J3 League

Last updated
J3 League
J3 League logo.svg
Organising body J.League
Founded2013;13 years ago (2013)
CountryJapan
Confederation AFC
Number of clubs20
Level on pyramid 3
Promotion to J2 League
Relegation to Japan Football League
Domestic cup Emperor's Cup
League cup J.League Cup
Current champions Tochigi City (1st title)
(2025)
Most championships Blaublitz Akita (2 titles)
Broadcaster(s) DAZN
Website Official website (in English)
Current: 2026–27 J3 League

J3 League (Japanese: J3リーグ, Hepburn: J3 Rīgu) or simply J3 is the third division of the Japan Professional Football League (日本プロサッカーリーグ, Nihon Puro Sakkā Rīgu). It was established in 2013 as the third-tier professional association football league in Japan under the organization of J.League. The league is known as the Meiji Yasuda J3 League (Japanese: 明治安田J3リーグ) for sponsorship reasons. [1]

Contents

The third-tier nationwide league is a relatively recent development in Japanese football with a first attempt made in 1992 (second division of the old JFL), though it only lasted for two seasons. In 1999, following the establishment of J2 League, a new Japan Football League was created to comprise the third tier and lower divisions. After the introduction of J3, the JFL was demoted to the fourth-tier nationwide league, for the first time in history of Japanese football.

History of Japanese third-tier football

Amateur era (until 2013)

A national third tier of Japanese association football was first established along with its professionalization in 1992, when the newly created Japan Football League kicked off with two tiers below the professional J. League. Among the 10 original clubs of the third tier included the forerunners to Kyoto Sanga FC, Ventforet Kofu, Omiya Ardija, Avispa Fukuoka and Vissel Kobe (the latter two being located in different regions from their J. League successors). But after a number of clubs were lost for various reasons – some were promoted to J.League and the others folded – the league contracted the second division in 1994 and continued with the single second-tier division.

The third tier football was reintroduced in 1999 upon creation of fully professional J2. The old JFL was dissolved but a new Japan Football League was formed the same year in order to establish a nationwide top-tier amateur league. But despite its officially amateur status the league quickly became de facto semi-professional, serving as the cradle of the future J. League members. Since the establishment of associate membership system in 2006 the number of professional clubs holding or actively seeking for this status has grown steadily and reached its peak in 2013 season when 6 full members and 2 former candidates made up to almost half of the league's 18 teams. Through the course of the season this number grew even bigger, to 10 full associate members that formed the core of J3.

Professionalization and establishment (2013)

Close to the end of 2012 football season Japanese media began to spread rumors [2] [3] about the upcoming professional third-tier league, referred to as either "J3" or "J.Challenge League". Most of the sources agreed that the new league would feature around 10–12 clubs, most of which became associate members. The league would also provide more relaxed licensing criteria in comparison to J2 – e.g. the stadium seating capacity of just 3,000 with no mandatory floodlighting. [4]

After the discussion on J1-J2 Joint Committee on 16 January 2013, all J.League clubs agreed in principle with an establishment of the new league starting 2014. [5] This decision was formally put into force by J.League Council in a 26 February executive meeting. [6] The league was planned to launch with 10 teams, but another session of J.League Council in July decided that inaugural season of J3 would feature 12 teams. [7]

To participate, a club must have held an associate membership, or have submitted an application before 30 June 2013, and then passed an inspection to obtain a participation licence issued by J.League Council. [8] On 19 November, J.League confirmed the following clubs to participate in the inaugural J3 season: [9]

Future plans

The league has not provided a clear expansion timeline yet but it was most likely that J3 continued to accommodate new teams after its inaugural season. The following is a list of clubs that may get promoted to J.League in the near future: [11]

Other teams have applied for the 100 Year plan status or a J3 license but were denied. Most of these clubs continue to aim for J3 as their ultimate goal.

