Shimizu took just five minutes to break the deadlock as the Yokohama defense only partially cleared a cross from full-back Shinji Tsujio and Okazaki was the first to react to force home from the edge of the area.

Okazaki came close to a second six minutes later but saw his header saved by Yokohama goalkeeper Daiki Iio before the home side were dealt a blow as Shunsuke Nakamura was replaced after suffering an ankle injury midway through the first half.

And three minutes before the break Okazaki again capitalised on a slack piece of defending from Yokohama as Iio failed to hold Shinji Ono's shot and the striker stole in to double the visitors' lead.

Yokohama had a golden opportunity to halve the deficit just after the hour mark as Shimizu defender Arata Kodama brought down Yuji Nakazawa inside the area only for goalkeeper Yohei Nishibe to deny Shingo Hyodo.

The home side finally found net with eight minutes remaining as Norihisa Shimizu headed home Kano's free-kick, but it was too late to deny Shimizu, who edged ahead of Urawa Red Diamonds and defending champions Kashima Antlers, who face Vegalta Sendai tomorrow.

"F. Marinos have become a wonderful side with more toughness and better shape than before and we beat them which gives us confidence," said Shimizu manager Kenta Hasegawa.

"I'm glad our players hung on in there and survived in tough situations in the second half and I'd like to praise our players' hard work."

Third-placed Urawa Reds kept pace at the top of the table with a 2-1 win over Shonan Bellmare.

Robson Ponte opened the scoring for the Reds from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after Tatsuya Tanaka was brought down by Daisuke Muramatsu

A deflected free-kick from Japan midfielder Yuki Abe doubled the advantage after 56 minutes before substitute Genki Nakayama grabbed a stoppage-time consolation for newly-promoted Shonan.

Fourth-placed Nagoya Grampus sit just a further point off the pace after former Red Star Belgrade midfielder Igor Burzanovic scored in each half to secure a 2-0 win over Vissel Kobe, who had Brazilian midfielder Popo sent-off in stoppage time.

Burzanovic opened the scoring midway through the opening 45 minutes before sealing a third win in four games for Nagoya with a free-kick with 18 minutes remaining.

"The second goal decided the game," said Nagoya manager Dragan Stojkovic. "It was a very important game for us and we concentrated for 90 minutes."

Elsewhere, Yuzo Tashiro scored in the second half as Montedio Yamagata picked up a first win of the season with a 1-0 win over Asian Champions League participants Sanfrecce Hiroshima, while winless Albirex Niigata shared a goalless draw with Omiya Ardija, who ended a three-game losing streak.

Finally, Cerezo Osaka recorded a first win after returning to the top flight this season as Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa scored twice to secure a 3-1 win over Kyoto Sanga.