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AC Nagano Parceiro manager Naohiko Minobe resigned from his post on Wednesday citing health concerns. The 50-year-old was in his third season in charge after leading them to a Japan Football League title in 2013 and then a runners-up finish in last year’s inaugural MEIJI YASUDA J3 League season. The Minami Nagano Stadium side presently sit third…

Cerezo Osaka are aiming to strengthen their bid for promotion with the signing of former Omiya Ardija goalkeeper Takashi Kitano on Thursday. The 32-year-old, who has recorded a total of 258 appearances in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League, had been a free agent since the conclusion of the 2014 season. “I want to take this opportunity seriously and unit…

Hiroyuki Takasaki admits he hopes to redeem himself while on loan for the rest of the season to Montedio Yamagata following his ill-fated spell at Kashima Antlers. The former Urawa Reds and Ventforet Kofu striker was unable to find the net in 13 appearances for Antlers this term before he was farmed out to ND Soft Stadium on Tuesday. “I’m …

Ventforet Kofu on Wednesday announced the re-acquisition of Brazilian striker Maranhao from Iranian side Naft Masjed Soleyman. The 31-year-old had previously spent a total of three campaigns at the Yamanashi outfit, recording a memorable tally of 19 J2 League goals in the 2009 campaign. He was subsequently loaned to Tokyo Verdy in 2011 before spending…

Despite Hotaru Yamaguchi’s thunderbolt, Japan could only draw their East Asian Cup 2015 game with South Korea 1-1 on Wednesday to remain winless after two matches in the competition. The Samurai Blue conceded the first goal of the game in the 25th minute when defender Masato Morishige was found guilty of handball in the penalty area. Guangzhou R…

Kawasaki Frontale on Monday announced Brazilian Arthur Maia arrived on loan from EC Vitoria for the rest of the 2015 season, as the club look to replace the departed Renato. Arthur, who was initially spending this season on loan at Flamengo, will now wear the Frontale No. 10 shirt vacated by former talisman Renato when he signed for Guangzhou R&F in …

Riki Matsuda revealed he is honoured to have played for Nagoya Grampus after they confirmed his loan to JEF United Chiba on Tuesday. The 24-year-old had scored one goal in 11 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances for Grampus this season, with another strike to his name in four Yamazaki Nabisco Cup games. “It has been an honour to play at Nagoya Gra…

Tomoyuki Arata wishes he was able to play more at Matsumoto Yamaga, after the club announced his transfer to Oita Trinita on Monday. The 29-year-old, who previously played for Fagiano Okayama, JEF United Chiba, Jubilo Iwata and Mito Hollyhock, only appeared in three Yamazaki Nabisco Cup games this season. “It’s only been half a year, but I…

Former Shonan Bellmare loanee Shohei Okada was eager to thank the club’s fans after Sagan Tosu recalled him from his spell there on Monday. The 26-year-old forward’s tally of 14 goals was instrumental to Bellmare’s 2014 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League-winning campaign and subsequent promotion. “Thank you for your passionate support thro…

Albirex Niigata on Monday announced the loan of striker Musashi Suzuki to Mito Hollyhock for the rest of the 2015 season. The 21-year-old half-Jamaican forward managed to net one goal in 13 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances for the northern club this season. “I want to improve as a player and comeback to Niigata again,” Suzuki commented. …

Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday announced that youth academy players Yu Kawarada and Hideya Sata will spend two weeks training with Premier League giants Manchester City. The two midfielders will be joined by the club’s Under-18 coach Fuyuki Nishitani in England between August 3 and 18. The short-term training stint is part of Marinos’ ongoi…

Jubilo Iwata’s Hayao Kawabe holds the recognition of scoring the 14,000th goal in J2 League history, the midfielder on Sunday netting in his side’s 2-1 win at Fagiano Okayama. The 19-year-old’s winner came in the first minute of added time at City Light Stadium, completing a come-from-behind victory which began with Jay Bothroyd’s…

Sagan Tosu boss Hitoshi Morishita was satisfied after his men held Atletico Madrid 1-1 in regular time in Saturday’s friendly, only losing on penalties in the “Cygames presents Special Match.” Koke scored the opener for the visitors directly from corner in the 18th minute before Sagan equalised through 20-year-old Ryosuke Tamura eight m…

Japan surrendered their lead to lose 2-1 to North Korea on Sunday night in the opening match of the EAFF East Asian Cup 2015 in Wuhan, China. The defending champions had gone ahead after just three minutes when striker Yuki Muto scored the opening goal off Wataru Endo’s cross. Attackers Kengo Kawamata and Takashi Usami both had chances before th…

Shimizu S-Pulse arrival Makoto Kakuda revealed his belief his new club can secure safety this season, after parent club Kawasaki Frontale loaned him out for the remainder of the campaign. The former Nagoya Grampus midfielder cut short his stint at Frontale on Saturday despite only joining them in January, and has immediately thrown himself into his new t…

New Incheon United signing Tomoki Wada is hoping his new experience will help him progress as a player, after parent club Vissel Kobe confirmed his loan to the South Korean team on Friday. The 20-year-old Kobe native will spend the remainder of the 2015 season at the K-League side in hopes of receiving more first-team opportunities. “I’ve …

Struggling MEIJI YASUDA J1 League team Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday announced that manager Katsumi Oenoki had resigned and is to be replaced by Kazuaki Tasaka. Oenoki opted to walk away with the J.League co-founders under threat of their first-ever relegation, the Shizuoka side currently sitting in overall 17th place having picked up just four wins, six d…

Ventforet Kofu announced the arrival of Taisuke Akiyoshi, the first Japanese to play in Bulgaria’s top flight, on a full transfer on Friday. The midfielder made history in 2012 when he signed for A Grupa side Slavia Sofia, and has since played for Bosnia’s Zvijezda Gradacac and Austria’s Sturm Graz. “I’m grateful to Ventf…

Vegalta Sendai on Thursday announced that goalkeeper Yuji Rokutan has been called up by the Japan squad for the EAFF East Asian Cup, which begins on August 2 in China. The 28-year-old, who has yet to earn his first senior cap, will replace FC Tokyo’s Shuichi Gonda, who declined to participate due to poor health. “I want to thank everyone a…

Following the withdrawal of Yosuke Kashiwagi, FC Tokyo goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda has now left Japan’s squad for the upcoming EAFF East Asian Cup. The decision was made on Thursday due to the 26-year-old’s poor physical condition following his team’s 3-1 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League win against Vegalta Sendai on Wednesday. In order to get ba…