This is a list of J.League designated special players, picked by J.League clubs from universities and high schools all over Japan.
The system, in place since 1998, aims to provide high potential players "a suitable environment in accordance with the player's ability." [1] Most young players are registered with their university or high school until they are at least 18 and as such cannot be registered with another team. The 'designated special players' system allows J.League clubs to invite a maximum of three players to train and play in J.League competitions, without changing their registration status from their current registered team. Therefore, during this time, the player is allowed to play for both their educational institution and their J.League club. This provides the players an opportunity to train and play at a higher level, whilst also giving the clubs an opportunity to sell themselves as a potential destination upon completion of their studies. Although most of the time players go on to sign a professional contract with their host club, there is no guarantees or assurances that it will always be the case.
A player is eligible to become a designated special players if they fulfill the following requirements:
Once approved, the players can then participate in any of the following competitions:
Legend | Meaning |
---|---|
Highlighted row | Player made appearances whilst registered as a designated special player |
Bold | Player has gone on to represent the Japan national football team |
Player | From | To | Games played | Year of affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fumiya Iwamaru | Maebashi Ikuei High School | Urawa Red Diamonds | 2000 – Vissel Kobe | |
Tsutomu Fujihara | Kobe Koryo Gakuen High School | Vissel Kobe | 1999 – Cerezo Osaka | |
Masashi Kuwahon | Taisha High School | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1999 – Fukuoka University | |
Mitsuru Chiyotanda | Higashi Fukuoka High School | Avispa Fukuoka | 1999 – University of Tsukuba | |
Tomoyuki Yoshino | Narashino High School | Kashiwa Reysol | 1999 – Urawa Red Diamonds | |
Norihiro Nishi | Ichiritsu Funabashi High School | Yokohama Flügels | 1999 – Júbilo Iwata | |
Taichi Hasegawa | Mizuhashi High School | Nagoya Grampus Eight | 1999 – Albirex Niigata | |
Terawaki | Kusatsu Higashi High School | Kyoto Sanga | 1999 – Doshisha University | |
Keiji Tamada | Narashino High School | Kashiwa Reysol | 1999 – Kashiwa Reysol | |
Takuma Sugano | Narashino High School | JEF United Chiba | 1999 – JEF United Chiba | |
Player | From | To | Games played | Year of affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kenta Tokushige | Kunimi High School | Avispa Fukuoka | 2002 – Urawa Red Diamonds | |
Ryota Aoki | Ichiritsu Funabashi High School | FC Tokyo | 2003 – Gamba Osaka | |
Masatomo Kuba | Toko Gakuen High School | Tokyo Verdy | 2003 – Tokyo Verdy | |
Tatsuya Kamohara | Kunimi High School | Avispa Fukuoka | 2002 – Kokushikan University | |
Yutaro Abe | Toin Gakuen High School | Yokohama F. Marinos | 2003 – Yokohama F. Marinos | |
Player | From | To | Games played | Year of affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ryota Aoki | Ichiritsu Funabashi High School | FC Tokyo | 2003 – Gamba Osaka | |
Masatomo Kuba | Toko Gakuen High School | Tokyo Verdy | 2003 – Tokyo Verdy | |
Sho Naruoka | Fujieda Higashi High School | Júbilo Iwata | 2003 – Júbilo Iwata | |
Yutaro Abe | Toin Gakuen High School | Yokohama F. Marinos | J1: 3 caps, 0 goals | 2003 – Yokohama F. Marinos |
Kentaro Ohi | Fujieda Higashi High School | Júbilo Iwata | 2003 – Júbilo Iwata | |
Akihiro Kusaba | Nara Ikuei High School | Cerezo Osaka | 2004 – Chukyo University | |
Takeshi Nakamura | Shiogama FC Youth | Vegalta Sendai | 2003 – Chuo University | |
Toshiki Chino | Nirasaki High School | FC Tokyo | 2004 – Ventforet Kofu | |
Kazumasa Takagi | Kagawa Nishi High School | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 2003 – Sanfrecce Hiroshima | |
Tomoya Osawa | Teikyo High School | Urawa Red Diamonds | 2003 – Omiya Ardija | |
Kisho Yano | Hamana High School | Júbilo Iwata | 2003 – Kashiwa Reysol | |
Player | From | To | Games played | Year of affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Kohei Kawata | Fukuoka University | Sagan Tosu | 2010 – Gamba Osaka | |
Yusuke Tasaka | Aoyama Gakuin University | Kawasaki Frontale | J1: 1 cap, 0 goals | 2008 – Kawasaki Frontale |
Kengo Kawamata | Komatsu High School | Ehime FC | 2010 – Albirex Niigata | |
Hiroki Kato | Ryutsu Keizai University | Mito HollyHock | J2: 4 cap, 0 goals | 2009 – Mito HollyHock |
Koji Hashimoto | Meiji University | Nagoya Grampus Eight | JLC: 1 cap, 0 goals | 2009 – Nagoya Grampus Eight |
Yuto Nagatomo | Meiji University | FC Tokyo | JLC: 1 cap, 0 goals | 2008 – FC Tokyo |
Yusuke Murakami | Juntendo University | Kashiwa Reysol | 2008 – Kashiwa Reysol | |
Daisuke Suzuki | Seiryo High School | Albirex Niigata | 2008 – Albirex Niigata | |
Ryohei Hayashi | Meiji University | Yokohama FC | 2009 – Tokyo Verdy | |
Masaki Iida | Ryutsu Keizai University | Tokyo Verdy | 2008 – Tokyo Verdy | |
Takamitsu Tomiyama | Yaita Chuo High School | Vegalta Sendai | 2009 – Waseda University | |
Caps and goals updated as of 15 February 2025. Players registered in the program updated as of 14 February 2025.
Player | From | To | Games played | Year of affiliation |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tsuna Kominato | Hosei University | FC Tokyo | 2027 – FC Tokyo [399] | |
Kosuke Matsumura | Hosei University | Yokohama F. Marinos | 2027 – Yokohama F. Marinos [400] | |
Kosei Suwama | University of Tsukuba | Yokohama F. Marinos | 2026 – Yokohama F. Marinos [401] | |
Hiroshi Muto | Chukyo University | Ehime FC | 2026 – Ehime FC [402] | |
Ruon Hisanaga | Toin University of Yokohama | Iwaki FC | J2: 1 cap, 0 goals | 2026 – Iwaki FC [403] |
Ryusei Yoshimura | Kansai University | Júbilo Iwata | 2026 – Júbilo Iwata [404] | |
Kota Saga | Rikkyo University | Mito HollyHock | 2026 – Mito HollyHock [405] | |
Taiyo Yoneda | Nippon Sport Science University | Ventforet Kofu | 2026 – Ventforet Kofu [406] | |
All records below are for while the player was specially designated