| Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Sport | Association football |
| Promotion and relegation | Yes |
| National system | |
| Federation | Japan Football Association |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Top division | |
| Second division |
|
| Cup competition |
|
| Association football in Japan | |
The Japanese association football league system is organized in a pyramidal shape similar to football league systems in many other countries around the world. The leagues are bound by the principle of promotion and relegation; however, there are stringent criteria for promotion from the JFL to J3, which demands a club being backed by the town itself including the local government, a community of fans and corporate sponsors rather than a parent company or a corporation.
The top three levels of the Japanese football league system are operated by the J. League, which consists of J1 League (J1), J2 League, and J3 League. All of the clubs in the J. League are fully professional.
The fourth level, the Japan Football League (JFL) is a semi-professional league consisting of amateur, professional, and company clubs from all over Japan.
At the fifth and sixth levels, nine parallel regional leagues are operated by nine different regional football associations, some of which have multiple divisions. The regional associations are divided by political or geographical boundaries.
At the seventh level and below, parallel prefectural leagues are hosted by each of the 47 different prefectural football associations, again divided by political or geographical boundaries. Some have multiple divisions.
| Level on pyramid | League(s) / division(s) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | Japan Professional Football League (J.League) 60 clubs | ||||||||
| J1 League 20 clubs ↓ 3 relegations | |||||||||
| J2 League 20 clubs ↑ 2 promotions + 4 playoffs ↓ 3 relegations | |||||||||
| J3 League 20 clubs ↑ 2 promotions + 4 playoffs ↓ 0–2 relegations | |||||||||
| 4 | Japan Football League (JFL) 16 clubs ↑ 0–2 promotions ↓ 0–2 relegations | ||||||||
| 5–6 | Japanese Regional Leagues 135 clubs | ||||||||
Hokkaido | Tohoku | Kantō | Hokushinetsu Division 1 (8) | Tōkai | Kansai | Chūgoku | Shikoku | Kyushu | |
| Tohoku Soccer League Division 2 (20 in 2 groups) | Kantō Soccer League Division 2 (10) | Hokushinetsu Football League Division 2 (8) | Tōkai Adult Soccer League Division 2 (9) | Kansai Soccer League Division 2 (8) | |||||
| 7+ | 47 Prefectural Leagues [1] & 5 Block Leagues of Hokkaido Many clubs – 1 promotion + 1 playoff | ||||||||
| Sapporo Block | Dōō /Dōhoku (Central and North) Blocks | Dōtō (East) Block | Dōnan (South) Block | Aomori | Iwate | Miyagi | Akita | Yamagata | Fukushima | Ibaraki | Tochigi | Gunma | Saitama | Chiba | Tokyo | Kanagawa | Yamanashi | Niigata | Toyama | Ishikawa | Fukui | Nagano | Gifu | Shizuoka | Aichi | Mie | Shiga | Kyoto | Osaka | Hyogo | Nara | Wakayama | Tottori | Shimane | Okayama | Hiroshima | Yamaguchi | Tokushima | Kagawa | Ehime | Kochi | Fukuoka | Saga | Nagasaki | Kumamoto | Ōita | Miyazaki | Kagoshima | Okinawa | |
J. League governs the top three levels of the Japanese football pyramid and comprises a total of 60 clubs, all of which are fully professional and are divided into three divisions, J1 League (J1), J2 League (J2) and J3 League (J3). Eighteen (18) clubs make up the top flight and have access to the Asian premier football competition, AFC Champions League. Division 2 now has 22 clubs, after 2 new clubs were promoted into the system in 2012. Division 3 now has 20 clubs, after 2 new clubs were promoted into the system in 2023. Starting from the 2024 season, the three J. League Divisions will consist of 20 teams.
All J. League clubs enter the Emperor's Cup directly and receive a bye in the 1st round, but only the Division 1 clubs qualify for the J. League Cup until 2023. In the past, J1 teams started from the fourth round and J2 teams started from the third round. Nowadays, they all start from the second round due to the expansion of J2, this results in some eliminations of professional teams by regional teams in the early stages.
