Japanese Non-league Football News

Legendary former Japan international striker Kazu Miura has become the shirt sponsor of Tokai League Division 1 side Shizuoka FC. This completes a three-way involvement in the club for the Miura family, as father Norio is the owner while the coach is Kazu's brother and ex-Shimizu S-Pulse, Verdy Kawasaki, Avispa Fukuoka and Vissel Kobe defender Yasutoshi.

... Tochigi SC, currently experiencing a rather rocky road road to J2, have signed 34-year-old forward Yusaku Ueno from Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Ueno played 223 J1 games scoring 27 goals and in J2 he played 83 games scoring 23 goals.... and struggling FC Ryukyu have signed rookie forward Yoichiro Sugiyama, 23, from Fuji Tokoha University...

The big match in Division 1 of the Tokai League on Sunday pitched together two of the teams with 100% records and it was Yazaki Valente who came out on top with a 3-1 triumph over Fujieda City Hall. But odds-on favourites Shizuoka FC made it three big wins out of three so far this year, beating Chukyo University 4-0 to remain in pole position on goal difference. Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo and Honda Suzuka stay in mid-table following their 1-1 draw, while Kasugai Club are stuck at the bottom as a result of their 2-1 defeat by Maruyasu Industries.

Sun 27 May: Maruyasu Industries 2-1 Kasugai Club
Sun 27 May: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 1-1 Honda Suzuka
Sun 27 May: Shizuoka FC 4-0 Chukyo University
Sun 27 May: Yazaki Valente 3-1 Fujieda City Hall

1. Shizuoka FC 9 (+14)
2. Yazaki Valente 9 (+6)
3. Fujieda City Hall 6 (+1)
4. Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 4 (-1)
5. Honda Suzuka 4 (-4)
6. Maruyasu Industries 3 (-1)
7. Chukyo University 0 (-7)
8. Kasugai Club 0 (-8)

There were only two matches played in the Tohoku League Division 2 (South), but Kanai Club will wish that they hadn't been involved in either of them. The strugglers held title hopefuls FC Perada Fukushima to 0-0 for the opening quarter of the game, but were 6-0 down at half time and eventually succumbed to a calamitous 14-0 defeat. As well as the humiliation for Kanai, the result is significant in that it gives Perada a vital improvement in their goal difference as they fight for promotion with Viancone Fukushima. In the other game, Soma SC continued their good start to the year with a 3-1 win at Nakaniida SC to remain in third position.



It’s all a blur for Kanai Club

Sun 27 May: FC Perada Fukushima 14-0 Kanai Club
Sun 27 May: Nakaniida SC 1-3 Soma SC

1. FC Perada Fukushima 13 (+23)
2. Viancone Fukushima 10 (+15)
3. Soma SC 9 (+7)
4. Marysol Matsushima 4 (-)
5. Nakaniida SC 4 (-3)
6. Shichigahama SC 3 (-1)
7. Kanai Club 3 (-28)
8. Kureha 0 (-13)

There was a major shock in Division 2 (North) of the Tohoku League on Sunday, as FC Akita Cambiare lost a league game for the first time since 2005. It was the students of Fuji Club 2003 who came up trumps on this occasion in a 2-1 win that opens up the competition as a whole. Tono Club can also be considered contenders, as they kept going their own 100% record since the start of the year with a 1-0 victory at Vanraure Hachinohe. The other fixture was between the two newly promoted sides and Omiya Club remain stuck at the foot of the table following their defeat by Saruta Industry.

Sun 27 May: Fuji Club 2003 2-1 FC Akita Cambiare
Sun 27 May: Saruta Industry 3-1 Omiya Club
Sun 27 May: Vanraure Hachinohe 0-1 Tono Club

1. FC Akita Cambiare 10 (+11)
2. Tono Club 9 (+3)
3. Fuji Club 2003 6 (+3)
4. Saruta Industry 6 (+2)
5. Mizusawa United Club 4 (+2)
6. Hokuto Bank 3 (-2)
7. Vanraure Hachinohe 2 (-7)
8. Omiya Club 0 (-12)

Four matches in and already Norbritz Hokkaido would appear to be cruising to the 2007 Hokkaido League championship. The former Hokkaido Electric Power club are already five points clear at the top of the table, their latest win coming on Sunday at the expense of previously undefeated Sapporo Winds. Moving somewhat sluggishly into second place are Toyota Motors Hokkaido, who drew 2-2 with Blackpecker Hakodate, while Barefoot Hokkaido and Sapporo FC both edged towards mid-table security with wins over likely strugglers Hokushukai and Tokachifairsky Genesis respectively.



Mad with anticipation for Tokachifairsky and Sapporo FC

Sun 27 May: Barefoot Hokkaido 5-0 Hokushukai
Sun 27 May: Blackpecker Hakodate 2-2 Toyota Motors Hokkaido
Sun 27 May: Norbritz Hokkaido 5-0 Sapporo Winds
Sun 27 May: Tokachifairsky Genesis 3-6 Sapporo FC

1. Norbritz Hokkaido 12 (+11)
2. Toyota Motors Hokkaido 7 (-)
3. Sapporo Winds 7 (-3)
4. Barefoot Hokkaido 6 (+4)
5. Blackpecker Hakodate 5 (-1)
6. Sapporo FC 4 (+1)
7. Hokushukai 2 (-7)
8. Tokachifairsky Genesis 1 (-5)

There were three games in Division 1 of the Tohoku League on Sunday, current frontrunners NEC Tokin recovering from their first defeat of the season last week to beat Morioka Zebra 4-0. But three points behind and with two games in hand are favourites Grulla Morioka, who won by the same scoreline at bottom team Sendai Nakata Club. Promoted outfit Furukawa Battery continue to give a good account of themselves, picking up their third win in a row at the expense of potential relegation candidates Nippon Steel Kamaishi.



