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Japan midfielder Hotaru Yamaguchi said credit belonged to the entire team after he scored the dramatic game-winner in their 2-1 victory over Iraq in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying. The Cerezo Osaka player made a massive impact coming on as a substitute, with his late strike enough to earn the Samurai Blue their consecutive wins on their road to Russia. …

Japan defeated Iraq 2-1 on Thursday night in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time goal by Cerezo Osaka midfielder Hotaru Yamaguchi. J.Leaguers Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo) and Yosuke Kashiwagi (Urawa Reds) started the match at Saitama Stadium on the pitch.  The first half went well for t…

The first leg of the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup semi-finals took place on a rainy Wednesday night in Japan. At Tokyo’s Ajinomoto Stadium, Urawa Reds took a large step toward the final at their home ground of Saitama Stadium with a 2-1 win at FC Tokyo.  The hosts took the lead shortly into the second half thanks to Keigo Higashi, but the R…

Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic expects his side to learn how to cope better with pressure ahead of their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Thursday night at Saitama Stadium. Following their loss to UAE and win at Thailand in the opening round, the Samurai Blue are in third place in Group B with a key encounter against Asian Cup champions Austr…

Shonan Bellmare striker Jin Hanato has undergone surgery to repair a detached muscle in his right thigh, the club announced on Tuesday. The 26-year-old, who suffered the injury in the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima on August 13, went under the knife on September 30 after recovery failed to progress naturally. Hanato, who lead…

The draw for the fourth round of the 96th Emperor’s Cup took place at JFA House on Tuesday, with the 16 remaining clubs learning their path to the January 1 final at Suita Stadium in Osaka. Defending champions Gamba Osaka will set off for a third straight title when they face Shimizu S-Pulse. Meanwhile, Urawa Reds and Kawasaki Frontale will meet…

Singer and talent Naoya Urata will sing the national anthem before the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup Final at Saitama Stadium, the league announced on Monday. The 33-year-old is the leader of popular J-Pop group AAA, who in November will hold shows at Osaka’s Kyocera Dome as well as the Tokyo Dome for the first time to mark the October 5 release of …

The J.League on Monday announced the current voting results of the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup New Hero Award. Voting results following the conclusion of the quarterfinals saw eight new players enter the Top 12, including three from semi-finalists Gamba Osaka, two from FC Tokyo, and one each from Urawa Reds and Yokohama F. Marinos. The award, which r…

Former Verdy Kawasaki (now Tokyo Verdy) manager Yasutaro Matsuki will return as the tournament ambassador for the MEIJI YASUDA 2016 J.League Championship. The season-ending playoff will take place beginning in November, with the winners crowned champions of the J.League and awarded the right to represent Japan at the upcoming 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. …

Second place Matsumoto Yamaga drew closer to leaders Consadole Sapporo following their 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League Round 34 win at Kamatamare Sanuki on Sunday. Despite falling behind to a first-minute Tetsuya Kjima goal, the visitors went into the locker room with a 3-2 lead at half-time and cemented the win with Kohei Kudo’s second goal of the mat…

After attending Sunday’s MEIJI YASUDA J2 League match between Machida Zelvia and Tokyo Verdy, J.League Female Manager Miki Sato has made visits to all 53 J.League clubs. Sato, who is in her second year in the role, visited 40 different teams in 2015.

The Japan Football Association on Saturday announced changes to the Samurai Blue squad for Japan’s upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Yokohama F. Marinos striker Manabu Saito has been called up following injuries to Augsburg striker Takashi Usami and Mainz striker Yoshinori Muto over the weekend. Saito, who was a part of Japan’s 2014…

Urawa Reds continued their strong finish to the regular MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season by whipping Gamba Osaka 4-0 on Saturday. Despite already sealing their place in the title-deciding J.League Championship, Mihailo Petrovic is keen to see his men to the mini-tournament without letting up steam. And his men responded to those demands spectacularly as …

Albirex Niigata on Friday announced that two of their players will be out for the rest of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League season due to injuries. Midfielder Yuta Ito, who tore his left anterior cruciate ligament in a match earlier this month against Nagoya Grampus, will require six months to recover. Meanwhile, defender Takanori Maeno will be out of a…

The Japan Football Association on Thursday announced its squad for Japan’s upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Australia. 11 J.League players, including Kashima Antlers midfielder Ryota Nagaki in his first call-up, have been summoned to Vahid Halilhodzic’s 26-man squad. The Samurai Blue will host Iraq on October 6 at S…

The J.League on Wednesday announced the assignment of J.League Club Licenses for the 2017 season. The licenses, which are awarded based on a number of factors including club financials, quality of facilities, and academy development, are required in order to play in the J1 or J2 Leagues.  Clubs without a J1 Club License are not eligible for promo…

The J.League on Wednesday announced the schedule of matches for its Additional Assistant Referee (AAR) pilot program. The trial initiative will see additional referees deployed near the goal in order to more accurately judge goal line situations. It will take place at stadiums capable of supporting the required communications equipment. The list of…

Albirex Niigata on Tuesday announced the resignation of manager Tatsuma Yoshida and the appointment of his replacement, coach Koichiro Katafuchi. The staff reshuffle will also see coaches Hideaki Kitajima and Yoshitaka Yasuda step down, while Albirex Niigata Soccer School coach Jun Ichida will join the top team’s staff. “I fully understand…

Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper Shota Arai has suffered from a fractured cheekbone, the club announced on Monday. The backup goalkeeper also sustained a concussion in his team’s 3-2 SKY Series win over Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday night at Todoroki Stadium. Arai will continue to participate in training with a facemask if his condition allows, as h…

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo won 3-2 over FC Machida Zelvia on Monday night in the final match of the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League Round 33. Brazilians Reis and Julinho combined to put the hosts up 2-0 within 20 minutes, while Zelvia’s Yuki Nakashima cut the deficit in half with a goal of his own in the 42nd minute. A second goal by Julinho with 16…