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Sanfrecce Hiroshima manager Hajime Moriyasu reaffirmed that the team have not abandoned hope for advancing to the AFC Champions League’s Round of 16 following their 1-4 loss at FC Seoul on Tuesday. The J.League champions sit in third place of Group F with no points following the result, with Seoul and Shandong Luneng top with six points each. &l…

Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday announced the arrival of Brazilian defender Eduardo on a one-year loan from Kashiwa Reysol. The 23-year-old, who has also played for Tochigi SC and Gainare Tottori, was a regular member of Reysol’s starting lineup last season with 29 appearances in the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League. “It’s fantastic to join t…

Vegalta Sendai on Saturday registered goalkeepers Hikaru Abe and Shotaro Matsuura to the senior squad. The two 17-year-olds are both members of the club’s youth team. Vegalta, who opened their 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League campaign with a win at Yokohama F. Marinos, will host FC Tokyo on March 6.

Gamba Osaka stumbled out of the blocks in their 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season opener with a 0-1 loss to Kashima Antlers. Spectacular scenes at the J.League debut of Suita City Football Stadium made way for a physically intense match, which started with Gamba’s ace strikers Takashi Usami and Patric on the bench. But while Japan international…

Shimizu S-Pulse were given a swift introduction to the challenges of Japan’s second flight after struggling to a scoreless draw against Ehime FC in the opening round of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League. Shinji Kobayashi’s men managed just six shots against their opponents, despite spending all three substitutions on attacking players.  …

FC Tokyo on Sunday announced that defender Yuichi Komano and midfielder Ha Dae-sung will both require three to four weeks to recover from right calf injuries. Ha suffered his knock in training, while Komano was substituted out of Tokyo’s AFC Champions League match at Jeonbuk Motors. Tokyo will resume their ACL campaign against Vietnam’s Bi…

Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima began the defence of their MEIJI YASUDA J1 League crown by suffering an opening-day defeat to Kawasaki Frontale on Saturday, losing 1-0 in front of their own supporters. Hajime Moriyasu’s men hoped to begin the 2016 domestic season on a high note when they welcomed their opponents but the visitors were the one…

The J.League on Friday announced that league sponsor MEIJI YASUDA will support the MEIJI YASUDA J.League Monthly MVP in 2016. Recipients of the awards, meant to exemplify talented performances in the J1 and J2 leagues, are determined by local football media as well as a three-member panel. J1 winners in 2015 included Gamba Osaka’s Takashi Usami,…

The J.League has announced its board of directors for the 2016 season, with former JFA technical director Hiromi Hara set to be installed as the league’s new vice chairman. The 57-year-old, a former striker for Japan’s national team, managed Urawa Reds and FC Tokyo before serving as the Samurai Blue’s technical director for over five ye…

20-year-old midfielder Tam Sheang Tsung has joined Gainare Tottori of the MEIJI YASUDA J3 League, the club announced on Friday. The Tokyo-born Malaysian previously played for Avispa Fukuoka and Kataller Toyama, though he has yet to make his J.League debut. “I want to work hard in order to play as soon as possible,” Tam commented.

Shonan Bellmare manager Cho Kwi-jea will serve as a guest lecturer at the Sanno University of Management, the club has announced. The 47-year-old coach, currently in his fifth year in charge of the club, will speak on topics related to team management and sports business. “I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to grow alongside students a…

The J.League’s board of directors has confirmed the league’s support for MARCH, a short-form documentary currently in production. The film’s focus is Fukushima-based student marching band Seeds+, who have continued their activities in the wake of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami which devastated the region.  The group were invite…

Montedio Yamagata on Wednesday announced the arrival of veteran Masashi Oguro on a one-year loan from Kyoto Sanga. The 35-year-old was the Kansai club’s top scorer in 2015 with 16 goals from 40 appearances in the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League. “I’m incredibly happy to join Montedio Yamagata,” Oguro said.  “I want to scor…

Kyoto Sanga on Wednesday announced the arrival of striker Sergio Escudero. The 27-year-old made his debut for Urawa Reds at 16 years old in 2005, remaining with the club until 2012 until joining South Korea’s FC Seoul and later China’s Jiangsu Sainty.  A naturalised Japanese citizen, he made five appearances for Japan’s Under-23…

The J.League and Japan Football Association have announced that Additional Assistant Referees (AAR) will be introduced to select matches in 2016. The change has been made in order to improve the accuracy of goal decisions and judgements within the penalty area. The AARs, who stand behind the goal line and may not enter the field of play, will be used …

Both Japanese teams earned points on the second night of the 2016 AFC Champions League group stage’s opening round. Playing in front of a home crowd of 19,500, Urawa Reds won 2-0 against Sydney FC for their first home ACL victory since April 2013.  An early Yuki Muto goal put the 2007 champions on top the A-League representatives, with Shin…

Both Sanfrecce Hiroshima and FC Tokyo saw their 2016 AFC Champions League campaigns open with a setback on Tuesday night with a pair of 2-1 losses. Sanfrecce, at home to Shandong Luneng, took the lead in the 64th minute through Kohei Shimizu’s  goal but allowed a Yang Xu equaliser just three minutes later. Brazilian striker Diego Tardelli foun…

The J.League on Tuesday announced Saitama Stadium 2002 as host venue of the 2016 Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Final. Japan’s largest football-specific venue will host the cup climax for a third straight year on Saturday, October 15. The tournament kicks off on March 23 with a round-robin Group Stage involving 14 clubs.

The J.League on Tuesday announced that Tokyo Musashino City FC (Japan Football League) and FC Imabari (Shikoku League) have been recognised as J.League Hundred Year Vision clubs. The successful application is the first step toward potential admission to the J3 League; both clubs may now begin the process of applying for a J3 License. There are now sev…

Despite a short offseason, how have preparations gone for 2016? Our season finished with the loss in the Emperor’s Cup semifinal on December 29, but I began training independently on January 3. Instead of taking time off, I wanted to make sure I was staying active and refreshed. I can relax after I retire. We’re motivated to win another title…