Nippon Steel defend a Furukawa corner

Sun 27 May: Furukawa Battery 3-2 Nippon Steel Kamaishi
Sun 27 May: NEC Tokin 4-0 Morioka Zebra
Sun 27 May: Sendai Nakata Club 0-4 Grulla Morioka

1. NEC Tokin 12 (+8)
2. Grulla Morioka 9 (+8)
3. Furukawa Battery 9 (+2)
4. Wiese Shiogama 6 (+1)
5. Morioka Zebra 6 (-3)
6. FC Primeiro 3 (-1)
7. Nippon Steel Kamaishi 3 (-7)
8. Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-8)

It was a day of drawn games in round 3 of the Tokai League Division 2 season. Leaders Konica Minolta Toyokawa were held at home by MIE Rampole and second place Nagoya Club were unable to take advantage, surprisingly picking up just a single point from their match with FC Kawasaki. Promoted side Toyota Football Group avoided defeat for the first time this year in a goalless game at Mind House Yokkaichi, but Fuyo Club at least managed a 3-1 win that moved themselves up to third in the table and condemned Morishin's FC to bottom place.



Konica Minolta in blue defend a MIE Rampole attack

Sun 27 May: Fuyo Club 3-1 Morishin's FC
Sun 27 May: Konica Minolta Toyokawa 1-1 MIE Rampole
Sun 27 May: Mind House Yokkaichi 0-0 Toyota Football Group
Sun 27 May: Nagoya Club 1-1 FC Kawasaki

1. Konica Minolta Toyokawa 7 (+7)
2. Nagoya Club 7 (+2)
3. Fuyo Club 6 (+1)
4. Mind House Yokkaichi 5 (+1)
5. MIE Rampole 4 (+1)
6. FC Kawasaki 1 (-2)
7. Toyota Football Group 1 (-3)
8. Morishin's FC 1 (-7)

There was significant action at the top and bottom of the Kyushu League on Sunday, but undoubtedly the most important result of the round was Honda Lock's shock 1-0 defeat at home by New Wave Kitakyushu. Yudai Nakashima got the vital goal in the second half - a score that simultaneously brings to an end Lock's 100% record since the start of the year, re-ignites New Wave's own stuttering promotion campaign and enables V Varen Nagasaki to return to the top of the table. For V Varen saw off Nippon Steel Oita 3-1 in what was for them the perfect preparation for next Sunday's vital clash with Lock.

The title race would therefore seem to be down to three teams, but the battle to avoid relegation is becoming increasingly complex; essentially, almost any of the other clubs apart from Nippon Steel could end up in the bottom two, although Okinawa Kariyushi helped their cause via a 3-1 win over neighbours Kaiho Bank SC. Kumamoto Teachers are unsurprisingly finding life tough following promotion from the Prefectural League and they lost again at Volca Kagoshima. But Nanakuma Tombies gave themselves some hope at least with their first points of the year by beating Osumi NIFS United.



New Wave in white get the better of Honda Lock

Sun 27 May: Honda Lock 0-1 New Wave Kitakyushu
Sun 27 May: Okinawa Kariyushi 3-1 Kaiho Bank SC
Sun 27 May: Osumi NIFS United 1-2 Nanakuma Tombies
Sun 27 May: V Varen Nagasaki 3-1 Nippon Steel Oita
Sun 27 May: Volca Kagoshima 3-1 Kumamoto Teachers

1. V Varen Nagasaki 23 (+34)
2. Honda Lock 21 (+28)
3. New Wave Kitakyushu 19 (+13)
4. Nippon Steel Oita 17 (+8)
5. Okinawa Kariyushi 12 (+1)
6. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 12 (-5)
7. Volca Kagoshima 9 (-6)
8. Osumi NIFS United 7 (-9)
9. Kumamoto Teachers 6 (-15)
10. Kaiho Bank SC 6 (-24)
11. Nanakuma Tombies 3 (-25)



The ever-excitable Nanakuma Tombies squad

The season is at its halfway point in Division 2 of the Kanto League and Ryutsu Keizai University reserves - otherwise known as Club Dragons - are rapidly becoming the team to beat. They strolled to a 5-1 win at Yonoshukonkai to move within a point of leaders MSDF Atsugi Marcus, who were held to a disappointing goalless draw at home to Hanno Bruder. Bouncing back from last weekend's 4-1 defeat by Atsugi were Furukawa Electrics Chiba, who beat bottom place Nirasaki Astros to stay level on points with Dragons. In the other match, Ome FC did their chances of avoiding relegation the world of good as they pulled off a potentially vital 2-1 win over Kanagawa Teachers.

Sat 26 May: Furukawa Electrics Chiba 4-0 Nirasaki Astros
Sat 26 May: Kanagawa Teachers 1-2 Ome FC
Sat 26 May: MSDF Atsugi Marcus 0-0 Hanno Bruder

Sun 27 May: Yonoshukonkai 1-5 Club Dragons

1. MSDF Atsugi Marcus 14 (+9)
2. Club Dragons 13 (+15)
3. Furukawa Electrics Chiba 13 (+2)
4. Yonoshukonkai 10 (+3)
5. Hanno Bruder 8 (-)
6. Kanagawa Teachers 7 (-4)
7. Ome FC 7 (-8)
8. Nirasaki Astros 5 (-17)

It was the big top-of-the-table game in Division 1 of the Kanto League on Sunday as Hitachi Tochigi Uva played host to leaders FC Machida Zelvia. And Zelvia maintained their 100% record so far this season with a seventh straight win, a brace from Kazuto Ishido in the first half proving the difference between the teams. Uva hold on to second place but are now under pressure from Luminozo Sayama, 3-2 winners at a YSCC side who appear to be going from champions in 2006 to relegation certainties this year. The other two teams in danger of the drop, Yaita SC and Toshiba Fuchu, both managed useful draws against Saitama SC and Toho Titanium respectively.



