The quarterfinals of the 95th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship are to be held on 26 December. The four games will be between Gamba Osaka, who aim to become back-to-back champions, and Sagan Tosu, F.C.Tokyo and the J.League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Vissel Kobe and Urawa Reds, as well as Vegalta Sendai and Kashiwa Reysol.

This will be the first official match after the final Sec. in the second stage of the J.League on 22 November, excluding the J.League Championship and the FIFA Club World Cup. The game fitness of each team could be one of the keys in deciding games. 

Gamba Osaka, who aim to become back-to-back champions by winning their fourth championship, will meet Sagan Tosu at the Expo'70 Commemorative Stadium.

Gamba Osaka finished second in the J.League Championship, losing to Hiroshima, as well as in the J.League Nabisco Cup, and became the semifinalists in the AFC Champions League (ACL). The team has always been one step away from winning the tournament this season. They are determined to claim the title in the Emperor's Cup to finish the season. The team will change their home ground from the Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium to the Suita Football Stadium, and will be wishing to win the final game at their current home.

However, many players in the team are suffering from injuries or are in a poor condition after the three-week break after the second leg of the J.League Championship final. Although the team has managed the tight schedule so far, the coach HASEGAWA Kenta may find it difficult to assemble a team this time.

Sagan Tosu, who beat Montedio Yamagata 4-3 in the Round of 16 (the fourth round), became quarterfinalists for the first time after the championship in 2013, in which they advanced to the semi-final. The team prepared themselves through practice games against university teams and a short training camp in Osaka in December.

Although the team ended 11th in the J.League this season, they were unbeaten in the last five games. The forward TOYODA Yohei, who has played for the national team, scored 16 goals in 29 matches, which is only three goals behind the third highest goal scorer, the forward USAMI Takashi from Gamba. 

The team won a home game against Gamba 1-0 in the first stage of J.League Division 1 in March and tied an away match 1-1 in the second stage in July. They are good rivals of Gamba. 

Sanfrecce Hiroshima, on the other hand, participated in the FIFA Club World Cup from 10 to 20 December as the J.League winners. They beat the ACL champions, Guangzhou Evergrande (China PR), and finished third. As the team will play their match less than one week after the championship, they may be more match-ready than the other teams.

F.C.Tokyo, who aim to win the championship for the first time since the 91st Cup in 2011, finished fourth in the league this season. The team conceded the third fewest goals in the league.

Hiroshima have the forward Douglas, who is the second top goal scorer with 21 goals, the top scorer SATO Hisato, who has struck as many goals as the league’s highest scorer ever, as well as a young forward ASANO Takuma, who stays ambitious for goals with his serious pace. Tokyo have to show their defensive skills. The results between the two teams this season were one victory for Hiroshima and one draw.

Kobe won against Yokohama F Marinos 1-0 in the Round 16, and became quarterfinalists for the first time since 2003. The team will meet Urawa again after losing to them 5-2 in the final Sec. of the J.League Division 1 Second stage. They drew 1-1 in a home game of the first stage.

The game will be the first official one for Urawa, who won the J.League Division 1 first stage, after the semifinal of the J.League Championship on 28 November. It will be the match between east and west. Although the team have recently only made it to the third or fourth round in the Emperor's Cup, they hope to claim the title for the first time since the 86th Cup in 2006.

The match between Sendai and Kashiwa will be the first official game after a five-week break for both teams since the J.League Division 1 final Sec. Sendai, who became quarterfinalists in the 2013 Cup, played two practice games against local university teams, while Kashiwa, who claimed the title in the 92nd Cup in 2012 played a practice match against a J2 club team to get themselves ready. The results between these two teams this season are one victory for Kashiwa and one draw.

The quarterfinal between Vissel Kobe and Urawa Reds at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka and the one between Vegalta Sendai and Kashiwa Reysol at yurtec stadium Sendai in Miyagi will kick-off at 13:00, while the game between Gamba Osaka and Sagan Tosu at the Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium as well as the one between F.C.Tokyo and Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Nagasaki Athletic Park Stadium will start at 15:00.

The winners will meet in the semi-finals on 29 December. The final will be held on 1 January at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo to decide the best team in Japan, and the winner will also earn a place in the ACL Championship.

The 95th Emperor's Cup All Japan Football Championship

Sat. 29 August 2015 - Fri. 1 January 2016
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