There's a new league leader atop the J. League table with Shimizu S-Pulse overtaking Kashima Antlers on goal difference following another dramatic round of action.
A 1-1 home draw with fellow high-fliers Sanfrecce Hiroshima was enough for Shimizu S-Pulse to take over atop the standings, as Japan international Shinji Okazaki cancelled out an earlier strike from Hiroshima star Hisato Sato. Click to continue reading...

It's been a tough week for the citizens of Shimizu.
Faced with the indignity of not one S-Pulse player making the J. Allstars team, football fans awoke last Tuesday to a sizeable earthquake shattering the peace of their sleepy town.
It'll be a different noise rocking the port city this evening, with all 20,330 tickets snapped up for tonight's "Orange Derby" against high-flying Albirex Niigata. Click to continue reading...

Japanese J. League Division 1 sides Júbilo Iwata and Shimizu S-Pulse have unveiled their 2008/09 home, away and goalkeeper kits. The league's 2009/10 season kicks off in February. The kit design's appear to follow a new Puma template that the sportwear company is using for the 2009/10 FC Zenit St. Petersburg and Feyenoord Rotterdam kits. Click to continue reading...