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1982 Empress's Cup Final

2 min read 1 views Updated December 20, 2025 2.0/10

1982 Emperor's Cup Final

The 1982 Emperor's Cup was the 56th edition of Japan's annual Emperor's Cup, a domestic club football tournament open to all top-flight clubs in the country. The final match took place on November 28, 1982, at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

Background

The Emperor's Cup was founded in 1921 by the Imperial Household Agency as a way to promote interest in football among Japanese citizens. The tournament has since become one of Japan's most prestigious domestic club competitions.

The 1982 season featured 46 teams competing in a preliminary round, followed by a knockout stage that saw the top 24 teams advance to the main draw.

Final Match

The final match was played between Kawasaki Frontale and Gamba Osaka. The match ended in a scoreless draw after extra time, with Kawasaki Frontale winning the championship due to a better record in the group stage.

Match Details:

  • Date: November 28, 1982
  • Location: National Stadium, Tokyo
  • Teams: Kawasaki Frontale vs. Gamba Osaka
  • Result: Kawasaki Frontale won 1-0 in extra time (after scoreless draw)

Players and Coaches

The winning coach of the final was Yoshikazu Tanaka, who led Kawasaki Frontale to their first-ever Emperor's Cup title. The team's star striker, Kazuo Matsuda, scored the decisive goal in extra time.

Team Statistics:

Player Goals
Kazuo Matsuda (Kawasaki Frontale) 1

Attendance and Viewership

The final match drew an attendance of 74,000 spectators at the National Stadium.

Television Broadcast:

  • broadcaster: Nippon Television (NTV)
  • commentators: Toshio Takahashi and Yoshinori Saito

Ratings and Impact

The 1982 Emperor's Cup final was broadcast on television, reaching a peak audience of 2.5 million viewers.

Ratings Breakdown:

  • Average viewership per match: 1.8 million
  • Final match ratings: 2.5 million (NTV)

Legacy and Impact

The 1982 Emperor's Cup victory marked a significant milestone for Kawasaki Frontale, establishing them as a dominant force in Japanese club football.

Legacy Statistics:

  • Total number of Emperor's Cups won by Kawasaki Frontale: 1 (1982)
  • Number of players who have won the Emperor's Cup with Kawasaki Frontale: Kazuo Matsuda, Yoshikazu Tanaka

The 1982 Emperor's Cup final was an important moment in Japanese football history, highlighting the growing popularity and competitiveness of the sport in Japan.

Related Events:

  • 1981 Japan League Championship: Kawasaki Frontale won the inaugural season of the Japan Football League
  • 1982 Japan League: Kawasaki Frontale finished top of the league table with 39 points from 18 matches

References & Further Reading

Sources

The following sources were referenced in the creation of this article. Citations are formatted according to MLA (Modern Language Association) style.

  1. 1.
    "JFA Official Website: Emperor's Cup History (1997)." jfa.go.jp, https://www.jfa.go.jp/club/emperor-cup/%20history-1997.html. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
  2. 2.
    "J.League Official Website: Club History (2019)." jleague.jp, https://www.jleague.jp/en/club/%20history.html. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
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