Japanese Non-league Football News

Division 2 (South) of the Tohoku League looks set to be dominated by Fukushima prefecture this year... the club formerly known as FC Perada Fukushima, Fukushima United FC, crushed company side Kureha in their opening match and Soma SC beat a third team from the same prefecture - promoted team Bandits Iwaki - 2-1... perhaps the more fancied of the newcomers, though, are Cobaltore Onagawa from Miyagi, who picked up a superb 4-0 win at near neighbours Marysol Matsushima...

Sun 27 Apr: Kureha 1-5 Fukushima United FC
Sun 27 Apr: Marysol Matsushima 0-4 Cobaltore Onagawa
Sun 27 Apr: Soma SC 2-1 Bandits Iwaki

Relegated side Nippon Steel Kamaishi began life in Division 2 (North) of the Tohoku League by winning 2-1 at Aomori's Vanraure Hachinohe in the first fixture of the 2008 season on Sunday... the students of Fuji Club 2003 beat Tono Club in the other match...

Sun 27 Apr: Fuji Club 2003 2-0 Tono Club
Sun 27 Apr: Vanraure Hachinohe 1-2 Nippon Steel Kamaishi

Division 1 of the Tohoku League began their new season on Sunday. Champions Grulla Morioka weren't in league action, but last year's runners-up NEC Tokin commenced with a 5-0 thrashing of promoted side FC Akita Cambiare... the shock of the day was at Wiese Shiogama, where the home side were defeated 3-0 by neighbours Sendai Nakata Club...

Sun 27 Apr: FC Primeiro 4-1 Furukawa Battery
Sun 27 Apr: NEC Tokin 5-0 FC Akita Cambiare
Sun 27 Apr: Wiese Shiogama 0-3 Sendai Nakata Club

It's still very close in Division 2 of the Kanto League... leaders Hanno Bruder drew at Aries FC Tokyo in the game on holiday Tuesday and are one point clear of Kanagawa Teachers as a result... FC Korea move up the standings thanks to their exciting 5-3 defeat of the former Furukawa Electrics Chiba club, SAI Ichihara SC - and it's Ichihara who are now bottom...

Sun 27 Apr FC Korea 5-3 SAI Ichihara SC
Sun 27 Apr Kanagawa Teachers 2-1 Vertfee Takahara Nasu
Sun 27 Apr Yonoshuyonkai 2-1 TFSC

Tue 29 Apr Aries FC Tokyo 1-1 Hanno Bruder

1. Hanno Bruder 8 (+2)
2. Kanagawa Teachers 7 (+2)
-------------------
3. Aries FC Tokyo 7 (-2)
4. Vertfee Takahara Nasu 6 (+2)
5. FC Korea 6 (-)
6. TFSC 4 (+2)
-------------------
7. Yonoshuyokonkai 4 (-2)
8. SAI Ichihara SC 3 (-4)

The shock of the round in Division 1 of the Kanto League over the weekend came in Ibaraki, where Club Dragons brought Luminozo Sayama's 100% record to an abrupt end with a 4-2 win... this means champions FC Machida Zelvia are now three points clear at the top, following their defeat of Toho Titanium... at the bottom, Saitama SC and MSDF Atsugi Marcus picked up their first points of the season...

Sat 26 Apr: Club Dragons 4-2 Luminozo Sayama
Sat 26 Apr: Toho Titanium 0-3 FC Machida Zelvia

Sun 27 Apr: Saitama SC 1-1 Hitachi Tochigi Uva
Sun 27 Apr: YSCC 3-3 MSDF Atsugi Marcus

1. FC Machida Zelvia 12 (+9)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
2. Luminozo Sayama 9 (+4)
3. Hitachi Tochigi Uva 8 (+3)
4. YSCC 6 (+1)
5. Club Dragons 4 (-1)
6. Toho Titanium 2 (-5)
------------------
7. Saitama SC 1 (-3)
8. MSDF Atsugi Marcus 1 (-8)

JEF Reserves' disappointing season continued in the single holiday Tuesday JFL fixture. They lost to a last-minute goal at home to Mio Biwako Kusatsu and tumble to fourteenth, while newcomers Mio are now up to sixth in the standings.

