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A trio of second-half goals helped Sanfrecce Hiroshima capture their fourth FUJI XEROX Super Cup with a 3-1 win over Gamba Osaka on Saturday at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium. New Gamba addition Ademilson joined a high-octane starting XI that included Takashi Usami and Patric, but the Emperor’s Cup holders opened the game on the defensive.  …

A selection of J.League academy players drew 1-1 with a team of Japan’s best high school players in the NEXT GENERATION MATCH before Saturday’s FUJI XEROX SUPER CUP. Shizuoka Gakuen midfielder Reo Hatate broke past defenders to score just before half time of the 70-minute match, but the J.League side finished honours even thanks to Akito Muka…

The 10th through fourth place results in the 2016 J.League Mascot election were revealed on Friday, setting the stage for an exciting announcement of the winner at Saturday’s FUJI XEROX SUPER CUP. The centre position in the annual mascot photo will be occupied by either Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s Sanche, the current champion, FC Tokyo’s Toky…

Kawasaki Frontale on Thursday announced that defender Yuto Takeoka will require six to eight weeks to recover from a torn right calf muscle. The injury was sustained in a February 11 training match against Mito Hollyhock. The 29-year-old is in his third year at Frontale, having scored one goal in 30 appearances in the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League seaso…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima striker Takuma Asano is confident that he can build on his breakout 2015 season ahead of Saturday’s FUJI XEROX SUPER CUP. The 21-year-old was named the J.League New Player of the Year after scoring nine goals, all of them as a substitute. “I have a good impression of (the Super Cup) since that’s where I scored my …

Gamba Osaka manager Kenta Hasegawa is eyeing revenge against Sanfrecce Hiroshima ahead of Saturday’s Fuji Xerox Super Cup clash. Defending J.League champions Sanfrecce defeated eventual Emperor’s Cup winners Gamba in the league Championship, pipping the former holders to the title. Both giants will again face each other on Saturday in the …

The J.League on Thursday announced video game publisher Electronic Arts as the league’s newest Top Partner. The Redwood City, California-based company is best known by football fans for the FIFA series and is the sixth-largest publisher in the world by revenue. EA sponsors several other top leagues around the world, including the Premier League …

Mascots from across the J.League will gather on Saturday at the FUJI XEROX SUPER CUP 2016. The colourful characters will meet a lucky group of fans on the pitch early in the day before greeting arriving supporters at the west gate of Nissan Stadium. They will also appear at halftime of the match between Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Gamba Osaka to announce …

The J.League on Monday announced that the J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup will retain its name for the 2016 edition of the tournament. The name of the tournament holds a Guinness World Record for the longest-running football competition sponsorship. However, it was thrown into doubt following an announcement that Yamazaki Nabisco will change its name to…

Urawa Reds have begun a week-long fundraiser for earthquake relief in Taiwan in cooperation with Friends of the United Nations Asia-Pacific. Donations will be collected at the club’s training ground, football schools and official shops. Fans can also contribute at Saitama Stadium where they will face Sydney FC in the 2016 AFC Champions League on…

Chairmen of all four Japanese representatives in the 2016 AFC Champions League gathered on Tuesday for a meeting to discuss the ACL 2016 Support Project, an initiative which provides financial resources and scheduling relief. They were joined by J.League chairman Mitsuru Murai and Japan Football Association president Kuniya Daini, who stressed the import…

Mito Hollyhock striker Nguyen Cong Phuong will arrive in Japan on Tuesday as he prepares to join his team-mates in training on Wednesday, February 17. The 21-year-old “Vietnamese Messi” joined the Ibaraki prefecture club on a one-year loan from Vietnam’s HAGL FC in December. Hollyhock will open the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League season …

Vissel Kobe on Sunday announced that midfielder Ryo Matsumura will require roughly two months to recover from a torn hamstring. The 21-year-old suffered the injury last week during the team’s training camp in Okinawa. Matsumura, who joined Vissel in 2012, spent last season on loan at Tochigi SC where he made 23 appearances in the 2015 MEIJI YASU…

FC Tokyo on Monday announced that defender Sei Muroya sustained a fracture in the fifth metatarsal in his left foot. The injury, known as a Jones fracture, occurred on February 11 shortly after the newly-signed player joined his teammates in practice. An expected recovery time of at least three months could prevent the Japan U23 member from participat…

Albirex Niigata on Saturday lost 2-1 to Thailand’s Buriram United in the Toyota Premier Cup 2015. Leo Silva gave the Japanese visitors the lead in the 55th minute at New I-Mobile Stadium but Buriram fought back, equalising when Ko Seul-Ki headed Theerathon Bunmathan’s corner kick into the net. The two combined again for the winner and Albi…

Nagoya Grampus on Saturday confirmed midfielder Taishi Taguchi as the team’s captain for 2016. The 24-year-old, who made just 11 league appearances due to injury in 2015, will be joined by a trio of vice-captains. Goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki, midfielder Yoshizumi Ogawa and striker Kensuke Nagai will act as backups in the event Taguchi is not on th…

A sold-out crowd saw Gamba Osaka capture the first official match at Suita City Football Stadium with a 3-1 win over Nagoya Grampus in the Panasonic Cup. The hosts opened scoring in the 26th minute, when new arrival Ademilson’s cross resulted in an own goal thanks to striker Patric’s efforts in the box. Yasuyuki Konno doubled Gamba’s…

FC Ryukyu on Saturday announced the signings of three new players following successful trials. Brazilian striker Leonardo Pereira, along with defenders Katsuhiro Hamada and Shuhei Takizawa, were offered contracts. The club had rated their performances in the J.League/SkyPerfecTV New Years Cup Okinawa Round enough to sign them up. All three have now…

Vissel Kobe on Friday announced a 500,000 yen donation to the Taiwanese city of Tainan following last week’s deadly earthquake. The donation will be made through club sponsor Rakuten Group’s Clutch Special Charity Fund, which has raised money for disaster relief in a number of countries such as Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand. “We offer…

Midfielder Yuki Kobayashi has been named captain of Albirex Niigata for the 2016 season. The 27-year-old, who will play his third season at the club this year, will be backed by vice-captains Kazunari Ono and Leo Silva. “I want our team to stay focused on our goals as we play this season,” Kobayashi said. “Being named captain is a bi…