Gamba's Endo, Tokushima's Hashiuchi vie for ball

Gamba's Endo, Tokushima's Hashiuchi vie for ball

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Yasuhito Endo (front) of Gamba Osaka and Yuya Hashiuchi of Tokushima Vortis vie for the ball in the second half of their J-League game at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 6, 2014. Gamba secured their second J-League championship with a 0-0 draw.

Gamba's Usami fires shot against Tokushima

Gamba's Usami fires shot against Tokushima

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Takashi Usami of Gamba Osaka (C) fires a shot in the second half of a game against Tokushima Vortis at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 6, 2014. The 0-0 draw enabled Gamba to win their second J-League title.

Gamba win 2nd J-League title

Gamba win 2nd J-League title

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Gamba Osaka players celebrate after securing their second J-League championship with a 0-0 draw to Tokushima Vortis at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, on Dec. 6, 2014. Gamba won their first league crown since 2005 as Urawa Reds lost 2-1 at home to Nagoya Grampus.

Gamba win 2nd J-League title

Gamba win 2nd J-League title

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Gamba Osaka players celebrate after securing their second J-League championship with a 0-0 draw to Tokushima Vortis at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, on Dec. 6, 2014. Gamba won their first league crown since 2005 as Urawa Reds lost 2-1 at home to Nagoya Grampus.

Tosu's Yasuda scores for 1-0 victory over Tokushima

Tosu's Yasuda scores for 1-0 victory over Tokushima

NARUTO, Japan - Defender Michihiro Yasuda of Sagan Tosu scores a second-half goal en route to the J-League Division 1 club's 1-0 victory over Tokushima Vortis at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 22, 2014.

Tokushima's demotion from J-1 fixed after loss to Cerezo

Tokushima's demotion from J-1 fixed after loss to Cerezo

OSAKA, Japan - Players of Tokushima Vortis, including midfielder Takeshi Hamada (extreme L), look depressed at Kincho Stadium in Osaka, western Japan, on Oct. 22, 2014, after the club's 3-1 loss to Cerezo Osaka that fixed its relegation next year from the J-League Division 1.

Tokushima Vortis supporters perform Awa Odori

Tokushima Vortis supporters perform Awa Odori

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Supporters of Japanese soccer club Tokushima Vortis perform a flash mob Awa Odori dance to wish for a victory by the last-place team of the J-League before its game in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, on May 3, 2014.

Marinos' Tomisawa meets comedian Kanpei Hazama

Marinos' Tomisawa meets comedian Kanpei Hazama

YOKOHAMA, Japan - Seitaro Tomisawa (L) of Yokohama F Marinos poses with comedian Kanpei Hazama at the Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium in Yokohama on March 15, 2014, after the J1 club's victory over Tokushima Vortis.

Forlan takes shot on goal in Cerezo's win over Tokushima

Forlan takes shot on goal in Cerezo's win over Tokushima

NARUTO, Japan - Uruguay striker Diego Forlan (C) takes a shot on goal for Cerezo Osaka against Tokushima Vortis in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in a J-League first-division match on March 8, 2014. Cerezo won 2-0.

Tokushima Vortis gears up ahead of J-League kickoff

Tokushima Vortis gears up ahead of J-League kickoff

MIYAZAKI, Japan - Forward Junya Osaki of Tokushima Vortis, the first J-League Division 1 team from Japan's western main land of Shikoku, scores a goal in a practice match against Kawasaki Frontale during a training camp in Miyazaki, southern Japan, on Feb. 7, 2014, ahead of the March 1 kickoff of this year's professional soccer season.

Fukuoka win promotion to 1st division

Fukuoka win promotion to 1st division

FUKUOKA, Japan - Avispa Fukuoka players celebrate after securing a return to Japan's top flight with a scoreless draw with Tokushima Vortis in a J-League second division match at Hakata-no-Mori Stadium in Fukuoka on Nov. 23.