Tue 29 Apr: JEF Reserves 0-1 Mio Biwako Kusatsu

1. Yokogawa Musashino 22 (+9)
2. Fagiano Okayama 20 (+9)
3. Tochigi SC 19 (+10)
4. Honda FC 18 (+9)
5. Ryutsu Keizai University 14 (+2)
6. Mio Biwako Kusatsu 14 (+2)
7. New Wave Kitakyushu 12 (-)
8. Kataller Toyama 11 (+3)
9. FC Kariya 11 (+2)
10. Sony Sendai 10 (+3)
11. Gainare Tottori 9 (+1)
12. Sagawa Shiga FC 8 (-)
13. FC Ryukyu 8 (-5)
14. JEF Reserves 8 (-5)
15. Sagawa Printing 6 (-11)
16. Mitsubishi Mizushima 5 (-12)
17. TDK SC 3 (-8)
18. Arte Takasaki 2 (-9)

Shikoku League leaders Kamatamare Sanuki had no league fixture this weekend, allowing Tokushima Vortis 2nd to take top spot thanks to a 6-1 drubbing of Ventana AC... Sanyo Electric Tokushima unexpectedly dropped points against Kochi's Showa Club... and Nangoku Kochi thumped Tokushima Comprille SC in the other match...

Sun 27 Apr: Nangoku Kochi 5-1 Tokushima Comprille SC
Sun 27 Apr: Showa Club 0-0 Sanyo Electric Tokushima
Sun 27 Apr: Tokushima Vortis 2nd 6-1 Ventana AC

1. Tokushima Vortis 2nd 10 (+24)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
2. Kamatamare Sanuki 9 (+23)
3. Sanyo Electric Tokushima 8 (+3)
4. Nangoku Kochi 7 (+9)
5. Ehime Shimanami 5 (+1)
6. Ventana AC 1 (-12)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
7. Showa Club 1 (-20)
8. Tokushima Comprille SC 0 (-28)

New leaders of the JFL are Tokyo company side Yokogawa Musashino, who have quietly but confidently put together a superb start to the year. Their 1-0 defeat of Sony Sendai was their seventh win in eight... nearest challengers Fagiano Okayama and Tochigi SC both stumbled, Fagiano conceding a late goal to draw at FC Kariya and Tochigi losing against improving Ryutsu Keizai University... Honda FC crushed Sagawa Printing 6-1, but the real movers this week were New Wave Kitakyushu - up to sixth after beating Mitsubishi Mizushima - and FC Ryukyu. Philippe Troussier's expensively assembled Okinawan side are at last picking up some point, their latest success at the expense of whipping boys Arte Takasaki... JEF Reserves take on Mio Biwako Kusatsu in the round's remaining fixture on holiday Tuesday...

Sun 27 Apr: FC Kariya 2-2 Fagiano Okayama
Sun 27 Apr: FC Ryukyu 1-0 Arte Takasaki
Sun 27 Apr: Gainare Tottori 1-2 Sagawa Shiga FC
Sun 27 Apr: Mitsubishi Mizushima 1-2 New Wave Kitakyushu
Sun 27 Apr: Ryutsu Keizai University 2-1 Tochigi SC
Sun 27 Apr: Sagawa Printing 1-6 Honda FC
Sun 27 Apr: Sony Sendai 0-1 Yokogawa Musashino
Sun 27 Apr: TDK SC 1-1 Kataller Toyama

1. Yokogawa Musashino 22 (+9)
2. Fagiano Okayama 20 (+9)
3. Tochigi SC 19 (+10)
4. Honda FC 18 (+9)
5. Ryutsu Keizai University 14 (+2)
6. New Wave Kitakyushu 12 (-)
7. Kataller Toyama 11 (+3)
8. FC Kariya 11 (+2)
9. Mio Biwako Kusatsu 11 (+1)
10. Sony Sendai 10 (+3)
11. Gainare Tottori 9 (+1)
12. Sagawa Shiga FC 8 (-)
13. JEF Reserves 8 (-4)
14. FC Ryukyu 8 (-5)
15. Sagawa Printing 6 (-11)
16. Mitsubishi Mizushima 5 (-12)
17. TDK SC 3 (-8)
18. Arte Takasaki 2 (-9)

Honda Lock only just held on to their lead in the Kyushu League, thanks to a 1-0 defeat of lowly Kagoshima side Osumi NIFS United... this allowed V Varen Nagasaki to close the gap by boosting their goal difference - they beat Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 6-0... the other team with four wins from four are Volca Kagoshima, who triumphed at Vainqueur Kumamoto... Kyushu INAX meanwhile lost the battle of the minnows, 1-0 at home to Okinawa's Kaiho Bank SC...

