Japan Football League

Japan Football League​

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For the defunct former league of the same name, see Japan Football League (1992–98).
Japan Football League
Japan Football League (Logo).svg
Founded1999; 24 years ago
CountryJapan
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams15 (for 2023)
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toJ3 League
Relegation toJapanese Regional Leagues
Domestic cup(s)Emperor's Cup
Current championsNara Club (1st title)
(2022)
Most championshipsHonda FC (9 titles)
Websitewww.jfl.or.jp Edit this at Wikidata
Current: 2023 Japan Football League
The Japan Football League, (Japanese: 日本フットボールリーグ, Hepburn: Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu) 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.

Relationship and position of J. League and Japan Football League (JFL)[edit]​

According to the official document published in December 2013 when the J3 League was established, the J3 League was the 3rd level of the J.League. The J.League and non-J.League amateur leagues have different hierarchical structures, and the J3 League was ranked on the same level as the JFL. In addition, the JFL itself has the same recognition in the material showing the league composition on the official website.[1] Therefore, the JFL is treated as equal to J3 in theory, but in practice it is considered equivalent to a 4th division.

History[edit]​

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The Japan Football League started from the 1999 season when the second division of J.League (J2) was also born. Until then, J.League consisted of only one division and the former JFL was the second highest division. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams as well as Yokogawa Electric, the winners of the Regional League Promotion Series, formed the new Japan Football League. These 8 teams together with Yokohama FC that was allowed to participate as a special case after the merger of Yokohama Flügels and Yokohama Marinos competed in the inaugural 1999 season.
The 9 teams that competed in the first season were as follows: Denso SC, Honda Motors, Jatco SC, Kokushikan University F.C., Mito HollyHock, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Sony Sendai, Yokohama FC and Yokogawa Electric.
In the second season the number of clubs was increased from 9 to 12, reaching 16 in 2001. In 2002 it was briefly 18 clubs before going back to 16 the next season and settling for good at 18 in 2006. For the 2012 season it had 17 clubs due to the late withdrawal of Arte Takasaki.
The league suffered another contraction after 2013 season, as 10 of its 18 teams joined the newly created J3 League. It also moved a tier down the pyramid, making it fourth-tier league since 2014.
Four former JFL clubs have competed in the top flight: Yokohama FC (2007, 2021 & 2023), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (2014 & 2021 as Tokushima Vortis), Matsumoto Yamaga (2015 & 2019), and V-Varen Nagasaki (2018).

Overview[edit]​

JFL clubs may be affiliated to companies, or be entirely autonomous clubs or reserve teams of these. Until 2010, university clubs (which as a rule do not play in the Japanese football league system) were recommended by the Japan University Football Association and played off against bottom JFL teams for entrance. B-teams are allowed to participate but only A-squads of truly autonomous clubs are eligible for J.League associate membership, and with it, promotion to J.League.

Promotion from JFL[edit]​

A club that satisfies the following criteria will be promoted to J.League Div. 2 (for the 2012 and 2013 seasons):
  • Have J.League associate membership
  • Finish the season in the top two in JFL
    • If only the champion is an associate member, it will be automatically promoted.
    • If both the champion and runner-up are associate members, the champion will be automatically promoted and the runner-up will play a promotion/relegation Series against the second-to-last club in the J2.
    • If only the runner-up is an associate member, it will play the promotion/relegation Series against the last club in the J2.
  • Pass the final inspection by the J.League Committee.
With the establishment of the J3 League in the 2014 season, the top 2 requirements are no longer necessary should a team that is approved by J.League Committee and is a J.League associate member. However, they start in the J3 instead. The JFL is the highest tier of amateur level football in Japan again, but they still serve the purpose of helping potential J.League clubs to participate in the J3.
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 will 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.[2] Later in November, Murai announced that promotion from and relegation to the JFL had been planned for the end of 2023.[3]
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.[4] 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.
  • If only the JFL champions hold a license, they replace automatically the J3's 20th-placed team.
  • If only the JFL runners-up hold a license, there are promotion/relegation playoffs with the J3's 20th-placed team.
  • If both the JFL champions and runners-up hold a license, there will be automatic exchange between the JFL champions and the J3's 20th-placed team, and the runners-up compete in two-legged playoffs with the J3's 19th-placed team.
  • If both the JFL champions and runners-up do not hold a license, no exchange takes place; the teams placed third and below in the league standings, even if one of them holds a J3 license, are not entitled to promotion and the playoffs.

