Umbrella sellers are no doubt doing a brisk trade in Yokohama as Kanagawa giants Yokohama F. Marinos lead the way in the J. League standings. F. Marinos fans are known for their colourful support and it's a common sight to see the Tricolore run out against a backdrop of twirling umbrellas at their cavernous Nissan Stadium home. The port city giants beat regional rivals Omiya Ardija 2-1 at home last weekend to maintain a two-point lead over Chiba side Kashiwa Reysol, who were held to a scoreless draw away at Vegalta Sendai. Reysol's clash with Vegalta was their second in the space of four days at Yurtec Stadium, after the two sides met in the League Cup in midweek, with Vegalta prevailing 3-1 on aggregate. Defending champions Nagoya Grampus are looming as an obvious threat in the league, and they've moved into third place in the table after brushing aside bottom club Avispa Fukuoka 3-0 at Hakatanomori on Sunday. In other Sunday action, more than 28,000 fans turned out for Cerezo Osaka midfielder Takashi Inui's farewell match against Kashima Antlers at Nagai Stadium, but the home fans left disappointed as Kashima came away with a comprehensive 3-1 win. Avispa Fukuoka are doomed and the future doesn't look much brighter for Montedio Yamagata, while Ventforet Kofu are still four points off safety despite the recent high-profile summer signings of Kim Jin-Kyu and Davi. In J2, Tokushima Vortis are the surprise league leaders and they hammered Kataller Toyama 3-1 in their most recent clash at Pocarisweat Stadium. FC Tokyo slumped to a shock 1-0 defeat away at Giravanz Kitakyushu, while fellow big guns JEF United were held to a 1-1 draw by Yokohama FC in front of more than 13,000 fans at Fukuda Denshi Arena in Chiba. Relegated Kansai side Kyoto Sanga have endured a nightmare season in the second tier, with the club from Japan's former imperial capital lying a dismal 17th place in the standings in the 20-team division. Copyright © Mike Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com Tags World Cup Pens World Cup Posters Euro 2012 football

Just as it was last season, the traditional season opening Fuji Xerox Super Cup will be contested by two J. League sides that have plenty of experience standing on the winner's podium. Kashima Antlers and Gamba Osaka will go head-to-head for the second consecutive year in the Super Cup, with Kashima looking for a repeat of their dominant 3-0 win last season. Oswaldo de Oliveira's all-conquering side have won three J. League titles in a row, but the wily Brazilian tactician has brushed aside suggestions that his team will lack motivation in 2010. The Ibaraki giants have strengthened their squad with the additions of former Kyoto Sanga stopper Lee Jung-Soo and burly Brazilian full-back Gilton from Albirex Niigata, and the pair are expected to slot straight into the side to face Gamba. The Osakans ended last season by lifting the Emperor's Cup trophy at the National Stadium in Tokyo, and Akira Nishino's experienced outfit will hope to taste similar success on another brisk afternoon in the capital. The Kansai side will have to do it the hard way, with Satoshi Yamaguchi, Tomokazu Myojin and Sota Nakazawa all struggling with injury following Gamba's bruising 0-0 draw away at K-League giants Suwon Bluewings in the Asian Champions League in midweek. Kashima were also active in the Champions League in midweek, but they had an easier time of things at home to Chinese side Changchun Yatai, where a goal from Koji Nakata separated the two sides. Former FC Basel man Nakata adds plenty of experience to Kashima's star-studded squad, but the undoubted jewel in the crown is scheming playmaker Mitsuo Ogasawara. The veteran midfielder looked unstoppable on his way to being crowned the 2009 J. League Player Of The Year, and Kashima's mercurial captain will be desperate to showcase his talent in this marquee Super Cup match-up. It may be considered little more than a glorified friendly by some, but with upwards of 35,000 fans expected to pile into the National Stadium to watch two of Japan's most successful clubs do battle, there could be fireworks on show as the new J. League campaign kicks off. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J.League News Tags Soccer News football

At approximately 5.20pm on a chilly Saturday afternoon, the 2009 J. League champions will thrust their glittering trophy into wintry Japanese skies. Whether it is two-time defending champions Kashima Antlers left celebrating, or the trophy-hungry Kawasaki Frontale, is the question still to be resolved. Kashima hold the upper hand after Oswaldo de Oliveira's side obliterated the only other title contender Gamba Osaka last weekend, as the Antlers ran riot in a 5-1 home victory. Kawasaki kept alive their hopes of claiming a first ever piece of silverware thanks to a narrow 1-0 win at home to Albirex Niigata. Not for the first time in J. League history, it all comes down to the final day of the season - with fans once again set to pack stadia up and down the country. Tickets for the clash between Urawa Reds and their bitter rivals Kashima have been sold out for weeks, ensuring that more than 60,000 fans should turn out a packed Saitama Stadium. The Reds may be disappointed to have missed out on a top-three finish and a place in next season's Asian Champions League, but they would love nothing more than to derail Kashima's title ambitions. Meanwhile, relegated Kashiwa Reysol will host Kawasaki Frontale at the compact Kashiwa Hitachi Stadium in Chiba, with Kashiwa dropping out of the top flight on the back of their 1-1 draw away at Omiya Ardija last time out. Nevertheless, the Sun Kings will be determined to make life as tough as possible for a nervy Kawasaki - who have already lost the League Cup final to local rivals FC Tokyo this season. Takashi Sekizuka's free-flowing Kawasaki side may play some of the most attractive football in Japan, but they've blown countless opportunities to wrap up the league title this season. Should they fail to claim the title, Frontale will find it tough to shake off the tag as 'chokers' - with the J. League's nearlymen once again so close, yet so far from that elusive piece of silverware. Kashiwa Reysol will be joined by Oita Trinita and JEF United in J2 next season, with Vegalta Sendai and Cerezo Osaka already confirmed to replace them. The final promotion place will be taken by either Shonan Bellmare or Ventforet Kofu, and both will be nervously monitoring scores around the grounds of J2. However, it's the Kanto plain that will command all the attention, as Kashima look to capitalise on their two-point break over Kawasaki. Should Kashima fail to beat Urawa at a hostile Saitama Stadium, then it could be Kawasaki left celebrating at the compact Hitachidai. Copyright © Michael Tuckerman & Soccerphile.com J. League News Tags Soccer News football

The J. League has announced that the clash between Kashima Antlers and Kawasaki Frontale will be resumed from the 75h minute after last weekend's fixture was halted due to torrential rain. Second placed Kawasaki had taken a 3-1 lead at the home of their league leading rivals when referee Masayashi Okada was forced to call time on a waterlogged pitch.