Avispa Fukuoka returned to the J. League first division for the first time since 2011 with a 1-1 draw to Cerezo Osaka in the promotion playoff final on Sunday.
Fukuoka, which was 14th last season, became the first third-place team to be promoted through the playoff since the format began in 2012. As the lower side on the J2 table, fourth-place Cerezo had to win in order to punch their ticket to the top flight.
Hokuto Nakamura scored a dramatic 87th-minute equalizer to cancel Keiji Tamada's opener earlier in the second half.