Yippee, it’s goal time for FC Machida Zelvia

Sun 27 May: Hitachi Tochigi Uva 0-2 FC Machida Zelvia
Sun 27 May: Toho Titanium 2-2 Toshiba Fuchu
Sun 27 May: Yaita SC 1-1 Saitama SC
Sun 27 May: YSCC 2-3 Luminozo Sayama

1. FC Machida Zelvia 21 (+14)
2. Hitachi Tochigi Uva 15 (+12)
3. Luminozo Sayama 13 (+2)
4. Saitama SC 10 (-2)
5. Toho Titanium 10 (-3)
6. Yaita SC 5 (-13)
7. Toshiba Fuchu 4 (-3)
8. YSCC 3 (-7)

There was a double-header of fixtures in Division 2 of the Hokushinetsu League over the weekend, Granscena Niigata making the most of the opporunity by picking up six points and moving into the promotion places. Saurcos Fukui nevertheless hold on to top spot - and are four points in front of Granscena - thanks in the main to a 5-0 win on Saturday over Toyama Shinjo Club. Shinjo might still be bottom of the league, but they nevertheless recovered well on Sunday to record their first victory of the season against Teihens FC. Struggling with them are Maruoka Phoenix, who after defeats to Ohara School JaSRA and FC Antelope Shiojiri have now lost five in a row. CUPS Niigata jump up out of the relegation zone as a result of two drawn games.



FC Antelope, fresh as daisies after their win over Maruoka

Sat 26 May: FC Antelope Shiojiri 0-1 Granscena Niigata
Sat 26 May: Ohara School JaSRA 2-1 Maruoka Phoenix
Sat 26 May: Saurcos Fukui 5-0 Toyama Shinjo Club
Sat 26 May: Teihens FC 2-2 CUPS Niigata

Sun 27 May: CUPS Niigata 0-0 Saurcos Fukui
Sun 27 May: FC Antelope Shiojiri 2-0 Maruoka Phoenix
Sun 27 May: Ohara School JaSRA 0-4 Granscena Niigata
Sun 27 May: Toyama Shinjo Club 2-1 Teihens FC

1. Saurcos Fukui 19 (+13)
2. Granscena Niigata 15 (+8)
3. FC Antelope Shiojiri 15 (+4)
4. Ohara School JaSRA 13 (+1)
5. Teihens FC 11 (+5)
6. CUPS Niigata 8 (-6)
7. Maruoka Phoenix 6 (-5)
8. Toyama Shinjo Club 4 (-20)



Another awful Granscena photo, this time against Ohara School

It's now eight wins from eight for Fagiano Okayama in the Chugoku League, with Mazda SC the latest team to feel their wrath to the tune of a 6-0 thrashing. Their nearest challengers, FC Central Chugoku, therefore remain nine points behind despite a win by the exact same margin against bottom of the table Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado. Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku reclaim third place by beating JFE Steel Western Japan 2-1, but the shock of the day occurred at Hiroshima Fujita SC, where the home side managed their best result for some years in the shape of a 4-1 beating of Renofa Yamaguchi.



Fagiano Okayama in the glamorous surrounds of Mazda SC

Sun 27 May: Hiroshima Fujita SC 4-1 Renofa Yamaguchi
Sun 27 May: Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 0-6 FC Central Chugoku
Sun 27 May: JFE Steel Western Japan 1-2 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku
Sun 27 May: Mazda SC 0-6 Fagiano Okayama

1. Fagiano Okayama 24 (+36)
2. FC Central Chugoku 15 (+10)
3. Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku 12 (+10)
4. Renofa Yamaguchi 11 (-5)
5. Hiroshima Fujita SC 8 (-2)
6. JFE Steel Western Japan 7 (-12)
7. Mazda SC 7 (-14)
8. Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 3 (-23)

This weekend was the mid-point of the Hokushinetsu League Division 1 season and a double-header of matches, with each of the teams playing on both Saturday and Sunday. And it was 2006 champions Japan Soccer College who emerged the major winners, as they grabbed six vital points by defeating relegation candidates Ueda Gentian and Niigata University of Management to go top of the table.

Previous leaders AC Nagano Parceiro on the other hand suffered perhaps the shock defeat of the year so far to stumble down into third place. After having come from behind to beat Fervorosa 3-2 in a nail-biting clash on Saturday, they sensationally lost by the same score to newly promoted side Valiente Toyama on Sunday. Matsumoto Yamaga Club move ahead of them into second, although it is clear that there is still everything to play for in this league.

The Ishikawa prefecture duo of Fervorosa and Zweigen Kanazawa cannot be dismissed from contention either, Fervorosa beating their rivals 2-1 in Sunday's derby game to hold on to fourth spot. At the bottom of the table, Valiente's tremendous win over Nagano means that they move out of the relegation zone, while NUM and Ueda now prop up the division.



Fervorosa go for goal against AC Nagano Parceiro

Sat 26 May: Fervorosa 2-3 AC Nagano Parceiro
Sat 26 May: Niigata University of Management 0-6 Matsumoto Yamaga Club
Sat 26 May: Ueda Gentian 0-4 Japan Soccer College
Sat 26 May: Valiente Toyama 0-2 Zweigen Kanazawa

Sun 27 May: Fervorosa 2-1 Zweigen Kanazawa
Sun 27 May: Niigata University of Management 0-1 Japan Soccer College
Sun 27 May: Ueda Gentian 0-1 Matsumoto Yamaga Club
Sun 27 May: Valiente Toyama 3-2 AC Nagano Parceiro

1. Japan Soccer College 19 (+14)
2. Matsumoto Yamaga Club 18 (+18)
3. AC Nagano Parceiro 16 (+11)
4. Fervorosa 15 (+12)
5. Zweigen Kanazawa 15 (+6)
6. Valiente Toyama 6 (-6)
7. Niigata University of Management 4 (-28)
8. Ueda Gentian 1 (-27)



A rare moment of success for NUM vs Yamaga

The gap between the JFL's top three teams and the rest now stands at eight points after round 13, with Sagawa Kyubin SC, FC Gifu and Rosso Kumamoto all notching up narrow wins to keep themselves well in front of the chasing pack. Leaders Sagawa were 2-0 up after only three minutes of their game with Yokogawa Musashino, but it was Sho Gokyu's 83rd-minute effort that was eventually to prove decisive for the new club based in Shiga, despite Yokogawa's two late goals.

