Keiji Tamada gave the visitors the lead in the fifth minute and they looked to be cruising to a 10th away victory when Danilson Cordoba added a second on the half hour, but Fereira Popo's effort 20 minutes from time made for a nervy finish.

The victory means Nagoya have an 11-point advantage over second-placed Kashima Antlers, who host Yokohama F Marinos tomorrow.

Elsewhere, Cerezo Osaka missed the chance to leapfrog Gamba Osaka into third place as they were held to a goalless draw at home by Vegalta Sendai.

Fifth-placed Shimizu S-Pulse eased to a 3-0 win at Montedio Yamagata with Takuma Edamura, Jungo Fujimoto, Masaki Yamamoto on the scoresheet for the visitors.

Yohei Kajiyama cancelled out Marcio Richardes' strike as FC Tokyo drew 1-1 with Albirex Niigata, while Jubilo Iwata recovered from Edmilson's 56th-minute effort to record a 2-1 win over Urawa Reds courtesy of goals from Gilsinho and Daisuke Nasu.