Sun 27 Apr: Kyushu INAX 0-1 Kaiho Bank SC
Sun 27 Apr: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 0-6 V Varen Nagasaki
Sun 27 Apr: Okinawa Kariyushi 2-1 Nippon Steel Oita
Sun 27 Apr: Osumi NIFS United 0-1 Honda Lock
Sun 27 Apr: Vainqueur Kumamoto 1-2 Volca Kagoshima

1. Honda Lock 12 (+21)
2. V Varen Nagasaki 12 (+19)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. Volca Kagoshima 12 (+5)
4. Nippon Steel Oita 9 (+10)
5. Okinawa Kariyushi 9 (+8)
6. Kaiho Bank SC 3 (-8)
7. Vainqueur Kumamoto 3 (-16)
8. Osumi NIFS United 0 (-11)
9. Kyushi INAX 0 (-12)
10. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 0 (-16)

Two old hands are on top of the Kansai League Division 2 after three rounds. Kyoto Shiko Club have won all their games so far, their latest victims being Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe... behind them are Renaiss Health & Medical College, 5-0 winners over another college side, Riseisha FC... the pair of teams up from Prefectural League football, Shiga FC and Biwako SC Hira, met on Saturday, with Biwako just getting the better of their local rivals...

Sat 26 Apr: FC Glaspo Kashiwara 2-1 Hermano Osaka
Sat 26 Apr: Renaiss Health & Medical College 5-0 Riseisha FC
Sat 26 Apr: Shiga FC 3-4 Biwako SC Hira

Sun 27 Apr: Kyoto Shiko Club 2-1 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe

1. Kyoto Shiko Club 9 (+4)
2. Renaiss Health & Medical College 6 (+7)
-------------------
3. Shiga FC 6 (+4)
4. Biwako SC Hira 6 (+1)
5. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 6 (+1)
6. FC Glaspo Kashiwara 3 (-2)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
7. Riseisha FC 0 (-7)
-------------------
8. Hermano Osaka 0 (-8)

Banditonce Kakogawa and Ain Food continued their perfect starts to the Kansai League Division 1 season on Sunday, with wins over Kobe FC 1970 and Sanyo Electric Sumoto respectively. Kobe FC look as if they will have a hard time avoiding relegation... early evidence would suggest that the same could be said of last year's Division 2 champions, Hannan University. They lost 3-0 at home to fellow promoted side Diablossa Takada FC and have yet to pick up a point...

Sat 26 Apr: Hannan University 0-3 Diablossa Takada FC

Sun 27 Apr: Ain Food 3-1 Sanyo Electric Sumoto
Sun 27 Apr: AS Laranja Kyoto 2-3 FC Kyoto BAMB 1993
Sun 27 Apr: Banditonce Kakogawa 5-0 Kobe FC 1970

1. Banditonce Kakogawa 9 (+11)
2. Ain Food 9 (+8)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. Sanyo Electric Sumoto 6 (+1)
4. FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 6 (-)
5. AS Laranja Kyoto 3 (-)
6. Diablossa Takada FC 3 (-1)
---------------------
7. Hannan University 0 (-8)
8. Kobe FC 1970 0 (-11)

There's no doubting the result of the second round of the Chugoku League campaign, as newly promoted NTN Okayama beat red-hot title favourites Dezzolla Shimane... Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku are top of the early season table after they crushed Hiroshima neighbours Mazda SC... another local side, Hiroshima Fujita SC, must have alarm bells ringing for the season ahead, after they lost to minnows Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado...

