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J.League
The , commonly a.k.a. shortened to the , and officially known as the 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. Originally founded as a single division, in 1999, the second division J2 League was established, followed by the third division J3 League in 2013. History Before the professional league (pre-1992) Before the inception of the J.League, the highest level of club football was the Japan Soccer League (JSL), which consisted of amateur clubs. Despite being well-attended during the boom of the late 1960s and early 1970s (when Japan's national team won the Olympic bronze medal at the 1968 games in Mexico), the JSL went into decline in the 1980s, in general line with the deteriorating s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
J1 League
The , the J.League or the for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Japan and the highest level of the Japanese football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the J2 League. Both the J1 and J2 leagues are operated by the . Founded in 1992, it is one of the most successful leagues in Asian Football Confederation, Asian professional club football history. It was known as the J.League from 1993 to 1998 before becoming a two-division league, and as J.League Division 1 from 1999 to 2014. Vissel Kobe successfully defended their second consecutive title in the 2024 J1 League, 2024 season, after previously winning it in the 2023 J1 League, 2023 season. History Phases of J1 Before the professional league (1992 and earlier) Before the inception of the J.League, the highest level of club football was the Japan Soccer League (JSL), which was formed in 1965 and consisted of amateur clubs. Despite ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
J2 League
The or simply J2 is the second division of the and the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The top tier is represented by the J1 League. It (along with the rest of the J.League) is currently sponsored by Meiji Yasuda Life and it is thus officially known as the . Until the 2014 season it was named the J.League Division 2. Second-tier club football has existed in Japan since 1972 during the Japan Soccer League era; however, it was only professionalized during the 1999 season with ten clubs. The league took one relegating club from the top division and nine clubs from the second-tier semi-professional Japan Football League (1992–98), former JFL to create the J2 League. The remaining seven clubs in the Japan Football League, the newly formed Yokohama FC, and one promoting club from the Japanese Regional Leagues, Regional Leagues, formed the nine-club Japan Football League, JFL, then the third tier of Japanese football. The third tier is now represented ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Shimizu S-Pulse
is a Japanese professional association football, football club located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka (city), Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture. S-Pulse is going to compete in the J1 League for the 2025 Season, after winning promotion from the Japanese second tier of professional league football, the J2 League in the 2024 J2 League, 2024 season. The club was formed in 1991 as a founding member of the J.League (''"Original Ten"''), which began the following year. The club originally consisted of players drawn exclusively from Shizuoka Prefecture, a unique distinction at the time. Given the club's youth when compared to many of their J1 peers, S-Pulse have had a relatively large impact on Japanese football. Since the game turned professional in 1992, they are one of the most prolific and consistent performers in cup competitions, having made no less than ten final appearances: five times in the Emperor's Cup and five times in the J.League Cup, League Cup. Only Japan's m ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kashima Antlers
The are a professional association football, football club based in Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan. They currently play in the J1 League, the top tier of Japanese professional football leagues. The club has financial backing from Mercari, a Japanese e-commerce company. Since the J.League's creation and introduction of professional Japanese football in 1993, Kashima have proven themselves to be by far Japan's most successful football club in terms of trophies won, having won the J1 League title a record Japanese football champions, 8 times, the J.League Cup a record 6 times, the Emperor's Cup 5 times and the Japanese Super Cup a record 6 times for an unprecedented nineteen major domestic titles. Continentally, Kashima became Asian champions when they won the AFC Champions League in 2018 AFC Champions League, 2018. The club also won the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship on 2 occasions in 2012 Suruga Bank Championship, 2012 and 2013 Suruga Bank Championship, 2013. Internatio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tokyo Verdy
is a Japanese professional football club based in Inagi, Tokyo. The club currently competes in the J1 League, following promotion from the J2 League in 2023. History Founded as Yomiuri Football Club in 1969, Tokyo Verdy is one of the most decorated clubs in the J.League, with honours including 2 league titles, 5 Emperor's Cups, 6 JSL Cup/ J.League Cups and an Asian Club Championship title, and the most successful team in Japanese football history with 25 titles. The club was an original member of the J.League in 1993. Early years and rise to the top (1969–1983) In October 1968, following Japan's bronze medal triumph at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City and the interest in football that ensued, Japan Football Association president Yuzuru Nozu visited Yomiuri Giants chairman Matsutaro Shoriki to ask him if Yomiuri was willing to ride on the wave of the game by establishing their own football club. Shoriki died a year later, in 1969, but not before signing his ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
