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.
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| Founded | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | J3 League |
| Relegation to | Japanese Regional Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Emperor's Cup |
| Current champions | Tochigi City FC (1st title) (2024) |
| Most championships | Honda FC (10 titles) |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2025 Japan Football League | |
Relationship and position of J. League and Japan Football League (JFL)
editAccording 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
editThe 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.
Five former JFL clubs have competed in the top flight: Yokohama FC (2007, 2020, 2021 & 2023), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (2014 & 2021 as Tokushima Vortis), Matsumoto Yamaga (2015 & 2019), V-Varen Nagasaki (2018) and Machida Zelvia (2024 — present time).
Overview
editJFL 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
editA club that satisfied the following criteria was promoted to J.League Div. 2 (for the 2012 and 2013 seasons):
- Had J.League associate membership
- Finished the season in the top two in JFL
- If only the champion had been an associate member, it was automatically promoted.
- If both the champion and runner-up had been associate members, the champion is automatically promoted and the runner-up plays a promotion/relegation series against the second-to-last club in the J2.
- If only the runner-up had been an associate member, it plays the promotion/relegation series against the last club in the J2.
- Passed 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 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.[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 is 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
editThe team at the bottom of the league faces 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
editUntil 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
editIn 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.
2024 season
editCompetition format
editThe 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.
Participating clubs
edit
| Club name | First season in JFL |
Seasons in JFL |
Home town(s) | Current spell in JFL |
Last title |
Qualifiable base for J.League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atletico Suzuka | 2019 | 5 | Suzuka, Mie | 2019– | – | No |
| Briobecca Urayasu | 2016 | 3 | Urayasu, Chiba | 2023– | – | No |
| Criacao Shinjuku | 2022 | 2 | Shinjuku, Tokyo | 2022– | – | Yes |
| Honda FC | 1999 | 25 | Hamamatsu, Shizuoka | 1999– | 2023 | No |
| Kochi United | 2020 | 4 | Kochi, Kochi | 2020– | – | Yes |
| Maruyasu Okazaki | 2014 | 10 | Okazaki, Aichi | 2014– | – | No |
| Minebea Mitsumi | 2005 | 16 | Miyazaki, Miyazaki | 2009– | – | No |
| Okinawa SV | 2023 | 1 | Uruma, Okinawa | 2023– | – | No |
| Reilac Shiga | 2008 | 16 | Kusatsu, Shiga | 2008– | – | Yes |
| ReinMeer Aomori | 2016 | 8 | Aomori, Aomori | 2016– | – | Yes |
| Sony Sendai | 1999 | 25 | Miyagi Prefecture | 1999– | 2015 | No |
| Tiamo Hirakata | 2021 | 3 | Hirakata, Osaka | 2021– | – | No |
| Tochigi City FC | 2010 | 8 | Tochigi | 2024– | – | Yes |
| Veertien Mie | 2017 | 7 | Kuwana, Mie | 2017– | – | Yes |
| Verspah Oita | 2012 | 12 | Beppu, Ōita | 2012– | 2020 | Yes |
| Yokogawa Musashino | 1999 | 25 | Musashino, Tokyo | 1999– | – | No |
- 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 since 2023, it would not be necessary for a club to hold this status in order to enable their promotion.
Stadiums (2024)
edit
Primary venues used in the JFL:
| Atletico Suzuka | Briobecca Urayasu | Criacao Shinjuku | Honda FC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mie Suzuka Sports Garden | Kashiwanoha Stadium | Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka | Honda Miyakoda Soccer Stadium |
| Capacity: 19,694 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 7,258 | Capacity: 2,500 |
|
|
|
|
| Kochi United | Maruyasu Okazaki | Minebea Mitsumi | Okinawa SV |
| Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium | Maruyasu Okazaki Ryuhoku Stadium | Nobeoka Nishishina Athletic Stadium | Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium |
| Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 12,270 |
|
|
|
|
| Reilac Shiga | ReinMeer Aomori | Sony Sendai | Tiamo Hirakata |
| General Sports Park Nunobiki Athletics Stadium | Kakuhiro Group Athletic Stadium | Yurtec Stadium Sendai | Hirakata City Athletics Stadium |
| Capacity: 5,060 | Capacity: 2,500 | Capacity: 20,809 | Capacity: 12,500 |
|
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|
|
| Tochigi City FC | Veertien Mie | Verspah Oita | Yokogawa Musashino |
| City Football Station | Asahi Gas Energy Toin Stadium | Oita Sports Park | Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium |
| Capacity: 5,129 | Capacity: 5,104 | Capacity: 2,040 | Capacity: 5,192 |
|
|
| |
Former clubs
edit| Club name | First season in JFL |
Seasons in JFL |
Hometown(s) | Last spell in JFL |
Last JFL title |
Current league |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALO's Hokuriku | 2000 | 8 | Toyama, Toyama | 2000–2007 | – | Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama |
| Arte Takasaki | 2004 | 8 | Takasaki, Gunma | 2004–2011 | – | Defunct |
| Azul Claro Numazu | 2014 | 3 | Numazu, Shizuoka | 2014–2016 | – | J3 |
| Kyoto BAMB 1993 | 2000 | 4 | Kyoto, Kyoto | 2000–2004 | – | Kansai League D1 |
| Blaublitz Akita | 2007 | 7 | All cities/towns in Akita | 2007–2013 | – | J2 |
| Briobecca Urayasu | 2016 | 4 | Urayasu, Chiba | 2016–2017 2023 & 2024 | – | JFL |
| Cobaltore Onagawa | 2018 | 1 | Onagawa, Miyagi | 2018 | – | Tohoku League D1 |
| Ehime FC | 2001 | 5 | All cities/towns in Ehime | 2001–2005 | 2005 | J3 |
| Fagiano Okayama | 2008 | 1 | All cities/towns in Okayama | 2008 | – | J2 |
| Fagiano Okayama Next | 2014 | 3 | Okayama, Okayama | 2014–2016 | – | Defunct |
| Fukushima United | 2013 | 1 | Fukushima, Fukushima | 2013 | – | J3 |
| Gainare Tottori | 2001 | 10 | All cities/towns in Tottori | 2001–2010 | 2010 | J3 |
| FC Gifu | 2007 | 1 | All cities/towns in Gifu | 2007 | – | J3 |
| Mito HollyHock | 1999 | 1 | Mito, Ibaraki | 1999 | – | J2 |
| FC Imabari | 2017 | 3 | Imabari, Ehime | 2017–2019 | – | J3 |
| Iwaki FC | 2020 | 2 | Iwaki, Fukushima | 2020–2021 | 2021 | J2 |
| Jatco SC | 1999 | 5 | Numazu, Shizuoka | 1999–2003 | – | Defunct |
| JEF Reserves | 2006 | 6 | Ichihara, Chiba | 2006–2011 | – | Defunct |
| Kagoshima United | 2014 | 2 | Kagoshima, Kagoshima | 2014–2015 | – | J3 |
| Kagura Shimane | 2019 | 4 | Matsue, Shimane | 2019–2022 | – | Defunct |
| Kamatamare Sanuki | 2011 | 3 | All cities/towns in Kagawa | 2011–2013 | – | J3 |
| FC Kariya | 1999 | 11 | Kariya, Aichi | 2021 | – | Tōkai League D1 |
| Kataller Toyama | 2008 | 1 | All cities/towns in Toyama | 2008 | – | J3 |
| Kokushikan University | 1999 | 6 | Machida, Tokyo | 1999–2003 | – | Kantō University League |
| Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima | 2005 | 5 | Kurashiki, Okayama | 2005–2009 | – | Chugoku League |
| Fujieda MYFC | 2012 | 2 | Fujieda, Shizuoka | 2012–2013 | – | J2 |
| Nara Club | 2014 | 9 | All cities/towns in Nara | 2014–2022 | 2022 | J3 |
| New Wave Kitakyushu | 2008 | 2 | Kitakyushu, Fukuoka | 2008–2009 | – | J3 |
| FC Osaka | 2014 | 9 | Higashiōsaka, Osaka | 2014–2022 | – | J3 |
| Otsuka Pharmaceuticals | 1999 | 6 | All cities/towns in Tokushima | 1999–2004 | 2004 | J2 |
| Nagano Parceiro | 2011 | 3 | Nagano, Nagano | 2011–2013 | 2013 | J3 |
| Profesor Miyazaki | 2002 | 1 | All cities/towns in Miyazaki | 2002 | – | Defunct |
| Rosso Kumamoto | 2001 | 4 | Kumamoto, Kumamoto | 2006–2007 | – | J2 |
| Renofa Yamaguchi | 2014 | 1 | Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi | 2014 | – | J2 |
| FC Ryukyu | 2006 | 8 | All cities/towns in Okinawa | 2006–2013 | – | J3 |
| Ryutsu Keizai University | 2005 | 6 | Ryugasaki, Ibaraki | 2005–2010 | – | Kantō League D1 |
| Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki | 2015 | 5 | Ryugasaki, Ibaraki | 2015-2019 | – | Kantō League D1 |
| SC Sagamihara | 2013 | 1 | Sagamihara, Kanagawa | 2013 | – | J3 |
