Albirex Niigata striker Tatsuya Tanaka and Ventforet Kofu defender Yukio Tsuchiya became the latest players to celebrate 300 J1 League appearances last Sunday.

Former Urawa Reds icon Tanaka came on as a 59th minute substitute in Albirex’s 1-1 draw at Shimizu S-Pulse on matchday 7 of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 League second stage.

The 32-year-old joined the league in 2001 and spent 12 seasons at the Reds, achieving 233 outings in the league there, before joining his current club in 2013.

Meanwhile, Tsuchiya’s 300th appearance at the weekend came exactly 18 years after his first, then as a member of Verdy Kawasaki - now Tokyo Verdy.

The 41-year-old played for Vissel Kobe, Kashiwa Reysol and Omiya Ardija before returning to Verdy for six seasons in 2007.

He joined current club Ventforet in 2013, and was a starter in their 2-0 loss at Yokohama F. Marinos on Sunday.

Tsuchiya is the 80th player to have amassed 300 top flight appearances by virtue of his appearance in the starting XI, while substitute Tanaka is the 81st.