Four teams, one withdrew its J3 license, two their 100 Year Plan status, formerly associate membership, and another was deprived of both:

Some sources claimed that J3 was intended to reach up to 60 clubs in the future, being split into three regionalized divisions running in parallel. [12]

At the end of January 2023, the J.League removed its 100 Year Plan status from application requirements for J3 licenses as part of revisions to the division's club licensing regulations. [13] In December, the J.League voted to adopt a fall–spring format, beginning in 2026–27. The regular season will begin in August and pause for a winter break between December and February, with the final matches played in May. [14]

Timetable

YearImportant eventsNo. J3
clubs		Prom.
slots		Rel.
slots
2014
  • The J.League adopts three divisions, as the following clubs join Division 3:
  • A J.League U-22 Selection is also included, composed of the best J1 and J2 youngsters to prepare them for the 2016 Olympics.
  • The Japan Football League becomes the nationwide fourth tier, and first tier for amateur clubs.
  • Zweigen Kanazawa becomes the first J3 champions and get promoted to J2. Nagano Parceiro lost the promotion/relegation Series against the J2 21st placed team.
11+11.50
2015
  • Kataller Toyama is relegated from J2.
  • Renofa Yamaguchi is promoted from Japan Football League (JFL) and in its first J3 season becomes champions and got promoted to J2.
  • FC Machida Zelvia is also promoted as it finished in 2nd place and won the promotion/relegation Series against newly relegated Oita Trinita, the first former J1 team to play in J3.
12+1
2016
  • Tochigi SC and Oita Trinita are relegated from J2.
  • Kagoshima United FC is promoted from JFL.
  • J. League U-22 Selection disbanded. Cerezo Osaka, Gamba Osaka and FC Tokyo introduced U-23 reserve teams to reach 16 teams and change the league to a two-round system.
13+3
2017
  • Giravanz Kitakyushu is relegated from J2.
  • Azul Claro Numazu is promoted from JFL.
  • Promotion/relegation series abolished; runner-up promoted automatically.
14+32
2018
  • Roasso Kumamoto and Kamatamare Sanuki are relegated from J2.
  • Vanraure Hachinohe is promoted from JFL.
15+3
2019
  • Kagoshima United and FC Gifu are relegated from J2.
  • FC Imabari is promoted from JFL.
16+3
2020
  • FC Tokyo U-23 withdraws from J3. Cerezo and Gamba Osaka dissolve their U-23s after the season.
  • This was the last season to feature U-23 teams.
  • Tegevajaro Miyazaki is promoted from JFL.
16+2
2021
  • SC Sagamihara, Ehime FC, Giravanz Kitakyushu, and Matsumoto Yamaga are relegated from J2.
  • Iwaki FC is promoted from JFL.
15
2022
  • Iwaki FC is promoted from JFL and in its first J3 season becomes champions and got promoted to J2.
  • FC Ryukyu and Iwate Grulla Morioka are relegated from J2.
  • Nara Club and FC Osaka are promoted from JFL.
18
2023
  • Omiya Ardija and Zweigen Kanazawa are relegated from J2.
  • This season features J3–JFL playoffs; relegation from the J3 League to the JFL is introduced.
200–2
2024
  • Tochigi SC, Kagoshima United and Thespa Gunma are relegated from J2.
  • There are promotion playoffs for the J3 with teams from 3rd to 6th place. Kataller Toyama is the inaugural winner.
  • Tochigi City FC and Kochi United SC are promoted from JFL. Iwate Grulla Morioka and YSCC Yokohama are the first J3 clubs relegated.
3
2025
  • Roasso Kumamoto, Renofa Yamaguchi and Ehime FC are relegated from J2.
  • Reilac Shiga is promoted from JFL. Azul Claro Numazu is relegated from J3.
  • This is the last season is spring-autumn format.
2026–27
  • This is first season use fall-spring format starting from August 2026 until May 2027.

