Japanese Non-league Football News

Kazuki Imaizumi of V Varen Nagasaki has left the Kyushu League title hopefuls to join Banditonce Kobe, where he will wear the number 23 shirt. The midfielder is 25 years old and has previously spent time playing in Germany with 1FC Reimsbach.



Banditonce Kobe’s new signing Kazuki Imaizumi

Sagawa Printing's goalkeeping coach Hideaki Shoji, who previously fulfilled the same role on the staff at J2 minnows Thespa Kusatsu, has joined the club's playing staff at the age of 36.

Takuya Ito, released last week by Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo, has joined Fagiano Okayama as they continue their push for the Chugoku League title. Ito, a 32-year-old defender, has J-League expereince with Omiya Ardija and played in the Kanto League for Saitama SC before moving to Sagawa Tokyo.

第7回東日本社会人大会

The details have been released of the 7th Eastern Japan Football Tournament, which will be played in Fukui prefecture over a long weekend of 15 - 17 July. Regular readers of JNFN may recall that the Western equivalent was held in Kumamoto pre-season and was won by FC Ryukyu. The format of the Western competition is such that the eight competitors are made up of the previous season's top two teams from the leagues in Kyushu, Shikoku, Chugoku and Kansai - but this is not replicated in the East, where the representation is as follows:

Hokkaido: Norbritz Hokkaido (2005 champions)
Tohoku: TDK Akita (2005 joint champions)
Hokushinetsu: Ishikawa Prefectural XI
Kanto: Gunma Prefectural XI
Tokai: Shizuoka FC (2005 champions)
Invitation: Fukui Prefectural XI

Results will of course be posted on these pages as they become available.

Round 8 of the Tokai League Division 2 season on Sunday was full of shocks, with only Mind House TC's home win over Konica Minolta Toyokawa going to form, as Konica are now without a victory in four games. But top of the table Honda Suzuka lost for the first time this season, 2-0 to promoted team Morishin's FC, who move third on goal difference in a cramped mid-table. Second place Kasugai Club were also beaten by Fuyo Club, who move out of the relegation zone as a result, and FC Kawasaki kick-started their season in dramatic fashion with a 5-1 trouncing of Nagoya Club.



Morishin’s celebrate their win over Honda by kicking the goalscorer on the floor

Sun 25 Jun: FC Kawasaki 5-1 Nagoya Club
Sun 25 Jun: Kasugai Club 0-1 Fuyo Club
Sun 25 Jun: Mind House TC 2-1 Konica Minolta Toyokawa
Sun 25 Jun: Morishin's FC 2-0 Honda Suzuka

1 Honda Suzuka 19 (+5)
2 Kasugai Club 16 (+8)
3 Morishin's FC 10 (+3)
4 Mind House TC 10 (+2)
5 Konica Minolta Toyokawa 10 (-1)
6 Fuyo Club 10 (-5)
7 Nagoya Club 9 (-2)
8 FC Kawasaki 3 (-10)

There were just two matches in the Tohoku League Division 2 (South) over the weekend and with leaders Marisol Matsushima having the weekend off, Furukawa Battery picked up their fourth win in four games to move within three points of Marisol, still having two more matches in hand. FC Perada Fukushima won for the first time following promotion from their Prefectural League in spectacular style, 6-2 at a Kureha Chemicals side who have conceded eighteen in their four fixtures to date.



A vicious Furukawa Battery free kick against Northern Peaks

Sun 25 Jun: FC Perada Fukushima 6-2 Kureha Chemicals
Sun 25 Jun: Northern Peaks Koriyama 0-1 Furukawa Battery

1 Marisol Matsushima 15 (+14)
2 Furukawa Battery 12 (+8)
3 Kanai Club 6 (+1)
4 Northern Peaks Koriyama 6 (-)
5 FC Perada Fukushima 4 (-6)
6 Shichigahama SC 4 (-9)
7 Kureha Chemicals 0 (-8)

Division 2 (North) of the Tohoku League continues to be led by FC Akita Cambiare, who on Sunday claimed their sixth straight win of the year and already have a foot in next season's Division 1. It is difficult to compare progress in this division due to the fact that while teams such as Cambiare and second-placed Mizusawa United Club have played six matches, Hokuto Bank's draw on Saturday with Fuji Club 2003 was only their second fixture of the year. As such, Aster Aomori were picking up their first win of 2006 against Vanrarure Hachinohe and Fuji Club must be considered in danger of relegation, as they lie just one point above Hokuto despite having played three more games.

