Unbeaten Albirex were ahead eight minutes before the break through Marcio Richardes before Yuzo Kurihara pulled the visitors level three minutes before the hour mark.

But with time running out, Yano netted to hand Albirex a one-point lead over defending champions Kashima Antlers who scored twice in the last five minutes to beat 10-man Kyoto Sanga 2-1.

Kyoto's Brazilian forward Diego had put the visitors ahead in Kashima after 59 minutes.

But after Kyoto midfielder Yuto Sato was sent off with nine minutes remaining, the Antlers avoided a second defeat of the new season as Ryuta Sasaki converted a cross from fellow second-half substitute Shinzo Koroki with five minutes remaining.

Koroki then got himself on the end of Takuya Nozawa's delivery to fire home the dramatic winner from close range to hand Kashima a third win of the season.

Asian Champions League winners Gamba Osaka remain in touch at the top of the table after battling to a 2-2 draw with Sanfrecce Hiroshima.

Sanfrecce frustrated the home side with their attacking style and after South Korea striker Cho Jae-jin had put Gamba ahead midway through the first half, Issei Takayanagi equalised nine minutes before the break.

Six minutes later Japan forward Hisato Sato handed Sanfrecce a 2-1 half-time lead.

But shortly after the break, Gamba forward Lucas was brought down inside the area and Japan midfielder Yasuhito Endo converted the resulting penalty kick.

"Hiroshima played well, they were able to cancel out our strong points," said Gamba manager Akira Nishino.

"But both sides also had chances to win the game."

Urawa Reds joined Gamba and Nagoya Grampus on seven points with a 1-0 win over Oita Trinita. The win came courtesy of an own goal from Masato Morishige, who diverted an Alessandro Santos cross into his own net two minutes before the break.

Nagoya Grampus stayed fourth despite losing 3-1 to Kawasaki Frontale at the Todoroki Stadium. They took a deserved lead after 24 minutes when former Frontale midfielder Magnum diverted home Yoshizumi Ogawa's cross.

A minute later, however, Frontale responded as Vitor Junior tapped home Yusuke Mori's cross before Hirokazu Taniguchi headed home 15 minutes before the break.

Frontale dominated after the restart and two minutes after the hour mark half-time substitute Tomonobu Yokoyama fed Jong Tae-sek and the North Korea striker advanced before sealing the win.

"I'm so glad that we can celebrate our first win this season with our fans at home today," said Frontale manager Takashi Sekizuka.

"We let them score first but equalised soon after that and that helped turn the game in our favour."

Elsewhere, Kashiwa Reysol snatched a 2-2 draw with Omiya Ardija thanks to a late goal from Masahiro Koga, while Shingo Akamine's late strike handed FC Tokyo a 1-0 win at Jubilo Iwata.