Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Mihael Mikic has been suspended by the club following his involvement in a traffic accident on Sunday, October 23. The veteran will be barred from training through October 28 and suspended for the team’s final two MEIJI YASUDA J1 League matches of the season. Mikic is in his eighth year at Sanfrecce and has 27 appe…

Omiya Ardija on Wednesday announced the hiring of former manager Norio Sasaki as the club’s new ‘total advisor’. Sasaki, who in recent years was known as the successful coach of Nadeshiko Japan, was in charge at Ardija in the old Japan Football League shortly before they joined the J.League in 1999. According to officials, Sasaki wil…

The J.League has officially recognised Cerezo Osaka striker Hiroto Yamada as the youngest player to have appeared in the MEIJI YASUDA J3 League. The Japan Under-16 international came onto the pitch at 16 years, seven months and 15 days old in the 85th minute of Cerezo U23’s 2-1 loss to Blaublitz Akita last Saturday. Yamada, who is currently enro…

Vegalta Sendai on Monday announced that they will release striker Wilson at the end of the season. The Brazilian joined the Tohoku side in 2012 and has since scored 40 goals in 128 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League appearances. Wilson, who turned 31 this year, was also named to the 2012 J.League Best XI after contributing to Vegalta’s club-best second plac…

The promotion and relegation battles got even tighter on Sunday on the second day of the MEIJI YASUDA J2 League’s Round 37. Goals from Genki Omae and Chong Tese saw Shimizu S-Pulse win 2-0 over Giravanz Kitakyushu, sending the southern side to last place while moving the J.League co-founders up to third, within three points of Matsumoto Yamaga and …

Urawa Reds continued their strong run-in to the 2016 J.League Championship with a 2-1 victory over Albirex Niigata on Saturday. Mihailo Petrovic’s men had already secured their place at the title-deciding tournament but still kept up their form to win at Denka Big Swan Stadium thanks to Shinzo Koroki’s brace cancelling out Rafael Silva’…

MEIJI YASUDA J2 League leaders Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo were dealt an unexpected blow in their title quest with a 2-1 home loss to Tokyo Verdy. The team’s nine-game undefeated streak was snapped thanks to goals from Verdy’s Daisuke Takagi and Douglas Veira at the 30 and 60 minute marks, with Consadole defender Akito Fukumori cutting the def…

Gamba Osaka striker Patric has returned to Brazil in order to focus on his recovery from injury, the club announced. The 28-year-old recently suffered a damaged anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus in his right knee in training. After his breakout 2015 season, Patric managed just two goals in 20 appearances this year for Gamba.

Omiya Ardija manager Hiroki Shibuya will continue in his role next season, the club announced on Friday. The 49-year-old took over in August 2014 when the club was attempting to stave off relegation. He subsequently led Ardija back to the top flight in one season and has earned the most J1 League points in club history (50) with three matches remainin…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Koji Morisaki will retire at the end of the season, the club announced on Thursday. The veteran has spent his entire career with the club since turning pro in 2000, recording 40 goals in 257 J1 League appearances as well as 24 goals in 77 J2 League appearances.  “I can’t easily sum up my feelings, but fi…

Kawasaki Frontale defender Tatsuki Nara fractured his left tibia in training, the club announced on Wednesday. The injury, which took place on October 7, is a reoccurrence of the injury he suffered in May that prevented him from participating in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Nara is only expected to return to action in three to four months, when the 2017 MEI…

The J.League has announced its fundraising results for earthquake relief in Kumamoto at the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup Final. Fans at Saitama Stadium donated 337,652 yen (roughly $3,370), which will be distributed to victims of April’s Kumamoto Earthquake through the local branch of the Japan Red Cross. The J.League TEAM AS ONE initiative has …

Ventforet Kofu’s Under-12 side achieved a runners-up finish in the Danone Nations Cup 2016 In France, which took place at the weekend in Paris. Representing Japan in the prestigious international youth tournament, the team fought to a scoreless draw against Germany before falling 2-1 in penalty kicks. Japanese teams have previously performed wel…

Sagan Tosu striker Shohei Okada will miss three weeks of action after breaking a rib in his right side, the club announced earlier this week. The 27-year-old suffered the injury in training on October 15. Okada has one goal in 13 appearances, including three starts, for Sagan this season.

The J.League on Monday announced the details of the 2016 J.League Awards, the traditional conclusion of the J.League season which honours the league’s top players, managers, and clubs. The league MVP and Best XI are some of the many awards that will be announced at the December 20 gala, which will return to Yokohama Arena for the first time since 2…

Cerezo Osaka stumbled in their mission to keep up with the automatic promotion race after drawing 1-1 at Fagiano Okayama in the 36th round of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J2 League. Souza’s 37th-minute goal was neutralised by Fagiano’s Kenji Sekido shortly before half-time, causing the Kansai side to drop two more points behind second-placed Matsumo…

Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Yusuke Chajima will be unavailable for the month after injuring himself in training, the club announced. The 25-year-old is expected to miss the remainder of the 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J1 League Second Stage after damaging his left adductor muscle. Chajima has three goals in 22 appearances this season.

J.League chairman Mitsuru Murai congratulated Urawa Reds and their hero Tadanari Lee for winning Saturday’s 2016 Levain Cup final against Gamba Osaka. Mihailo Petrovic’s men lifted their first silverware under the Serbian when they overcame Gamba 5-4 in a penalty shootout, after the scores were tied at 1-1 after extra time. And Murai prais…

Urawa Reds were crowned winners of the 2016 J.League YBC Levain Cup following their 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Gamba Osaka in Saturday’s final at a packed Saitama Stadium. The clash had ended in a 1-1 stalemate after 120 minutes with Gamba starting brightly, taking the lead in the 17th minute when Ademilson deftly dribbled past the defender …

The Japan Football Association on Thursday announced its list of participants for next week’s national team goalkeeper training camp. The list includes established Samurai Blue and Urawa Reds goalkeeper Shusaku Nishikawa, Rio 2016 participant Kosuke Nakamura and US-born Daniel Schmidt. The camp will take place from October 17 through 19 at Osaka…