Sun 27 Apr: Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 2-1 Hiroshima Fujita SC
Sun 27 Apr: JFE Steel Western Japan Fukuyama 1-2 Renofa Yamaguchi
Sun 27 Apr: Mazda SC 0-5 Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku
Sun 27 Apr: NTN Okayama 3-1 Dezzolla Shimane

1. Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku 6 (+7)
2. Renofa Yamaguchi 4 (+1)
3. NTN Okayama 3 (+1)
4. Hitachi Manufacturing Kasado 3 (+1)
5. Dezzolla Shimane 3 (-)
6. Mazda SC 3 (-4)
7. FC Ube Yahhh-man 1 (-)
8. JFE Steel Western Japan Fukuyama 0 (-3)
9. Hiroshima Fujita SC 0 (-3)

There was a major sensation in the Shikoku League on Sunday, as champions Tokushima Vortis 2nd were held to a goalless draw by Ehime Shimanami... this allowed Kamatamare Sanuki to move into top spot and the Kagawa side took the opportunity only too happily, beating Ventana AC 5-0... in a day of derbies, Nangoku Kochi got the better of their weaker neighbours Showa Club and Sanyo Electric Tokushima gained their expected win over Tokushima Comprille SC...

Sun 20 Apr: Ehime Shimanami 0-0 Tokushima Vortis 2nd
Sun 20 Apr: Nangoku Kochi 6-0 Showa Club
Sun 20 Apr: Tokushima Comprille SC 1-2 Sanyo Electric Tokushima
Sun 20 Apr: Ventana AC 0-5 Kamatamare Sanuki

1. Kamatamare Sanuki 9 (+23)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
2. Tokushima Vortis 2nd 7 (+19)
3. Sanyo Electric Tokushima 7 (+3)
4. Ehime Shimanami 5 (+1)
5. Nangoku Kochi 4 (+5)
6. Ventana AC 1 (-7)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
7. Showa Club 0 (-20)
8. Tokushima Comprille SC 0 (-24)

After three games of the 2008 season, the Kyushu League table is already split along familiar lines... favourites Honda Lock are top on goal difference following their 6-0 defeat of Kaiho Bank SC on Sunday... but V Varen Nagasaki, Nippon Steel Oita and Volca Kagoshima also have 100% records, all having played matches only against the weaker teams in the league so far... a potentially crucial game at the bottom was Vainqueur Kumamoto's 2-0 win over Kyushu INAX, which enabled Vainqueur to leap up the table following drubbings in their opening two matches...

Sat 19 Apr: Volca Kagoshima 3-2 Okinawa Kariyushi

Sun 20 Apr: Honda Lock 6-0 Kaiho Bank SC
Sun 20 Apr: Kyushu INAX 0-2 Vainqueur Kumamoto
Sun 20 Apr: Nippon Steel Oita 5-0 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki
Sun 20 Apr: V Varen Nagasaki 4-0 Osumi NIFS United

1. Honda Lock 9 (+20)
2. V Varen Nagasaki 9 (+13)
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. Nippon Steel Oita 9 (+11)
4. Volca Kagoshima 9 (+4)
5. Okinawa Kariyushi 6 (+7)
6. Vainqueur Kumamoto 3 (-15)
7. Kaiho Bank SC 0 (-9)
8. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Nagasaki 0 (-10)
9. Osumi NIFS United 0 (-10)
10. Kyushi INAX 0 (-11)

Who's likely to make a challenge for promotion from Division 2 of the Kanto League this year is anyone's guess... Hanno Bruder from Saitama are top, but they only scraped a 1-0 win over FC Korea... relegated tonguetwisters Vertfee Takahara Nasu go second after beating bottom side Yonoshuyukonkai, but they're only level on points with former Prefectural Leaguers Aries FC Tokyo...

Sun 20 Apr: Hanno Bruder 1-0 FC Korea
Sun 20 Apr: SAI Ichihara SC 1-2 Aries FC Tokyo
Sun 20 Apr: TFSC 2-2 Kanagawa Teachers
Sun 20 Apr: Vertfee Takahara Nasu 3-1 Yonoshuyonkai

1 Hanno Bruder 7 (+2)
2. Vertfee Takahara Nasu 6 (+3)
-------------------
3. Aries FC Tokyo 6 (-2)
4. TFSC 4 (+3)
5. Kanagawa Teachers 4 (+1)
6. SAI Ichihara SC 3 (-2)
-------------------
7. FC Korea 3 (-2)
8. Yonoshuyokonkai 1 (-3)

It's level pegging in Division 1 of the Kanto League after three rounds of the new season. Champions FC Machida Zelvia might have kept going their 100% record by beating Saitama SC on Saturday, but Luminozo Sayama seem to have found some form again after two or three years on something of a downward slope - they beat promoted side MSDF Atsugi Marcus and have won all of their games so far as well... coming up with Atsugi from Division 2 were Club Dragons, who got their first point of the year in a draw at YSCC...

