Playing before a crowd of 33,596 at Ajinomoto Stadium, the west Tokyo side produced a focused display of attacking football to put Kashima under pressure from the opening whistle.

The hosts created a couple of chances down the right flank and winger Naohiro Ishikawa twice brought saves out of Kashima goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata around the half-hour mark.

Following a goalless first half, the game was brought to life 12 minutes into the second period when Tokyo's Brazilian forward Cabore headed home Ishikawa's corner from close range.

Kashima replied three minutes later as forward Shinzo Koroki produced a low header from substitute Marcinho's cross that found the back of the net.

The hosts, however, continued to threaten as Cabore and left-back Yuto Nagatomo combined well and it paid dividends in the 78th minute when Nagatomo raced into space in the box and converted Cabore's cross.

Three minutes later, Cabore forged his way down the left flank and his cross was helped on by Tatsuya Suzuki to fellow substitute Yohei Otake. The midfielder made no mistake in slotting home from close range.

Kashima pulled a goal back through substitute Yuzo Tashiro in the 85th minute and came close to an equaliser with Toru Araiba's attempt from distance three minutes from time.

"Attacking is the best way of defending. That's what we did, and our players showed good fighting spirit today. That brought us three goals," said jubilant Tokyo manager Hiroshi Jofuku.

Kashima's Brazilian boss Oswaldo Oliveira, however, rued missed chances.

"Both sides created many chances. It was a matter of whether you can score them or not, and we couldn't make the most of them," he said.

The defending champions lead rivals Nagoya Grampus by one point and both Kawasaki Frontale and Oita Trinita by two.

Kawasaki overtook Oita to claim third place on goal difference after beating Division Two-bound Consadole Sapporo 3-1 at home thanks to goals from Kengo Nakamura, Hiroyuki Taniguchi and Brazilian forward Juninho

Urawa midfielder Hajime Hosogai scored the game's only goal in the 81st minute to give Reds a 1-0 win at Albirex Niigata to stay fifth, three points off the pace.

Elsewhere, midfielder Takuma Edamura scored twice to help Shimizu S-Pulse beat Gamba Osaka 3-1 at home.

Edamura netted in the 39th and 48th minutes - both from Kazuki Hara passes - before forward Shinji Okazaki made it 3-0 with a 51st-minute strike.

Gamba pulled a goal back in the 76th minute when Brazilian forward Roni, on as a second-half substitute, headed home a Hayato Sasaki's corner.

Finally, Omiya beat JEF United Chiba 2-1 at home, Daigo Kobayashi and Chikara Fujimoto goals cancelling out Tasuya Yazawa's opener.