Japan World Cup News

Kashima Antlers midfielders Mitsuo Ogasawara and Masashi Motoyama have both been training with the San Jose Earthquakes and will be on trial through the end of the week, the Major League Soccer club said on its official website Wednesday.

Yokohama - A crowd of over 40,000 turned out Sunday to watch Hidetoshi Nakata and other former Japan teammates of the late Naoki Matsuda play in a memorial match for the former defender, who passed away last summer aged just 34.

Japan international Yuichi Komano looks set to stay with Jubilo Iwata for the coming season after failing to secure a move to Belgian first-division side St.

Ryoichi Maeda will be disappointed that his proposed move to West Ham United broke down last weekend, but the growing overseas interest in Japanese strikers is nevertheless an encouraging sign for the national team.

The national team mainstay should give a significant boost to the Gamba defence after they allowed 51 goals in last season's J1 campaign J-League side Gamba Osaka announced the signing of star defender Yasuyuki Konno from FC Tokyo on Monday.

IWATA, Shizuoka Pref. - Japan striker Ryoichi Maeda will be staying with Jubilo Iwata after failing to earn a move to English second-tier side West Ham, but defender Yuichi Komano is free to move to Belgian first-division side St.