Sun 18 Jun: Mizusawa United Club 4-0 Fuji Club 2003

Sat 24 Jun: Hokuto Bank 2-2 Fuji Club 2003

Sun 25 Jun: FC Akita Cambiare 2-0 Tono Club
Sun 25 Jun: Vanrarure Hachinohe 2-4 Aster Aomori

1 FC Akita Cambiare 18 (+14)
2 Mizusawa United Club 12 (+8)
3 Tono Club 7 (-)
4 Vanrarure Hachinohe 7 (-2)
5 TDK Shinwakai 4 (-5)
6 Aster Aomori 3 (-7)
7 Fuji Club 2003 2 (-6)
8 Hokuto Bank 1 (-2)

At the halfway stage of the Tohoku League Division 1 season, it was potentially title decider day on Saturday as Grulla Morioka hosted TDK Akita in a head-to-head of the two powerhouses of the Region. And it was the more established company side who emerged victorious, two goals in the last fifteen minutes from striker Dai Harada enabling TDK to come from behind for a 3-2 win in front of 1800 fans. Further down the table, mid-ranking sides FC Primeiro and NEC Tokin picked up good away wins at Sendai Nakata Club and Nippon Steel Kamaishi respectively, while Wiese Shiogama and Morioka Zebra picked up a useful point apiece in a 1-1 draw.



Yosuke Nishi scores from the spot for Grulla against TDK

Sun 25 Jun: Grulla Morioka 2-3 TDK Akita
Sun 25 Jun: Morioka Zebra 1-1 Wiese Shiogama
Sun 25 Jun: Nippon Steel Kamaishi 0-3 NEC Tokin
Sun 25 Jun: Sendai Nakata Club 3-4 FC Primeiro

1 TDK Akita 21 (+28)
2 Grulla Morioka 18 (+10)
3 FC Primeiro 13 (-5)
4 NEC Tokin 10 (+3)
5 Wiese Shiogama 6 (-4)
6 Morioka Zebra 5 (-7)
7 Nippon Steel Kamaishi 1 (-17)
8 Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-8)

Four rounds to go in the Kanto League Division 2 and FC Machida Zelvia and Furukawa Electrics Chiba show no signs of letting their grip weaken on the two promotion spots. After a couple of wobbly draws, Machida returned to winning ways with a 6-3 drubbing of Kanagawa Teachers to stay a point ahead of Furukawa, whose 4-2 triumph over Aries FC was their fifth consuective win. Hitachi Tochigi Uva are clear in third thanks to a 3-0 win at inconsistent Ome FC, while All Kamisu SC look as if they might go straightback down to the Prefectural Leagues on the back of their poor defensive record - after their 4-2 home defeat by Nirasaki Astros, they've conceded 31 in ten games.



Promotion challengers Furukawa Electrics Chiba

Sun 25 Jun: Furukawa Electrics Chiba 4-2 Aries FC
Sun 25 Jun: Ome FC 0-3 Hitachi Tochigi Uva
Sun 25 Jun: All Kamisu SC 2-4 Nirasaki Astros
Sun 25 Jun: FC Machida Zelvia 6-3 Kanagawa Teachers

1 FC Machida Zelvia 23 (+24)
2 Furukawa Electrics Chiba 22 (+12)
3 Hitachi Tochigi Uva 18 (+7)
4 Nirasaki Astros 15 (-3)
5 Ome FC 12 (-5)
6 Kanagawa Teachers 8 (-9)
7 All Kamisu SC 6 (-15)
8 Aries FC 5 (-11)

Three draws out of four fixtures in round 11 of the Kansai league Division 2 on Saturday means not much in the way of change to the rankings, most notably in the promotion places, where front two FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 and Technonet Osaka were goalless in their match. With Kohga School getting a 1-1 draw at Riseisha FC and Kobe FC Senior C picking up only their second point of the year against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe, Kihoku Football Group missed an opportunity to move away from the relegation trapdoor when they were hammered 6-1 by Hermano Osaka.