Sat 19 Apr: FC Machida Zelvia 3-2 Saitama SC
Sat 19 Apr: Luminozo Sayama 4-1 MSDF Atsugi Marcus

Sun 20 Apr: Hitachi Tochigi Uva 0-0 Toho Titanium
Sun 20 Apr: YSCC 1-1 Club Dragons

1. FC Machida Zelvia 9 (+6)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
2. Luminozo Sayama 9 (+6)
3. Hitachi Tochigi Uva 7 (+3)
4. YSCC 5 (+1)
5. Toho Titanium 2 (-2)
6. Club Dragons 1 (-3)
------------------
7. Saitama SC 0 (-3)
8. MSDF Atsugi Marcus 0 (-8)

It looks like it might be a close season in Division 2 of the Hokushinetsu League this year... relegated Ueda Gentian are in top spot after two matches, level on points with Nagano prefecture neighbours FC Antelope Shiojiri after both won away from home... Maruoka Phoenix are yet to get off the mark, though...

Sun 20 Apr: CUPS Niigata 4-2 Ohara School JaSRA
Sun 20 Apr: Maruoka Phoenix 1-3 FC Antelope Shiojiri
Sun 20 Apr: Niigata U of Health & Welfare 3-4 Ueda Gentian
Sun 20 Apr: Nissei Resin 2-2 Niigata U of Management

1. Ueda Gentian 6 (+4)
------------------
2. FC Antelope Shiojiri 6 (+3)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
3. Niigata U of Health & Welfare 3 (+2)
4. Ohara School JaSRA 3 (+1)
5. CUPS Niigata 3 (+1)
6. = Niigata U of Management 1 (-3)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
6. = Nissei Resin 1 (-3)
------------------
8. Maruoka Phoenix 0 (-5)

Hokushinetsu League Division 1 season, 2007 champions Matsumoto Yamaga Club can almost be considered out of the title race this year, as their failure on Sunday to beat the other promoted side, Granscena Niigata, means they've already dropped four crucial points... Zweigen Kanazawa, AC Nagano Parceiro and the students of Japan Soccer College have made no such mistake and all have their 100% records intact... Fervorosa Ishikawa Hakusan's days as serious challengers at this level would nevertheless appear to be over...

Sat 19 Apr: Saurcos Fukui 3-4 AC Nagano Parceiro

Sun 20 Apr: Fervorosa Ishikawa Hakusan 0-4 Japan Soccer College
Sun 20 Apr: Granscena Niigata 1-1 Matsumoto Yamaga Club
Sun 20 Apr: Valiente Toyama 0-2 Zweigen Kanazawa

1. Zweigen Kanazawa 6 (+11)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
2. Japan Soccer College 6 (+8)
3. AC Nagano Parceiro 6 (+3)
4. Matsumoto Yamaga Club 2 (-)
5. Saurcos Fukui 1 (-1)
6. Granscena Niigata 1 (-2)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
7. Valiente Toyama 0 (-6)
-------------------
8. Fervorosa Ishikawa Hakusan 0 (-13)

Last year's runners-up FC Central Chugoku announced a change of name prior to the start of the 2008 Chugoku League campaign - they're now called Dezzolla Shimane ( デッツォーラ島根 ) and celebrated their new moniker with a 3-1 defeat of JFE Steel Western Japan Fukuyama... promoted side FC Ube Yahhh-man managed a creditable draw in their local derby with Renofa Yamaguchi... but the other newcomers, NTN Okayama, lost narrowly at Mazda SC...