Gifu meanwhile made it three 1-0 scorelines in a row, former Vissel Kobe midfielder Hiromi Kojima's single strike on the hour mark proving enough to take them past FC Kariya. And Rosso bounced back from their defeat to Gifu last weekend, coming from behind with two second half goals to win a tricky-looking fixture at YKK AP 2-1. Almost inevitably, Yutaka Takahashi was on target with his thirteenth goal of the season for Rosso.



All quiet before RKU’s win over Arte Takasaki

There has emerged a group of five or so second tier teams in the division, all capable of good results on their day but seemingly lacking the consistency of the genuine top clubs. Tochigi SC and Honda FC fall into this category and they played each other in Hamamatsu, Tochigi twice letting slip the lead as Ryosuke Horikiri - the 2006 JFL Rookie of the Year - grabbed a last-minute equaliser for Honda. Tochigi might have just two points from their last four matches, but they nevertheless move up into fourth place following the 2-2 draw.

Alo's Hokuriku are another side on the distant fringes of the title race and they too needed a late Kazuma Matsushita goal for a 2-2 draw at a TDK SC side who are giving an excellent account of themselves following their promotion from the Tohoku League. They are comfortably in mid-table, battling it out with the likes of JEF Reserves to try and claim a place in the top half of the league. The latest manifestation of JEF's consistent inconsistency, if it can be described like that, came in the form of scoring twice in the last five minutes for a 3-3 draw at lowly FC Ryukyu.

Indeed Ryukyu are now in the bottom three, where they are joined by Arte Takasaki and Sony Sendai. Arte score only their fourth goal of the season but still lost 3-1 at Ryutsu Keizai University to remain dead last; Sony, on the other hand, managed their first away win of the season at the expense of Mitsubishi Mizushima. In Saturday's single game, Sagawa Printing gained an excellent 2-1 win at Gainare Tottori to move away from the danger zone, the decisive goal coming 17 minutes before the end from striker Shintaro Hirai.



All that energy, but Gainare still lose to Sagawa Printing

Sat 26 May: Gainare Tottori 1-2 Sagawa Printing

Sun 27 May: FC Gifu 1-0 FC Kariya
Sun 27 May: FC Ryukyu 3-3 JEF Reserves
Sun 27 May: Honda FC 2-2 Tochigi SC
Sun 27 May: Mitsubishi Mizushima 0-1 Sony Sendai
Sun 27 May: Ryutsu Keizai University 3-1 Arte Takasaki
Sun 27 May: Sagawa Kyubin SC 4-3 Yokogawa Musashino
Sun 27 May: TDK SC 2-2 Alo's Hokuriku
Sun 27 May: YKK AP 1-2 Rosso Kumamoto

1. Sagawa Kyubin SC 34 (+24)
2. FC Gifu 32 (+12)
3. Rosso Kumamoto 30 (+14)
4. Tochigi SC 22 (+8)
5. Yokogawa Musashino 21 (+8)
6. YKK AP 21 (+6)
7. Honda FC 20 (+4)
8. Alo's Hokuriku 20 (-2)
9. JEF Reserves 18 (+1)
10. TDK SC 18 (-1)
11. Ryutsu Keizai University 16 (-2)
12. Gainare Tottori 14 (-4)
13. FC Kariya 13 (-5)
14. Mitsubishi Mizushima 13 (-5)
15. Sagawa Printing 13 (-9)
16. FC Ryukyu 10 (-13)
17. Sony Sendai 8 (-18)
18. Arte Takasaki 4 (-18)



Close control between Alo’s Hokuriku and TDK

It was Takada FC whose nerve finally cracked in the race for the Kansai League Division 2 title. All season long, they have been neck and neck at the top with newcomers Hannan University - but on Saturday they could only draw with Kyoto Shiko Club, while Hannan were cruising to a 5-1 win at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe.

Shiko and Mitsubishi are fighting things out in mid-table along with Kohga School - 2-1 winners over struggling Hermano Osaka - and Riseisha FC, who beat Kihoku Football Group 4-3. This leaves Kihoku yet to get off the mark after seven matches of the season and looking odds-on for the automatic relegation place, while Hermano are in danger of having to play off to remain in the Kansai League next season.



Kihoku tussle unsuccessfully with Riseisha

Sat 26 May: Hermano Osaka 1-2 Kohga School
Sat 26 May: Kihoku Football Group 3-4 Riseisha FC
Sat 26 May: Kyoto Shiko Club 1-1 Takada FC
Sat 26 May: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 1-5 Hannan University Club

1. Hannan University 19 (+20)
2. Takada FC 17 (+12)
3. Riseisha FC 10 (-)
4. Kohga School 10 (-5)
5. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 10 (-5)
6. Kyoto Shiko Club 9 (+3)
7. Hermano Osaka 4 (-10)
8. Kihoku Football Group 0 (-15)

The Kansai League Division 1 season for 2007 reached the halfway point with a full set of fixtures on Saturday - and the clash that all local fans had been looking forward to seeing. Reigning champions Banditonce Kobe took on league leaders FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu and a goal in each half not only gave Banditonce a 2-0 win but also put them back on top of the table on goal difference, a position they have not occupied since their shock home defeat to Ain Food in round 3.

Two points behind, Ain Food themselves remain the only team in touch with the frontrunners after they narrowly defeated Sanyo Electric Sumoto. The other two games were a mid-table encounter that saw AS Laranja Kyoto get the better of their neighbours FC Kyoto 1993; and a draw between likely relegation candidates Kobe FC 1970 and FC Glaspo Kashiwara, which in all likelihood probably helps neither of them.

