Japanese Non-league Football News

Grulla Morioka and NEC Tokin are already confirmed as the teams who will proceed to the Regional League Championship Winners' Play-off tournament from Division 1 of the Tohoku League. Champions Grulla have won all twelve of their games so far this season, while runners up NEC are able to take advantage of the allocation of one extra place in the Play-offs on account of last year's dramatic success by TDK.

There is little to choose between the mid-ranking teams in this league, with Fukushima's FC Primeiro the best of the rest. Meanwhile at the bottom of the table, it's Nippon Steel Kamaishi who are most under threat of the drop but Morioka Zebra - currently celebrating their fiftieth anniversary - who are also in danger. The two teams are in action against each other this coming weekend in what could turn out to be a relegation decider.

Sun 09 Sep: FC Primeiro 1-9 NEC Tokin
Sun 09 Sep: Grulla Morioka 4-2 Morioka Zebra
Sun 09 Sep: Nippon Steel Kamaishi 1-3 Wiese Shiogama
Sun 09 Sep: Sendai Nakata Club 7-1 Furukawa Battery

Sun 16 Sep: Sendai Nakata Club 2-5 FC Primeiro
Sun 16 Sep: Wiese Shiogama 0-0 NEC Tokin

Sun 23 Sep: FC Primeiro 3-0 Nippon Steel Kamaishi
Sun 23 Sep: Morioka Zebra 1-2 Sendai Nakata Club
Sun 23 Sep: NEC Tokin 7-0 Furukawa Battery
Sun 23 Sep: Wiese Shiogama 1-6 Grulla Morioka

Sun 30 Sep: NEC Tokin 1-0 Sendai Nakata Club

Sun 07 Oct: FC Primeiro 3-1 Wiese Shiogama
Sun 07 Oct: Grulla Morioka 7-1 Sendai Nakata Club
Sun 07 Oct: Morioka Zebra 0-1 NEC Tokin
Sun 07 Oct: Nippon Steel Kamaishi 1-1 Furukawa Battery

1. Grulla Morioka 36 (+45)
2. NEC Tokin 31 (+40)
3. FC Primeiro 22 (+5)
4. Wiese Shiogama 14 (-5)
5. Sendai Nakata Club 13 (-13)
6. Furukawa Battery 11 (-27)
7. Morioka Zebra 10 (-18)
8. Nippon Steel Kamaishi 5 (-27)

Viancone Fukushima emphasised their claims to win promotion from Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League with a crushing 9-0 win over bottom side Kureha in the only match of the weekend on Sunday.



Shigeru Konno, Viancone goalscorer

Sun 05 Aug: Viancone Fukushima 9-0 Kureha

1. FC Perada Fukushima 22 (+40)
2. Viancone Fukushima 22 (+35)
3. Soma SC 16 (+10)
4. Marysol Matsushima 11 (+4)
5. Nakaniida SC 7 (-11)
6. Shichigahama SC 6 (-3)
7. Kanai Club 6 (-38)
8. Kureha 0 (-37)

A single goal in the second half from striker Rui Tokisaki was all that Tohoku League Division 2 (South) leaders FC Perada Fukushima needed to beat neighbours Soma SC in the division's only fixture at the weekend. This puts Perada three points clear of second place Viancone Fukushima - who have two crucial games in hand.



Rui Tokisaki, obviously

Sun 29 Jul: FC Perada Fukushima 1-0 Soma SC

1. FC Perada Fukushima 22 (+40)
2. Viancone Fukushima 19 (+26)
3. Soma SC 16 (+10)
4. Marysol Matsushima 11 (+4)
5. Nakaniida SC 7 (-11)
6. Shichigahama SC 6 (-3)
7. Kanai Club 6 (-38)
8. Kureha 0 (-28)

Promoted side Nakaniida SC moved up two places in the Tohoku League Division 2 (South) on Sunday by beating Kanai Club 6-4. Kanai have now conceded 53 goals in eight league matches this season.

Sun 22 Jul: Kanai Club 4-6 Nakaniida SC

1. FC Perada Fukushima 19 (+39)
2. Viancone Fukushima 19 (+26)
3. Soma SC 16 (+11)
4. Marysol Matsushima 11 (+4)
5. Nakaniida SC 7 (-11)
6. Shichigahama SC 6 (-3)
7. Kanai Club 6 (-38)
8. Kureha 0 (-28)

The result has been a long time coming, but there was one fixture in Division 2 (North) of the Tohoku League last weekend. On the holiday Monday, Fuji Club 2003 closed the gap on the top trio with a 5-1 win over relegation-threatened Hokuto Bank.

Mon 16 Jul: Hokuto Bank 1-5 Fuji Club 2003

1. FC Akita Cambiare 22 (+26)
2. Tono Club 19 (+6)
3. Mizusawa Club 14 (+6)
4. Fuji Club 2003 12 (+5)
5. Vanraure Hachinohe 9 (-4)
6. Saruta Industry 6 (-7)
7. Hokuto Bank 6 (-17)
8. Omiya Club 5 (-15)