The league leaders took the lead after 39 minutes through Junya Tanaka before Akihiro Hyodo added a second in injury time.

Kashiwa's closest rivals, Vegalta Sendai, needed a 90th-minute equaliser from Naoki Sugai to earn a 1-1 draw at Albirex Niigata. Yuta Mikado (72) gave the hosts the lead.

Third-placed Kawasaki Frontale closed to within a point of Sendai after winning 2-0 at home to Sanfrecce Hiroshima. Takuro Yajima (35) put the hosts ahead before Kosuke Kikuchi doubled their advantage just before the hour.

Montedio Yamagata picked up only their second win of the season with a 2-0 victory over Vissel Kobe, Tetsuyo Okubo and Shun Ito both striking in the second half.

Urawa Red Diamonds remain above Yamagata on goal difference after they slumped to a 3-1 home defeat against Shimizu S-Pulse.

Eddy Bosnar (24) opened the scoring for the visitors before Naohiro Takahara (64) doubled their lead. Substitute Tsukasa Umesaki pulled a goal back for Urawa with 10 minutes remaining but there was still time for Bosnar (86) to net again.

Cerezo Osaka picked up a 2-0 win against Vantforet Kofu thanks to late goals from substitutes Rui Komatsu (85) and Ruji Bando (90).

Gamba Osaka extended their unbeaten home record with a 2-1 victory over Yokohama F. Marinos. Yasuhito Endo opened the scoring inside 10 minutes and Satoshi Yamaguchi (26) put Gamba in charge before the break. Kun-Hoan Kim (87) scored for the visitors.

Kashima Antlers beat Jubilo Iwata 2-0 with goals from Shinzo Koroki (six) and Yuzo Tashiro (64) while a brace from Takuya Aoki earned Omiya Ardija a 2-2 draw against Nagoya Grampus Eight, who had taken a 2-0 lead through Ryota Isomura (45) and Joshua Kennedy (52).