Gifu beat Toyama Shindo 3:1 in the first round of the Emperor's Cup on 19 August 2026. The hosts opened the scoring just before half-time and added two more in the second half. Toyama Shondo pulled one back but could not find a way back into the match.
K. Yakabi found the net at 45+2 minutes to give Gifu the lead. It was a moment that shifted the momentum, and the visitors had to chase the game from the break. By then the home side had already established the sort of advantage that makes the second half simpler.
The goals came thick and fast after the restart. Gifu doubled their advantage at 74 minutes, and Toyama Shindo responded at 79 with a goal of their own. The visitors had shown they could respond, but Gifu were not about to let the tie slip away.
At 90+3 minutes Gifu sealed the result with a third goal. The late strike put the game beyond doubt and sent the home side through to the next round. The visitors had to return to Japan with nothing to show for their efforts.
Gifu's recent form has been mixed, with draws and defeats in their last five games. This victory offers a chance to reset, and a place in the second round is a reward for persistence. Toyama Shindo's last competitive fixture was a 1:3 defeat to Gifu in May 2025, a result that perhaps foreshadowed this encounter.