Crest

On 20 December 2022, the J3 League logo colour was changed to blue for the 2023 season prior to the 10th anniversary of Japan's third-tier professional league below J1 and J2, whose respective logo colours are red and green. [15]

History crest

2026–27 season

League format

For this season, the league is played in two rounds (home and away), each team playing a total of 38 matches. [16]

Each team must have at least 3 players holding professional contracts. Also, since the 2016 season, 5 foreign players are allowed per team, plus 1 more from J.League's ASEAN partner country of or from other AFC countries. The matchday roster consists of 18 players, and up to 3 substitutes are allowed in a game. [17]

Promotion and relegation

Rules for promotion to J2 are largely similar to those of Japan Football League in recent seasons: to be promoted, a club must hold or be granted a J2 license and finish in top 2 of the league. From 2017 to 2023, the champions and the runners-up have been promoted directly and replace the 21st- and 22nd-placed J2 clubs. If only the champion or runner-up holds or is given a J2 license, only the bottom club of J2 is relegated; if both top 2 finishers are ineligible for promotion, then no teams are promoted to or relegated from J2. [16]

Since the 2024 season, the 3rd to 6th placers have promotion playoffs and the winner is also the third team automatically promoted. The three J2 bottom-placed teams are automatically relegated to J3. [18]

At a J.League board meeting in August 2021, 60 clubs (of which 20 are J3) were targeted for the entire league, and a possibility that J3 would have exceeded 20 clubs by the 2023 season was brought up. Mitsuru Murai, the J.League chairman, revealed that he was discussing how to adjust to 20 clubs. At this time, he was asked, "If there is a possibility of the [J3] league having 21 teams, is it okay to understand that there are teams that will fall from J3 to JFL?" While under consideration, he admitted that the J3 and JFL were considering the introduction of relegation to the latter league as early as after the 2022 season. [19] Later in November, Murai announced that promotion from and relegation to the JFL was planned after the 2023 season, [20]

In early January 2023, the J.League introduced the J3–JFL promotion/relegation playoffs, enabling the possibility for teams to be relegated from the J3. [21] The system of promotion and relegation between the J3 and the JFL can be determined by the eligibility (promotion to J3 requires a J.League license) of the JFL's champions and runners-up for the season.

Participating clubs (2026–27)

class=notpageimage|
Locations of the 2026–27 J3 League teams
class=notpageimage|
Greater Tokyo Area J3 League teams


Club nameYear joinedSeasons
in J3		Based inFirst season
in D3		Seasons
in D3		Current spell
in D3		Last spell
in J2
Ehime FC 2006 (J2)2 Matsuyama, Ehime 2002152026–2024–2025
Fukushima United 201411All cities/towns in Fukushima 2013122013––
Gainare Tottori 2011 (J2)11All cities/towns in Tottori 2001212014–2011–2013
FC Gifu 2008 (J2)5All cities/towns in Gifu 200752020–2008–2019
Giravanz Kitakyushu 2010 (J2)6 Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 200882022–2020–2021
Kagoshima United 20167 Kagoshima, Kagoshima 201672025–2024
Kamatamare Sanuki 2014 (J2)6 Takamatsu, Kagawa 201192019–2014–2018
Kochi United 20251 Kōchi, Kōchi 202512025––
Matsumoto Yamaga 2012 (J2)4Central and southern cities/towns/villages in Nagano 201052022–2020–2021
Nagano Parceiro 201411Northern and eastern cities/towns/villages in Nagano 2011142011––
Nara Club 20232All cities/towns in Nara 202322023––
FC Osaka 20232 Higashiōsaka, Osaka 202322023––
Reilac Shiga 20260 Hikone, Shiga 200862026––
Renofa Yamaguchi 20151 Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi 201512026–2016–2025
Roasso Kumamoto 2008 (J2)3 Kumamoto, Kumamoto 200172026–2022–2025
Ryukyu Okinawa 20146All cities/towns in Okinawa 2006142023–2019–2022
SC Sagamihara 20148 Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2013102022–2021
Thespa Gunma 2005 (J2)2 Maebashi, Gunma 200432025–2020–2024
Tochigi SC 2009 (J2)2 Utsunomiya, Tochigi 2000112025–2018–2024
Zweigen Kanazawa 20142 Kanazawa 201522024–2015–2023

