Closing in on the frenzy of ordinary people who worked hard, wishing for a 'J-Club in Okayama.' 'The Miracle of Fagiano Okayama's Geothermal Heat: How a Citizen Club Without a Parent Company Achieved Promotion to J1' on sale April 24, 2026!!

Takeshobo Co., Ltd. (Location: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Sumitaka Miyata) will release 'The Miracle of Fagiano Okayama's Geothermal Heat: How a Citizen Club Without a Parent Company Achieved Promotion to J1' (Author: Yuko Shimazawa) on Friday, April 24, 2026.

[Highlights]

The GM is a former METI bureaucrat, the president is a former Goldman Sachs executive, and local company presidents worked in the front office without pay.

Fagiano Okayama was built on a foundation laid by maverick business people.

In the midst of the 'Lost Decade,' why was a J1 team born in a land barren of professional sports?

What is the origin of the 'culture where supporters do not boo,' which nurtured Kodai Sano, a new asset holding the fate of Moriyasu JAPAN.

Through the prefectural league, regional league, JFL, J2, and finally in 2024, winning the playoffs from 5th place in the J2 league to be promoted to J1. The following year, 2025, in their first J1 season, despite being told they would 'drop down (to J2) in one year,' they secured victories against top clubs like Kashima, Kashiwa, and Hiroshima, finishing 13th and remaining in the league, causing a sensation in a land once called 'barren of professional sports.'

A miraculous story of a citizen club without a parent company that started with a budget of 4 million yen, earnestly striving with all their might under the philosophy of 'giving dreams to children!' to grasp their long-awaited first promotion to J1.

[Synopsis]

Fagiano Okayama, which was in the prefectural league Division 1, went through the Chugoku League, JFL, and J2, and in 2024, won the playoffs from 5th place in the J2 league to be promoted to J1. The following year, 2025, in their first J1 season, despite being told they would 'drop down (to J2) in one year,' they secured victories against top clubs like Kashima, Kashiwa, and Hiroshima, finishing 13th and remaining in the league. Moreover, tickets for the home area were sold out for all home games. They caused a sensation in a land once called 'barren of professional sports.'

Okayama-born Masaaki Kimura, who rose to the position of executive officer at Goldman Sachs Japan, became the president and incorporated the club in 2006. How did a citizen club without a parent company, starting with a budget of 4 million yen, manage to climb all the way to J1 promotion in 21 years? Behind it all was the 'geothermal heat' of ordinary people who wished for 'a J-Club in this town' and devoted their efforts.

Is it a miracle, or is it inevitable? An ambitious work completed by an up-and-coming sports journalist who moved to Okayama and interviewed over 60 people involved in a page of Fagiano Okayama's history.

■ Chapter 1: The Pride of a Newcomer

-- Promoted from 5th place in the J2 league 'Challenging J1' 2024-2025

Never once mentioning 'Remaining in J1'

'A miraculous ranking'

Why Ryunosuke grew

■ Chapter 2: The Day the Embers Were Born

-- 'A J-Club in Okayama' starting from tea-time chat 1993-2005

A dream that started from a tea-time chat

Starting from the Okayama Prefectural Division 1 League

Legendary supporters

■ Chapter 3: The Driving Force Called Supporters 'The Wall of the Regional League'

-- 2005-2006

Let's gather friends without using 'soccer'

The name that came to mind when the club was on the verge of dissolution

A rich president comes from Tokyo

■ Chapter 4: Told by Local Companies 'I don't know anything about soccer'

-- From tearful massive restructuring to JFL promotion 2006-2007

The first GM is a former METI bureaucrat

The most difficult tournament on the road to J

Overlapping miracles

■ Chapter 5: The Miracle Trio

-- A J2 club is born in a land barren of professional sports 2008-2014

Dream Pass and Fagi Foods

Promotion to J2 in just one year

The miracle of three people crossing paths

■ Chapter 6: The Background of Becoming Stronger

-- 16 years of J2 life: growth and cultivated culture 2015-2025

The role of 'Koken' in Noh theater

The wife's words that empowered Kiyama

'Isn't something like a miracle happening?'

■ Chapter 7: Can the Pheasant Fly?

-- The future of Fagiano 2026-

The 'child expert' pursued by the maverick GM

Regional independence leads to individual independence

[Bibliographic Information]

Cover image of 'The Miracle of Fagiano Okayama's Geothermal Heat: How a Citizen Club Without a Parent Company Achieved Promotion to J1'

The Miracle of Fagiano Okayama's Geothermal Heat: How a Citizen Club Without a Parent Company Achieved Promotion to J1

◆ Author: Yuko Shimazawa

◆ Release Date: Friday, April 24, 2026

◆ Specifications: 46 size, 256 pages

◆ Price: 1,980 yen (tax included)

Takeshobo Official Website Details
https://www.takeshobo.co.jp/book/b10158601.html

[Author Information]

Yuko Shimazawa

Born in Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture. Journalist and sports development advisor. After graduating from the University of Tsukuba and studying in the UK, she worked at the Tokyo headquarters of Nikkan Sports News. Became a freelancer in 1998. Focusing on the frontlines of sports and education, she contributes to many media outlets such as AERA's 'Portrait of the Present'. Recent publications include 'Coaching Techniques for an Era Without Scolding: Practices in Sports Settings to Foster Independence' (NHK Publishing Shinsho).