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FC Tokyo attacking midfielder Keigo Higashi announced his marriage through his club on Tuesday. The 25-year-old Fukuoka native is in his third year with the club, and has scored two goals in 17 appearances this season. “We registered our marriage on September 5,” Higashi revealed. “We’re incredibly happy but I also feel the add…

Nagoya Grampus on Tuesday announced the interim results of an ongoing poll to decide on a nickname for their female supporters. As of Tuesday, “Gura-girl” had the most votes amongst 10 other options. Full results will be announced on Saturday before Grampus’ MEIJI YASUDA J1 League match against Vegalta Sendai. The poll is a joint …

Shimizu S-Pulse are seeking fans to help distribute flyers on Friday, September 11 in order to promote their September 19 fixture against Urawa Reds. Volunteers are directed to meet at JR Yaizu Station South Exit, JR Fujieda Station North Exit,  and JR Shimada Station Rotary Side before 17:00 local time. Rather than the usual ground of IAI Stadiu…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima defeated Avispa Fukuoka in a training match at Gannosu Recreation Center in Fukuoka last Sunday. Midfielder Koji Morisaki scored both goals in the 2-0 win over the second-tier outfit, one day after Sanfrecce’s 8-0 win over Hiroshima Keizai University in round two of the Emperor’s Cup. Hajime Moriyasu’s men are a s…

Matsumoto Yamaga defeated fellow Nagano Prefecture residents Artista Toubu 4-0 in a training match on Sunday. The MEIJI YASUDA J1 League club saw off the Hokushinetsu League side thanks to a brace by Naoki Maeda, as well as goals from Kenshiro Tanioku and Daiki Yagishita. Yamaga, who also won their Emperor’s Cup round two tie against Zweigen Kan…

Mu Kanazaki netted a brace as Kashima Antlers exploited FC Tokyo’s goalkeeping vulnerabilities, winning 3-0 in the second leg of the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup quarter-finals to progress. Both sides headed into the tie at Kashima Stadium with the score finely poised at 2-2 from the first leg, and the hosts started out bristling with intent with the crowd…

There was terrific drama as Vissel Kobe progressed to the semi-finals of the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup despite losing 3-2 to Kashiwa Reysol at home in the second leg of the quarter-finals on Sunday. Despite succumbing to a 2-0 loss at Kashiwa Stadium in the first leg, Reysol were always capable of mounting a comeback and they proved it as they surged into a t…

Sunday night’s Emperor’s Cup second round match between Yokohama F. Marinos and MIO Biwako Shiga had to be abandoned with the score locked at 1-1. The decision by the officials, made in deference to the safety of the players, came after 70 minutes as a result of heavy rains creating an unplayable surface at Mitsuzawa Stadium. A decision re…

The second round of the Emperor’s Cup passed without MEIJI YASUDA J1 League contestants suffering upsets so far. Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Sagan Tosu and Kawasaki Frontale all picked up commanding wins on Saturday, with the former’s 8-0 win over Hiroshima University of Economics the highlight. Ventforet Kofu, Matsumoto Yamaga and Shonan Bellmar…

Nagoya Grampus on Saturday announced new player tryouts for their Under-12 and Under-13 squads. The U-13 selection will be open to sixth-grade students who apply by October 1, with the tryouts to be conducted later that month. These will take place at the Toyota Sports Center, where the Grampus clubhouse is located. Meanwhile, the U-12 selection pr…

Kashiwa Reysol club mascot Rey-kun will participate in a scholarship fundraising drive next Thursday directed towards supporting students affected by cancer. The scholarship is open to high school cancer patients whose options for higher education have been limited by financial or medical reasons. Students who have lost a parent to cancer will also be…

Vahid Halilhodzic has demanded even more from Japan’s attack, stating he was unsatisfied with their goal output in their 3-0 win against Cambodia. The Samurai Blue dominated from start to finish during the World Cup qualifying Group E match on Thursday, earning Halilhodzic his first win as coach. But following his side’s struggles in front…

Gaku Shibasaki will be suspended when MEIJI YASUDA J1 League leaders Kashima Antlers host Gamba Osaka next Saturday, the J.League confirmed on Thursday. The 23-year-old’s name was on the organising body’s list of suspended players for matchday 10, after reaching his yellow card limit in Antlers’ 3-1 win at Kawasaki Frontale last week. …

Albirex Niigata on Thursday announced that Frans van Balkom, the club’s first-ever manager, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 64. The Dutchman took over the club in 1996, winning the regional Hokushinetsu Football League twice in a row before earning them promotion to the Japan Football League in 1998. He was also the head coach of Verdy Ka…

FC Tokyo announced the signing of Serbian goalkeeper Vlada Avramov on Wednesday as doubts over Shuichi Gonda’s status remain. The 36-year-old spent much of his career in Italy, most recently playing for Atalanta in Serie A last season until June. “It’s an honour to join this club,” Avramov, who boasts two caps for his country, …

Vahid Halilhodzic earned his first win as Japan coach after his side beat Cambodia 3-0 in their 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2019 AFC Asian Cup joint qualifier on Thursday night. The hosts dominated the Group E match from the outset, with goals from AC Milan’s Keisuke Honda, Southampton defender Maya Yoshida and Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa. …

The official fan club of Albirex Niigata confirm they will carry out a fundraising campaign on Wednesday. The body are hoping to use the funds collected over the remainder of 2015 on helping to expand and upgrade the team’s clubhouse. In previous years, the fan club had already raised money in support various aspects of Albirex’s infrastru…

Yamazaki Nabisco Cup holders Gamba Osaka were held to a nervy 1-1 draw by Nagoya Grampus in the quarter-finals of the tournament on Wednesday, surviving a scare late on. Lins earned a rare start with Takashi Usami and Patric out of the side, and the Brazilian made an immediate impact when he assisted Takahiro Futagawa for the opener inside six minutes. …

Albirex Niigata inflicted on Urawa Reds their second major defeat in a row, defeating them 5-0 in the first leg of the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday to ensure they are all but out. The MEIJI YASUDA J1 League first stage winners suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Shunsuke Nakamura’s Yokohama F.Marinos at the weekend and were se…

SC Sagamihara on Tuesday announced they have opened name and design submissions for the club’s new mascot. The north-eastern Kanagawa side have stated that they are looking to create a mascot who can appeal to all fans regardless of age or gender. Submissions must be sent in to the club by October 15, with the owner of the winning design due to …