Rules for promotion to J2 is largely similar to those of Japan Football League in the recent seasons: to be promoted, a club must hold a J2 license and finish in top 2 of the league. Until the 2016 season, the champions were promoted directly, in exchange with the 22nd-placed J2 club; and the runners-up participated in the playoffs with the 21st J2 club. Currently, the champions and runners-up receive automatic promotion. If either or both top 2 finishers are ineligible for promotion, the playoffs and/or direct exchange is not held in accordance to the exact positions of promotion-eligible clubs. [3] Until 2022, there was no relegation system from J3 League other than withdrawal from the J. League due to non-issuance of a license. In November 2021, J.League Chairman Murai announced that promotion from and relegation to the JFL was planned for the 2023 season. [4]
In early January 2023, the J.League published details of the J3–JFL promotion/relegation playoffs, enabling the possibility for teams to be relegated from the J3. [5] 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.
The Japan Football League (JFL) is the fourth level in the Japanese football pyramid, and is known as the highest level for amateur club football. Prior to 2010, the JFL was governed by Japan Football Association (JFA); since 2010, the JFL became independent from the Japan FA with its own status and governing body, and consists mainly of amateur football clubs and company teams, though some fully professional clubs (J. League associate members) also exist. Due to presence of these professional clubs, the league has de facto semi-professional status.
Clubs at this level and below enter the Emperor's Cup indirectly; most clubs qualify through cup tournaments contested in individual prefectures; the top JFL club at the halfway point of the season may qualify directly. However, if they have also won their respective prefectural cup, the prefectural cup runners-up take their place in the indirect round.
In modern Japan, the country is divided into 9 different regions. From North to South they are Hokkaido, Touhoku, Kantou, Tokai, Hokushin-etsu (Hokuriku+Shin-etsu), Kansai, Shikoku, Chugoku, and Kyushu. Each region has its own football league, and they make up 9 parallel football leagues governed by designated regional FAs. The Hokkaido, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu Regional Leagues have only one division, whereas others have two divisions. On top of that, Touhoku Division 2 is divided into Division 2 North and Division 2 South. Because of differences in structure, each region has its own promotion and relegation regulations between the divisions.
Aside from the Emperor's Cup, clubs at this level and the levels immediately below play in the All Japan Senior Football Championship (Shakaijin Cup), qualifying through prefectural cups. Some Regional Leagues may have their own League Cups as well (Kanto, Kansai).
Under the 9 regions, there are 47 prefectures. Hokkaido is by itself as a prefecture, thus the leagues in Hokkaido do not have a prefectural league and are rather divided into 5 blocks (North, Central, East, Sapporo, and South); however, all other 46 prefectures have Prefectural leagues. Most if not all, of these leagues have multiple divisions.
| Professional leagues (J. League) |
| Amateur/Semi-professional leagues |
| Year | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | Tier 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1965–1971 | Japan Soccer League | |||
| 1972–1991 | JSL Division 1 | JSL Division 2 | ||
| 1992–1993 | J. League | JFL Division 1 | JFL Division 2 | |
| 1994–1998 | J. League | Japan Football League (Old JFL) | ||
| 1999–2013 | J1 League | J2 League | New JFL | |
| 2014–present | J1 League | J2 League | J3 League | New JFL |
| Level | League/Division | |
|---|---|---|
| I | WE League 12 clubs no relegation(2023–24 season) | |
| II | Nadeshiko League Division 1 ( Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1) 12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot | |
| III | Nadeshiko League Division 2 ( Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2) 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot | |
| IV-V | 9 Regional Leagues many clubs ↑ 2 promotion/relegation series spots ↓ ?? relegation spot | |
| VI | 46 Prefectural Leagues & 2 Block Leagues of Hokkaido many clubs ↑ ?? promotion spot | |
As of 2022–23 season, all clubs in the top two tiers enter the Empress's Cup directly, with the clubs below having to qualify through regional tournaments. The top tier clubs also qualify for the WE League Cup.
Ōita Trinita is a Japanese football club located in Ōita, Capital of Ōita Prefecture. They currently play in J2 League, Japanese second tier of professional football.
The Emperor's Cup JFA All-Japan Football Championship Tournament, commonly known as The Emperor's Cup or Japan FA Cup, and rebranded as The JFA Emperor's Cup from 2024 onwards, is a Japanese football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football match in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J.League, current JFL and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League.