J3 League
or simply J3 is the third division of . 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 for sponsorship reasons. The third-tier nationwide league is a relatively recent development in Japanese football with a first attempt made in 1992 Japan Football League, 1992 (second division of the Japan Football League (1992–98), 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 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vissel Kobe
is a Japanese professional football club based in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. They are currently the J1 League champions. The club's home stadium is Noevir Stadium Kobe, in Hyōgo-ku, though some home matches are played at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Suma-ku. History Beginnings in Chugoku The club was founded in 1966 as the semi-professional Kawasaki Steel Soccer Club in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. It was first promoted to the Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1986, and stayed there until the JSL folded in 1992. As their performance in the old second tier had been in the bottom nine clubs, they were put into the Japan Football League Division 2 (new third tier overall in the Japanese football league system) and stayed there until the tiers were reunited into a single second tier for 1994. Move to Kansai and professionalism In 1995, the city of Kobe reached an agreement with Kawa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
is a Japanese professional football club based in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido. They will play in the 2025 J2 League, the second tier league of Japanese football, after relegation from the J1 League at conclusion of the 2024 season. Their main home ground is the indoor Sapporo Dome, which was shared with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters baseball team until 2022. Some matches are also played at the outdoor Sapporo Atsubetsu Stadium. Name origin The club's name "Consadole" is a combination of ''consado'', a reverse of the Japanese word and the Spanish expression ''Olé''. History Toshiba S.C. (1935–1995) Consadole's club tradition dates back to 1935 when Toshiba Horikawa-cho Soccer Club was founded in Kawasaki, Kanagawa. They were promoted to the now-defunct Japan Soccer League Division 2 in 1978. They adopted new name Toshiba Soccer Club in 1980 and were promoted to the JSL Division 1 in 1989. Their highest placement, 4th in the 1990 and 1991 seasons. Relegating ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Japan Football League (former)
The , 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) 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. Therefore, the JFL is treated as equal to J3 in theory, but in practice it is considered equivalent to a 4th division. History The Japan Football League started from the 1999 season when the second division of J.League (J2) was also born. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
2025 J1 League
The 2025 J1 League, also known as the for sponsorship reasons, is the 33rd season of J1 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This is the 11th season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 1. Vissel Kobe are the defending champions, having won their second league title in a row on the last matchday of the 2024 season. Overview This is the last J.League season played in a whole calendar year from late winter to early winter, with the following season onwards played from summer to spring. The tournament format and match format was announced on 25 November 2024, with the season starting on 14 February 2025 and concluding on 6 December 2025. This season is also the last with an annual format; starting with the 2026–27 season, the league will adopt the European calendar of September to May, with a special tournament held during the first half of 2026. Changes from the previous season There w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Emperor's Cup
, commonly known as or Japan FA Cup, and rebranded as The JFA Emperor's Cup from 2024 onwards, is a Japanese annual football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J.League, Japan Football League, current JFL (not former JFL) and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League. Before World War II, teams could qualify not only from Japan proper but also from Empire of Japan's colonies such as Korea under Japanese rule, Korea, Taiwan under Japanese rule, Taiwan, and sometimes Manchukuo. The winning club qualifies for the AFC Champions League and the Japanese Super Cup. The tournament's equivalent in women's football is the Empress's Cup. The current holders are Vissel Kobe, having won their second cup in the 2024 Emperor's Cup, 2024 edition, having previously won their first in 2019 Emperor's Cup, 2019. Overview As it is a competition to decide the "best soccer club in Japan", the cup is now open to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Omiya Ardija
is a Japanese professional association football club based in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama, Ōmiya, Saitama Prefecture. Its "hometown" (as designated by the league) is shared with neighbours Urawa Red Diamonds. The team currently play in J2 League, the Japanese second tier of professional football, after promotion from the third tier in 2024 J3 League, 2024. The club was known as Ōmiya Ardija (大宮アルディージャ, ''Ōmiya Arudīja)'', before club administration was taken over by Red Bull GmbH in late November 2024 who renamed the club. Crest Ōmiya Ardija's original crest features a squirrel on the right, which is the animal of Omiya. On the left, there are 5 lines, which reference the historic roads that run through Omiya, including the famous Nakasendō, which runs to the Hikawa Shrine (Saitama), Hikawa Shrine, right near Nack5 Stadium. On 6 November 2024, Ōmiya Ardija officially change crest and name to RB Ōmiya Ardija after being acquired by Red Bull GmbH from 20 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
