Japanese Non-league Football News

Konica Minolta Toyokawa may have dropped a couple of points on Sunday, but they are still running away with Division 2 of the Tokai League this season. A 1-1 draw at Mind House Yokkaichi combined with a 1-0 defeat for nearest rivals Nagoya Club has Konica seven points clear at the top of the standings. But MIE Rampole dropped into the relegation zone for the first time this year after they lost at home to Toyota Football Group in disappointing fashion, while Morishin's FC picked up a second consecutive win by beating FC Kawasaki.



MIE Rampole and Toyota splashing around

Sun 24 Jun: Fuyo Club 1-0 Nagoya Club
Sun 24 Jun: MIE Rampole 0-3 Toyota Football Group
Sun 24 Jun: Mind House Yokkaichi 1-1 Konica Minolta Toyokawa
Sun 24 Jun: Morishin's FC 3-1 FC Kawasaki

1. Konica Minolta Toyokawa 17 (+11)
2. Nagoya Club 10 (+2)
3. Mind House Yokkaichi 10 (+2)
4. Fuyo Club 9 (+1)
5. Toyota Football Group 8 (+1)
6. Morishin's FC 7 (-8)
7. MIE Rampole 5 (-3)
8. FC Kawasaki 2 (-6)

It's all gone wrong in the last couple of rounds of Yazaki Valente in their attempts to challenge Shizuoka FC at the top of the Tokai League Division 1. Last week they dropped points in a shock draw and on Saturday they were beaten 3-0 by the very side they are aiming to overhaul. The middle of the table is till tight, however, with Fujieda City Hall moving third after a 4-3 defeat of Chukyo University, while Honda Suzuka managed a useful win at Kasugai Club. In the other match of the round, Maruyasu Industries scored a 1-0 win at Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo.

Sat 23 Jun: Fujieda City Hall 4-3 Chukyo University
Sat 23 Jun: Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 0-1 Maruyasu Industries
Sat 23 Jun: Shizuoka FC 3-0 Yazaki Valente

Sun 24 Jun: Kasugai Club 0-1 Honda Suzuka

1. Shizuoka FC 18 (+21)
2. Yazaki Valente 13 (+9)
3. Fujieda City Hall 10 (-)
4. Honda Suzuka 10 (-6)
5. Maruyasu Industries 7 (-2)
6. Chukyo University 6 (-6)
7. Sagawa Kyubin Chukyo 4 (-4)
8. Kasugai Club 1 (-10)

The two favourites were in action in Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League on Sunday, both notching up convincing wins in their quest to gain promotion and so move a step closer to their ambitions of reaching the JFL and beyond. Leading the way at present are FC Perada Fukushima, who handed out a 12-0 thrashing to poor Kureha; but neighbours and rivals Viancone Fukushima are not far behind after their 5-1 defeat of Marysol Matsushima.

Sun 24 Jun: Kureha 0-12 FC Perada Fukushima
Sun 24 Jun: Marysol Matsushima 1-5 Viancone Fukushima

1. FC Perada Fukushima 16 (+35)
2. Viancone Fukushima 13 (+19)
3. Soma SC 12 (+8)
4. Marysol Matsushima 7 (-)
5. Kanai Club 6 (-32)
6. Nakaniida SC 4 (-3)
7. Shichigahama SC 3 (-2)
8. Kureha 0 (-25)

An exciting race is developing at the top of the Tohoku League Division 2 (North) this season, 2006 winners FC Akita Cambiare just a point ahead of Tono Club after Sunday's games in which Cambiare pulled off a 2-0 win at Mizusawa Club and Tono beat struggling Omiya Club 2-1. At the other end of the table, Vanraure Hachinohe achieved their first victory of the year at the expense of Hokuto Bank.