Sat 26 May: Ain Food 1-0 Sanyo Electric Sumoto
Sat 26 May: AS Laranja Kyoto 2-1 FC Kyoto 1993
Sat 26 May: Banditonce Kobe 2-0 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu
Sat 26 May: Kobe FC 1970 1-1 FC Glaspo Kashiwara

1. Banditonce Kobe 18 (+24)
2. FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 18 (+23)
3. Ain Food 16 (+3)
4. FC Kyoto 1993 9 (-4)
5. AS Laranja Kyoto 9 (-8)
6. Sanyo Electric Sumoto 6 (-12)
7. Kobe FC 1970 4 (-12)
8. FC Glaspo Kashiwara 2 (-14)

Like FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu in the Kansai League, Wiese Shiogama are now a community-based club that have their roots in the footballing activities of the Sagawa Kyubin company, which has branch offices represented by teams in leagues all over Japan. While FC Mi-o incorporated Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo prior to the 2006 season, Wiese can be traced back to a Sagawa Kyubin Sendai side that began competitive life in 1996 in the distinctly unglamorous surroundings of the Sendai Industrial League Division 4.

Quickly moving up to the Miyagi Prefectural League, the name was modified to a more inclusive-sounding Sagawa Kyubin Tohoku, who continued making rapid progress not only in league competition, but also via a series of shock wins in the All-Japan Shakaijin. NTT Kumamoto, Central Kobe and a then-powerful Hiroshima FC were all strong Regional League teams who fell foul of the improving outfit from Miyagi.

In 2002, Sagawa Tohoku themselves arrived at Regional level, in the Tohoku League Division 2 (South), whereupon they brushed aside the challenge of established teams such as Furukawa Battery and near neighbours Shichigahama SC to gain immediate promotion to Division 1. After such a breathtaking rise, the club were unable to sustain their development - but even so, Sagawa performed well in the top flight, causing a minor sensation by winning away at reigning champions TDK early in the year and going on to claim an impressive third place finish.

Prior to the start of the 2004 season, Sagawa Kyubin approved a change in status for the team. They adopted the name Wiese Shiogama and became the senior side of an existing Shiogama FC kids / youth club with the nominal aim of achieving a J-League spot, despite being based in a suburb of the home city of the extraordinarily well-supported Vegalta Sendai. The modification all seemed to be having a positive effect in the first few weeks of the season, as TDK were once again defeated, but although Wiese managed to end up in second position, it was TDK who accelerated out of sight to become worthy champions.

The wheels have rather come off the Wiese Shiogama bandwagon since that high point and 2006 even saw them dally with the lower reaches of the table. They were never in any genuine danger of relegation, but have clearly slipped behind both Grulla Morioka and FC Primeiro in the race to get out of the Tohoku League in the right direction. As such, Wiese’s ambition of J-League football seems as far away now as it has ever been.

2007: A vital season for a club in apparent decline. They need to be competitive with FC Primeiro, but in 2006 could only just match Morioka Zebra.

Based in the Nakata suburb of Taihaku-kun in Sendai itself, Sendai Nakata Club scraped and struggled through several seasons of Tohoku League membership from the late 80s through to the mid-90s without ever really managing to convince that they had what it takes to play Regional level football. In seven years, the club were never able to achieve anything better than a sixth-place finish but their number was finally up in 1995: Nakata ended up bottom of the table and were relegated, although in fairness were replaced by the equally as poor Tsuruoka TDK.

Whilst they did spend a subsequent season back in the Prefectural League, Nakata in 1997 became founder members of the Tohoku League Division 2 (South) and competing with teams like Matsushita Audio Fukushima and NEC Yonezawa seemed – on paper, at least - to have found their level. But in spite of having notched up a respectable third place, the club mysteriously withdrew from the Regional League for the following three years, only re-emerging in 2001.

For five seasons, Sendai Nakata were one of the better sides in Division 2 (South), going toe-to-toe with Furukawa Battery and Northern Peaks Koriyama as the trio all fought to gain promotion to the top flight. Having won the title in 2003 only to miss out to Ashikaga Engineering Works Store Kawabe FC in the Promotion Play-off, the club finally achieved their goal at the end of 2005.

A stunning four-game run in the middle of the season that saw them run in no fewer than 29 goals without reply had earlier set Nakata up to succeed ahead of their nearest rivals Furukawa. Division 2 (North) champions Tono Club were duly overcome 3-0 in the Play-off and the Miyagi prefecture side were promoted.

As the 2006 campaign progressed, it looked odds-on that Sendai Nakata would be heading straight back down again. Only one win in the first nine matches – and that against fellow strugglers Nippon Steel Kamaishi – had them rock bottom of the table with the season heading into its closing straight. All of a sudden, however, a 6-2 thrashing of Morioka Zebra handed them a lifeline and seven points gleaned from the final three fixtures of the year steered the club to safety and an impressive fifth spot.

2007: One of the minnows of Division 1, Nakata will in all likelihood struggle – but they can take heart from their performances at the end of 2006 and should stay up.

The Nippon Steel Corporation is another example of a company brought about by a corporate merger, in this case that of Yawata Steel and Fuji Steel in 1970. The latter had a history of supporting the playing of football by employees and by the time the merger took place, two different Fuji Steel teams had already participated in the All-Japan Shakaijin competition: Fuji Steel Muroran from Hokkaido and Fuji Steel Kamaishi, both of whom naturally changed their names in line with the new company.

When the Tohoku League commenced in 1977, the Nippon Steel Kamaishi club were well established as one of the best in the north outside of the Japan Soccer League (JSL) and academic institutions, with several further Shakaijin and Emperor’s Cup appearances under their belt. The best result achieved in this early period was when Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe were defeated 4-2 in the First Round of the Shakaijin.

It was therefore no surprise when Nippon Steel Kamaishi immediately became the team to beat when their Regional League commenced - in fact, beating the Steel Men was something that no other team managed to do during the first three full seasons of the new competition’s existence, as they notched up three straight title wins.

A 6-1 thrashing in the First Round of the 1977 Regional League Championship Winners’ Play-off competition by Toshiba Horikawa from Kanto appeared to set the tone for those times when Kamaishi did venture out of Tohoku, but in subsequent seasons the club achieved more respectable results – including on one occasion a fine win over company rivals Nippon Steel Muroran – without ever qualifying for the Final Stage.

