In 2004, J. League introduced a series of two test matches called League Promotion/relegation Series between the sixteenth-place J. Division 1 (J1) club and third-place J.league Division 2 (J2) club. The winner of this game receives the third and final ticket to J1 in the following season, with the first two going to the first- and second-place J2 teams at the end of the season.
The J.League Championship is a two-legged championship series which determined the season champion for the first 12 J.League seasons (1993–2004) excluding the 1996 season. In the early years, the J.League seasons were divided into two halves, the first and second stages, and the champions of each stage participated in the series. The competition did not take place in 1996, since the single season format was used in that year. Japanese beer company Suntory sponsored the championship, thus the name Suntory Championship was used in the media and among the general public.
The 86th Emperor's Cup had been held between September 17, 2006, and January 1, 2007. The previous season's winners Urawa Red Diamonds defended the Cup and completed the league-cup double.
The Saitama City Cup is an International friendly football tournament held in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It has been hosted by Urawa Red Diamonds annually since 2003 at Saitama Stadium 2002 until 2008 edition. 2009 event was also planned and announced but cancelled later due to 2009 flu pandemic. 2010 and 2011 edition were hosted by Omiya Ardija thus held at NACK5 Stadium Ōmiya. After absence in 2012, 2013 event will be hosted by Urawa again and Arsenal F.C. will be non-Japanese invitees, while previous edition in 2011 was competed by Omiya and Urawa, without non-Japanese invitees first time.
The 88th Emperor's Cup began on September 13, 2008 and ended on January 1, 2009 with the final which took place at National Stadium in Tokyo. As the champion, Gamba Osaka participated in 2009 AFC Champions League.
The 2009 J.League Cup, more widely known as the 2009 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup, is the 34th edition of Japan soccer league cup tournament and the 17th edition under the current J.League Cup format. The championship started on March 25, 2009 and ended on November 3, with F.C. Tokyo defeating Kawasaki Frontale 2-0 in the Final. They qualified for the 2010 Suruga Bank Championship.
The 89th Emperor's Cup began on September 19, 2009 and ended on January 1, 2010 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Gamba Osaka won the title for the second consecutive season. Since Gamba already confirmed 2010 AFC Champions League berth, the last spot of ACL for J.League club is awarded to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, which finished as 4th place of 2009 J.League Division 1.
The 2010 J. League Cup, more widely known as the 2010 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup, was the 35th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 18th edition under the current J. League Cup format. It began on 31 March 2010 with the first matches of the group stage and ended on 3 November 2010 with the Final at National Olympic Stadium, Tokyo.
The 90th Emperor's Cup (第90回天皇杯) began on 4 September 2010 and ended on 1 January 2011 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Gamba Osaka were the two-time defending champions, having won two previous tournaments.
The 2011 J. League Cup, also known as the 2011 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, is the 36th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 19th edition under the current J. League Cup format. It was scheduled to begin on 16 March 2011 with the first matches of the group stage; however, the competition was postponed due to the aftermath of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Later the beginning of the tournament is set to 5 June, with reducing the number of matches.
The 91st Emperor's Cup (第91回天皇杯) was a regular edition of an annual Japanese national cup tournament. It started on 3 September 2011 and ended on 1 January 2012 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, won by FC Tokyo 4–2 against Kyoto Sanga.
The 2012 J.League Cup, also known as the 2012 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, was the 37th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 20th edition under the current J.League Cup format.
The 92nd Emperor's Cup (第92回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会) was a regular edition of an annual Japanese national cup tournament. It started on 1 September 2012 and ended on 1 January 2013 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, won by Kashiwa Reysol 1–0 against Gamba Osaka.
The 2013 J.League Cup, also known as the 2013 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, was the 38th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 21st edition under the current J.League Cup format.
The 2014 J.League Cup, also known as the 2014 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, is the 39th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 22nd edition under the current J.League Cup format.
The 2015 Meiji Yasuda J1 League season was the 50th season of top-flight football in Japan and the 23rd since the establishment of the J.League in 1992. This was first season of J1 League as renamed from J. League Division 1.
The 2015 J.League Cup, also known as the 2015 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup for sponsoring purposes, is the 40th edition of the most prestigious Japanese soccer league cup tournament and the 23rd edition under the current J.League Cup format.
2019 J. League Cup is the 27th J.League Cup, which began on 6 March 2019.
The 2021 J.League Cup, known as the 2021 J.League YBC Levain Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 29th edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition. It began on 2 March 2021 and ended on 30 October that year.
The 2023 J.League Cup, known as the 2023 J.League YBC Levain Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 31st edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition. Unlike previous editions, the competition did not use the away goals rule. No byes awarded for the knockout stage and thus no knockout round playoffs.
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