After 2 1/2 months of inactivity for Division One of the J. League due to the Olympics and Asian Cup, the Nabisco Cup final kicked off the remaining portion of the soccer season at Tokyo's National Stadium on Saturday.
Last year's runnerup the Kashima Antlers overcame surprise finalist Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 with a Koji Nakata goal after half an hour and a Bismarck penalty just after the hour mark.
"I'm quite moved to have won this title," said Kashima manager Toninho Cerezo who secured his first title as a coach and joked that it was the first step required to become manager of Brazil.