Suzuki (31), former Japan striker and Troussier fave, released by the Marinos, has signed for Verdy.Keisuke Honda (21), now ex-Nagoya, has reached agreement with VVV in the Netherlands and is expected to make his debut on Jan. 20th. His annual salary will be 390,000 Euros (about

Japanese midfielder Koki Mizuno, set to sign for Scottish champions Celtic, will be helped to settle in by compatriot Shunsuke Nakamura, the 2007 Scottish player of the year.

Three more referees are to be promoted to special referees (SRs). There are now nine Special Referees (full time employees of J.League). This is in line with the county’s intention to “create” more referees and more qualified/experienced referees, as the number of divisions grows from the bottom up….. as a Japanese Grade 2 referee for over ten years, I have now been informed that the cut-off age for becoming a Grade 1 referee (until this month, 30 years old!) has now been relaxed and there is officially no cut off, though under 40 is preferred according to the JFA. So, I can now qualify for a Grade 1 licence AT LAST. Unfortunately, the age limit for actually refereeing is probably still in place and 46, I believe is the limit (I am 46!). So… I can finally (try to) get the Grade 1 in the next few months, but then have only a few months left to try and get into the J.League for my swansong :-)Perhaps the fact that I am requested (preferred!?) by some J.League clubs to referee their training games, and have done for years, will go in my favour!!!? NOT!

Mizumoto confirmed as joining Gamba from JEF (as reported here last week BEFORE anyone else!!). He’s only 22 and if he takes Miyamoto’s shirt number they won’t have to change many letters!! :wink:Hanyu leaves JEF for FC Tokyo….. Kuze’s team being decimated before he even starts – maybe a good thing?!!Read on for more news…..

Some unfortunate news to report from Red Bull Salzburg. During sprint training Tsuneyasu Miyamoto picked up a tear on the outer flexor of his left thigh: a particularly nasty hamstring tear.Tsune went under the knife of Dr. Jens Enneper in a Salzburg hospital and is certain to miss the rest of the season. jsoccer.com awaits good news of a successful operation!Miyamoto noted, when contemplating the first serious injury of his career:

Marinos (ex-Jubilo, and local Kobe boy done food) Daisuke Oku has decided to retire.Naotake Hanyuu is to move on a full transfer from JEF to FC Tokyo. The Nikkan reports that he is to get a multi-year contract worth

GK Kenta Tanno (21), 184cm 75kg, is to return to Cerezo from his loan to V Vahren Nagasaki.MF Kiyokazu Kudou and Takanori Nunobe, both formerly of Cerezo, have signed up with Avispa Fukuoka for another year, though Avispa released more than 15 other players.MF Jun Marques Davidson (24), 186cm 75kg, has moved from Niigata to Sapporo on a one-year loan. (At the end of last season, Davidson, who has Japanese citizenship, was on loan to Vissel, but made little impact.)(EX-)? Japan international Alex has returned to Urawa Reds from Salzburg and will take part, like Takahara, in Okada’s training camp for the national team. Miyamoto has returned for the 2nd half of the season with Salzburg and the team will be in Dubai for a training camp from next week.MF Honda has just finished a camp with VVV in Holland, and the coach Wittser (?) is more than satisfied and stated, “I have realized that Honda is a good player and that I can use him”. Honda did himself no harm by providing a through pass for an assist in a mini-game on the last day of the camp.FW Kazuki Hiramoto (26) has taken a

Rumours from inside Gamba say JEF’s Mizumoto is on the way and it is already confirmed that Sidiclei has returned to Kyoto for one more season before retiring? Gamba have also signed a centreback called Mineiro who appears highly rated.Komano approached by Vissel but apparently prefers an offer from Jubilo? more on that as we find out!Big news, Liberian international, politician and ez-Milan superstar, George Weah (41) is to become general manager/technical director of a new football club called Variente Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture.MF Kashiwagi (20) has decided to stay in Hiroshima despite having several offers from J1 clubs, including Kobe and Kashiwa. MF Sakamoto (29) of Niigata is to return to JEF on a full transfer. This move was initiated by the player, who informed his agent he wanted to move back to JEF and the agent negotiated the move between the two clubs.JEF president, Yodogawa, has given up on trying to keep Mizuno. Mizuno’s transfer to Celtic is now regarded as a near certainty (kakujitsu). He has now arrived in Glasgow.GK Ryou Kushino (28) and DF Junya Tanaka (24) are both to return to JEF after completing one-year loans to Grampus and Sagan Tosu respectively.DF Kawakami (27) has moved on a full transfer from Kyoto to Ehime.FW Doi (20) has moved on a full transfer from Vissel to Albirex Niigata S in the Singapore League. Hopefully he will return one day, a promising player, I feel.

Reports coming that Josip Kuze – new JEF manager and all-round nice guy and friend of jsoccer.com – is willing to let Mizuno join Celtic this week…. although Mizuno has not played in the required 75% of full internationals over the last two years, he has, for some reason been granted an exception!Shinji Ono is being given another chance with VFL Bochum – a week of rest then another test of his dodgy ankle.

.. from his training regime in Okinawa, and confirmed that he will be staying with Gamba Osaka this year, and fighting for a place with Bare and newly-signed Lucas!