Takuya Nozawa opened the scoring for Kashima midway through the first half before reigning J.League MVP Marquinhos added the second six minutes after the break for the Antlers, who won the season-opening Super Cup last Saturday after beating Emperor's Cup winners Gamba Osaka.

At Kashima Stadium, Brazilian striker Marquinhos had the first chance of the season for Kashima but was thwarted by Reds forward Tatsuya Tanaka.

But the home fans did not have to wait much longer for the first goal of the campaign as Marquinhos latched onto a long ball forward from goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata after 23 minutes.

After beating Reds full-back Tadaaki Hirakawa to cut into the area, the Brazilian fired towards goal but it was Nozawa's touch which proved crucial in beating Reds goalkeeper Ryota Tsuzuki.

The goal settled the home side and seven minutes after the break the Antlers doubled the lead as Marquinhos, who struck 21 goals last season, fired home from the edge of the area following a swift counterattack.

Marquinhos could have added another five minutes later but he was denied by Tsuzuki, while the visitors had chance through Tanaka, Keita Suzuki and Yuki Abe but Volker Finke's first game in charge ended in defeat.

"I'm happy with the start, it is good for us," said Kashima's Brazilian manager Oswaldo Oliveira.

"We played two better teams in Japan two games in a row and we didn't give concede any goals.

"Our team so far has demonstrated a very good balance and solid defense. This gives us a lot of hope for the future."

At Fukuda Denshi Arena, Asian Champions League winner Gamba also opened their league account with three points with a 3-0 win at JEF Chiba as new signings Leandro and Cho Jae-jin netted.

Leandro broke the deadlock six minutes before the break before Tomokazu Myojin added a second a minute after the restart from close range following a Satoshi Yamaguchi header.

And eight minutes after the hour mark South Korea forward Cho headed home a Yasuhito Endo free-kick

Elsewhere, newly acquired Brazilian Davi scored twice as Nagoya Grampus beat 10 man Oita Trinita 3-2, while North Korea forward Jong Tae-sek netted with 12 minutes remaining to earn Kawasaki Frontale a 1-1 draw with Kashiwa Reysol.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima made a successful return to the top flight after a years absence with a surprise 4-2 comeback win at Yokohama F Marinos.

Montedio Yamagata made a flying start to their first season in the top flight as they scored four times in the final 15 minutes to post a 6-2 win at Jubilo Iwata.

Yu Hasegawa began the hectic finish before substitute midfielder Tomotaka Kitamura, defender Leonardo and Hasegawa completed the scoring.

Finally, Pedro Junior scored twice as Albirex Niigata beat FC Tokyo 4-1.