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Sanfrecce Hiroshima defender Sho Sasaki could sit out another season after re-tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament in training last month. The 27-year-old underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair the ligament, which he previously tore just four rounds into the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League campaign. Sasaki, who joined the club in 2015 from Ventfor…

Shimizu S-Pulse on Tuesday announced the signing of Brazilian defender Leandro Freire de Araujo. The 27-year-old joins on a full transfer from Portugal’s Chaves, where he has made 18 appearances this season.  Freire appeared in the 2015-16 UEFA Europa League with Cypriot side Apollon and has also played in Kazakhstan. “It’s b…

The J.League on Tuesday announced that vanishing spray will be used by referees in all league-sanctioned matches for the first time in over a year. Used to temporarily mark boundaries for free kicks, the spray was first introduced in Japan on a trial basis in 2014 before being implemented across the domestic league in 2015.  Its use was temporari…

The 2017 J.League Kickoff Conference took place on Monday afternoon in downtown Tokyo, with managers and players from all 54 J1, J2, and J3 League clubs participating in streamed presentations and media interviews. In the opening event, players from each J1 club discussed their team’s outlook for the season and the upcoming 2017 MEIJI YASUDA J1 Lea…

Tomoya Ugajin believes the minimum Urawa Reds must target next season is to win the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League title, declaring that to be the standard. The 2017 J.League Kickoff Conference took place on Monday afternoon in downtown Tokyo, with managers and players from all 54 J1, J2, and J3 League clubs participating in streamed presentations and media inte…

Kashima Antlers star Yuma Suzuki is keen for his side to defend their MEIJI YASUDA J1 League title this season ahead of its kick-off. The 2017 J.League Kickoff Conference took place on Monday afternoon in downtown Tokyo, with managers and players from all 54 J1, J2, and J3 League clubs participating in streamed presentations and media interviews. 2016…

Urawa Reds on Sunday drew 1-1 with FC Seoul in the pre-season Saitama City Cup, which celebrated 50 years of relations between Japan and South Korea. The hosts spent much of the match trailing at Komaba Stadium before Kazuki Nagasawa scored the equaliser in the 83rd minute. The two sides will meet again on February 28 in AFC Champions League group sta…

V-Varen Nagasaki on Saturday announced the arrival of Spanish midfielder Miguel Pallardo. The 30-year old brings a wealth of European experience having spent time at Spain's Valencia and Levante as well as Scotland's Heart of Midlothian. "I'm happy to be joining V-Varen Nagasaki and want to demonstrate the best of my abilities for the…

Matsumoto Yamaga have announced the grand re-opening of Kissa Yamaga, a cafe which played a significant role in the club's history. The team was originally named after the shop, which closed in 1978, by players who frequently gathered there. The new Kissa Yamaga will open on February 25 in the Midorimachi district of Matsumoto.

Renofa Yamaguchi on Saturday announced the arrival of midfielder Kentaro Sato on a full transfer from Kyoto Sanga. The 32-year-old, who has previously spent several years at JEF United Chiba and Montedio Yamagata, made 34 appearances in the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League. "I'm happy to join Renofa Yamaguchi and want to work hard to integrate int…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima mascot Sancce leads voting midway through the 2017 J.League Mascot Elec-tion, an annual fan vote which determines the J.League’s most popular mascot. The Asiatic black bear, who including his 2015 victory has finished top-three in the last three years, is joined in the top five by defending champion Vegatta of Vegalta Sendai, Do…

Sagan Tosu on Thursday announced the signing of South Korean striker Cho Dong-Geon. The 30-year-old, who joins on a full transfer from Suwon Bluewings, scored four goals in last year’s K-League Classic Season and boasts three senior caps for the Taeguk Warriors. “I’m happy to join Sagan Tosu and want to give my best efforts to help t…

Tokyo Verdy midfielder Naoto Sawai has undergone surgery to repair a torn right Achilles tendon. The 21-year-old, who is in his fourth full season with the club, suffered the injury in training. Sawai was the team’s joint-second best scorer in 2016, with six goals from 31 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League appearances. Tokyo Verdy will open this year&rsq…

J.League official broadcast partners DAZN on Wednesday announced “DAZN for docomo,” al-lowing docomo users within Japan to enjoy the streaming service at a heavy discount. DAZN content, which normally costs 1,750 yen per month, will cost just 980 yen per month for do-como customers, who can also subscribe to streaming entertainment service dT…

Yokohama F. Marinos defender Park Jeong-su will miss the season opener after being diagnosed with a dislocated left elbow. The 22-year-old suffered the injury in a training match on February 7. Park recorded one goal in 13 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances last year.

Vegalta Sendai’s home ground of Yurtec Stadium Sendai will be the first J1 League home stadium outfitted with high-speed Wi-Fi as part of the Smart Stadium Project. The project, which was announced last July, is a cooperative enterprise between the J.League, DAZN and NTT Group. Through the advancement of in-stadium ICT (Information and Communica…

Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday announced the renewal of their contract with star midfielder Manabu Saito.  The Japan international will inherit the No.10 left vacant by departed captain Shunsuke Nakamura. Saito recorded a career-best 10 goals in 33 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances last season.

Fagiano Okayama on Monday announced that striker Shingo Akamine will miss their season opener after tearing a muscle in his left leg. The 33-year-old, who suffered the injury in training on February 2, is expected to recover in four to six weeks. Akamine scored three goals in 39 appearances for Fagiano last season, guiding them to the final of the J1 …

Gamba Osaka have received a by to the Knockout Stage of the J.League YBC Levain Cup following their 2017 AFC Champions League Playoff victory on Tuesday. The 2016 runners-up join Kashima Antlers, Urawa Reds and Kawasaki Frontale in bypassing the group stage, which kicks off on March 15.  The final line-up for the group stage is as follows: Gro…

Gamba Osaka surged past AFC Champions League qualification play-off opponents Johor Darul Ta’zim 3-0 on Tuesday. Goals from Ademilson and Shun Nagasawa before the half-hour mark set Kenta Hasegawa’s men on their way, with both goals coming from inside the box. Genta Miura put the icing on the cake with Gamba’s third goal of the day a…