Promoted Matsumoto Yamaga held Consadole Sapporo to a 1-1 draw thanks to some good work from keeper Tatsuya Morita on Sunday.
The hosts took the lead seven minutes in at Sapporo Dome, when Kosuke Shirai knocked in the rebound after a Jay Bothroyd header hit the left post.
Although Consadole attacked relentlessly, Morita kept his team from falling two goals down 17 minutes later, when he challenged Bothroyd one-on-one and smothered the one-time England international's shot. A minute later, Morita came out again to block an Anderson Lopes shot.