In 1983, however, financial problems caused Nippon Steel Kamaishi to withdraw from the Tohoku League and they were not to make a re-appearance until the commencement fourteen years later of the Division 2 (North). After three good seasons in the second tier, the club gained promotion back to what had become Division 1 for the 2000 campaign, but the days of success were long gone and since that time Nippon Steel have struggled to hold on to their status.

Relegation was avoided by the narrowest possible margin in 2006, as TDK’s elevation to the JFL meant a change in the rules to ensure that an appropriate number of teams remained in the Tohoku League. The Steel Men - who had finished bottom of the table – therefore avoided automatic relegation and instead faced a Play-off against ambitious Division 2 side FC Akita Cambiare, which they scraped through by the narrowest of margins to remain in the top flight.

2007: One of these seasons, Nippon Steel Kamaishi have either to improve or go down to Division 2. There’s no obvious sign that they can do the former, so does relegation beckon this year?

It was on 1st April 2002 that the Tokin Corporation joined forces with the Nippon Electric Company (NEC) and as a by-product of another Japanese corporate merger, the NEC Tokin football team were born. At that time Tokin were well-established members of the Tohoku League Division 1, although in fact their competitive history can be traced back as far as 1955, when they began participating in the Sendai Industrial League.

Tokin first became known on a wider stage with their promotion to the Tohoku League in 1994. This was a period when virtually all the teams in the region were trailing in the wake of Sony Sendai, but after an initial struggle to acclimatise, the newcomers began making gradual season-on-season improvements.

When Sony were promoted to the JFL at the end of 1997, there were a good number of clubs ready and waiting to step into the void left by their departure. TDK, Matsushima Club and Morioka Zebra undoubtedly felt that they were in a position to become the top side in Tohoku, but to the surprise of most it was Tokin – ironically, another company team from Sendai – who pipped Zebra to take the 1998 title.

Appearing for the first time in the Regional League Championship Winners’ Play-off, Tokin were scarcely a match for First Round opponents Yokogawa Electric and Blaze Kumamoto, and were immediately knocked out. Back at Regional level the following year, however, they proved that their 1998 championship was no fluke by winning the Tohoku League again in dramatic style, the victory being confirmed with defeats of TDK and Zebra in the final two fixtures.

The 1999 Championship Winners’ Play-offs were a further small illustration of how much lower the standard was of football in Tohoku than in certain other areas of Japan. Tokin again ended up bottom of their First Round group, out of which Alo’s Hokuriku from the Hokushinetsu region went on to win a place in the JFL. Even so, having also taken part in the All-Japan Shakaijin for what was only the second occasion, 1999 goes down as the high point in the club’s history to date.

Following on from the 2002 merger, NEC Tokin have been a team of mid-table stability, only really struggling in 2005, when the whole focus of the Tohoku League was on the battle at the top between TDK and Grulla Morioka. 2006 saw the club get the better of FC Primeiro and Wiese Shiogama to emerge as one of the stronger members of the division.

2007: Will be one of the teams who feel that a good season may result in them being able to grab second position and a place in the Championship Winners’ Play-off competition.

Success may in the main have eluded Morioka Zebra, but in these days of cut-throat ambition and the increasing impact of money on the Japanese non-league game, the fact that the club celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2007 still as members of the Tohoku League Division 1 can be regarded as a small triumph for the spirit of amateur football in Japan.

The single most striking aspect of their lengthy history is probably the fact that Zebra have participated in every season since the league’s inception in 1977. Indeed, for the first decade, Zebra were consistently one of the strongest teams on offer, almost on a par with tough corporate outfits Nippon Steel Kamaishi and TDK.

Their proudest moment came in 1980 - actually the sole occasion upon which the club have managed to take the league title. Finishing comfortably ahead of Nippon Steel and Matsushima Club, their triumph secured Zebra a place in the recently-established Regional League Championship Winners’ Play-off tournament, but a 1-0 defeat from Saitama Teachers meant that they were eliminated at the First Round stage.

By the late 1980s, Morioka Zebra’s days as a powerhouse of the game at Regional level were more or less over. For several seasons they survived on mere handfuls of points, lucky that whipping boys such as Ishinomaki City Hall were around – however briefly - to keep them off the very bottom of the table.

A revival under coach Takashi Takahashi secured the club another brief period in the sun in the latter part of the 90s and in 1998, Zebra were just two points off what would have been a second Tohoku title victory. That same year, they also managed a rare All-Japan Shakaijin appearance and even squeezed their way into the Championship Winners’ Play-off for a stab at a JFL spot, but Nippon Steel Oita did for them in the former and the Black-and-Whites were out of their depth in the latter against NTT Kyushu and Mazda SC.

In recent seasons, they have been reliant on Play-off victories and the like to maintain their presence in the region’s top division, as at the end of 2005 when Zebra won 4-0 on aggregate against Tono Club from Iwate. Twelve months later, they were saved from having to participate in another Play-off only by the shock promotion to the JFL of TDK, who dished out an 8-1 hammering as the low point in a campaign that included only three wins.

2007: Hard to see anything but another season of struggle ahead for Morioka Zebra. The matches against Furukawa Battery and Nippon Steel Kamaishi are likely to prove crucial to their chances of survival.

Grulla Morioka have crammed into their history more drama, excitement, gut-wrenching disappointment, on-the-pitch success and off-the-pitch catastrophe than most teams do in many decades. The pivotal point in the Grulla story so far came at the end of 2005, when the team were drawn with Fagiano Okayama and Rosso Kumamoto in the First Round of the Regional League Championship Winners’ Play-off.

Desperate to achieve their aim of promotion to the JFL, the Tohoku League joint champions beat Fagiano - but a disastrous defeat to Rosso condemned Grulla to elimination. All the hopes and expectations that had been built up since the decision had been made in 2003 to go for the J-League collapsed with that single loss, and Grulla seemed to come out of the competition a club totally lacking in direction.

