Levain Cup Gets Under Way! J2 Leaders Omiya Face Tottori After Emperor's Cup Upset of Nagoya [Preview: Levain Cup First Round]

The 2026/27 J.League Yamazaki Biscuits Levain Cup gets under way on 2 September, with 15 First Round matches to be played.
 
There are two all-J2 ties. Hachinohe face Tochigi City in a meeting between two sides promoted to J2. The teams have already met in the league this season, with Tochigi City cruising to a 5-0 victory. Hachinohe will be determined to avenge that defeat, but which side will come out on top this time?
 
Miyazaki, still searching for their first league win of the season, face Toyama. They will hope a change of competition can bring a change of fortunes. Toyama were edged by Fujieda in the league last weekend. Their first-half game management will be an area to address after showing vulnerability before the break.
 
The other 13 matches pit J3 sides against J2 opposition. Sagamihara host Iwata, with in-form Kai Sasaki likely to be key to their hopes of pulling off an upset. Iwata have found form with two straight league wins. Already out of the Emperor's Cup, they will be looking to go as far as possible in this competition.
 
Gunma welcome Niigata after beating Nagano last time out to claim their first league win of the season. They will look to carry that momentum into this match and pull off an upset. Niigata are on a three-match winning run after beating Iwaki. Having been knocked out of the Emperor's Cup by Kagoshima, can they get the better of J3 opposition this time?
 
Kanazawa face Imabari amid a difficult run in the league. Can No. 10 Patric provide the spark they need to turn things around? Imabari have lost all four of their league matches so far and will hope a victory in this competition can spark an upturn in form.
 
Gifu host Tokushima after making an unbeaten start to their league campaign with three wins and one draw. Their free-scoring attack has been a major strength, but can they pose the same threat against J2 opposition? Tokushima finally claimed their first league win of the season by beating Oita last weekend. With goals still hard to come by, Thonny Anderson and the rest of their attack will need to deliver.
 
FC Osaka face Kofu having remained unbeaten in the league, while they also gave Shimizu a tough test in the Emperor's Cup. They will look to show the same resilience against Kofu. The visitors beat Sapporo to claim their first league win of the season last time out. Can Yamato Naito deliver again in this competition?
 
Nara welcome Tosu after a difficult league start that has brought just one victory. They will need to tighten up a defence that has been prone to conceding multiple goals. Tosu are winless in their last three league matches. Toshiki Takahashi has scored twice in the league and twice in the Emperor's Cup. Can he deliver again in this competition?
 
Tottori, on a winning run in the league and fresh from knocking Nagoya out of the Emperor's Cup, face Omiya. Can they spring another surprise? Omiya sit top of J2 and have scored 10 goals in four league matches. They will look to use that attacking firepower to see off Tottori's challenge.
 
Yamaguchi host Fujieda with just one league win so far. Having scored only two goals in four matches, they need more from their attack. Can Seiichiro Kubo, who played for Fujieda in the MEIJI YASUDA J2/J3 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE, make an impact against his former club? Fujieda remain in good league form. Wigi Kanemoto has scored three goals in four matches and could again be key.
 
Ehime welcome Akita after going unbeaten through their opening four league matches to sit second. Under Takeshi Oki, they will look to impose their attacking style and pull off an upset against J2 opposition. Akita have struggled for form in the league but won both meetings between the sides in J2 in 2025. Can they come out on top again?
 
Kitakyushu face Iwaki after three straight draws in the league. Can in-form Daigo Takahashi make the difference against J2 opposition? Iwaki have lost three straight league matches and conceded 10 goals during that run. Tightening up their defence is an urgent priority.
 
Kumamoto host Oita after beating Kochi last weekend to claim their first league win of the season. Manager Tomohiro Katanosaka's approach will be one to watch as he faces his former club. Oita have managed just one league victory so far. Can they avenge two defeats to Kumamoto in the MEIJI YASUDA J2/J3 100 YEAR VISION LEAGUE?
 
Kagoshima face Sapporo having remained unbeaten in the league and also cruised past Niigata in the Emperor's Cup. They will look to carry that momentum into this competition and pull off another upset against J2 opposition. Sapporo have lost three straight league matches and are already out of the Emperor's Cup. They will be desperate for a win to bring their difficult run to an end.
 
Ryukyu welcome Yokohama FC after beating Sagamihara to claim their first league win of the season. Can Toshikazu Teruuchi, who has scored in each of his last two matches, deliver again? Yokohama FC are winless in their last two league matches and will look to Adailton and the rest of their attack to provide the spark.

■Check Out the Key Battles in Each Match
Hachinohe vs. Tochigi City
Sagamihara vs. Iwata
Miyazaki vs. Toyama
Gunma vs. Niigata
Kanazawa vs. Imabari
Gifu vs. Tokushima
FC Osaka vs Kofu
Nara vs. Tosu
Tottori vs. Omiya
Yamaguchi vs. Fujieda
Ehime vs. Akita
Kitakyushu vs. Iwaki
Kumamoto vs. Oita
Kagoshima vs. Sapporo
Ryukyu vs. Yokohama FC