Stadiums (2026–27)

Primary venues used in the J3 League:

Roasso Kumamoto FC Osaka Tochigi SC Kamatamare Sanuki Ehime FC
Egao Kenko Stadium Hanazono Rugby Stadium Kanseki Stadium Tochigi Pikara Stadium Ningineer Stadium
Capacity: 30,275Capacity: 26,443Capacity: 24,670Capacity: 22,338Capacity: 20,919
Kkwing20060513.JPG Higashi Osaka Hanazono Rugby Stadium ground.jpg Kanseki stadium tochigi inside 2.jpg Marugame-sta140824-03.jpg EhimePreParkStadium130811-2.JPG
Matsumoto Yamaga FC Gifu Kochi United Nagano Parceiro Giravanz Kitakyushu
Sunpro Alwin Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium Minami Nagano Sports Park Stadium Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Capacity: 20,110Capacity: 16,310Capacity: 16,010Capacity: 15,515Capacity: 15,300
ALWIN1.jpg Nagaragawa Stadium 5.JPG Harunokyu20090213a.jpg Minaminagano-15032202.JPG Mikuni World stadium Sept 16 2019.jpg
Thespa Gunma Renofa Yamaguchi Kagoshima United Gainare Tottori Zweigen Kanazawa
Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma Ishin Me-Life Stadium Shiranami Stadium Axis Bird Stadium Kanazawa Go Go Curry Stadium
Capacity: 15,190Capacity: 15,115Capacity: 12,212Capacity: 11,999Capacity: 10,728
Shikishima rikujo 1.JPG Ishin Memorial Park Stadium outview.JPG Kamoike140511-01.JPG Tottori-bird131006-4.jpg Kanazawastadium20240309-1.jpg
Ryukyu Okinawa Reilac Shiga SC Sagamihara Fukushima United Nara Club
Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium Heiwado HATO Stadium Sagamihara Gion Stadium Toho Stadium Rohto Field Nara
Capacity: 10,189Capacity: 6,444Capacity: 6,259Capacity: 5,710Capacity: 5,369
Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium 4.jpg HeiwadoHatoStadium1.jpg Asamizopark-4.JPG Fukushima azuma1.JPG Konoike-ath02.jpg

Former clubs

Club nameYear joinedSeasons
in J3		Based inFirst season
in D3		Seasons
in D3		Last spell
in D3		Current
league
Azul Claro Numazu 20178 Numazu, Shizuoka 201782017–2025JFL
Blaublitz Akita 20147All cities/towns in Akita 2007142007–2020J2
Cerezo Osaka U-23 20165 Osaka & Sakai, Osaka 201652016–2020defunct
Fujieda MYFC 20149Central cities/towns in Shizuoka 2012152012–2022J2
Gamba Osaka U-23 20165Northern cities in Osaka201652016–2020defunct
FC Imabari 20196 Imabari, Ehime 201962019–2024J2
Iwaki FC 20221 Iwaki and Futaba District, Fukushima 202212022J2
Iwate Grulla Morioka 201411 Morioka, Iwate 2014112023–2024JFL
J.League U-22 Selection 20142Played away games only201422015defunct
Kataller Toyama 2009 (J2)10 Toyama, Toyama 2008112015–2024J2
Machida Zelvia 2012 (J2)2 Machida, Tokyo 200962015J1
Oita Trinita 1999 (J2)1All cities/towns in Ōita 201612016J2
Omiya Ardija 20061 Omiya, Saitama 199232024J2
Tegevajaro Miyazaki 20215 Miyazaki, Miyazaki 202152021–2025J2
Tochigi City FC 20251 Tochigi, Tochigi 201042025J2
FC Tokyo U-23 20164 Chōfu, Tokyo 201642016–2019defunct
Vanraure Hachinohe 20196 Hachinohe, Aomori 201962019–2025J2
YSCC Yokohama 201412 Yokohama, Kanagawa 2012142014–2024JFL

Championship and promotion history

From 2014 to 2016, the playoff winners faced off against the 21st place in J2. From 2017 to 2023, two clubs were promoted by default. From 2024 onwards, the third promotion place is determined by a playoff between the 3rd to 6th actual places.

