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Matsumoto Yamaga on Friday confirmed that manager Yasuharu Sorimachi will continue to lead the club in the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League season. The announcement is a declaration of faith in the 51-year-old, who led the club to their first-ever J1 promotion in 2014 before achieving a 16th-place finish in their maiden top-flight season this year. “…

Tokushima Vortis on Thursday announced that they will not renew their contract with current manager Shinji Kobayashi. The 55-year-old took his post in 2012 and successfully led Vortis to their maiden season in the top-flight the following year via the 2013 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League promotion play-off. However, the Pocarisweat Stadium side are languishing…

The J.League on Thursday announced the start date of ticket sales for the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League promotion play-off final. Tickets for the match on December 6 at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka will be sold beginning on Sunday at 10:00 JST. Fans wishing to purchase tickets can do so via the J.League’s official website, as well as major ticket…

Mu Kanazaki recorded his first international goal as Japan defeated 2018 World Cup qualification rivals Singapore 3-0 on Thursday, putting them clear at the top of Group E. The Samurai Blue found a Singapore side attempting to repeat their successful attempts to stifle their illustrious opponents, and took the game to them. Unlike their 0-0 draw in Sa…

Legendary striker Kazuyoshi Miura renewed his contract with Yokohama FC on Wednesday, continuing his tradition of putting pen to paper on November 11 at 11:11 JST. “King Kazu” will turn 49 in February 2015 - just in time to begin his 12th season with the club, who he joined in 2005. The forward, who also turned out for Santos, Genoa and Sy…

Urawa Reds ran riot against Machida Zelvia on Wednesday, defeating their opponents 7-1 in the fourth round of the Emperor’s Cup. In a true David-versus-Goliath test, the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League giants comfortably dispatched their third tier counterparts to progress to the quarter-finals, with Wataru Hashimoto, Tadanari Lee and Takahiro Sekine all ne…

Vahid Halilhodzic expects Japan to go out for revenge against Singapore in Thursday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier and secure qualification for the tournament as quickly as possible with a win. The Samurai Blue currently sit second in Group E, level on points with their upcoming opponents and two behind leaders Syria, albeit having played a game less t…

Sagan Tosu on Tuesday announced that former Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni will give a special lecture in Tosu. The lecture, titled “The Philosophy of Zaccheroni,” will take place at Tosu Cultural Hall on December 7. The Italian tactician will be joined by translator Daisuke Yano, as well as former Japan international Kazuyuki Toda. Zac…

Kawasaki Frontale on Monday announced that seating in main stand of Todoroki Stadium will be expanded for the 2016 season. Fans will imminently be allowed to purchase tickets for the first row of the upper level following the installation of safety railings. Interested supporters may inspect the stand boasting the new railings on November 21 and 22 at…

Albirex Niigata on Monday announced that they will not renew the contract of manager Masaaki Yanagishita for next season. The 55-year-old has managed the club since June 2012, taking the outfit to their first semi-final appearance in this season’s Yamazaki Nabisco Cup. However, their brush with relegation in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League, as well a…

Shonan Bellmare drew 2-2 against Tokyo 23 FC on Sunday in a training match. Details of the match against the Kanto League First Division side were not made public. Bellmare are currently in eighth place overall after winning 2-0 away at Albirex Niigata on matchday 16 of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League second stage. Last term’s second tier winners …

Yokohama F. Marinos on Monday announced that the second edition of Yokohama F. Marinos Night will be held on November 24 at Yokohama Bay Hall. The event, held for the first time last year, will feature midfielder Kosuke Nakamichi as emcee and defender Yuzo Kobayashi as DJ, as well as appearances from several of their team-mates. Taku Takahashi of popu…

UAE’s Al Ahli and China’s Guangzhou Evergrande played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the 2015 AFC Champions League final on Saturday. Former champions Evergrande, who defeated Gamba Osaka in the semi-finals, dominated the match from the outset. However, Luiz Felipe Scolari’s men were unable to find a game-winner despite Al Ahli fi…

Vegalta Sendai goalkeeper Yuji Rokutan has been called up by Japan to replace Masaaki Higashiguchi in their upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The 28-year-old will step in for his injured Gamba Osaka counterpart in the squad for the Samurai Blue’s two Group E games against Singapore and Cambodia. “Even as a backup, it’s an hono…

The J.League on Friday revealed details of the 2015 J.League Awards. The traditional ceremony, set at the end of the J.League season to recognise the league’s top players and officials, will take place at a Tokyo hotel on December 21 from 18:00 to 21:00 JST. Due to a change in venue, fans will not be able to attend the event as they have in prev…

Shimizu S-Pulse defender Dejan Jakovic has been selected to Canada’s squad for their upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, the club announced on Saturday. Canada will host Honduras on Friday, before traveling to face El Salvador next Tuesday. The 30-year-old has 16 appearances for S-Pulse this season but failed to make an appearance since the…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima went two points clear at the head of the overall MEIJI YASUDA J1 League table following their 2-0 win over Gamba Osaka on Saturday. Despite Takashi Usami having an early chance to begin the scoring, it was Sanfrecce who enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, with Masaaki Higashiguchi standing tall against the threat. But the …

Yokohama F. Marinos captain Shunsuke Nakamura was named the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Coca Cola Most Valuable Player for October, his second time receiving the honour this season. The midfield icon scored once and two assists over three games last month, with his performance in F. Marinos’ 3-1 win at Vegalta Sendai drawing particular praise from the s…

Jubilo Iwata striker Jay Bothroyd has been named the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League Coca Cola Most Valuable Player for October after another fantastic month for the Shizuoka side. The once-capped England international has continued to lead the second division’s scoring chart since August, when he was first awarded the MVP honour. Bothroyd’s three …

The J.League on Friday announced the appointment of former Tokyo Verdy manager Yasutaro Matsuki as tournament ambassador of the 2015 MEIJI YASUDA J.League Championship. Matsuki’s Verdy side, in its previous incarnation of Verdy Kawasaki, won the 1993 and 1994 Suntory Championships against Kashima Antlers and Sanfrecce Hiroshima respectively. &ld…