Struggling Ventforet Kofu pulled off a stunning 2-0 upset win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and Yokohama F. Marinos took full advantage to replace the reigning champions at the top of the J. League thanks to a 3-0 win at home to Urawa Reds on Wednesday night.
Yokohama, powered by a double from Shunsuke Nakamura either side of Marquinhos' 16th goal of the season, improved to 47 points with 11 games left, three ahead of Hiroshima and four ahead of third-place Reds.
Kofu, just one place above the drop zone, took a shock lead after just eight minutes, Naoaki Aoyama flicking on Akito Kawamoto's cross for Yoshifumi Kashiwa to lash home at the far post.