Akihiro Ienaga has been awarded KONAMI Monthly MVP for August after a terrific month that saw him help propel Kawasaki Frontale right into the heart of the Meiji Yasuda J1 League title chase.

Ienaga scored two goals and added three assists in Frontale’s four August matches. His exploits pushed his team to a perfect four wins in the month, including a victory over first-place Yokohama F·Marinos, with Ienaga contributing at least one goal or assist in each contest.

With the Ienaga-led wins, Frontale moved as high as second place and right on the heels of Marinos for the title. Frontale have won the last two top-flight titles and four of the last five. If they can finish atop J1 once again in 2022, it will be an unprecedented level of dominance and Ienaga’s spectacular form helped put them in position to possibly win a fifth trophy.

In J2, KONAMI Monthly MVP honors went to Jordy Buijs. The Fagiano Okayama man was his typical sterling self at the back, putting in great work in the center of defense but in August he also contributed going forward. Buijs scored twice and added an assist in Fagiano Okayama’s five games to help push his team into the promotion battle with four wins.

KONAMI Monthly MVP in J3 was given to Iwaki FC’s Ryo Arita. He scored three goals in an undefeated month for his team, leading them to the top of the table.