Grampus in the J.League Cup. By the end of the J.League first stage, Shoji's contribution to the first team helped the side finish at the top of the table. After serving a one match suspension, he made his return to the starting line-up, as Kashima Antlers lost 3–1 loss against Gamba Osaka on 2 July 2016. Shoji continued to help the side remain at the top of the table for the next eleven matches. It wasn't until on 16 September 2016 when he scored his second goal of the season, in a 3–0 win against Júbilo Iwata. At some point around this month, he signed a contract with the club. Following the club's qualification to finish third place at the end of the J.League second stage, Shoji later helped the club win the league after playing both legs to beat Urawa Red Diamonds 2–2 on aggregate through away goal. Shoji played all the four matches in the FIFA Club World Cup, as he helped Kashima Antlers reach the final, only to lose 4–2 against Real Madrid. Despite losing in the final, both Shoji and Naomichi Ueda's centre-back partnership were praised by the media, both in and outside of Japan. Shoji also helped the club reach the Emperor's Cup Final by beating Kawasaki Frontale 2–1. At the end of the 2016 season, he went on to make forty–five appearances and scoring two times in all competitions. For his performance in the 2016 season, Shoji was named J.League Best XI. In the 2017 season, Shoji started the whole match against Urawa Red Diamonds in the Japanese Super Cup, as he helped Kashima Antlers win 3–2 to win the trophy. Shoji then helped the side keep three clean sheets in three matches between 4 March 2017 and 14 March 2017. A month later on 30 April 2017, he scored his first goal of the season, to make amends from giving away a penalty earlier in the game, in a 2–1 win against Sagan Tosu. His performance attracted interests from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, but Shoji was quoted saying: "it may end with interest." Amid to a transfer move, Shoji captained the side for the first time in his Kashima Antlers’ career, as they lost 2–1 against Vissel Kobe on 14 May 2017. He then captained the side for the next three out of the four matches throughout May and early–June. Shoji further captained