The 2016 MEIJI YASUDA J3 League kicked off on Sunday with an expanded competition featuring 16 clubs.
Joining 13 clubs vying for promotion tor promotion to the J2 are Under-23 sides fielded by Gamba Osaka, Cerezo Osaka and FC Tokyo.
Newcomers Kagoshima United earned their first J.League point with a scoreless draw against Kataller Toyama in front of 4,452 fans at Kagoshima Kamoike Stadium while Oita Trinita defeated AC Nagano Parceiro 1-0.
FC Ryukyu had better luck at home, winning 1-0 against Fujieda MyFC thanks to Keita Tanaka’s 57th-minute goal.
At Suita Stadium, Gamba Osaka U23 fought to a scoreless draw with YSCC. Cross-town rivals Cerezo Osaka U23 fared better, with Shohei Kiyohara and Rei Yonezawa finding the back of the net in a 2-0 win over Grulla Morioka.
FC Tokyo were the only U23 side to lose on the day, falling 1-0 at SC Sagamihara after Taira Inoue scored shortly after the hour mark.