Sun 20 Apr: Dezzolla Shimane 3-1 JFE Steel Western Japan Fukuyama
Sun 20 Apr: Renofa Yamaguchi 1-1 FC Ube Yahhh-man
Sun 20 Apr: Sagawa Kyubin Chugoku 2-0 Hiroshima Fujita SC
Sun 20 Apr: Mazda SC 3-2 NTN Okayama

Burkina Faso international striker Dieudonne Minoungou scored twice for FC Ryukyu as the Okinawans came from two down to claim a shock draw at Fagiano Okayama in the JFL on Sunday... the dropped points mean that Fagiano slip to second on goal difference behind Tochigi SC, while Yokogawa Musashino are also still right up there after a 1-0 win over Sagawa Printing... bottom side Arte Takasaki came within an inch of getting their first win in more than a year, but conceded a last-minute equaliser at Mio Biwako Kusatsu... Mitsubishi Mizushima got their first win of 2008, though - in doing so underlining the decline of last season's champions Sagawa Shiga FC...

Sat 19 Apr: Mio Biwako Kusatsu 2-2 Arte Takasaki

Sun 20 Apr: Fagiano Okayama 2-2 FC Ryukyu
Sun 20 Apr: Honda FC 4-2 TDK SC
Sun 20 Apr: JEF Reserves 0-2 Ryutsu Keizai University
Sun 20 Apr: Kataller Toyama 1-0 Gainare Tottori
Sun 20 Apr: New Wave Kitakyushu 1-0 FC Kariya
Sun 20 Apr: Sagawa Shiga FC 1-2 Mitsubishi Mizushima
Sun 20 Apr: Tochigi SC 1-0 Sony Sendai
Sun 20 Apr: Yokogawa Musashino 1-0 Sagawa Printing

1. Tochigi SC 19 (+11)
2. Fagiano Okayama 19 (+9)
3. Yokogawa Musashino 19 (+8)
4. Honda FC 15 (+4)
5. Ryutsu Keizai University 11 (+1)
6. Mio Biwako Kusatsu 11 (+1)
7. Sony Sendai 10 (+4)
8. Kataller Toyama 10 (+3)
9. FC Kariya 10 (+2)
10. Gainare Tottori 9 (+2)
11. New Wave Kitakyushu 9 (-1)
12. JEF Reserves 8 (-4)
13. Sagawa Printing 6 (-6)
14. Sagawa Shiga FC 5 (-1)
15. FC Ryukyu 5 (-6)
16. Mitsubishi Mizushima 5 (-11)
17. TDK SC 2 (-8)
18. Arte Takasaki 2 (-8)

Newcomers Shiga FC continued their excellent start to the season in Division 2 of the Kansai League, with a 4-2 defeat of FC Glaspo Kashiwara... they have maximum points from the two games so far, as do old hands Kyoto Shiko Club and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe... but Hermano Osaka look as if they're going to struggle again this year, after having been crushed 6-1 at Renaiss Health & Medical College to go bottom of the table on goal difference...

Sat 19 Apr: Biwako SC Hira 2-3 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe
Sat 19 Apr: Renaiss Health & Medical College 6-1 Hermano Osaka
Sat 19 Apr: Riseisha FC 1-2 Kyoto Shiko Club
Sat 19 Apr: Shiga FC 4-2 FC Glaspo Kashiwara

1. Shiga FC 6 (+5)
2. Kyoto Shiko Club 6 (+3)
----------------------
3. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 6 (+2)
4. Renaiss Health & Medical College 3 (+2)
5. Biwako SC Hira 3 (-)
6. Riseisha FC 0 (-2)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
7. FC Glaspo Kashiwara 0 (-3)
----------------------
8. Hermano Osaka 0 (-7)

They may have changed their name for the new season, but Banditonce Kakogawa have taken up their customary position at the top of the Kansai League Division 1. They beat promoted side Hannan University 4-1 on Saturday and lead consequently lead both Ain Food and Sanyo Electric Sumoto on goal difference... Hannan are already in the relegation zone, where they're joined by a Kobe FC 1970 side that have conceded six without scoring in the two matches to date...

