October 29, 2011
Forward Yuya Osako nailed an extra-time goal as the Kashima Antlers defeated the Urawa Reds 1-0 in the Nabisco Cup final at Tokyo's National Stadium on Oct. 29 to clinch their fourth title since 2002.
October 28, 2011
As she closes in on the Nadeshiko League career goal-scoring record, INAC Kobe Leonessa forward Shinobu Ohno hopes the milestone marker will come on a team effort.
October 28, 2011
BEIJING--Japan's historic win in soccer's 2011 Women's World Cup left many in China scratching their heads.
October 26, 2011
ZURICH -- Women's World Cup winners Homare Sawa and Aya Miyama were nominated on Oct. 25 for the 2011 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award, competing with five-time winner Marta of Brazil as well as U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo and forward Abby Wambach.
October 24, 2011
Avispa Fukuoka, which was promoted to the top flight of the J.League this season, will be relegated to the second division next season after losing 3-1 to Albirex Niigata at Tohoku Denryoku Stadium on Oct. 23.
October 22, 2011
Japan's under-22 women's soccer team defeated a Palestinian eleven 19-0 in a friendly in Hebron in the Palestinian autonomous territory on Oct. 20.
October 20, 2011
The Urawa Reds fired manager Zeljko Petrovic and appointed former Reds player Takafumi Hori as the Montenegrin's replacement, the J.League first division club announced Oct. 20.
October 18, 2011
MIMASAKA, Okayama Prefecture -- An early morning flight from Tokyo and a two-hour drive over a winding single-lane road leads to Yunogo, a historical onsen resort surrounded by golden rice paddies, fruit orchards and a seemingly endless mountain range.
October 17, 2011
Nadeshiko Japan player Nahomi Kawasumi is Japan's "most likable athlete" while team captain is the "most powerful athlete," according to a survey that companies often use to choose sports stars for their commercials. The athletes' image evaluation survey was jointly conducted by Hakuhodo DY Media Partners Inc. and Data Stadium Inc. online between September and October. About 600 men and women aged 15 to 69 living in the greater Tokyo and Osaka areas responded.
October 14, 2011
In soccer, getting booked is usually no big deal--unless you're a fan of the Kashima Antlers.
October 14, 2011
Tokyo Electric Power Co. and J.League side Vegalta Sendai have reached a basic agreement allowing the Sendai-based soccer club to form its own women's team by accepting players from TEPCO Mareeze, the Nadeshiko League announced Oct. 13.
October 12, 2011
SAO PAULO -- With the countdown to 2014 World Cup less than 1,000 days away, many industry insiders inside and outside of Brazil are concerned that many of the stadiums and airports will not be ready come opening kickoff time.
October 11, 2011
The Samurai Blue had been having trouble scoring of late, but they put those demons to rest in a big way Oct. 11, overwhelming Tajikistan 8-0 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier at Osaka's Nagai Stadium.
October 10, 2011
With the Samurai Blue campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals in Brazil in full swing, the team's captain is pushing himself and his team harder than ever. Now, he says, it's time for Japanese players to show a little ego.
October 10, 2011
Rookie Gaku Shibasaki netted the game-winner in extra time as the Kashima Antlers defeated Nagoya Grampus 2-1 at Mizuho Stadium on Oct. 9 in the Nabisco Cup semifinals to advance to the finals.
October 07, 2011
Forward Tadanari Lee nailed a right-foot shot in the first half as Japan defeated Vietnam 1-0 in a friendly match at Home's Stadium in Kobe on Oct. 7, prior to a World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan on Oct. 11.
October 07, 2011
Entering the second round of the Emperor's Cup, two quake-hit club teams will be challenging elite J.League outfits, the potential giant killers looking to provide some inspiration to the disaster victims who support them.
October 04, 2011
This is the second installment of a two-part series on the current situation at J-Village, a soccer training facility that has been used as a staging base for the containment of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant crisis since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
October 01, 2011
MUNICH -- German soccer powerhouse Bayern Munich has been piling up the victories this season while Takashi Usami has had one of the best seats in the house, riding the team bench.
September 30, 2011
Nadeshiko Japan captain Homare Sawa has signed a sponsorship contract with Coca-Cola (Japan) Co., becoming the first female soccer player in Japan to score an individual sponsorship deal.