Kobe FC Senior C go close against Mitsubishi Kobe

Sat 24 Jun: FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 0-0 Technonet Osaka
Sat 24 Jun: Kihoku Football Group 1-6 Hermano Osaka
Sat 24 Jun: Kobe FC Senior C 1-1 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe
Sat 24 Jun: Kohga School 1-1 Riseisha FC

1 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 27 (+28)
2 Technonet Osaka 26 (+9)
3 Hermano Osaka 19 (+9)
4 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 17 (-)
5 Riseisha FC 15 (+4)
6 Kohga School 9 (-7)
7 Kihoku Football Group 8 (-26)
8 Kobe FC Senior C 2 (-17)

Ten rounds into the Kanto League Division 1 season, surprise leaders Yaita SC have finally lost their unbeaten record. Title holders Luminozo Sayama inflicted what could be a crucial defeat, reducing Yaita's lead to five points with four matches to play. Behind Luminozo, the mid-table is as bunched as ever, Toshiba Fuchu moving third after an easy win over MSDF Atsugi Marcus, while Saitama SC beat YSCC. Atsugi's loss means that Toho Titanium jump out of the relegation places thanks to their 4-1 win at Hanno Bruder, who are beginning to look as if they will drop straight back down to Division 2.



Yaita put Luminozo Sayama under pressure to no avail

Sat 24 Jun: Hanno Bruder 1-4 Toho Titanium
Sat 24 Jun: Saitama SC 3-0 YSCC

Sun 25 Jun: Yaita SC 1-3 Luminozo Sayama
Sun 25 Jun: Toshiba Fuchu 2-0 MSDF Atsugi Marcus

1 Yaita SC 23 (+12)
2 Luminozo Sayama 18 (+10)
3 Toshiba Fuchu 16 (+3)
4 Saitama SC 15 (+6)
5 YSCC 15 (+5)
6 Toho Titanium 10 (-12)
7 MSDF Atsugi Marcus 8 (-10)
8 Hanno Bruder 6 (-14)

A crowd of 2615 were present to witness FC Gifu's vital 2-0 win over Shizuoka FC on Saturday, a result that presents the newly-promoted Gifu with a superb opportunity to take the Tokai League Division 1 title - and potentially to go for promotion to the JFL at the end of the year. It was the first defeat that either side have sustained this season and means that Shizuoka now have a three-point gap to make up if they are to retain their grip on the championship. Yazaki Valente lie a further four points off the pace in third following their 2-1 win over ACM Central, who are odds-on for relegation. It's questionable who is most likely to be joining them in Division 2, given that Fujieda City Hall gained a valuable 1-0 win at Maruyasu Industry to jump out of the drop zone, where they're replaced by Chukyo University, defeated 4-2 at Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo.



Tetsuya Ito puts FC Gifu one up against Shizuoka FC

Sat 24 Jun: FC Gifu 2-0 Shizuoka FC

Sun 25 Jun: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 4-2 Chukyo University
Sun 25 Jun: ACM Central 1-2 Yazaki Valente
Sun 25 Jun: Maruyasu Industry 0-1 Fujieda City Hall

1 FC Gifu 22 (+18)
2 Shizuoka FC 19 (+18)
3 Yazaki Valente 15 (+1)
4 Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 12 (-)
5 Maruyasu Industry 10 (-1)
6 Fujieda City Hall 6 (-12)
7 Chukyo University 5 (-8)
8 ACM Central 1 (-16)

It was a day of shocks on Derby Day in the Shikoku League on Sunday,with each of the clubs paired up with their nearest rivals. Ehime Shimanami can almost be discounted from the title race now after they lost to a Ventana AC side fighting hard against relegation. Tokushima Vortis Amateur are also aiming to stay out of the Prefectural League and did themselves no harm at all with an astonishing 8-2 thrashing of Sanyo Electric Tokushima. This in turn puts Sanwa Club in grave danger, as they succumbed to a 5-1 drubbing by neighbours Nangoku Kochi - who leapfrog Shimanami into second place - while Alex SC lie just a point outside the relegation play-off zone after a 3-0 loss to champions-elect Kamatamare Sanuki.