Sun 24 Jun: Mizusawa Club 0-2 FC Akita Cambiare
Sun 24 Jun: Omiya Club 1-2 Tono Club
Sun 24 Jun: Vanraure Hachinohe 4-0 Hokuto Bank

1. FC Akita Cambiare 16 (+17)
2. Tono Club 15 (+6)
3. Fuji Club 2003 8 (+3)
4. Mizusawa Club 8 (+1)
5. Saruta Industry 6 (+1)
6. Vanraure Hachinohe 6 (-3)
7. Hokuto Bank 3 (-12)
8. Omiya Club 2 (-13)

Title favourites Grulla Morioka pulled off the key victory of the year so far in Division 1 of the Tohoku League on Sunday, defeating their nearest challengers NEC Tokin 3-2 to open up a six-point gap at the top of the table. But given that there will definitely be two teams from the region in the end-of-season promotion Play-offs for a place in the JFL, NEC are still in a strong position. Furukawa Battery were crushed 5-2 at FC Primeiro, allowing Wiese Shiogama to move third after a 2-0 win over Morioka Zebra.



Acrobatics between FC Primeiro and Furukawa Battery

Sun 24 Jun: FC Primeiro 5-2 Furukawa Battery
Sun 24 Jun: Morioka Zebra 0-2 Wiese Shiogama
Sun 24 Jun: NEC Tokin 2-3 Grulla Morioka

1. Grulla Morioka 21 (+20)
2. NEC Tokin 15 (+11)
3. Wiese Shiogama 10 (+2)
4. Furukawa Battery 10 (-4)
5. FC Primeiro 9 (+1)
6. Morioka Zebra 7 (-11)
7. Nippon Steel Kamaishi 4 (-7)
8. Sendai Nakata Club 0 (-12)

Things are inevitably still neck-and-neck in the Shikoku League in what is turning out to be a remarkable season for non-league football on Japan's fourth island. Tokushima Vortis Amateur continued to storm through their games in sensational style, Ehime Shimanami being their latest victims - but 2006 champions Kamatamare Sanuki are just a whisker behind on goal difference after a 4-0 win at Tokushima Comprille SC. Comprille are likely to have to play in the relegation Play-offs alongside Sanwa Club, 3-1 losers at Nangoku Kochi, although Shimanami and Ventana AC could still be dragged into trouble after the latter's defeat by Sanyo Electric Tokushima.



Sanyo show off their rather groovy white and red shirts at Ventana

Sun 24 Jun: Nangoku Kochi 3-1 Sanwa Club
Sun 24 Jun: Tokushima Comprille SC 0-4 Kamatamare Sanuki
Sun 24 Jun: Tokushima Vortis Amateur 5-0 Ehime Shimanami
Sun 24 Jun: Ventana AC 0-1 Sanyo Electric Tokushima

1. Tokushima Vortis Amateur 25 (+43)
2. Kamatamare Sanuki 25 (+37)
3. Nangoku Kochi 21 (+19)
4. Sanyo Electric Tokushima 12 (-9)
5. Ventana AC 10 (-14)
6. Ehime Shimanami 10 (-15)
7. Tokushima Comprille SC 3 (-24)
8. Sanwa Club 0 (-37)

With four rounds to go in Division 2 of the Kanto League, MSDF Atsugi Marcus have given themselves an excellent chance of regaining their top flight position at the first time of asking - while Club Dragons look as if they might seal a second consecutive promotion, to play fourth-flight football next year for what would be the first time in their history. The sailors from Atsugi are undefeated since the opening day of the season and on Sunday beat Kanagawa Teachers to stay on top, while Dragons strolled past relegation candidates Nirasaki Astros. Furukawa Electrics Chiba are best placed to put in a late challenge, but they were not helped by a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Yonoshukonkai. Hanno Bruder moved fourth after they beat Ome FC.

Sun 24 Jun: Kanagawa Teachers 0-1 MSDF Atsugi Marcus
Sun 24 Jun: Nirasaki Astros 1-5 Club Dragons
Sun 24 Jun: Ome FC 0-2 Hanno Bruder
Sun 24 Jun: Yonoshukonkai 3-2 Furukawa Electrics Chiba

1. MSDF Atsugi Marcus 21 (+13)
2. Club Dragons 20 (+20)
3. Furukawa Electrics Chiba 16 (-1)
4. Hanno Bruder 14 (+6)
5. Kanagawa Teachers 13 (+3)
6. Yonoshukonkai 13 (-4)
7. Ome FC 8 (-11)
8. Nirasaki Astros 6 (-26)

It may have taken ten matches of the season but FC Machida Zelvia have finally dropped a couple of points in Division 1 of the Kanto League. After nine consecutive wins, they could only manage a goalless draw at mid-table Saitama SC - but still remain on course for the league title in what is the Tokyo club's first year at this level following from promotion from Division 2. Now lying second, ten points behind the frontrunners, are Hitachi Tochigi Uva, 3-2 winners over bottom side and neighbours Yaita SC. Luminozo Sayama dropped down to third following a draw at Toshiba Fuchu, while Toho Titanium were surprisingly held at home by YSCC.