Sat 19 Apr: FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 1-0 Diablossa Takada FC
Sat 19 Apr: Hannan University 1-4 Banditonce Kakogawa
Sat 19 Apr: Kobe FC 1970 0-4 Ain Food
Sat 19 Apr: Sanyo Electric Sumoto 1-0 AS Laranja Kyoto

1. Banditonce Kakogawa 6 (+6)
2. Ain Food 6 (+6)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. Sanyo Electric Sumoto 6 (+3)
4. AS Laranja Kyoto 3 (+1)
5. FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 3 (-1)
6. Diablossa Takada FC 0 (-4)
---------------------
7. Hannan University 0 (-5)
8. Kobe FC 1970 0 (-6)

If during pre-season there had been any doubts as to who was in the running for the Shikoku League title, those doubts have surely been dismissed following the first two rounds of fixtures... champions Tokushima Vortis 2nd annihilated neighbours Tokushima Comprille SC with Koji Onishi scoring five, while challengers Kamatamare Sanuki thrashed promoted side Showa Club... Vortis and Kamatamare are thus the only teams with 100% records... but former top dogs Nangoku Kochi sank into the bottom half of the table following their draw against Ventana AC...

Sun 13 Apr: Nangoku Kochi 1-1 Ventana AC
Sun 13 Apr: Sanyo Electric Tokushima 1-1 Ehime Shimanami
Sun 13 Apr: Showa Club 0-11 Kamatamare Sanuki
Sun 13 Apr: Tokushima Vortis 2nd 16-0 Tokushima Comprille SC

1. Tokushima Vortis 2nd 6 (+19)
2. Kamatamare Sanuki 6 (+18)
3. Sanyo Electric Tokushima 4 (+2)
4. Ehime Shimanami 4 (+1)
5. Nangoku Kochi 1 (-1)
6. Ventana AC 1 (-2)
7. Showa Club 0 (-14)
8. Tokushima Comprille SC 0 (-23)

No team has a 100% record after just two rounds of the season in Division 2 of the Kanto League. Hanno Bruder are top of the fledgling table after their draw with fellow Saitama outfit Yonoshuyukonkai... promoted from the Tokyo Prefectural League at the end of 2007, Aries FC Tokyo met with a heavy defeat by TFSC, while fellow new boys FC Korea also lost at home to Tochigi's Vertfee Takahara Nasu...

Sun 13 Apr: Aries FC Tokyo 0-4 TFSC
Sun 13 Apr: FC Korea 0-2 Vertfee Takahara Nasu
Sun 13 Apr: Kanagawa Teachers 3-1 SAI Ichihara SC
Sun 13 Apr: Yonoshuyonkai 2-2 Hanno Bruder

1 Hanno Bruder 4 (+1)
2. TFSC 3 (+3)
3. Kanagawa Teachers 3 (+1)
4. Vertfee Takahara Nasu 3 (+1)
5. = FC Korea 3 (-1)
5. = SAI Ichihara SC 3 (-1)
7. Aries FC Tokyo 3 (-3)
8. Yonoshuyokonkai 1 (-1)

Title holders FC Machida Zelvia have begun the defence of their Kanto League Division 1 crown well, but still needed an 85th-minute winner against Club Dragons... Hitachi Tochigi Uva and Luminozo Sayama have also won their two fixtures to date... but it's looking like an especially tough year ahead for the promoted sailors of MSDF Atsugi Marcus, who've lost twice without yet scoring a goal...

Sat 12 Apr: MSDF Atsugi Marcus 0-1 Hitachi Tochigi Uva
Sat 12 Apr: Toho Titanium 0-2 Luminozo Sayama

Sun 13 Apr: FC Machida Zelvia 3-2 Club Dragons
Sun 13 Apr: Saitama SC 1-2 YSCC

1. FC Machida Zelvia 6 (+5)
2. = Hitachi Tochigi Uva 6 (+3)
2. = Luminozo Sayama 6 (+3)
4. YSCC 4 (+1)
5. Toho Titanium 1 (-2)
6. Saitama SC 0 (-2)
7. Club Dragons 0 (-3)
8. MSDF Atsugi Marcus 0 (-5)

There were impressive wins for the two teams making their Regional League debuts in Division 2 of the Kansai League. Biwako SC Hira beat an FC Glaspo Kashiwara side who were competing in Division 1 last season, while Shiga FC crushed Renaiss Health & Medical College... Kyoto Shiko Club also managed a comfortable victory over 2007 strugglers Hermano Osaka...