Ventana AC and Ehime Shimanami wait for a bus

Sun 25 Jun: Ventana AC 4-3 Ehime Shimanami
Sun 25 Jun: Sanyo Electric Tokushima 2-8 Tokushima Vortis Amateur
Sun 25 Jun: Sanwa Club 1-5 Nangoku Kochi
Sun 25 Jun: Alex SC 0-3 Kamatamare Sanuki

1 Kamatamare Sanuki 24 (+22)
2 Nangoku Kochi 19 (+19)
3 Ehime Shimanami 19 (+16)
4 Sanyo Electric Tokushima 13 (+2)
5 Tokushima Vortis Amateur 9 (-4)
6 Alex SC 8 (-11)
7 Ventana AC 7 (-19)
8 Sanwa Club 1 (-25)



No idea what’s happening here, but it’s Alex in orange against Kamatamare

Three more rounds to go in Division 1 of the Kansai League after Saturday's matches and Banditonce Kobe have one hand on the trophy after a six-goal thumping of AS Laranja Kyoto places them four points clear of their nearest challengers. FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu can't be accused of failing to make a fight of it, though, as they racked up the division's biggest win of the season so far when they put eight past Takada FC. In the hunt for third spot are Ain Food, who slipped up with a draw against Kyoto Shiko Club; Kobe FC 1970 and Sanyo Electric Sumoto, who met on Saturday, a 1-0 win for Kobe.



Masato Ishida, scorer of the opening goal for Banditonce against AS Laranja


Sat 24 Jun: Ain Food 1-1 Kyoto Shiko Club
Sat 24 Jun: Banditonce Kobe 6-0 AS Laranja Kyoto
Sat 24 Jun: FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 8-0 Takada FC
Sat 24 Jun: Kobe FC 1970 1-0 Sanyo Electric Sumoto

1 Banditonce Kobe 26 (+20)
2 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 22 (+13)
3 Ain Food 16 (+2)
4 Sanyo Electric Sumoto 16 (-)
5 Kobe FC 1970 16 (-4)
6 Kyoto Shiko Club 11 (-5)
7 AS Laranja Kyoto 10 (-10)
8 Takada FC 10 (-16)

There's finally some daylight between Valiente Toyama and the rest at the top of the Hokushinetsu League Division 2, after a narrow 2-1 win over struggling Nissei Resin gave them a four-point advantage in the battle for the one automatic promotion slot. But second place and the possibility to play off against one of the bottom sides in Division 1 could go to any number of sides - TOP Niigata are there at the moment after a 2-2 draw with FC Kanazu, while Maruoka Phoenix's challenge has hit a brick wall with two defeats in the last two matches. Even FC Antelope could steal it, despite their patchy season, but Toyama Shinjo Club and LionPower Komatsu will be looking to avoid the drop to the Prefectural leagues after a goalless draw left them both in trouble.



Valiente Toyama prepare to tussle with Nissei Resin

Sun 25 Jun: FC Antelope 3-2 Maruoka Phoenix
Sun 25 Jun: Toyama Shinjo Club 0-0 LionPower Komatsu
Sun 25 Jun: Valiente Toyama 2-1 Nissei Resin
Sun 25 Jun: TOP Niigata 2-2 FC Kanazu

1 Valiente Toyama 20 (+9)
2 TOP Niigata 16 (+6)
3 Maruoka Phoenix 16 (+2)
4 FC Antelope 15 (-1)
5 FC Kanazu 13 (+4)
6 Toyama Shinjo Club 11 (-9)
7 LionPower Komatsu 10 (-7)
8 Nissei Resin 6 (-4)

With only four rounds of the Hokushinetsu League Division 1 remaining, title holders Nagano Elsa have a great chance of holding on to their crown following on from round 10 on Sunday. Whilst Elsa themselves were crushing Niigata University of Management, Matsumoto Yamaga Club have seen their chances almost disappear thanks to two consecutive defeats, the latest coming at the hands of a Japan Soccer College side who move into second place as a result. Zweigen Kanazawa further steadied their ship with a 4-2 win over relegation-threatened Teihens FC - but Ueda Gentian gave themselves a good chance of avoiding the drop with the first win of the season, a shock 2-1 success at Fervorosa.



Masatoshi Tanaka, scorer of the winner for Ueda Gentian against Fervorosa

Sun 25 Jun: Nagano Elsa 6-0 Niigata University of Management
Sun 25 Jun: Japan Soccer College 2-0 Matsumoto Yamaga Club
Sun 25 Jun: Zweigen Kanazawa 4-2 Teihens FC
Sun 25 Jun: Fervorosa 1-2 Ueda Gentian

1 Nagano Elsa 27 (+38)
2 Japan Soccer College 25 (+26)
3 Matsumoto Yamaga Club 22 (+17)
4 Zweigen Kanazawa 19 (+23)
5 Fervorosa 11 (+2)
6 Ueda Gentian 5 (-28)
7 Niigata University of Management 4 (-37)
8 Teihens FC 2 (-41)



The Niigata University of Management defence leap into action against Nagano Elsa

Only two matches were played in the Chugoku League over the weekend, but Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku's 6-3 defeat at FC Central Chugoku looks to be nothing less than a hammer blow to the Hiroshima-based club's hopes of retaining their 2005 championship win, coming as it does on top of a 3-2 loss at Fagiano Okayama in the last round. Both Sagawa and FC Central are now five points behind leaders Fagiano, with only one game in hand. Hiroshima Fujita SC's miserable season continues, meanwhile, JFE Steel being but the latest in a line of smaller clubs to inflict embarrassing defeat upon one of the best-established clubs in the area.