The story had begun, however, with Villanova Morioka, who were formed in 2000 as an Old Boys club for ex-students of Morioka Commercial and Morioka Central High Schools. In 2003, they finished mid-table in what was their first season at Regional level, but then - no doubt with an eye on the tremendous popularity of J-League teams based in other northern cities - Villanova officials decided that an audience for professional football could be developed in their home town. They changed the name to Grulla Morioka and drafted in former JEF United and Oita Trinita midfielder Shinichi Muto as player-coach, together with a number of other ex-J2 professionals.

2004 saw the new team dominate the Tohoku League Division 2 (North), and after promotion the momentum continued into 2005. Muto’s men matched Division 1 big guns TDK point for point as the season went on, 2-1 away wins in the fixtures between the pair serving to cancel each other out. A final day win over NEC Tokin confirmed a remarkable outcome: that Grulla and TDK had ended absolutely dead level at the top of the table. Muto and his players were through to the Championship Winners’ Play-off.

Subsequently losing to Rosso and failing to reach the JFL, though, Grulla fell apart. With debts to creditors and unpaid salaries reported to amount to 10 million yen, the squad disintegrated, while Muto and some of the club management jumped ship - only to emerge a short time later with a newly-formed club, FC Ganju Iwate.

But a number of officials and fans remained loyal to Grulla, who re-grouped for 2006. Inevitably, it proved difficult to sustain the level that had been reached the previous year and although the team were a cut above most of the rest of the division, they were unable to recover from a 4-0 drubbing in July at the hands of their rivals TDK; under the circumstances, a second place finish was a very respectable result, as well as providing a signal that their dreams of a J-League place are still alive.

2007: Grulla will start the Tohoku League season as clear favourites.

Furukawa Battery were for many years the nearly men of Tohoku football. The club was originally formed in 1985 and participated initially at the less-than-dizzy heights of the Iwaki City League Division 3, although they quickly moved up through the Fukushima Prefectural League.

Ever since the League established its own regionalised second tiers in 1997, the Fukushima-based side have been close to making the step up to Division 1, winning the Division 2 (South) title twice and finishing runners-up on no fewer than five occasions. But they always just missed out on promotion, either pipped to the title by teams like Sendai Nakata Club and Northern Peaks Koriyama, or losing to the Division 2 (North) champions in the Promotion Play-off – as in 2001, when they went down 2-1 to Akita City Hall.

2006 again saw Furukawa challenge at the top of Division 2 (South) table, as the battle for the championship crown quickly became a two-horse race involving themselves and Marysol Matsushima. But the Elephants moved into the lead with a 4-2 defeat of their rivals, later confirming their superiority over the other teams by scoring seven home-and-away against Kanai Club and twice putting eight past the hapless Kureha.

The title was finally confirmed in mid-October with another 4-2 victory, this time against late challengers Northern Peaks. Even then, though, the hurdle of the Play-off with Division 2 (North) runaway winners FC Akita Cambiare had to be overcome – but this time, Furukawa finally triumphed and a place in Division 1 for 2007 was theirs.

Having reached the top level of Regional football, in contrast with other teams in Fukushima’s competitive environment, Furukawa seem content to consolidate and have no stated desire to seek a place in the JFL or higher in the Japanese footballing pyramid. Indeed, their ambition seems to be directed equally towards league status as it does towards achieving success in the various cup competitions, as the club have never yet participated in the final stages of either the Emperor’s Cup or the All-Japan Shakaijin. So far, in seeking to qualify they have been unable to cope with better-placed clubs from their home prefecture, such as FC Primeiro and Fukushima University – and this seems to be just as much a preoccupation as achieving success in the league.

2007: Having taken a decade to reach Division 1, Furukawa Battery’s first target will be stay up – so a mid-table finish will constitute a good season’s work for the Elephants.

Football in Fukushima prefecture since the mid-90s has had something of an abortive history in terms of the development of a team with J-League potential. The demise of FC Fukushima at the end of the 1997 JFL season – when most of the other clubs in that division were focused on turning professional and populating the forthcoming J2 – was a disaster from which it could be argued that the sport locally has yet to emerge.

The highest-ranking team in the area currently are FC Primeiro, although even they haven’t indicated that they wish to be promoted beyond the JFL, in contrast with their neighbours at Viancone Fukushima and FC Perada Fukushima. Formed at the beginning of 1996 by amateur players who departed FC Fukushima while they were still a going concern, Primeiro immediately took their place in the Prefectural League and by 1998, as well as running a strong Consadole Sapporo side close in the Emperor’s Cup Second Round, were winning Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League with a record of ten victories in ten matches.

The club have since been fixtures in the Tohoku League Division 1, their most successful season being in 2001 when Primeiro finished five points clear of TDK to take the title and so gain a place in the Regional League Championship Winners’ Play-off competition: remarkably, in the space of just a few years, this new team had come within an ace of achieving the same JFL status as FC Fukushima. In a weak First Round group, Tohoku’s representatives were nevertheless squeezed out by Ueda Gentian from Hokushinetsu and the chance for promotion out of the Regional Leagues was gone.

TDK tightened their grip on the Tohoku League in subsequent seasons, taking the championship for five consecutive years before themselves moving up to the JFL. A combination of TDK’s consistency and the emergence in 2005 of Grulla Morioka has made life more difficult for smaller clubs such as Primeiro, who lack the infrastructure and a pool of players with which to piece together a strong challenge.

The club’s best season since winning the title was a second place in 2003, a campaign which saw an exciting three-way race between Primeiro, TDK and Sagawa Kyubin Tohoku. Now, however, the club are seemingly in a rut where they are unable to find a place among the stronger teams in the division but are in no danger of stumbling into a relegation battle.

2007: TDK’s promotion may unwittingly have provided a way forward for FC Primeiro – can they take advantage of the fact that Tohoku will be allocated two places in the Regional League Championship Winners’ Play-off?

