Tokushima Vortis 1-0 RB Omiya Ardija
A goal from Naoki Kanuma saw Tokushima Vortis knock off the big-budget team of RB Omiya Ardija in 2025 J2 matchweek 7, thanks to that solitary goal.
Tokushima Vortis 1-0 RB Omiya Ardija
Tokushima Vortis official web site: https://www.vortis.jp
A goal from Naoki Kanuma (below, right) saw Tokushima Vortis knock off the big-budget team of RB Omiya Ardija in 2025 J2 matchweek 7, thanks to that solitary goal. Vortis - looking to return to J1 after four years out of the top flight - took their name from the Italian word "Vortice", which means "whirlpool". This is a reference to the famous Naruto whirlpools, which form in the Naruto Strait just off the east coast of Tokushima. It is said that the name was also chosen to exhibit the dynamics of a whirlpool in the hope of swallowing up the whole audience in excitement by its power, speed and unity"!
Tokushima Vortis - Starting Lineup and goal-scorer Naoki Kanuma
Tokushima Vortis was founded in 1955 as Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Soccer Club, and joined the J.League in 2005. Before they entered J.League the team were promoted to the original Japan Soccer League (JSL) Division 2 in 1989, but the company was not ready to run a professional team when the original J.League was founded, so were not considered for the first-ever J.League in 1993. In the JFL in 1997 they became known as Vortis Tokushima and they eventually became Tokushima Vortis after winning the JFL championship in 2004 and being promoted to J2
In 2013, they finished in 4th place in J2, and won in the J1 Promotional Play-off, defeating Kyoto Sanga at the National Stadium to rise to J1 for the first time, but their stay was short-lived as they were relegated after finishing bottom of the 18-team division.
In 2020, they were promoted to J1 for the second time, this time as J2 champions, but, again lasted just one season. This year, in 2025, we hope to see them rise to the J.League's top tier for the third time in their history.
Vortis play at the Pocari Sweat Stadium (see picture, taken from their J.League official page) - named after the most famous product of their sponsor / owner / founder Otsuka Pharmaceuticals.
At every game, and at many local events, fans can meet the team mascots - according to their official page on the J.League web site (see image) they are Tokushima’s terrific tanuki! Vorta-kun and Tis-chan are a pair of racoon dogs who are valued Vortis veterans!