SeasonChampionsRunners-upThird placePlay-off winners
Zweigen Kanazawa Nagano Parceiro † Machida Zelvia N/A
Renofa Yamaguchi Machida Zelvia ‡ Nagano Parceiro
Oita Trinita Tochigi SC Nagano Parceiro
Blaublitz Akita Tochigi SC Azul Claro Numazu
FC Ryukyu Kagoshima United Gainare Tottori
Giravanz Kitakyushu Thespakusatsu Gunma Fujieda MYFC
Blaublitz Akita SC Sagamihara Nagano Parceiro
Roasso Kumamoto Iwate Grulla Morioka Tegevajaro Miyazaki
Iwaki FC Fujieda MYFC Kagoshima United
Ehime FC Kagoshima United Kataller Toyama
Omiya Ardija FC Imabari Kataller Toyama ‡
Tochigi City Vanraure Hachinohe FC Osaka Tegevajaro Miyazaki (4th)
N/A

* Bold designates the promoted club;
† Lost the J2–J3 playoffs;
‡ Won the J2–J3 playoffs and got promoted;

Most successful clubs

Clubs in bold compete in J3 as of 2025 season.

ClubWinnersRunners-upPromotionsWinning seasonsRunners-up seasonsPromotion seasons
Blaublitz Akita
2
0
1
2017, 20202020
Zweigen Kanazawa
1
0
1
20142014
Renofa Yamaguchi
1
0
1
20152015
Oita Trinita
1
0
1
20162016
FC Ryukyu
1
0
1
20182018
Giravanz Kitakyushu
1
0
1
20192019
Roasso Kumamoto
1
0
1
20212021
Iwaki FC
1
0
1
20222022
Ehime FC
1
0
1
20232023
Omiya Ardija
1
0
1
20242024
Tochigi City
1
0
1
20252025
Kagoshima United
0
2
2
2018, 20232018, 2023
Tochigi SC
0
2
1
2016, 20172017
FC Imabari
0
1
1
20242024
Fujieda MYFC
0
1
1
20222022
Iwate Grulla Morioka
0
1
1
20212021
SC Sagamihara
0
1
1
20202020
Thespa Gunma
0
1
1
20192019
Machida Zelvia
0
1
1
20152015
Vanraure Hachinohe
0
1
1
20252025
Nagano Parceiro
0
1
0
2014
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
0
0
1
2025

Relegation history

From 2023, relegation from J3 to JFL was introduced, after nine seasons of not featuring it.

Year19th place20th place
2023 Tegevajaro Miyazaki Giravanz Kitakyushu
2024 YSCC Yokohama ‡ Iwate Grulla Morioka
2025 Nagano Parceiro Azul Claro Numazu ‡
2026–27

* Bold designates relegated clubs
† Won the playoff against JFL team
‡ Lost the playoff series to JFL team and was relegated

Players and managers

Managers

Top scorers

YearPlayerNationalitySquadGoals
2014 Koji Suzuki Flag of Japan.svg Japan Machida Zelvia 19
2015 Kazuhito Kishida Renofa Yamaguchi 32
2016 Noriaki Fujimoto Kagoshima United 15
2017 24
2018 Leonardo (de Souza) Flag of Brazil.svg Brazil Gainare Tottori 24
2019 Taichi Hara Flag of Japan.svg Japan FC Tokyo U-23 19
2020 Kaito Taniguchi Roasso Kumamoto 18
2021 Shota Kawanishi FC Gifu 13
2022 Ryo Arita Iwaki FC 17
2023 Ren Komatsu Matsumoto Yamaga 19
2024 Kosuke Fujioka FC Gifu 19
2025 Keigo Hashimoto Tegevajaro Miyazaki 25
2026–27