Machida Zelvia prepare to drop points

Sun 24 Jun: FC Machida Zelvia 0-0 Saitama SC
Sun 24 Jun: Hitachi Tochigi Uva 3-2 Yaita SC
Sun 24 Jun: Toho Titanium 1-1 YSCC
Sun 24 Jun: Toshiba Fuchu 0-0 Luminozo Sayama

1. FC Machida Zelvia 28 (+19)
2. Hitachi Tochigi Uva 18 (+11)
3. Luminozo Sayama 17 (-1)
4. Toho Titanium 15 (-2)
5. Saitama SC 14 (-2)
6. Toshiba Fuchu 8 (-3)
7. YSCC 7 (-7)
8. Yaita SC 6 (-15)

In Division 2 of the Kansai League, Hannan University and Takada FC look almost certain to gain promotion come the end of the year, although both dropped points in unexpected circumstances in the weekend's fixtures. Champions-elect Hannan were held 1-1 at home to Kohga School, while Takada could manage only a goalless draw at struggling Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe. Indeed, that result combined with Hermano Osaka's 2-0 defeat at Riseisha FC has given Mitsubishi a better chance of avoiding the relegation Play-off that goes with a seventh-place finish. Kihoku Football Group, however, are nearly guaranteed to be playing Prefectural League football this year after their 8-2 thrashing at home to Kyoto Shiko Club left them ten points adrift with only four games to go.

Sat 23 Jun: Hannan University 1-1 Kohga School
Sat 23 Jun: Kihoku Football Group 2-8 Kyoto Shiko Club
Sat 23 Jun: Riseisha FC 2-0 Hermano Osaka

Sun 24 Jun: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 0-0 Takada FC

1. Hannan University 24 (+25)
2. Takada FC 22 (+15)
3. Riseisha FC 16 (-1)
4. Kyoto Shiko Club 14 (+9)
5. Kohga School 13 (-5)
6. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 11 (-8)
7. Hermano Osaka 10 (-6)
8. Kihoku Football Group 0 (-29)

With a 4-1 win over third-placed Ain Food on Saturday, Banditonce Kobe virtually ensured that their final fixture of the season at FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu will act as the Kansai League Division 1 title decider. Banditonce themselves remain two points clear at the top, but the loss for Ain Food combined with a 4-0 triumph for FC Mi-o at AS Laranja Kyoto means that there is surely too much ground for Osaka's Ain to make up in four remaining matches. Equally, at the other end of the table FC Glaspo Kashiwara are surely doomed to relegation following a 5-0 pasting at FC Kyoto 1993. But the identity of the other team who will have to play Division 2 football next season is unclear, after Kobe FC 1970 pulled off a vital 1-0 win over rivals Sanyo Electric Sumoto to give themselves a lifeline.



Banditonce scorer Masafumi Yoshida

Sat 23 Jun: Ain Food 1-4 Banditonce Kobe
Sat 23 Jun: AS Laranja Kyoto 0-4 FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu
Sat 23 Jun: FC Kyoto 1993 5-0 FC Glaspo Kashiwara

Sun 24 Jun: Kobe FC 1970 1-0 Sanyo Electric Sumoto

1. Banditonce Kobe 27 (+33)
2. FC Mi-o Biwako Kusatsu 25 (+29)
3. Ain Food 20 (+1)
4. AS Laranja Kyoto 15 (-10)
5. FC Kyoto 1993 12 (-3)
6. Sanyo Electric Sumoto 9 (-13)
7. Kobe FC 1970 7 (-13)
8. FC Glaspo Kashiwara 2 (-24)