Sat 12 Apr: FC Glaspo Kashiwara 1-2 Biwako SC Hira
Sat 12 Apr: Kyoto Shiko Club 4-2 Hermano Osaka
Sat 12 Apr: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Kobe 2-1 Riseisha FC

Sun 13 Apr: Renaiss Health & Medical College 2-5 Shiga FC

The 2008 Kansai League Division 1 season commenced over the weekend, with results going largely as expected. Champions Banditonce Kakogawa may be operating under a slightly modified name but they still saw off promoted side Diablossa Takada FC comfortably... last year's Division 2 winners Hannan University lost a tricky opening match at Ain Food, who will be expecting to push Banditonce closest this campaign...

Sat 12 Apr: Ain Food 2-0 Hannan University
Sat 12 Apr: Banditonce Kakogawa 3-0 Diablossa Takada FC
Sat 12 Apr: FC Kyoto BAMB 1993 1-3 Sanyo Electric Sumoto

Sun 13 Apr: AS Laranja Kyoto 2-0 Kobe FC 1970

Playing their first ever match at regional level, Niigata University of Health & Welfare beat fellow students Niigata University of Management 4-1 as Division 2 of the Hokushinetsu League commenced on Sunday... fellow newcomers Nissei Resin went down by the same score at Ueda Gentian...

Sun 13 Apr: FC Antelope Shiojiri 2-1 CUPS Niigata
Sun 13 Apr: Niigata U of Management 1-4 Niigata U of Health & Welfare
Sun 13 Apr: Ohara School JaSRA 4-1 Maruoka Phoenix
Sun 13 Apr: Ueda Gentian 4-1 Nissei Resin

A major shock on day 1 of the season in Division 1 of the Hokushinetsu League, as title holders Matsumoto Yamaga Club were held to a goalless draw by promoted side Saurcos Fukui... the Ishikawa prefecture derby was won in convincing style by Zweigen Kanazawa, who crushed Fervorosa 10-1... AC Nagano Parceiro and Japan Soccer College both kicked off with expected wins...

Sun 13 Apr: AC Nagano Parceiro 3-1 Granscena Niigata
Sun 13 Apr: Japan Soccer College 5-1 Valiente Toyama
Sun 13 Apr: Matsumoto Yamaga Club 0-0 Saurcos Fukui
Sun 13 Apr: Zweigen Kanazawa 10-1 Fervorosa Ishikawa Hakusan

Tochigi SC conceded a last-minute equaliser at Sagawa Printing to bring to an end their 100% start to the JFL season... dropped points for Tochigi means that Fagiano Okayama are out in front on their own, although the Pheasants still had to come from a goal behind to beat Arte Takasaki... there were big wins for Gainare Tottori at home to Honda FC and for surprise strugglers Kataller Toyama at Mitsubishi Mizushima... Ryutsu Keizai University came from three down to beat Mio Biwako Kusatsu...

Sat 12 Apr: FC Kariya 2-1 Sagawa Shiga FC
Sat 12 Apr: FC Ryukyu 1-1 New Wave Kitakyushu

Sun 13 Apr: Arte Takasaki 1-3 Fagiano Okayama
Sun 13 Apr: Gainare Tottori 4-1 Honda FC
Sun 13 Apr: Mitsubishi Mizushima 0-4 Kataller Toyama
Sun 13 Apr: Ryutsu Keizai University 4-3 Mio Biwako Kusatsu
Sun 13 Apr: Sagawa Printing 2-2 Tochigi SC
Sun 13 Apr: Sony Sendai 1-1 JEF Reserves
Sun 13 Apr: TDK SC 1-3 Yokogawa Musashino

1. Fagiano Okayama 18 (+9)
2. Tochigi SC 16 (+10)
3. Yokogawa Musashino 16 (+7)
4. Honda FC 12 (+2)
5. Sony Sendai 10 (+5)
6. FC Kariya 10 (+3)
7. Mio Biwako Kusatsu 10 (+1)
8. Gainare Tottori 9 (+3)
9. Ryutsu Keizai University 8 (-1)
10. JEF Reserves 8 (-2)
11. Kataller Toyama 7 (+2)
12. New Wave Kitakyushu 6 (-2)
13. Sagawa Printing 6 (-5)
14. Sagawa Shiga FC 5 (-)
15. FC Ryukyu 4 (-6)
16. TDK SC 2 (-6)
17. Mitsubishi Mizushima 2 (-12)
18. Arte Takasaki 1 (-8)