Kyoto Purple Sanga was given a rude awakening on its return to the top flight after a two-year absence as resurgent Japan striker Tatsuhiko Kubo scored twice to help give Yokohama F. Marinos a comfortable 4-1 win in their J. League season opener on Sunday.
Kashima Antlers forward Atsushi Yanagisawa (left) achieves a hat-trick with an overhead shot in the 71st minute of their J. League first-division match against Sanfrecce Hiroshima at Hiroshima Big Arch.
Ventforet Kofu also made an unhappy start to life in the first division after a 2-0 defeat at home to Shimizu S-Pulse but promoted Avispa Fukuoka came within three minutes of pulling off a surprise away win over Jubilo Iwata, Makoto Tanaka rescuing Jubilo with a late equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Yamaha Stadium.
Elsewhere, Atsushi Yanagisawa marked his return to Kashima Antlers in style with a hat-trick in the 4-3 win at Sanfrecce Hiroshima as goals poured in across the country.