The Wait Is Over: RIDDLE Join Street Fighter League Japan

Street Fighter League Japan has its 12th and final team. RIDDLE, a Japanese esports organisation founded in 2024, has been confirmed by Capcom as the replacement for CAG Osaka, who disbanded following the 2025 season and left their slot open to public applications.

RIDDLE responded to the announcement on X, posting:

"We are pleased to announce that RIDDLE ORDER will be participating in the Street Fighter League. This marks a new challenge on a fresh stage, but we will strive with all our might to deliver the appeal of the competition and community to as many people as possible from both perspectives."

RIDDLE's Roster is Built to Compete in SFL

RIDDLE already has an impressive roster filled with top-level talent that already has SFL pedigree. Their current lineup of three, Adelie, Takagi, and Jr., are a collection of some of the brightest talent in Japan. Two of the three have already proven themselves in the league, representing other teams.

Takagi spent the 2025 season on loan to CAG Osaka in what turned out to be the organisation's final campaign. Relatively new to the competitive scene, he acquitted himself well, winning 3 of his 7 games with his Blanka and showing enough promise to suggest his best SFL performances are still ahead of him.

Adelie's 2025 season was even more impressive. On loan to Hiroshima Team iXA, he was instrumental in their run to the playoffs, where they finished fourth. He shared the regular season MVP award with KEI.B and contributed 120 points to his team, a figure that puts him in the same conversation as Sahara of Good 8 Squad, and behind only KEI.B's 140 points across the field. All in all, that is a most impressive debut season for a player. 

Jr. will be making his SFL debut with RIDDLE, and while he doesn't have SFL experience, he brings great credentials, including a top 8 finish at the 2025 Esports World Cup Last Chance Qualifier, which got him into the main competition and he also made top 16 at last year's CEO. 

RIDDLE will also be looking to add a fourth member, likely on loan, to satisfy SFL's squad size requirements. That decision will be worth monitoring as the season approaches.

Ripple Effects

RIDDLE's confirmation does have some other effects. Mostly for Hiroshima Team iXA, who would have probably hoped to add Adelie to their ranks again for the new season but will now be unable to. Japan's talent pool is deep, and team selection decisions are always closely watched, so whoever iXA turns to will generate conversation.

With the field now set, SFL Japan heads into a new season with a genuine sense of renewed competition.