Jubilo Iwata will face a playoff to remain in the first division after a 94th-minute own goal by captain Kentaro Oi gave Kawasaki Frontale a 2-1 victory and sent the visitors plummeting to the bottom three in the J. League final round on Saturday.
At the other end of the table, Asian Champions League winner Kashima Antlers will have a chance to defend their continental title next year after holding onto third place with a scoreless draw against visiting Sagan Tosu.
Starting the day 13th, Jubilo held a one-point buffer over a trio of clubs — Shonan Bellmare, Sagan and Nagoya Grampus — who were also looking to avoid a 16th-place finish and subsequent relegation playoff against a second-division side.