The Japan Professional Football League, a.k.a “J.League”, and officially a.k.a “Meiji Yasuda J.League” for sponsorship with Meiji Yasuda Life, is the men's association football league in Japan. It is responsible for organizing Japan's major professional football tournaments, including the J1, J2 and J3 leagues. Established in 1993 as Asia's first professional football league, it has been one of the most successful leagues in Asia followed by the Saudi's Pro League. In 1999, the J2 League was established, followed by the J3 League in 2013.
The Japan Football League, also known as simply the JFL, is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath the three divisions of the J.League. The league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership among its ranks.
Roasso Kumamoto is a Japanese football club based in Kumamoto, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. The club currently plays in the J2 League, Japan's 2nd tier of professional league football.
The Japanese Regional Champions League, known before 2016 as Japan Regional Football League Competition, is a nationwide play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japanese football clubs competing in regional leagues to the Japan Football League.
The J2 League or simply J2 is the second division of the Japan Professional Football League and the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The top tier is represented by the J1 League. It is currently sponsored by Meiji Yasuda Life and it is thus officially known as the Meiji Yasuda J2 League. Until the 2014 season it was named the J.League Division 2.
The 2013 J.League Division 2 season is the 42nd season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 15th season since the establishment of J2 League. The regular season began on 3 March and ended on 24 November, followed by the promotion play-offs among four clubs ranked between 3rd and 6th at the end of regular season. Gamba Osaka became champions, and Vissel Kobe became runners-up, both returned to J1 immediately after one season at J2. The other promoted team is third runners-up Tokushima Vortis, who won the promotion playoff final, defeating Kyoto Sanga FC. With the win, Vortis are making their J1 debut, becoming the first professional Shikoku football club to compete in the top division of their national league.
The 2013 Japan Football League is the 17th season of the third tier of the Japanese football, and the 15th season since the establishment of Japan Football League. It started on 10 March and finished on 24 November.
J3 League or simply J3 is the third division of Japan Professional Football League. 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 for their title sponsor.
The 2014 J.League Division 2 season was the 43rd season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 16th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season commenced on 2 March and ended on 23 November. Post-season promotion and relegation playoffs will be played until 7 December.
The 2014 J3 League was the 18th season of the third tier of the Japanese football, and the inaugural season of the professional J3 League. The season commenced on 9 March and will finish on November 23, with a 3-week break after the 17th week matches on 21 and 22 June, then will resume from 19 and 20 July, due to prefectural qualifiers, followed by the 1st and 2nd round matches of the 2014 Emperor's Cup scheduled during the intermission.
The 2015 Meiji Yasuda J3 League was the 19th season of the third tier in Japanese football, and the 2nd season of the professional J3 League.
The 2022 Japan Football League was the ninth season having a fourth-tier status in Japanese football, and the 24th season since the establishment of Japan Football League. The slogan for this season was "Enchant with a different play!" The matches were mostly broadcast/streamed live at Japan Football League's channel. The league's awards, not held since 2020 due to special measures regarding COVID-19, was held on 6 December 2022.
Japanese football in 2016.
The 2021 J2 League, also known as the 2021 Meiji Yasuda J2 League for sponsorship reasons, was the 23rd season of J2 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. The league started on 27 February 2021 and ended on 5 December.
The 2021 J3 League, referred to as the 2021 Meiji Yasuda J3 League for sponsorship reasons, was the 8th season of J3 League under its current name.
The 2021 Japan Football League was the eighth season of the nationwide fourth tier of Japanese football, and the 23rd season since the establishment of Japan Football League.
The 2023 J3 League, referred to as the 2023 Meiji Yasuda J3 League for sponsorship reasons, is the 10th season of the J3 League under its current name.
The 2023 Japan Football League is the tenth season having a fourth-tier status in Japanese football and the 25th season since the establishment of the Japan Football League. The matches are mostly broadcast/streamed live at Japan Football League's channel.
| National association | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National teams (2024) |
| ||||||
| Leagues (2024) |
| ||||||
| Cups (2024) |
| ||||||
| International cups |
| ||||||
| Culture |
| ||||||
