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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…

Urawa Reds secured their place in the 2016 J.League Championship with a 3-0 win over Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Sunday. Aware of their opportunity, the hosts went straight on the offensive and took the lead when Kazuhiko Chiba comically stabbed his clearance of Yuki Muto’s delivery past his own goalkeeper. And despite Sanfrecce su…

The 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League continued its race toward the climax, with 10 matches taking place on Sunday afternoon. In a battle between two clubs looking for an upper hand in the promotion race, Kohei Kudo’s 24th-minute goal gave second place Matsumoto Yamaga a 1-0 win over Shimizu S-Pulse, who fell to fifth after Fagiano Okayama drew 0-0 with …

With their 3-0 win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima on Sunday, Urawa Reds guaranteed themselves a berth in the MEIJI YASUDA 2016 J.League Championship after clinching a top three finish in the overall standings. Following the match, Reds players commented on the achievement, which will see the Saitama Stadium residents participate in the title playoff for a seco…

Advance ticketing sales applications for the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup Final have begun at J.League Ticket, the league’s domestic ticketing website. Supporters of the four clubs in the semifinals may apply to enter a ticket lottery in the event that their team reaches the tournament final, which will take place on October 15 at Saitama Stadium. …

Kawasaki Frontale this week announced that Toko Gakuen High School defender Jefferson Tabinas has tentatively agreed to join the club in 2017. The 18-year-old, who has a Ghanian father and Filipino mother, toured Germany earlier this year as part of an All-Japan High School Selection.  He was selected as an outstanding player of the 2015 National…

The third round of the 96th Emperor’s Cup took place on Thursday with 12 games played out in sometimes torrential rains across Japan. At Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium, a Shunsuke Nakamura free-kick propelled Yokohama F. Marinos to a 4-0 win over Tokyo Verdy in the teams’ first meeting since 2008. Other MEIJI YASUDA J1 League sides earned b…

The J.League YBC Levain Cup trophy was unveiled on Wednesday at JFA House in downtown Tokyo. Designed by Tiffany & Co, the classic silhouette invokes both the orthodox style of cup trophies and the noble elegance of the Tiffany brand.  The trophy, constructed out of pure silver, is finished with a gold and silver ball at the top. The semi-…

The J.League’s disciplinary committee on Wednesday announced the rescinding of a yellow card received by Urawa Reds captain Yuki Abe during their 3-1 win at FC Tokyo last Saturday. Abe was booked for unsportsmanlike conduct in the 47th minute instead of Daisuke Nasu as a result of mistaken identity on the part of referee Hiroyoshi Takayama. It w…

Consadole Sapporo midfielder Irfan Bachdim has been invited to participate in an Indonesia national team training camp, the club has announced. The camp will take place from September 21 through 27 in Indonesia, who have made their return from international hiatus after a FIFA ban. Irfan has one appearance this season for Consadole, who currently lead…

The J.League on Tuesday announced the results of J3 Club License applications for the 2017 season, with three clubs already having theirs approved. J.League Hundred Year Vision Clubs with a J3 Club License may join the J3 if they fulfil a number of criteria. These included having average attendance of over 2,000 per match, yearly revenues of over $1.5…

Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo midfielder Macedo is expected to miss several matches after straining a muscle in his right calf, the club announced on Sunday. The 29-year-old suffered the injury during his team’s 3-1 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League win against Thespa Kusatsu Gunma on September 11. Macedo has managed 22 appearances for the northern club in hi…