South Korean Lee Keun-ho put the hosts ahead in the 43rd minute when he collected a loose ball, rounded advancing Omiya goalkeeper Takayuki Kitano and fired into an empty net.

Brazilian Rafinha grabbed the second in the 77th minute, converting substitute Kim Seung-yong's cross.

Kashiwa Reysol climbed to third by beating Nagoya Grampus 2-1 at home thanks to substitute Masakatsu Sawa's 70th-minute goal.

Nagoya took the lead through Keiji Tamada's free-kick in the 17th minute but the hosts rallied and forward Junya Tanaka equalised from Jorge Wagner's pass before Sawa slotted home the winner.

Substitute forward Ryuji Bando scored a second-half hat-trick as Cerezo Osaka fought back from three goals down to beat Sanfrecce Osaka 5-4 at home.

Sanfrecce went ahead in the 22nd minute when Mihael Mikic's cross sailed straight into the net. Yoshiro Takahagi converted Mikic's return ball in the 33rd minute before Hisato Sato made it 3-0 with a fine strike two minutes before the break.

Cerezo boss Levir Culpi sent on Bando and midfielder Kim Bo-kyung after the break and it had an immediate effect as midfielder Hiroshi Kiyotake fired home from outside the box.

Bando nodded in Yusuke Maruhashi's cross at the near post in the 55th minute and notched the equaliser with another header from Fabio Lopes' delivery two minutes later.

Kim then gave Cerezo the lead in the 72nd minute before Bando completed his treble two minutes later. Hiroshima pulled a goal back when Sato slotted home in stoppage time but it was not enough.

"I'm glad to score three goals, but more than that feel great with our team's win," said Bando.

Culpi added: "It was the most impressive game so far this season in the J.League. Both teams fought hard for a win to the end of the game with attractive football."

In Shizuoka, Japan forward Ryoichi Maeda returned from injury to score the winner as Jubilo Iwata overcame local rivals Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1.

Yuichi Komano put Jubilo ahead with a free-kick shortly before the interval and Maeda doubled their lead in the 62nd minute. Shimizu replied a minute later through Genki Omae.

Yokohama F Marinos won 1-0 at bottom side Avispa Fukuoka with an early goal from Ariajasuru Hasegawa.

Finally, Kashima Antlers produced a second-half comeback to draw 2-2 at Albirex Niigata thanks to goals from Daiki Iwamasa in the 74th minute and substitute Yuzo Tashiro five minutes later.