Frontale will play another Saudi side, Al Ahli, in Saturday's final after prevailing 3-2 in a fierce test against Al Nassr three days after being taken to extra time in their quarter-final.
Despite having only 25 percent possession on Wednesday night Frontale went 3-1 up in the 76th minute and were holding on comfortably until Ayman Yahya pulled one back three minutes from time.
Al Nassr threw everything at the tiring Kawasaki players in search of an equaliser.
The 40-year-old Ronaldo could not convert three chances in the dying moments, leaving his hopes of adding the Asian crown to his five UCL victories in tatters.
Hasebe said fatigue after Kawasaki's 3-2 extra-time win against Qatar's Al Sadd had led him to turn to the fresh legs of 19-year-old Soma Kanda and Yuto Ozeki, 20, who ran their hearts out before being substituted at half-time.