Naohiro Takahara, who scored 23 times for Japan, and was a popular player in the German Bundesliga, where he was known as the "sushi bomber," will not be offered a new contract for 2015 by Tokyo Verdy, the J. League second-division side announced Tuesday.
The 35-year-old, who also had a stint in Argentina early in his career, spent last season on loan to J3 Sagamihara, where he scored five goals in 21 games. Takahara has been capped 57 times for Japan. He was named the J. League's MVP in 2002 and was the top scorer in the 2007 Asian Cup.
Takahara joined Verdy in 2013.