Relegation from JFL[edit]​

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The team at the bottom of the league will face a direct relegation, exchanging its place with Regional League promotion competition winner, with the team ranked 15th playing the relegation/promotion play-off against the team finishing second in that competition. The number of teams relegated varies depending on the outcome of the play-off or the number of teams withdrawn from the JFL.

Emperor's Cup eligibility[edit]​

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Until 2008, only the club at the top of the standings at half-season (17 matches completed) was qualified for the Emperor's Cup, entering it at the third round along with the clubs in J2, but the allotment was widened to the top three clubs in 2010 due to the expansion of J2. Every other club must qualify through a qualifying cup in their own prefecture and then must enter at the first round. In 2015, only the winner of the apertura (first half) qualified.

JFL XI[edit]​

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In 1999 (Bangabandhu Cup) and since 2014, a JFL XI team has played off-season matches against guest teams. The 2016 season also featured an JFL East vs JFL West all-star encounter.
 
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2023 season[edit]​

Main article: 2023 Japan Football League

Competition format[edit]​

The league follows a one-stage double round-robin, wherein the team finishing at the top of the table following the season is declared the champion. From 2014 to 2018 it used the Apertura and Clausura system, with two winners of each stage contesting the championship in the playoff. From 2019 it used the single table with double round-robin system to 30 matches (28 matches for 2023).

Participating clubs[edit]​


Club nameFirst season
in JFL
Seasons
in JFL
Home town(s)Current spell
in JFL
Last
title
Qualifiable base
for J.League
Briobecca Urayasu20162Urayasu, Chiba2023–No
Criacao Shinjuku20222Shinjuku, Tokyo2022–No
Honda FC199925Hamamatsu, Shizuoka1999–2019No
Kochi United20204Kochi, Kochi2020–Yes [5]
Maruyasu Okazaki201410Okazaki, Aichi2014–No
Minebea Mitsumi200516Miyazaki, Miyazaki2009–No
Okinawa SV20230Uruma, Okinawa2023–No
Reilac Shiga200816Kusatsu, Shiga2008–No
ReinMeer Aomori20168Aomori, Aomori2016–Yes
Sony Sendai199925Miyagi Prefecture1999–2015No
Suzuka Point Getters20195Suzuka, Mie2019–No
Tiamo Hirakata20213Hirakata, Osaka2021–No
Tokyo Musashino United199925Musashino, Tokyo1999–No
Veertien Mie20177Kuwana, Mie2017–Yes
Verspah Oita201212Beppu, Ōita2012–2020Yes
  • Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted from Japanese Regional Leagues through the Regional League promotion tournament.
  • "Qualifiable base for J.League" indicates the club holds a J3 League license. Clubs who actually hold the license are denoted in bold.
  • Formerly, clubs who wished to join the J.League had to also acquire a 100 Year Plan status membership. The J.League decided that from 2023, it would not be necessary for a club to hold this status in order to enable their promotion.

Stadiums (2023)[edit]​

Main article: List of football stadiums in Japan
See also: Category:Football venues in Japan

Primary venues used in the JFL:

Former clubs[edit]​


Club nameFirst season
in JFL
Seasons
in JFL
Home town(s)Last spell
in JFL
Last
JFL title
Current league
ALO's Hokuriku20008Toyama, Toyama2000–2007Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama
Arte Takasaki20048Takasaki, Gunma2004–2011Defunct
Azul Claro Numazu20143Numazu, Shizuoka2014–2016J3
Kyoto BAMB 199320004Kyoto, Kyoto2000–2004Kansai League D1
Blaublitz Akita20077All cities/towns in Akita2007–2013J2
Briobecca Urayasu20162Urayasu, Chiba2016–2017Kantō League D1
Cobaltore Onagawa20181Onagawa, Miyagi2018Tohoku League D1
Ehime FC20015All cities/towns in Ehime2001–20052005J3
Fagiano Okayama20081All cities/towns in Okayama2008J2
Fagiano Okayama Next20143Okayama, Okayama2014–2016Defunct
Fukushima United20131Fukushima, Fukushima2013J3
Gainare Tottori200110All cities/towns in Tottori2001–20102010J3
FC Gifu20071All cities/towns in Gifu2007J3
Mito HollyHock19991Mito, Ibaraki1999J2
FC Imabari20173Imabari, Ehime2017–2019J3
Iwaki FC20202Iwaki, Fukushima2020–20212021J2
Jatco SC19995Numazu, Shizuoka1999–2003Defunct
JEF Reserves20066Ichihara, Chiba2006–2011Defunct
Kagoshima United20142Kagoshima, Kagoshima2014–2015J3
Kagura Shimane20194Matsue, Shimane2019–2022Defunct
Kamatamare Sanuki20113All cities/towns in Kagawa2011–2013J3
FC Kariya199911Kariya, Aichi2021Tōkai League D1
Kataller Toyama20081All cities/towns in Toyama2008J3
Kokushikan University19996Machida, Tokyo1999–2003Kantō University League
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima20055Kurashiki, Okayama2005–2009Chugoku League
Fujieda MYFC20122Fujieda, Shizuoka2012–2013J2
Nara Club20149All cities/towns in Nara2014–20222022J3
New Wave Kitakyushu20082Kitakyushu, Fukuoka2008–2009J3
FC Osaka20149Higashiōsaka, Osaka2014–2022J3
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals19996All cities/towns in Tokushima1999–20042004J2
Nagano Parceiro20113Nagano, Nagano2011–20132013J3
Profesor Miyazaki20021All cities/towns in Miyazaki2002Defunct
Rosso Kumamoto20014Kumamoto, Kumamoto2006–2007J2
Renofa Yamaguchi20141Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi2014J2
FC Ryukyu20068All cities/towns in Okinawa2006–2013J3
Ryutsu Keizai University20056Ryugasaki, Ibaraki2005–2010Kantō League D1
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki20155Ryugasaki, Ibaraki2015-2019Kantō League D1
SC Sagamihara20131Sagamihara, Kanagawa2013J3
Sagawa Express Osaka20025Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka2002–2006Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga
Sagawa Express Tokyo20016Kōtō, Tokyo2001–2006Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga
Sagawa Shiga20076Moriyama, Shiga2007–20122011Defunct
Shizuoka Sangyo University20003Iwata, Shizuoka2000–2002Tōkai University League
SP Kyoto FC200313Uji, Kyoto2003–2015Defunct
Tegevajaro Miyazaki20183Miyazaki, Miyazaki2018–2020J3
Thespa Kusatsu20041All cities/towns in Gunma2004J2
Tochigi SC20009Utsunomiya, Tochigi2000–2008J2
Tochigi Uva FC20108Tochigi, Tochigi2010–2017Kantō League D1
V-Varen Nagasaki20094All cities/towns in Nagasaki2009–20122012J2
Vanraure Hachinohe20145Hachinohe, Aomori2014–2018J3
Matsumoto Yamaga20102Matsumoto, Nagano2010–2011J3
YKK AP20017Kurobe, Toyama2001–2007Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama
Yokohama FC19992Yokohama, Kanagawa1999–20002000J1
YSCC Yokohama20122Yokohama, Kanagawa2012–2013J3
Machida Zelvia20094Machida, Tokyo2013J2
Zweigen Kanazawa20104Kanazawa, Ishikawa2010–2013J2
  • Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted to J3 League.

Championship, promotion and relegation history[edit]​

Most successful clubs[edit]​

Clubs in bold compete in JFL as of 2023 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasonsRunners-up seasons
Honda FC952001, 2002, 2006, 2008,
2014, 2016, 2017, 2018,
2019
1999, 2000, 2003, 2004,
2021
Sagawa Shiga312007, 2009, 20112010
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals212003, 20042001
Yokohama FC201999, 2000
Nagano Parceiro1220132011, 2012
Sony Sendai1120152019
Ehime FC102005
Gainare Tottori102010
V-Varen Nagasaki102012
Verspah Oita102020
Iwaki FC102021
Nara Club102022
Sagawa Express Tokyo
0​
2​
2002, 2006
YKK AP012005
Rosso Kumamoto012007
Tochigi SC012008
Tokyo Musashino United012009
Kamatamare Sanuki012013
SP Kyoto FC012014
Vanraure Hachinohe012015
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons012016
ReinMeer Aomori012017
FC Osaka022018, 2022
Tegevajaro Miyazaki012020