| Sagawa Express Osaka | 2002 | 5 | Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka | 2002–2006 | – | Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga |
| Sagawa Express Tokyo | 2001 | 6 | Kōtō, Tokyo | 2001–2006 | – | Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga |
| Sagawa Shiga | 2007 | 6 | Moriyama, Shiga | 2007–2012 | 2011 | Defunct |
| Shizuoka Sangyo University | 2000 | 3 | Iwata, Shizuoka | 2000–2002 | – | Tōkai University League |
| Sony Sendai FC | 1999 | 26 | Sendai, Miyagi | 1999–2024 | 2015 | Defunct |
| SP Kyoto FC | 2003 | 13 | Uji, Kyoto | 2003–2015 | – | Defunct |
| Tegevajaro Miyazaki | 2018 | 3 | Miyazaki, Miyazaki | 2018–2020 | – | J3 |
| Thespa Kusatsu | 2004 | 1 | All cities/towns in Gunma | 2004 | – | J2 |
| Tochigi SC | 2000 | 9 | Utsunomiya, Tochigi | 2000–2008 | – | J2 |
| V-Varen Nagasaki | 2009 | 4 | All cities/towns in Nagasaki | 2009–2012 | 2012 | J2 |
| Vanraure Hachinohe | 2014 | 5 | Hachinohe, Aomori | 2014–2018 | – | J3 |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | 2010 | 2 | Matsumoto, Nagano | 2010–2011 | – | J3 |
| YKK AP | 2001 | 7 | Kurobe, Toyama | 2001–2007 | – | Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama |
| Yokohama FC | 1999 | 2 | Yokohama, Kanagawa | 1999–2000 | 2000 | J1 |
| YSCC Yokohama | 2012 | 2 | Yokohama, Kanagawa | 2012–2013 | – | J3 |
| Machida Zelvia | 2009 | 4 | Machida, Tokyo | 2013 | – | J1 |
| Zweigen Kanazawa | 2010 | 4 | Kanazawa, Ishikawa | 2010–2013 | – | J2 |
- Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted to J3 League.
Championship, promotion and relegation history
editMost successful clubs
editClubs in bold compete in JFL as of 2024 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda FC | 10
|
5
|
2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 2023 |
1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2021 |
| Sagawa Shiga | 3
|
1
|
2007, 2009, 2011 | 2010 |
| Otsuka Pharmaceuticals | 2
|
1
|
2003, 2004 | 2001 |
| Yokohama FC | 2
|
0
|
1999, 2000 | |
| Nagano Parceiro | 1
|
2
|
2013 | 2011, 2012 |
| Sony Sendai | 1
|
1
|
2015 | 2019 |
| Ehime FC | 1
|
0
|
2005 | |
| Gainare Tottori | 1
|
0
|
2010 | |
| V-Varen Nagasaki | 1
|
0
|
2012 | |
| Verspah Oita | 1
|
0
|
2020 | |
| Iwaki FC | 1
|
0
|
2021 | |
| Nara Club | 1
|
0
|
2022 | |
| Tochigi City FC | 1
|
0
|
2024 | |
| Sagawa Express Tokyo | 0 | 2 | 2002, 2006 | |
| YKK AP | 0
|
1
|
2005 | |
| Rosso Kumamoto | 0
|
1
|
2007 | |
| Tochigi SC | 0
|
1
|
2008 | |
| Yokogawa Musashino | 0
|
1
|
2009 | |
| Kamatamare Sanuki | 0
|
1
|
2013 | |
| SP Kyoto FC | 0
|
1
|
2014 | |
| Vanraure Hachinohe | 0
|
1
|
2015 | |
| Ryutsu Keizai Dragons | 0
|
1
|
2016 | |
| ReinMeer Aomori | 0
|
1
|
2017 | |
| FC Osaka | 0
|
2
|
2018, 2022 | |
| Tegevajaro Miyazaki | 0
|
1
|
2020 | |
| Briobecca Urayasu | 0
|
1
|
2023 | |
| Kochi United SC | 0
|
1
|
2024 |
Third-tier league: 1999–2013
editFourth-tier league: 2014–
editFrom 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.
† Only second half of season was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.
JFL records and statistics
edit- As of December 2023.
In bold the ones who are actually playing in JFL. In italic the ones who are still active in other league.
|
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See also
edit
- Japanese association football league system
- J.League
- Regional Champions League (Promotion playoffs to JFL)
- Regional Leagues (Tier 5/6)
- Domestic cup
- Fujifilm Super Cup (Super Cup)
- Emperor's Cup (National Cup)
- J.League YBC Levain Cup (League Cup)
- F.League
- JFA Futsal Championship (National Cup)
- F.League Ocean Cup (League Cup)
- Beach Soccer Championship (National Cup)
References
edit- ^ "リーグ構成". Japan Football League. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Promotion and Relegation between J3 and JFL from 2023 Season". J.League (Press release) (in Japanese). 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
External links
edit- Official website (in Japanese)
- JFL Official Channel (in Japanese)
- 2010 JFL season Archived 2012-03-11 at the Wayback Machine (in English and French)