The 2006 J. League Division 2 season was the 35th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 8th season since the establishment of

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 Yasud ...

. In this season, number of participating clubs became thirteen, increased by one from the previous season. The clubs competed in the quadruple round-robin format for the top two promotion slots. Farther, the third-placed finisher participated in the Pro/Rele Series for the promotion. There were no relegation to the third-tier

Japan Football League 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 100 Year Plan club sta ...

General

Promotion and relegation

* At the end of the 2005 season,

Kyoto Purple Sanga is a Japanese professional football club based in Kyoto. The club plays in the J1 League, the top tier of football in the country. Its name "Sanga" comes from the Sanskrit word ''sangha'', a term meaning "group" or "club" and often used to deno ...

Avispa Fukuoka is a Japanese professional football club based in Hakata, Fukuoka. They currently compete in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. History Earlier years in Fujieda The club were originally based in Fujieda, Shizu ...

, and

Ventforet Kofu is a Japanese professional football club from Kōfu in Yamanashi Prefecture. The team currently competes in the J2 League, Japanese second tier of professional football, hosting their home matches in the JIT Recycle Ink Stadium, located in Kōf ...

were promoted to J1 * At the end of the 2005 season,

Kashiwa Reysol is a Japanese professional association football, football club based in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, part of the Greater Tokyo Area. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. Their home stadium is Sankyo ...

Tokyo Verdy 1969 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 ...

, and

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 Stad ...

were relegated to J2. * At the end of the 2005 season,

Ehime FC commonly known as Ehime FC (愛媛FC, ''Ehime Efu Shī'') is a professional Association football, football club based in Matsuyama, Ehime, Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan. The club currently compete in J2 League, the s ...

was promoted to J2.

Changes in competition format

* Number of participating clubs increased to 13 games * Each clubs will play 48 games instead 44 games

Changes in clubs

''none''

Clubs

Following thirteen clubs played in J. League Division 2 during 2006 season. Of these clubs, Kashiwa Reysol, Tokyo Verdy 1969, and Vissel Kobe relegated from J1 last year. Also, Ehime F.C. newly joined the J. League Division 2 from

. * Consadole Sapporo * Vegalta Sendai * Montedio Yamagata * Mito HollyHocks * Thespa Kusatsu * Kashiwa Reysol * Tokyo Verdy 1969 * Yokohama F.C. * Shonan Bellmare * Vissel Kobe * Tokushima Vortis * Ehime F.C. * Sagan Tosu

League format

Thirteen clubs played in quadruple round-robin format, a total of 48 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order: * Goal differential * Goals scored * Head-to-head results A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. The top two clubs will be promoted to J1, while the 3rd placed club plays a two-legged Promotion/relegation series.

Schedule

The tournament ran from March 4 to December 2. With 13 teams, one team always had a bye each matchday, stretching the schedule over 52 weeks. Unlike J1, it continued uninterrupted during the World Cup in Germany.

Final league table

Final results

Top scorers

Attendance

References

{{2006 in Japanese football J2 League seasons 2

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...