Atomu Shigenaga's sizzling 66 left him tied for the lead with veteran Shingo Katayama after the second round of the Tsuruya Open on Friday.
The 41-year-old Katayama, who shared the overnight lead with two-time champion Hiroyuki Fujita, shot a 68 to stay even with Shigenaga. The 25-year-old Shigenaga is looking for his first victory in what has so far been a lackluster pro career. He made his pro debut in 2008 and posted one of his best scores here last year, when he finished in a tie for 25th.
Shigenaga carded five birdies without a bogey to reach a two-day total of 8-under-par 134 at the par-71 Yamanohara Golf Club. Katayama, who began his round on the 10th hole, fired four birdies and an eagle, but blotted his scorecard with three bogeys. The pair were one stroke ahead of South Korea's Kim Do-hoon and Akio Sadakata, who each shot a second-round 67.
New Zealand's Michael Hendry and South Korean I.J. Jang were tied for fifth at 5 under.
Fujita shot a second-round 72 that left him tied for seventh at 4 under.
Ryo Ishikawa, appearing in his first domestic tournament of the season, shot a 1-over-par 72 that left him in a tie for 30th. Last week's Token Homemate Cup winner Yusaku Miyazato missed the cut.