Forward Tamada scored the game's only goal in the 66th minute to give Dragan Stojkovic's side an unassailable 10-point lead at the top of the table with just three games remaining.

"This is a big success. To be a champion is a really nice feeling," said a jubilant Stojkovic.

"I think my boys deserved it. I'd like to congratulate everybody."

Nagoya held an eight-point advantage over Kashima going into the game at Hiratsuka Stadium but were without the injured Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Mu Kanazaki against the already-relegated Shonan.

The hosts came close to taking the lead through attempts from Yoshiro Abe, Yutaka Tahara and Yoshito Terakawa, the latter hitting the bar in the 56th minute from inside the box.

Nagoya, however, refused to panic and their patience paid in the 66th minute.

Left-back Shohei Abe delivered a long ball to Keita Sugimoto and the substitute, who had come off the bench three minutes earlier, dribbled up the right before crossing for Tamada to head home the historic winning goal.

The Nagoya players and staff all exchanged hugs at the final whistle and Stojkovic was tossed into the air by his players.

"That was very emotional and a very special moment for me," said the Serbian manager, who played for Nagoya from 1994 until 2001.

"We worked very hard and every game was very hard. To make this kind of result for the first time in the club's history is, I think, really special."

Kashima had to win in Kobe to keep their hopes of a fourth consecutive title alive, while Vissel were looking to move out of the relegation zone.

The visitors were also missing Brazilian forward Marquinhos through injury and although Yasushi Endo and substitute Yuya Osako went close, they could not find the back of the net as they relinquished their crown.

Elsewhere, Gamba Osaka won 2-0 at Urawa Reds with goals from Yasuhito Endo and Lucas, while Kawasaki Frontale edged out hosts FC Tokyo 2-1 thanks to Brazilian forward Juninho's late winner. Tokyo's Masato Morishigo had cancelled out Takuro Yajima's opener in the 66th minute and the defeat leaves the capital club just one point above Kobe and the drop zone.

Shimizu S-Pulse came from behind to beat hosts Vegalta Sendai 3-1. Naoki Sugai gave Vegalta a 15th-minute lead but Jungo Fujimoto's double and Genki Omae sealed the points.

Jubilo Iwata secured their J.League safety with a goalless draw at home to Montedio Yamagata, who remain six points above the relegation zone.

Elsewhere, four goals in the final half an hour saw Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Albirex Niigata, Tadanari Lee claiming a double and Yojiro Takahagi and Junya Osaki also getting on the scoresheet.

Cerezo Osaka beat Yokohama F.Marinos 2-0 thanks to an own goal and Akihiro Patriarch's second-half strike.

Omiya Ardija boosted their survival chances with a 2-0 win at Kyoto Purple Sanga.

First-half goals from Yuki Fukaya and Lee Chun-soo were enough to overcome the hosts, who have already been relegated, as Omiya moved six points clear of the drop zone.