Kashima Antlers hit last-placed side Consadole Sapporo for seven while Jubilo Iwata stayed in fourth spot thanks to a 6-1 win over second-from-bottom Albirex Niigata.

Antlers had seven separate goal-scorers with Shinzo Koroki, Masashi Motoyama, Juninho and Yasushi Endo netting after half-time to pile the misery on Sapporo.

Ryoichi Maeda bagged a brace in Iwata's rout of ten-man Albirez, who had Jin-Su Kim sent off in first-half injury time.

And the only goal Niigata scored was an own goal.

Sendai cruised to a first win in four games to open up a five-point buffer over Sanfrecce Hiroshima, who won 3-2 over Vissel Kobe, and Shimizu S-pulse, who lost 1-0 away to Urawa Reds.

Yong-Gi Ryang, Wilson and Noaki Sugai were on target for Sendai with the fourth strike coming from an own goal.

Ryota Moriwaki scored the winner in injury time for Hiroshima, who trailed 2-1 with ten minutes to play.

Yuki Abe scored the only goal for Urawa in an important win that saw them up to fifth.

Kawasaki Frontale were 2-0 winners at Omiya Ardija and Kashiwa Reysol handed struggling Cerezo Osaka a 2-1 loss at home.

Yokohama F. Marinos played out a goalless draw with Gamba Osaka, who are down in 16th place.