FC Central in their vital Chugoku League clash with Sagawa Kyubin

Sun 25 Jun: FC Central Chugoku 6-3 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku
Sun 25 Jun: JFE Steel 2-0 Hiroshima Fujita SC

1 Fagiano Okayama 21 (+23)
2 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku 16 (+15)
3 FC Central Chugoku 16 (+14)
4 Renofa Yamaguchi 14 (-5)
5 JFE Steel 12 (-2)
6 Hiroshima Fujita SC 7 (-14)
7 Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 4 (-14)
8 Iwami SC 3 (-17)

Major events in the JFL over this weekend, as the season nears its midway point. Former leaders YKK AP have now won just once in their last six matches and made it two defeats in a row when they ended up on the wrong end of a 3-0 scoreline at Tochigi SC. This slump has paved the way for Honda FC to take over in top spot, as they coasted past JEF Club with two more goals from Kodai Suzuki taking his individual tally to thirteen for the year. Rosso Kumamoto moved into fourth having come from behind to win at Alo's Hokuriku on Saturday.

SC Tottori's lengthy unbeaten run finally came to and end at improving Sagawa Printing - but the form team in the division are the remarkable Sagawa Kyubin Osaka, now in second place on the back of a run that has seen them win nine of the last ten matches. The latest was a 4-2 defeat of Ryutsu Keizai University, who dropped to bottom of the table as a consequence of that loss and of Honda Lock's draw at Arte Takasaki, only the Kyushu-based side's third away point of the season. This has also increased the pressure on clubs like Mitsubishi Mizushima and FC Ryukyu, both totally out of form and both of whom suffered heavy losses on Sunday, at Sony Sendai and Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo respectively.



Sagawa Printing's Daisuke Nakamori carries out his post-match interview

Sat 24 Jun: Alo's Hokuriku 1-2 Rosso Kumamoto
Sat 24 Jun: Sagawa Printing 3-1 SC Tottori
Sat 24 Jun: Yokogawa Musashino 2-0 FC Kariya

Sun 25 Jun: Honda FC 4-1 JEF Club
Sun 25 Jun: Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo 5-0 FC Ryukyu
Sun 25 Jun: Sony Sendai 4-0 Mitsubishi Mizushima
Sun 25 Jun: Arte Takasaki 0-0 Honda Lock
Sun 25 Jun: Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 4-2 Ryutsu Keizai University
Sun 25 Jun: Tochigi SC 3-0 YKK AP

1 Honda FC 37 (+16)
2 Sagawa Kyubin Osaka 35 (+17)
3 YKK AP 34 (+22)
4 Rosso Kumamoto 33 (+14)
5 Tochigi SC 33 (+13)
6 Yokogawa Musashino 30 (+8)
7 Alo's Hokuriku 28 (+14)
8 Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo 27 (+21)
9 Sony Sendai 23 (+1)
10 SC Tottori 21 (+6)
11 Arte Takasaki 21 (-6)
12 JEF Club 15 (-8)
13 Sagawa Printing 15 (-13)
14 FC Kariya 14 (-16)
15 FC Ryukyu 10 (-12)
16 Mitsubishi Mizushima 9 (-27)
17 Honda Lock 9 (-28)
18 Ryutsu Keizai University 8 (-22)



Honda FC head for the top of the JFL before their match with JEF Club

Sagawa Kyubin Tokyo have released former Saitama SC defender Takuya Ito... JEF Club have released forwards Muneyuki Arai and Reon Saito, together with midfielder Nobuaki Yamada - they have been replaced in the squad by three former JEF United players: 18-year-old forward Kyohei Horikawa, 19-year-old midfielder Hibiki Kato and 24-year-old midfielder Daisuke Matsugae.

