Kashima Antlers, Japan's most successful club, qualified for their fourth successive AFC Champions League by winning the Emperor's Cup for a fourth time.

Kashima beat Shimizu S-Pulse 2-1 on New Year's Day as goals by Brazilian midfielder Fellype Gabriel and Takuya Nozawa secured Japan's top knockout title and the country's fourth berth in this year's AFC Champions League.

Takuya Nozawa

The last two spots for the 32-team event are reserved for the winners of the east and west playoffs, which will be held next month.

The Antlers, who also competed in the inaugural AFC Champions League in 2002-03, have topped their group in the last three editions of Asia's top club competition.

However, each time they have tripped at the first hurdle in the knockout stage, being knocked out in the quarter-finals in 2008 and the round of 16 for the past two years.

This year, Kashima will compete in Group H with Suwon Bluewings, one of four K-League clubs to reach the quarter-finals last year, Shanghai Shenhua of China and A-League champions Sydney FC.

Kashima are Japan's most successful club, with seven J.League titles. Under Brazilian coach Oswaldo Oliveira, they won a hat-trick from 2007 to 2009 before conceding their title to Nagoya Grampus last year and dropping out of the three automatic AFC Champions League spots on the last day of the season.

Seongnam Ilhwa beat Zobahan 3-1 in the final of the 2010 AFC Champions League, but will not defend their title after failing to reach the top three of the K-League playoffs.