ninth Sec., contributing to the team’s 4-0 victory.

Cerezo Osaka U-18 (Osaka), the previous champions, have been struggling with one victory and four defeats. The team suffered a crushing 6-0 defeat against Sanfrecce Hiroshima FC Youth (Hiroshima) in the 15th Sec. just before the break. The break may or may not have had a positive influence on the team. They will gather themselves up to show their characteristic game – staying aggressive both in attack and defence in order to become back-to-back champions.

Higashi Fukuoka High School (Fukuoka), who are currently in second place, challenged the teams from Osaka, so that they can become the winner for the first time since the eighth Takamado championship in 1997. They have kept a clean sheet once every three matches, and have shown the team’s solid defence. They also struck more than three goals in the five most recent games. NAKAMURA Kento in the centre scored four goals in those matches, and is looking for more goals in the coming three games.

Oita Trinita U-18 (Oita) in fourth place will meet Higashi Fukuoka in the 16th Sec. after the break. They are eager to beat another team from Kyushu to have an opportunity to win the championship. The matches among Gamba Osaka, Cerezo Osaka, Higashi Fukuoka and Oita are on the way, making the championship even more competitive.

Premier League EAST Matchday 16

11/22 (Sun.)
11:00　Aomori Yamada High School vs Shimizu S-Pulse Youth (Aomori Yamada High School)
11:00　Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School vs Consadole Sapporo U-18 (Ryutsukeizaidai Kashiwa High School)
13:00　Ichiritsu Funabashi High School vs JFA Academy Fukushima (ZA Oripri Stadium)
13:00　F.C. Tokyo U-18 vs Omiya Ardija Youth (Tokyo Gas Musashino Ground)
16:00　Kashima Antlers Youth vs Kashiwa Reysol U-18 (Kashima Antlers Club House)

Premier League WEST Matchday 16

11/21 (Sat.)
15:00　Gamba Osaka Youth vs Sanfrecce Hiroshima F.C. Youth (Gamba Osaka Training Field)
11/22 (Sun.)
11:00　Riseisha High School vs Nagoya Grampus U18 (Riseisha Ibaraki ground)
13:00　Oita Trinita U-18 vs Higashi Fukuoka High School (Oita Sports Park)
15:00　Cerezo Osaka U-18 vs Vissel Kobe U-18 (Cerezo Osaka Maishima Ground)
11/23 (Mon.)
11:00　Kyoto Tachibana High School vs Kyoto Sanga F.C. U-18 (Kameoka Sports Ground)