Honda Suzuka and Kasugai Club look hot favourites for promotion from the Tokai League Division 2 at the end of this year, as they stretched the gap between themselves and third place with wins on Sunday in round 7. Honda overcame mid-table Nagoya Club 3-2, while Kasugai beat surprise strugglers Mind House TC. Indeed, Mind House remain out of the relegation places only on goal difference after Fuyo Club's 4-1 win over Konica Minolta Toyokawa and Morishin's FC's best performance of the year, a 4-0 defeat of FC Kawasaki.



Kasugai bam a free kick in against Mind House

Sun 18 Jun: FC Kawasaki 0-4 Morishin's FC
Sun 18 Jun: Fuyo Club 4-1 Konica Minolta Toyokawa
Sun 18 Jun: Honda Suzuka 3-2 Nagoya Club
Sun 18 Jun: Mind House TC 1-2 Kasugai Club

1 Honda Suzuka 19 (+7)
2 Kasugai Club 16 (+9)
3 Konica Minolta Toyokawa 10 (-)
4 Nagoya Club 9 (+2)
5 Morishin's FC 7 (+1)
6 Mind House TC 7 (+1)
7 Fuyo Club 7 (-6)
8 FC Kawasaki 0 (-14)



"Let's get 'em, lads," "Yeah, let's," - Kawasaki and Morishin's prepare for kick off

It's still neck-and-neck at the top of the Tokai League Division 1, as Shizuoka FC and FC Gifu both picked up their sixth wins of the season in round 7 on Saturday, in time for the big showdown between the two this coming weekend. Level on points, Shizuoka's goal difference is superior by four following their 5-1 thrashing of Chukyo University. Seven points off the pace, meanwhile, are Yazaki Valente, 2-1 winners over relegation-threatened Fujieda City Hall; while Maruyasu Industry move up to fourth after they beat wooden spoonists ACM Central.



Scorer of the opening goal for Shizuoka, Kazuki Mizuho

Sat 17 Jun: Shizuoka FC 5-1 Chukyo University
Sat 17 Jun: Maruyasu Industry 2-0 ACM Central
Sat 17 Jun: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 0-2 FC Gifu
Sat 17 Jun: Yazaki Valente 2-1 Fujieda City Hall

1 Shizuoka FC 19 (+20)
2 FC Gifu 19 (+16)
3 Yazaki Valente 12 (-)
4 Maruyasu Industry 10 (-)
5 Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 9 (-2)
6 Chukyo University 5 (-6)
7 Fujieda City Hall 3 (-13)
8 ACM Central 1 (-15)

Early on in the Kanto League Division 2 season it all seemed so easy for newly-promoted side FC Machida Zelvia as they coasted towards the championship and promotion. Now, however, they have just one win in their last four matches, the latest disappointment being a 1-1 draw at bottom-placed FC Aries - which means rapidly improving Furukawa Electrics Chiba are now just a point behind, following their 3-1 defeat of Kanagawa Teachers.. Ome FC and Hitachi Tochigi Uva are also moving in the right direction, as they beat Nirasaki Astros and All Kamisu SC respectively.



Koichi Ono, on target for Ome FC v Nirasaki Astros

Sat 17 Jun: Aries FC 1-1 FC Machida Zelvia
Sat 17 Jun: Kanagawa Teachers 1-3 Furukawa Electrics Chiba
Sat 17 Jun: Ome FC 2-1 Nirasaki Astros

Sun 18 Jun: Hitachi Tochigi Uva 4-1 All Kamisu SC

1 FC Machida Zelvia 20 (+21)
2 Furukawa Electrics Chiba 19 (+10)
3 Hitachi Tochigi Uva 15 (+4)
4 Ome FC 12 (-2)
5 Nirasaki Astros 12 (-5)
6 Kanagawa Teachers 8 (-6)
7 All Kamisu SC 6 (-13)
8 Aries FC 5 (-9)



FC Aries defend against leaders Machida Zelvia

Continuing their astonsihing season with a 4-0 win at Toho Titanium, Yaita SC now lead the Kanto League Division 1 by eight points after nine rounds. Second place YSCC slipped up with a goallles draw at home to MSDF Atsugi Marcus, allowing current champions Luminozo Sayama to pull level on points and goal difference following their 6-0 drubbing of Hanno Bruder. Saitama SC moved away from the drop zone with a good win over Toshiba Fuchu.



