Former Japan defender Yutaka Akita has joined relegated Kyoto Purple Sanga on a one-year deal after being deemed surplus to requirements at Nagoya Grampus Eight, Kyoto officials said Wednesday.
The 36-year-old has made a J. League first-division record 391 appearances during his time with Kashima Antlers and Nagoya.
He played in Japan's World Cup debut in France in 1998 and was also a member of the squad that reached the second round of the 2002 World Cup Japan hosted with South Korea.