J-League football

J-League football

Vissel Kobe's Andres Iniesta (front L) and Tokushima Vortis' Taisei Miyashiro vie for the ball during the first half of a J-League football match on Nov. 6, 2021, at Noevir Stadium in Kobe, western Japan.

J-League football

J-League football

Nagoya Grampus forward Mateus (16) celebrates after opening the scoring from the penalty spot during the second half of a J-League football match against Tokushima Vortis on Sept. 10, 2021, at Toyota Stadium in Toyota, central Japan.

J-League football

J-League football

Mateus of Nagoya Grampus opens the scoring from the penalty spot during the second half of a J-League football match against Tokushima Vortis on Sept. 10, 2021, at Toyota Stadium in Toyota, central Japan.

Fukuoka win promotion to 1st division

Fukuoka win promotion to 1st division

FUKUOKA, Japan - Avispa Fukuoka players celebrate after securing a return to Japan's top flight with a scoreless draw with Tokushima Vortis in a J-League second division match at Hakata-no-Mori Stadium in Fukuoka on Nov. 23. (Kyodo)

Gamba's Endo, Tokushima's Hashiuchi vie for ball

Gamba's Endo, Tokushima's Hashiuchi vie for ball

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Yasuhito Endo (front) of Gamba Osaka and Yuya Hashiuchi of Tokushima Vortis vie for the ball in the second half of their J-League game at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 6, 2014. Gamba secured their second J-League championship with a 0-0 draw. (Kyodo)

Gamba's Usami fires shot against Tokushima

Gamba's Usami fires shot against Tokushima

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Takashi Usami of Gamba Osaka (C) fires a shot in the second half of a game against Tokushima Vortis at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, on Dec. 6, 2014. The 0-0 draw enabled Gamba to win their second J-League title. (Kyodo)

Gamba win 2nd J-League title

Gamba win 2nd J-League title

TOKUSHIMA, Japan - Gamba Osaka players celebrate after securing their second J-League championship with a 0-0 draw to Tokushima Vortis at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, on Dec. 6, 2014. Gamba won their first league crown since 2005 as Urawa Reds lost 2-1 at home to Nagoya Grampus. (Kyodo)

Tosu's Yasuda scores for 1-0 victory over Tokushima

Tosu's Yasuda scores for 1-0 victory over Tokushima

NARUTO, Japan - Defender Michihiro Yasuda of Sagan Tosu scores a second-half goal en route to the J-League Division 1 club's 1-0 victory over Tokushima Vortis at Pocari Sweat Stadium in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, western Japan, on Nov. 22, 2014. (Kyodo)

Tokushima's demotion from J-1 fixed after loss to Cerezo

Tokushima's demotion from J-1 fixed after loss to Cerezo

OSAKA, Japan - Players of Tokushima Vortis, including midfielder Takeshi Hamada (extreme L), look depressed at Kincho Stadium in Osaka, western Japan, on Oct. 22, 2014, after the club's 3-1 loss to Cerezo Osaka that fixed its relegation next year from the J-League Division 1. (Kyodo)

Football: Emperor's Cup in Japan

Football: Emperor's Cup in Japan

Patric celebrates after opening the scoring during the second half of Gamba Osaka's 2-0 Emperor's Cup semifinal win over Tokushima Vortis at Panasonic Stadium Suita in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2020.

Football: Emperor's Cup in Japan

Football: Emperor's Cup in Japan

Patric (18) opens the scoring during the second half of Gamba Osaka's 2-0 Emperor's Cup semifinal win over Tokushima Vortis at Panasonic Stadium Suita in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2020.

Football: Emperor's Cup in Japan

Football: Emperor's Cup in Japan

Patric celebrates after opening the scoring during the second half of Gamba Osaka's 2-0 Emperor's Cup semifinal win over Tokushima Vortis at Panasonic Stadium Suita in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Dec. 27, 2020.