Yuya Itabashi scores for Luminozo Sayama against Hanno Bruder

Sat 17 Jun: Toho Titanium 0-4 Yaita SC

Sun 18 Jun: Luminozo Sayama 6-0 Hanno Bruder
Sun 18 Jun: Saitama SC 3-1 Toshiba Fuchu
Sun 18 Jun: YSCC 0-0 MSDF Atsugi Marcus

1 Yaita SC 23 (+14)
2 YSCC 15 (+8)
3 Luminozo Sayama 15 (+8)
4 Toshiba Fuchu 13 (+1)
5 Saitama SC 12 (+3)
6 MSDF Atsugi Marcus 8 (-8)
7 Toho Titanium 7 (-15)
8 Hanno Bruder 6 (-11)



A fine body of men, Kanto League leaders Yaita SC

FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 stole a march on their Kansai League Division 2 title rivals Technonet Osaka, moving a point ahead in the championship race following their 7-0 thrashing of Kihoku Football Group, while Technonet were being held to a surprise draw by Kohga School. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe pulled level in third place by beating Hermano Osaka and Riseisha FC kept Kobe FC Senior C rooted to the foot of the table with a 5-2 win.



Yes! Another pre-match photo of Riseisha FC, before the game with Kobe FC Senior C

Sat 17 Jun: Kihoku Football Group 0-7 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993
Sat 17 Jun: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 1-0 Hermano Osaka
Sat 17 Jun: Technonet Osaka 1-1 Kohga School

Sun 18 Jun: Riseisha FC 5-2 Kobe FC Senior C

1 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 26 (+28)
2 Technonet Osaka 25 (+9)
3 Hermano Osaka 16 (+4)
4 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 16 (-)
5 Riseisha FC 14 (+4)
6 Kohga School 8 (-7)
7 Kihoku Football Group 8 (-210
8 Kobe FC Senior C 1 (-17)

After ten rounds in Division 1 of the Kansai League, most of the excitement now is focused on the two relegation slots, as arguably five of the eight clubs in the division are still under threat of the drop. Bottom now are Takada FC after a narrow home defeat to leaders and likely champions Banditonce Kobe - but AS Laranja Kyoto have a 3-0 win over Kobe FC 1970 to thank for raising themselves up out of the basement, while Kyoto Shiko Club are still in real trouble following their loss to FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu. Ain Food boosted their chances of staying up by beating Sanyo Electric Sumoto 4-0, their best result of the season.



Before their win over Takada FC, Banditonce Kobe

Sat 17 Jun: Takada FC 1-2 Banditonce Kobe

Sun 18 Jun: AS Laranja Kyoto 3-0 Kobe FC 1970
Sun 18 Jun: Kyoto Shiko Club 1-4 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu
Sun 18 Jun: Sanyo Electric Sumoto 0-4 Ain Food

1 Banditonce Kobe 23 (+14)
2 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 19 (+5)
3 Sanyo Electric Sumoto 16 (+1)
4 Ain Food 15 (+2)
5 Kobe FC 1970 13 (-5)
6 AS Laranja Kyoto 10 (-4)
7 Kyoto Shiko Club 10 (-5)
8 Takada FC 10 (-8)

A single fixture in the southern section of the Tohoku League Division 2 on Sunday, as Kanai Club moved up to a surprise third place thanks to their 4-2 win over Shichigahama SC.

Sun 18 Jun: Kanai Club 4-2 Shichigahama SC

1 Marisol Matsushima 15 (+14)
2 Furukawa Battery 9 (+7)
3 Kanai Club 6 (+1)
4 Northern Peaks Koriyama 6 (+1)
5 Shichigahama SC 4 (-9)
6 FC Perada Fukushima 1 (-10)
7 Kureha Chemicals 0 (-4)

Just two big matches this week in the Tohoku League Division 1, as joint leaders TDK Akita and Grulla Morioka continued their inevitable progress towards another title showdown - the pair are due to meet for the first time in 2006 this coming weekend. Both have 100% records after six matches, their latest victories coming against Wiese Shiogama and NEC Tokin respectively.



