Three goals in the final 14 minutes of their match saw Hajime Moriyasu's side move above Yokohama at the top.

Genki Omae had given Shimizu the lead in the 71st minute but Tsukasa Shiotani pulled Hiroshima level before a Gakuto Notsuda double won the game.

Yokohama's 0-0 draw with Ventforet Kofu saw them drop into second place as the battle at the top of the table heats up.

Both sides have 53 points from their 28 games, with Urawa Reds two points behind in third and Kashima Antlers a further point back in fourth.

Urawa had a comfortable 4-0 victory over Omiya Ardija on Saturday to keep them in touch with the top two.

Their task was made easier by an early red card for Lucas Neill, and two minutes later Yuki Abe opened the scoring from the penalty spot.

Genki Haraguchi, Shinzo Koroki and Kunimitsu Sekiguchi completed the victory before Omiya were reduced to nine men with Tomoki Imai's late red card for a second bookable offence.

Kashima also hit four to hold onto fourth place in the table as they beat Tokyo 4-1.

Yasushi Endo and Davi put the visitors ahead inside the opening 10 minutes, and that lead was extended by Mitsuo Ogasawara and Yuya Osaka late on.

Sota Hirayama netted a consolation for Tokyo in the 83rd minute but they could not spark a comeback and fell to their 10th defeat of the season.

Oita fell to a 20th defeat of the season as Cerezo Osaka beat them 2-0, and they cannot catch Ventforet Kofu above the drop zone, who sit 20 points clear of the bottom club with six games left.

Fellow strugglers Jubilo Iwata and Shonan Bellmare both picked up points with 1-1 draws.

Jubilo collected their point away to Vegalta Sendai, while Shonan came from behind to draw with Nagoya Grampus.

The final two games saw Kawasaki Frontale and Albirex Niigata record 3-1 home wins over Kashiwa Reysol and Sagan Tosu respectively.