Tohoku League Division 2 (North) champions FC Akita Cambiare dropped their first points of he new season on Sunday in a surprise goalless draw against lowly Vanraure Hachinohe. Tono Club moved into second place behind them after beating Regional League newcomers Saruta Industry, but Tono also have two games in hand over Cambiare thanks to the Tohoku League's erratic scheduling policy. In the third fixture of the day, Omiya Club fell to their third defeat of the year as they lost 4-1 at home to Mizusawa United Club.

Sun 20 May: FC Akita Cambiare 0-0 Vanraure Hachinohe
Sun 20 May: Omiya Club 1-4 Mizusawa United Club
Sun 20 May: Saruta Industry 1-2 Tono Club

1. FC Akita Cambiare 10 (+12)
2. Tono Club 6 (+2)
3. Mizusawa United Club 4 (+2)
4. Fuji Club 2003 3 (+2)
5. Saruta Industry 3 (-)
6. Hokuto Bank 3 (-2)
7. Vanraure Hachinohe 2 (-6)
8. Omiya Club 0 (-10)

The honeymoon of Tokai League Division 2 newcomers MIE Rampole has lasted all of two matches, for after winning their opening fixture last weekend on Sunday they went down 3-2 to Nagoya Club - one of the oldest sides in the Regional League set-up. This leaves Rampole in mid-table but Nagoya go joint top with six points from six. Up there with them are Konica Minolta Toyokawa after a comfortable win at bottom place Toyota Football Group. Like Toyota, FC Kawasaki are still looking for their first point - they lost 1-0 at home to Fuyo Club - but Morishin's FC are off the mark via a 2-2 draw at home to Mind House Yokkaichi.



MIE Rampole’s hard core support at the first home game

Sun 20 May: FC Kawasaki 0-1 Fuyo Club
Sun 20 May: MIE Rampole 2-3 Nagoya Club
Sun 20 May: Morishin's FC 2-2 Mind House Yokkaichi
Sun 20 May: Toyota Football Group 1-3 Konica Minolta Toyokawa

1. Konica Minolta Toyokawa 6 (+7)
2. Nagoya Club 6 (+2)
3. Mind House Yokkaichi 4 (+1)
4. MIE Rampole 3 (+1)
5. Fuyo Club 3 (-1)
6. Morishin's FC 1 (-5)
7. FC Kawasaki 0 (-2)
8. Toyota Football Group 0 (-3)



Let’s assume that Morishin’s FC have just scored, shall we

Two games in to the new season and Division 1 of the Tokai League could scarcely be more spread out. Favourites Shizuoka FC are top of the pile after beating promoted Kasugai Club - their second 5-0 win of the year - but fellow Shizuoka prefecture clubs Yazaki Valente and Fujieda City Hall are right behind them, following defeats of Chukyo University and Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo respectively. While all this leaves Kasugai and Chukyo University at the bottom of the table yet to score a point, they're joined there by old Tokai League hands Maruyasu Industries, 3-2 losers at Honda Suzuka.



That would be Fujieda City Hall’s 2007 squad

Sun 20 May: Chukyo University 0-2 Yazaki Valente
Sun 20 May: Fujieda City Hall 3-1 Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo
Sun 20 May: Honda Suzuka 3-2 Maruyasu Industries
Sun 20 May: Kasugai Club 0-5 Shizuoka FC

1. Shizuoka FC 6 (+10)
2. Yazaki Valente 6 (+4)
3. Fujieda City Hall 6 (+3)
4. Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 3 (-1)
5. Honda Suzuka 3 (-4)
6. Maruyasu Industries 0 (-2)
7. Chukyo University 0 (-3)
8. Kasugai Club 0 (-7)

Viancone Fukushima and FC Perada Fukushima still rule the roost in Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League after Sunday's matches, with both claiming their third win in four fixtures. Perada overcame Marysol Matsushima, but Viancone still lead on goal difference after a narrow defeat of yet another Fukushima side, Soma SC. At the other end of the table, poor Kureha remain without a single point after a 5-0 drubbing at Shichigahama SC but Nakaniida SC got their first win of the year in spectacular style, 7-0 over Kanai Club.



The white hot pre-match atmosphere at FC Perada Fukushima

Sun 20 May: FC Perada Fukushima 3-1 Marysol Matsushima
Sun 20 May: Nakaniida SC 7-0 Kanai Club
Sun 20 May: Shichigahama SC 5-0 Kureha
Sun 20 May: Soma SC 1-2 Viancone Fukushima

1. Viancone Fukushima 10 (+15)
2. FC Perada Fukushima 10 (+9)
3. Soma SC 6 (+5)
4. Marysol Matsushima 4 (-)
5. Nakaniida SC 4 (-1)
6. Shichigahama SC 3 (-1)
7. Kanai Club 3 (-14)
8. Kureha 0 (-13)

NEC Tokin's excellent start to the 2007 Tohoku League Division 1 season came to a sudden halt at Furukawa Battery on Sunday, when they were defeated 2-1 by last year's Division 2 (South) champions. Three points behind them and with two games in hand are favourites Grulla Morioka, although they managed only a 1-0 win against Wiese Shiogama. But this year is proving less of a struggle than 2006 for Grulla's neighbours Morioka Zebra, who pulled off their second win of the new campaign at the expense of struggling Sendai Nakata Club. Indeed, Nakata drop to the bottom of the table following their defeat and a surprise 2-1 triumph for Nippon Steel Kamaishi over FC Primeiro.



NEC Tokin win the header but lose the match against Furukawa Battery

Sun 20 May: Furukawa Battery 2-1 NEC Tokin
Sun 20 May: Grulla Morioka 1-0 Wiese Shiogama
Sun 20 May: Nippon Steel Kamaishi 2-1 FC Primeiro
Sun 20 May: Sendai Nakata Club 1-2 Morioka Zebra

1. NEC Tokin 9 (+4)
2. Grulla Morioka 6 (+4)
3. = Furukawa Battery 6 (+1)
3. = Morioka Zebra 6 (+1)
3. = Wiese Shiogama 6 (+1)
6. FC Primeiro 3 (-1)
7. Nippon Steel Kamaishi 3 (-6)
8. Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-4)



Grulla Morioka score against Wiese Shiogama