SC Sagamihara on Monday announced that veteran Naohiro Takahara's contract will not be renewed for next season. The 36-year-old former Japan international renowned for several stints abroad in Brazil, Germany and South Korea. In addition to his experiences overseas, Takahara has turned out for Jubilo Iwata, Urawa Reds, Shimizu S-Pulse and Tokyo Ve…

Machida Zelda took a major step to returning to the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League next year with a 2-1 win over Oita Trinita in the J2-J3 League promotion/relegation play-off. Backed by a strong home crowd at Machida Athletic Stadium, the hosts found themselves trailing midway through the first half after Trinita’s Daniel scored from a set-piece.  …

The J.League has addressed discriminatory tweets directed at Gamba Osaka striker Patric on Saturday. Brazilian Patric was on the receiving end of unsavoury messages following Gamba’s win over Urawa Reds in the MEIJI YASUDA 2015 J.League championship semi-final match. The J.League devotes significant efforts into human rights education and promot…

Avispa Fukuoka and Cerezo Osaka will battle for the third and final promotion spot to next season’s MEIJI YASUDA J1 League after advancing in their respective play-off semi-finals on Sunday. Avispa, who finished the season in third place, needed Wellington’s 48th-minute goal to defeat Kyushu rivals V-Varen Nagasaki 1-0. Fourth-place Cerezo…

Gamba Osaka are through to the finals of the MEIJI YASUDA J.League championship after they defeated Urawa Reds 3-1 in the semis thanks to goals from Hiroki Fujiharu and Patric in the last minutes of extra-time. The Japanese champions rode their luck against the first-stage winners, and now are two matches away from defending their title against overall M…

FC Tokyo on Thursday confirmed that current manager Massimo Ficcadenti will depart the club at the end of the 2015 season. The Italian led the capital club to their best-ever finish in the first division, with a team-best 63 points in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League. Tokyo were declared first-stage runners’ up, although their points total ultimately …

Satoru Sakuma has vowed to continue keeping Ventforet Kofu in the top-flight, after the club on Saturday confirmed he would remain in charge for the 2016 season. The 52-year-old, who took over in May following the dismissal of Yasuhiro Higuchi, led the Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium side to comfortable survival in 2015. “I believe that the survival…

The J.League on Friday announced awards intended to recognise the achievements of individual players in the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA 2015 J.League Championship A Man of the Match from all three matches will be chosen based on a poll of journalists in attendance at each stadium. The Championship Most Valuable Player will also be selected by journalists after …

The J.League on Tuesday announced a partnership with web portal Yahoo! Japan that will see the league expand its digital footprint. J.League chairman Mitsuru Murai was joined by Yahoo! Japan CEO Manabu Miyasaka to present details of the supporting company agreement to reporters. “We want to reach out to as many people as possible,” Murai s…

FC Tokyo on Tuesday comfirmed the signing of hot South Korean midfield prospect Yu In-soo. The 20-year-old Kwangwoon University student was the U-League’s top scorer in 2015 and has represented his country at the U-21 and U-22 levels. “I’m incredibly proud to join a fantastic club like FC Tokyo,” Yu told fans in a statement. &l…

Nagoya Grampus appointed former striker Takafumi Ogura as the club’s new manager on Tuesday. The 42-year-old, who won a pair of Emperor’s Cups in 1995 and 1999, will serve roles as both first-team manager and the club’s general manager in 2016. Club president Kazumasa Kume, who assumed the latter role during the 2015 season, will han…

Yokohama F. Marinos confirmed they have renewed the contract of manager Erick Mombaerts for the 2016 season. The former France U-21 coach joined the club in December 2014, achieving an overall seventh-place finish in his debut MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season. However, F.Marinos will be looking to improve their record in cup competitions next term, after…

Shimizu S-Pulse on Tuesday revealed Shinji Kobayashi will serve as the club’s new manager in their maiden MEIJI YASUDA J2 League campaign. The 55-year-old has a record of success in the second division, having previously led Oita Trinita, Montedio Yamagata and Tokushima Vortis to promotion. “I am grateful for this opportunity and excited t…

The J.League on Tuesday announced a record total attendance of 9,178,812 following the conclusion of the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA J1, J2, and J3 Leagues. The three leagues combined for a 4.7 per cent increase over the previous year, with 68 sell-out games over 80 per cent capacity - 23 more than the previous season. The final matchday of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 …

Yoshito Okubo, Takashi Usami and Mu Kanazaki are amongst the frontrunners to be named in the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League’s Best XI. The J.League announced its list of 32 nominees for the award on Sunday, with the players to receive Outstanding Player Awards at the 2015 J.League Awards next month The finalists were selected by fellow players and …

FC Tokyo on Sunday revealed the title of their upcoming documentary, “BAILE TOKYO”. The film will premiere with a preview screening at Toho Cinemas Fuchu on February 13, 2016. Public screening will then begin in selected theatres across the greater Tokyo area on February 20. The documentary will recap the team’s 2015 MEIJI YASUDA …

Urawa Reds midfielder Keita Suzuki on Sunday announced that he will retire as a player at the conclusion of the 2015 season. Suzuki has spent the entirety of his career at Urawa since 2000, contributing to their 2006 league and 2007 AFC Champions League triumphs. The 34-year-old scored 10 goals in 379 J1 League matches, as well as 4 goals in 66 Yamaza…

Guangzhou Evergrande have sealed their place at the Club World Cup in Japan, after lifting the 2015 AFC Champions League title by defeating UAE’s Al-Ahli 1-0 on Saturday. The only goal of the two-legged series came in the 54th minute through Brazilian striker Elkeson, giving the two-time champions a 1-0 aggregate victory. The title gives Evergra…

The four participants in the J1 promotion play-offs have been determined following Monday’s final MEIJI YASUDA J2 League matchday. Despite a 4-1 win over FC Gifu, Avispa Fukuoka finished in third place after falling behind on goal difference to Jubilo Iwata, who earned the second and final automatic promotion spot. Meanwhile, Cerezo Osaka defend…

J.League chairman Mitsuru Murai hailed “flawless” Sanfrecce Hiroshima following their victorious MEIJI YASUDA J1 League second stage campaign on Sunday. Hajime Moriyasu’s men defeated Shonan Bellmare 5-0 to clinch top spot in the second stage standings as well as the overall table, thus securing them a place at the post-season champions…