See also

Soccer/football
League system
Domestic cup
Futsal
Beach soccer

References

  1. ↑ The logo used in Japan is labeled 「明治安田 J3 LEAGUE」.
  2. ↑ Ｊリーグに「３部」設置構想＝準加盟クラブで２０１４年にも [J.League third division to be installed in 2014] (in Japanese). JIJI Press Ltd. 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  3. ↑ ３部相当、１４年開始へ＝名称候補に「Ｊ３」「Ｊチャレンジ」－Ｊリーグ [Third division to start in 2014, J.League sets candidate clubs] (in Japanese). JIJI Press Ltd. 27 December 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "Jリーグに「3部」設置構想＝準加盟クラブで2014年にも" [New third division starts in 2014] (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. 1 January 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  5. ↑ Ｊ３設立へ中西理事「理解は得た」 [Director Nakahishi on the agreement for J3 establishment] (in Japanese). Nikkan Sports News. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  6. ↑ 来年からＪ３新設を正式決定 Ｊリーグ理事会 [Consul formally decided to launch new J3 league next year] (in Japanese). Sports Nippon Newspapers. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  7. ↑ Ｊ3参加クラブ数は「12」で決定 [J3 is determined to start with 12 teams] (in Japanese). J.League. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Ｊ３までの道のり [Steps to J3 participation] (in Japanese). J. League. 16 July 2013. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Ｊリーグ入会審査（Ｊ２およびＪ３）結果について [Results of J2 and J3 examination] (in Japanese). J. League. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  10. ↑ 申請クラブ審査状況に更新がありました [Update to club review situation] (in Japanese). J. League. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  11. ↑ 準加盟クラブ・準加盟申請クラブに対する、今後の審査の流れ [Inspection flow for J. League participation] (in Japanese). J. League. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  12. ↑ Ｊリーグ、将来的に１００チームへ [J.League to reach 100 teams in the future] (in Japanese). Soccer Now. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 27 February 2013. Retrieved 27 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Ｊリーグ入会要件の改定について" [About revision of J.League admission requirements] (in Japanese). J.League. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  14. ↑ "J. League board approves August start to season from 2026". The Japan Times . Kyodo News. December 20, 2023. Archived from the original on December 20, 2023.
  15. ↑ "明治安田生命とのタイトルパートナー契約更新について" (Press release). 日本プロサッカーリーグ. 2022-12-20. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
  16. 1 2 Playing system and rules of 2017 J3 League (in Japanese), J. League, 13 December 2016, archived from the original on 13 December 2016, retrieved 4 December 2018
  17. ↑ Tournament schemes for 2016 J3 League (in Japanese), J. League, 15 December 2015
  18. ↑ "2024シーズン以降のリーグ構造・大会方式について 各カテゴリーのクラブ数を20に統一 リーグカップ戦をＪ１・Ｊ２・Ｊ３全クラブ参加のノックアウト方式に変更" [Regarding the league structure and competition method after the 2024 season; unified the number of clubs in each category to 20; changed the League Cup match to a knockout format in which all J1 · J2 · J3 clubs participate] (Press release) (in Japanese). J.League. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  19. ↑ "2021年度 第8回Ｊリーグ理事会後チェアマン定例会見発言録" (in Japanese). J.League. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  20. ↑ "２３年にも入れ替え実施 Ｊ３とＪＦＬ". Jiji.com. 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  21. ↑ "Promotion and Relegation between J3 and JFL from 2023 Season". J.League (Press release). 6 January 2023. Archived from the original on 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.