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…

Kashima Antlers star Gaku Shibasaki underwent surgery following acute appendicitis, the club announced on Friday. The Japan international received care under the supervision of the team doctor on February 9 and is expected to require up to four weeks to recover. Shibasaki, who scored five goals last season, could miss the opening rounds of the 2016 ME…

Yokohama F. Marinos have registered three youth players for the senior squad, the club announced on Friday. Goalkeepers Keito Chida and Gaku Harada as well as defender Keigo Tsunemoto, all 17 years old, will be eligible to participate in this season’s MEIJI YASUDA J1 League campaign. F. Marinos will begin their 2016 season at home against Vegalt…

Albirex Niigata on Wednesday drew 1-1 with Thai Division 1 side Chiangmai FC in a training match at the Alpine Golf Resort in Thailand. Midfielder Leo Silva was the scorer for the Japanese side, finding the back of the net in the 75th minute. Albirex will contest the Toyota Premier Cup 2015 on Saturday against Buriram United at New I-Mobile Stadium in…

Kawasaki Frontale will host the “Takata Smile Festa 2016” in the northern town of Rikuzentakata in Iwate prefecture on July 3, the club announced on Wednesday. The festival will feature a “Smile Dream Match” between the club and Vegalta Sendai, who will meet in the opening round of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League second stage one day e…

Gamba Osaka have announced a testimonial match set to take place before Sunday’s Panasonic Cup. The prelude to the Suita City Football Stadium curtain-raiser against Nagoya Grampus will feature former players Satoshi Yamaguchi and Satoshi Nakayama. Both retired after the 2015 season and will make a final appearance in front of the blue and black…

Former defender Tetsuo Nakanishi will continue to serve as a “special ambassador” for Kawasaki Frontale, the club announced on Tuesday. The Nagoya native joined the club in its inaugural 1997 season, further contributing to their 1999 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League championship as well as their debut J1 League campaign in 2000. “This year ma…

The J.League on Tuesday night announced changes to the 2016 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup following FC Tokyo’s AFC Champions League Playoff win over Chonburi FC. Tokyo, who were scheduled to compete in Group A, will now receive a bye to the Knockout Stage of the Nabisco Cup as a result of their participation in the ACL Group Stage. Clubs schedul…

Vissel Kobe on Tuesday announced the return of defender Masahiko Inoha to the club for the first time since their relegation-struck 2012 season. The former Samurai Blue member has spent the last three seasons with Jubilo Iwata, becoming a free agent following the 2015 season.  “After I was released by Jubilo I received offers from various t…

Coaches from FC Tokyo on Sunday concluded their week-long stay in Nepal as part of the J.League’s cooperation with the Sport For Tomorrow initiative. The visit was the latest in the league’s efforts to support Nepal following last April’s deadly earthquake. The coaches held football clinics for local children, teaching them important…

MEIJI YASUDA J1 League side Albirex Niigata will take on Buriram United in Saturday’s Toyota Premier Cup 2015. The single-game competition, which has taken place every February since 2011, sees the winner of the Toyota League Cup welcome a J.League opponent to Thailand. Buriram have participated three times, winning against Nagoya Grampus in 201…

FC Tokyo made an emphatic entrance into the 2016 AFC Champions League on Tuesday night with a 9-0 win over Chonburi FC in the playoff round. Manager Hiroshi Jofuku waited just six minutes for the first goal of his second tenure at the club, with Tokyo’s attack forcing a Chonburi own-goal.  Newcomer Takuma Abe followed up three minutes later…

Albirex Niigata on Sunday defeated Thai Premier League side Suphanburi FC in a training match (3x45min) at the Alpine Golf Resort in Chiangmai. Masaru Kato and Shu Hiramatsu were the scorers, with both goals coming in the first period of play. Albirex will open their 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League campaign away at Shonan Bellmare on February 27.

Kawasaki Frontale on Sunday announced that midfielder Kengo Nakamura will continue to serve as the club’s captain for the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season. The 35-year-old has spent his entire career with the club, with over 500 total appearances to his name. “In our important 20th anniversary season, I hope that my vice-captains and I c…

Kashiwa Reysol on Sunday announced the return of striker Junya Tanaka to the club on a one-year rental from Portugal’s Sporting CP. The 28-year-old, who left Reysol in the summer of 2014, will be looking to add to his total of 34 goals in 114 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances. “I’m happy to be able to return to Kashiwa Reysol,&rdquo…