Ex-Wiese Shiogama striker Go Togashi, scorer for TDK against his old club

Sun 18 Jun: Grulla Morioka 3-2 NEC Tokin
Sun 18 Jun: Wiese Shiogama 0-5 TDK Akita

1 TDK Akita 18 (+27)
2 Grulla Morioka 18 (+11)
3 FC Primeiro 10 (-6)
4 NEC Tokin 7 (-)
5 Wiese Shiogama 5 (-4)
6 Morioka Zebra 4 (-7)
7 Nippon Steel Kamaishi 1 (-14)
8 Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-7)

It was a case of top against bottom in round 8 of the Shikoku League on Sunday, as the first four teams took on the lowlier rivals - and steamrollered over them. Kamatamare Sanuki recovered from their first defeat of the season two weeks ago to beat Ehime's Ventana AC 4-0, the same scoreline as Nangoku Kochi's win over Tokushima Vortis Amateur. Ehime Shimanami keep up the pressure on Kamatamare thanks to a 6-0 pasting of Alex SC, but the biggest winning margin of the day - and indeed of the season so far - was at Sanwa Club, where the home side were on the receiving end of an 8-0 romp by Sanyo Electric Tokushima.



Kamatamare keeper Shogo Ebisawa in spectacular action against Ventana

Sun 18 Jun: Alex SC 0-6 Ehime Shimanami
Sun 18 Jun: Kamatamare Sanuki 4-0 Ventana AC
Sun 18 Jun: Sanwa Club 0-8 Sanyo Electric Tokushima
Sun 18 Jun: Tokushima Vortis Amateur 0-4 Nangoku Kochi

1 Kamatamare Sanuki 21 (+19)
2 Ehime Shimanami 19 (+17)
3 Nangoku Kochi 16 (+15)
4 Sanyo Electric Tokushima 13 (+8)
5 Alex SC 8 (-8)
6 Tokushima Vortis Amateur 6 (-10)
7 Ventana AC 4 (-20)
8 Sanwa Club 1 (-21)

More important action in the Kyushu League on Sunday, as title favourites V Varen Nagasaki took a major step towards winning the championship. Although they only managed a 1-0 win over rock bottom Nanakuma Tombies, New Wave Kitakyushu suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Okinawa Kariyushi - and the other main challengers, Nippon Steel Oita, lost on penalties after a draw with Osumi NIFS United. Also still in touch at the top are Volca Kagoshima after their 4-3 win over Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki.



Kariyushi's Dai Murata battles with New Wave's former J-League star Shingi Ono

Sun 18 Jun: New Wave Kitakyushu 1-2 Okinawa Kariyushi
Sun 18 Jun: Nippon Steel Oita 1-1 Osumi NIFS United (PK 3-4)
Sun 18 Jun: V Varen Nagasaki 1-0 Nanakuma Tombies
Sun 18 Jun: Volca Kagoshima 4-3 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki

1 V Varen Nagasaki 25 (+17)
2 New Wave Kitakyushu 23 (+14)
3 Nippon Steel Oita 22 (+19)
4 Volca Kagochima 21 (+11)
5 Okinawa Kariyushi 21 (+10)
6 Osumi NIFS United 8 (-15)
7 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 6 (-10)
8 Kaiho Bank SC 4 (-13)
9 Nanakuma Tombies 2 (-33)



V Varen Nagasaki goalscorer Masaki Iwamoto. Looks guilty as hell, doesn't he

The Hokkaido League title race for 2006 was blown wide open in round 6 on Sunday, as frontrunners Norbritz Hokkaido were victims of a shock 2-1 home defeat by Toyota Motors Hokkaido. This was a third consecutive win for Toyota, who despite narrowly avoiding relegation last year have now moved up into third position, two points behind Norbritz and one behind second-placed Blackpecker Hakodate, 5-3 winners over ACSC Asahikawa. Sapporo Football Group missed an opportunity to close the gap on the championship hopefuls when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Tokachi Fairsky, while the match between the two mid-table sides saw Barefoot Hokkaido beat Thank FC 1-0.



Norbritz host Toyota under the grey skies of Hokkaido

Sun 18 Jun: Barefoot Hokkaido 1-0 Thank FC
Sun 18 Jun: Blackpecker Hakodate 5-3 ACSC Asahikawa
Sun 18 Jun: Norbritz Hokkaido 1-2 Toyota Motors Hokkaido
Sun 18 Jun: Tokachi Fairsky 1-1 Sapporo Football Group

1 Norbritz Hokkaido 13 (+14)
2 Blackpecker Hakodate 12 (+3)
3 Toyota Motors Hokkaido 11 (+1)
4 Sapporo Football Group 10 (+4)
5 Barefoot Hokkaido 8 (-)
6 Thank FC 7 (+2)
7 Tokachi Fairsky 4 (-12)
8 ACSC Asahikawa 3 (-12)



Tokachi Fairsky in... grey? Brown? defend against Sapporo Football Group