Yosuke Kashiwagi scored a brace on Sunday to keep Urawa Reds in the hunt for a league and cup double with a 2-1 win over next weekend's Nabisco Cup final opponents Kashiwa Reysol.
Kashiwagi struck twice in six first-half minutes to complete a league double over Kashiwa and keep Urawa within two points of leaders Yokohama F. Marinos.
Yokohama (59) reclaimed top spot as Shunsuke Nakamura's free kick on the stroke of halftime gave it a 1-0 win at relegated Oita Trinita. Champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who beat Vegalta Sendai 1-0 on Saturday, are third on 56 with four games left.