Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima has left the J-League club to join Belgian Jupiler League outfit Lierse SK.

The 27-year old Japan national team number one left his homeland on Tuesday to take up a contract with the Antwerp club and plans to develop his game even further in a higher quality league.

"I want to play all games for my new club in Belgium," Kawashima said. "After I experienced the World Cup, I thought that putting myself in a more competitive environment is the only way I can get better."

The former Omiya Ardija and Nagoya Grampus gloveman becomes just the second Japanese goalkeeper to take a contract in Europe, following in the footsteps of ex-Portsmouth and FC Nordsjaelland and current Jubilo Iwata player Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi who was behind Kawashima in Takeshi Okada's Blue Samurai squad at the 2010 World Cup.