Third-tier league: 1999–2013[edit]​

See also: List of winners of J3 League and predecessors
SeasonChampionsRunners-upPromoted to J2 after the seasonPromoted from Regional Leagues before the seasonRelegated to Regional Leagues after the season
1999Yokohama F.C.Honda F.C.Mito HollyHockYokogawa DenkiNone
2000Yokohama F.C.Honda F.C.Yokohama FCTochigi S.C.
Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C.
Alo's Hokuriku
F.C. Kyoken
None
2001Honda F.C.Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.NoneSagawa Express Tokyo S.C.
YKK AP F.C.
S.C. Tottori
Ehime F.C.
NTT West Japan-Kumamoto
None
2002Honda F.C.Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.NoneSagawa Express Osaka S.C.
Profesor Miyazaki
Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C.
Alouette Kumamoto
Profesor Miyazaki
2003Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.Honda F.C.NoneSagawa Printing S.C.Jatco F.C. (disbanded)
F.C. Kyoto BAMB 1993 (F.C. Kyoken)
2004Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.Honda F.C.Otsuka (Tokushima Vortis)
Kusatsu
Thespa Kusatsu
Gunma Horikoshi
Kokushikan University F.C. (forced to withdraw due to scandal)
2005Ehime F.C.YKK AP F.C.EhimeRyutsu Keizai University F.C.
Mitsubishi Mizushima FC
Honda Lock S.C.
None
2006Honda F.C.Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.NoneJEF United Ichihara Chiba B
Rosso Kumamoto
F.C. Ryukyu
Honda Lock SC
(Sagawa Express Tokyo and Osaka clubs merge to form a single club)
2007Sagawa Express S.C.Rosso KumamotoKumamoto
Gifu
TDK S.C.
F.C. Gifu
(Alo's Hokuriku and YKK AP merge to form Kataller Toyama)
2008Honda FCTochigi SCTochigi SC
Fagiano Okayama
Kataller Toyama
Fagiano Okayama
New Wave Kitakyushu
MIO Biwako Shiga
None
2009Sagawa ShigaTokyo Musashino CityNew Wave KitakyushuMachida Zelvia
V-Varen Nagasaki
Honda Lock
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima (voluntary withdrawal)
FC Kariya
2010Gainare TottoriSagawa ShigaTottoriMatsumoto Yamaga
Hitachi Tochigi Uva
Zweigen Kanazawa
Ryutsu Keizai University
2011Sagawa ShigaNagano ParceiroMachida
Matsumoto
Kamatamare Sanuki
Nagano Parceiro
JEF Reserves (disbanded)
Arte Takasaki (disbanded)
2012V-Varen NagasakiNagano ParceiroNagasakiYSCC Yokohama
Fujieda MYFC
Hoyo AC Elan Oita
Sagawa Shiga (disbanded)
2013Nagano ParceiroKamatamare SanukiSanukiSC Sagamihara
Fukushima United
None
*The following teams were admitted to the new J3 League: Nagano Parceiro, SC Sagamihara, Machida Zelvia, Zweigen Kanazawa, Blaublitz Akita, FC Ryukyu, YSCC Yokohama, Fujieda MYFC and Fukushima United.

Fourth-tier league: 2014–[edit]​

From 2014 to 2018 the Japan Football League switched to the Apertura and Clausura format to determine the champions. In 2019 the single-table format returned.

A = Apertura champion, C = Clausura champion, 1 = Won both stages, 2 = Earned the second most points total in the overall table if 1 applies.
† Only second half of season was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
 

JFL records and statistics[edit]​

As of December 2021.
In bold the ones who are actually playing in JFL. In italic the ones who are still active in other league.
Caps
No.PlayerCapsCareer
1Daiki Koyama3892000–2002, 2004–2017
2Hajime "Gen" Nakamura3742003–2017
3Takanori Kanamori3482008–
4Hirotaka Nagatomi3482006–2021
5Kazuhisa Hamaoka3382001–2005, 2007, 2010–2013, 2014–2016
6Takuya Tomiyama3331999–2012
7Masayuki Ishii3141999–2010
8Takahito Seta3132008–2018
9Keisuke Iwata3122009–2020
10Junya Nitta3071999–2011
Goals
#PlayerGoalsCareer
1Junya Nitta1461999–2011
2Tatsuya Furuhashi1271999–2004, 2014–2020
3Kodai Suzuki1112000–2010
4Sho Gokyu1042006–2007, 2009–2013, 2015
5Mitsuru Hasegawa1032001–2008
6Masatoshi Matsuda1002014–2015
7Hajime "Gen" Nakamura942003–2017
8Takehiro Hayashi911999–2004
9Shoma Mizunaga832005–2006, 2009–2012, 2018–2020
10Tomohiro Ito711999–2008

See also[edit]​

Soccer/FootballLeague system
Domestic cup
Futsal
Beach soccer

References[edit]​

  1. ^ "リーグ構成". Japan Football League. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "23年にも入れ替え実施 J3とJFL". Jiji.com (in Japanese). 25 November 2021. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  4. ^ "Promotion and Relegation between J3 and JFL from 2023 Season". J.League (Press release) (in Japanese). 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  5. ^ "Kochi United is certified as a J.League100-Year Concept Club". kochi-usc.jp/. Retrieved 2 March 2022.

External links[edit]​

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Japan Football League Division 2
Third tier of Japanese football
1999–2013
Succeeded by
J3 League


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Fourth level football leagues of Asia (AFC)

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Japanese club football

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