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Kashima Antlers are often referred to by Japanese journalists as the "The Perrennial Winners" (常勝軍団), or more loosely translated "the team that always seems to win". The nickname is apt, though only since the start of the J.League era.
The Antlers organization can trace its history back to the formation of the Sumitomo Metal Industries club team, in 1947. The team changed its name in 1992 to Kashima Antlers, as part of the creation of the J.League. The name is derived from the fact that "Kashima" the team's home town - is Japanese for "deer island". The town is located on a sandy peninsula bordering the Pacific Ocean, and surrounded by water or marshes on all sides. The area used to be filled with wild deer, and a few still inhabit the grounds of Kashima Jinja, albeit essentially as pets. The team chose a deer as its mascot, an impressive deer-head silhouette for its badge, and the name "Antlers"
As noted, the Antlers joined the J.League in 1992, as one of the League's founding members. Since the J.League's creation and introduction of professional Japanese football in 1993, Kashima have proved by far Japan's most successful club team, having won the J.League title a record nine times, the League Cup (Nabisco/ Levain) six times and the Emperor's Cup on five occasions. Antlers also won their first Asian Champions League trophy in 2018. This total of 21 major trophies makes Kashima the most successful team in Japanese football history.
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