For the second time in 12 months, Thespakusatsu Gunma suffered promotion playoff heartache fresh from recording the best position in club history in 2030. Their overachievement saw manager Robaato Rasamu interviewed by relegated J1 League side Cerezo Osaka, but he remained committed to the Gunma cause.
Just six minutes separated Thespa Gunma from a surprise promotion to the Japanese top tier. However, the J2 League's silly rule that the home side gets promoted if a playoff final is drawn meant they missed out, which, in hindsight, was probably for the best given they'd just recorded the club's record high finish.
The unfancied youthful side of Thespa Gunma were the surprise package of Japan's J3 League as they snuck into the playoffs and put in two huge performances to seal promotion to the second tier.
The decision to depart Kamatamare Sanuki for Albirex Niigata was very much justified at the halfway mark of the 2026 campaign. Robaato Rasamu's second club enjoyed a healthy 11-point lead with a game in hand and Niigata fans were dreaming of a return to J1 League under their exciting new manager.
Three seasons of overachievement at Kamatamare Sakuni had hugely increased the stock of fledgling manager Robaato Rasamu. Indeed, his efforts in leading Sakuni to a club-record 7th place in J2 League saw Albirex Niigata come calling and Rasamu joined the second club of his career on 7 December 2025.
Kamatamare Sanuki were again defying all expectations as they sat safely in mid-table halfway through the J2 League 2-25 campaign. The massive relegation favourites looked to be avoiding any concerns at the bottom of the table, and even had the playoffs in their sights on the back of an eight-game unbeaten streak.
The streets of Takamatsu were painted blue as the fans of Kamatamare Sanuki celebrated an unexpected promotion and J3 League title win in 2024. The supporters were united in thinking there was only one man to thank for this success, their fledgling manager Robaato Rasamu, who was instilled as a fans' favourite alongside the mighty Himan "He-Man" Morimoto.
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