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The Japan Football Association on Thursday announced their squad for the country’s upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers versus UAE and Thailand. The list of 25 players features 11 J.Leaguers, including Cerezo Osaka’s Hiroshi Kiyotake, FC Tokyo’s Yojiro Takahagi and Gamba Osaka’s Shu Kurata. The Samurai Blue will travel to fa…

The Japan Football Association on Wednesday confirmed that the country’s national team will play Syria in a friendly on June 7. The match at Chofu’s Tokyo Stadium will serve as an important warm-up for the Samurai Blue ahead of their scheduled 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier at Iraq. “Syria play similarly to Iraq and we know from our e…

Gamba Osaka had no answer to the class of Ramires as the Brazilian struck the winner for Jiangsu Suning in their 1-0 AFC Champions League Group H win on Wednesday. Kenta Hasegawa’s men dominated in terms of possession and chances created, but in the end it was the Chinese Super League giants who netted with their only shot on target through the for…

The 2017 J.League YBC Levain Cup kicked off on Wednesday night with the opening round of the tournament’s group stage. At Ajinomoto Stadium, FC Tokyo shot to the top of Group A with a 6-0 win over Vegalta Sendai.  Takuma Abe and Shoya Nakajima picked up two goals apiece, while Peter Utaka made his debut for the club with a goal from the pen…

Sagan Tosu on Wednesday announced the signing of striker Victor Ibarbo on a season-long loan from Italy’s Cagliari. The 26-year-old, who has played for Atletico Nacional as well as Roma, Watford and Panathinaikos, has 15 senior caps for Colombia’s national team. “I have heard that Japan is a wonderful country from many friends who ha…

Kashima Antlers got their AFC Champions League campaign back on track with a 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar in their Group E encounter on Tuesday. The 2016 Japanese champions had fallen to a defeat to Muangthong United prior and were determined to bounce back in front of their fans, with Yuma Suzuki netting a spectacular volley to get the ball rolling before…

The Japan Football Association on Tuesday announced their list of 24 players who will travel to Germany later this month for a Japan Under-20 national team camp. Included in the squad are Gamba Osaka midfielder Ritsu Doan and 15-year-old FC Tokyo striker Takefusa Kubo, who will join 19 other J.League players, two university players, and FC Lorient goalke…

Gamba Osaka on Monday announced that starting goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi will miss an undisclosed amount of playing time after fracturing his left cheekbone. The injury was sustained during Gamba’s 3-0 win over FC Tokyo on Saturday night in the third round of the 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League. With no timetable announced for his return, Higas…

Ventforet Kofu on Sunday announced the signing of defender Shohei Abe on a season-long loan from JEF United Chiba. The move marks the 33-year-old’s return to the club whom he last played for in 2015, scoring one goal in 33 J1 League appearances. “I’m excited to once again play near Yamanashi’s hot springs, delicious fruit and o…

Shimizu S-Pulse on Monday announced the signing of Kim Byeom-yong on a full transfer from Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Kim, who spent the latter half of last season at S-Pulse on loan, will be loaned to JEF United Chiba for the remainder of the 2017 campaign. “I’m disappointed to be leaving Shimizu at the beginning of the season,” Kim said.&…

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo have announced that veteran midfielder Junichi Inamoto will miss at least five months after undergoing surgery on his right knee last week. The injury is yet another setback for the former Samurai Blue star, who has not stood on the pitch since tearing his right ACL last June. Inamoto, who has previously played in France, Ge…

A game-winning goal from evergreen Kazuyoshi Miura was the headline-maker in Sunday’s MEIJI YASUDA J2 League Round 3 action. The Yokohama FC star pounced on a loose rebound from team-mate Ibba’s initial effort in the 40th minute, updating King Kazu’s record as the J.League’s oldest scorer at 50 years and 14 days in the team’…

Gamba Osaka on Saturday announced the arrival of striker Shuhei Akasaki on a season-long loan from Kashima Antlers. The 25-year-old, who scored two goals for the reigning J.League champions last season, received the New Hero award of the 2015 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup. “I want wear the blue and black shirt on the pitch as soon as possible,&r…

Gamba Osaka continued their streak of positive results as they overcame FC Tokyo 3-0 in their MEIJI YASUDA J1 League encounter on Saturday. Kenta Hasegawa’s men have responded resoundingly to their 4-1 home loss to Jeju United in the AFC Champions League, extending their run to two wins following that capitulation. Gamba ended FC Tokyo’s p…

JEF United Chiba dominated in a 2-0 victory over Nagoya Grampus during Saturday’s MEIJI YASUDA J2 League action. The opening goal came shortly before half-time, when Takaharu Nishino headed in Jorge Salinas’ free kick.  Substitute Koki Kiyotake then scored the clincher deep into second half stoppage time, handing Grampus their first-e…

Urawa Reds counted on a second-half avalanche of goals to defeat Ventforet Kofu 4-1 in their MEIJI YASUDA J1 League clash on Friday. After a goalless first half, it fell to Shinzo Koroki to break the deadlock in the 57th minute, before Yuki Muto doubled the Reds’ lead on the hour mark. Ventforet substitute Dudu pulled one back for the visitors l…

Ehime FC on Friday announced the signing of Chinese midfielder Ju Feng on a season-long loan from Guangzhou Evergrande. The 22-year-old, who will be the club’s first Chinese player, will wear the No.24 at the Shikoku club. “It’s an honour to be the club’s first Chinese player, and everyone at the club has treated me incredibly …

FC Tokyo on Friday announced the registration of Takefusa Kubo and nine other players from the team’s Under-18 squad as Type 2 players for the 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season. The list includes former Barcelona academy member Kubo as well as midfielder Rei Hirakawa, both of whom made their J.League debut with FC Tokyo U-23 in last year’s J…

Thespa Kusatsu Gunma on Thursday announced the transfer of midfielder Shohei Yokoyama to Croatian fourth division side NK Medimurec. The 23-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Machida Zelvia, has accumulated a total of four goals from 72 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League appearances. “I want to use my experiences at Thespa and Zelvia and do my best …

Teruyuki Moniwa could be set to make his 300th J1 League outing if he plays for Cerezo Osaka on Saturday. The 35-year-old, who has yet to feature this campaign, will hope to celebrate his milestone by helping his side win for the first time on their return to the top-flight. Former Japan international Moniwa has played for Cerezo for the last two seas…