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Japan Football League
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Japan Football League |
| logo | Japan Football League (logo).png |
| pixels | 180px |
| country | Japan |
| confed | AFC |
| founded | |
| teams | 16 |
| promotion | J2 League (1999–2013) |
| J3 League (2014–present) | |
| relegation | Japanese Regional Leagues |
| levels | 4 |
| domest_cup | Emperor's Cup |
| champions | Honda FC (11th title) |
| season | 2025 |
| most successful club | Honda FC (11 titles) |
| website | |
| current | 2026–27 Japan Football League |
J3 League (2014–present)
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.
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. 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.
Six former JFL clubs have competed in the top flight: Yokohama FC (2007, 2020, 2021, 2023 & 2025), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (2014 & 2021 as Tokushima Vortis), Matsumoto Yamaga (2015 & 2019), V-Varen Nagasaki (2018 & 2026–27), Machida Zelvia (since 2024), and Fagiano Okayama (since 2025). Mito HollyHock will be the next to do so (in 2026–27).
When the J.League decided in 2023 on a transition to an autumn–spring season from 2026, starting in August and finishing in May of the following year, the JFL announced in 2024 its approval of adopting the same season as the J.League's, making the 2025 season the last to be within a calendar year.
Overview
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 the J.League.
Promotion from JFL
A 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. Later in November, Murai announced that promotion from and relegation to the JFL had been planned for the end of 2023.
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. 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
The team at the bottom of the league faces a direct relegation, exchanging its place with Japanese Regional Football Champions League 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
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
In 1999 (Bangabandhu Cup) and from 2014 to 2019, a JFL XI team played off-season matches against guest teams. The 2016 season also featured an JFL East vs JFL West all-star encounter.
Japan Football League Cup
In the spring of 2026, as a result of Japan's transition to a European calendar, a special JFL Cup will take place as a transition season to the 2026–27 season. That season's clubs, including newly relegated Azul Claro Numazu and promoted J-Lease FC and Vonds Ichihara will compete.
2026–27 season
Main article: 2026–27 Japan Football League
Competition format
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.
Participating clubs
| Club name | First season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in JFL | Seasons | |||||
| in JFL | Home town(s) | Current spell | ||||
| in JFL | Last | |||||
| title | Qualifiable base | |||||
| for J.League | ||||||
| Azul Claro Numazu | 2014 | 3 | Numazu, Shizuoka | 2026– | – | Yes |
| Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa | 2016 | 5 | Urayasu, Chiba | 2023– | – | No |
| Criacao Shinjuku | 2022 | 4 | Shinjuku, Tokyo | 2022– | – | Yes |
| Honda FC | 1999 | 27 | Hamamatsu, Shizuoka | 1999– | 2025 | No |
| Iwate Grulla Morioka | 2025 | 1 | Morioka, Iwate | 2025– | – | Yes |
| J-Lease FC | 2026 | 0 | Ōita, Ōita | 2026– | – | No |
| Maruyasu Okazaki | 2014 | 12 | Okazaki, Aichi | 2014– | – | No |
| Minebea Mitsumi | 2005 | 19 | Miyazaki, Miyazaki | 2009– | – | No |
| Okinawa SV | 2023 | 3 | Uruma, Okinawa | 2023– | – | No |
| ReinMeer Aomori | 2016 | 10 | Aomori, Aomori | 2016– | – | Yes |
| Tiamo Hirakata | 2021 | 5 | Hirakata, Osaka | 2021– | – | No |
| Veertien Mie | 2017 | 9 | Kuwana, Mie | 2017– | – | Yes |
| Verspah Oita | 2012 | 14 | Beppu, Ōita | 2012– | 2020 | Yes |
| Vonds Ichihara | 2026 | 0 | Ichihara, Chiba | 2026– | – | No |
| Yokogawa Musashino | 1999 | 27 | Musashino, Tokyo | 1999– | – | No |
| YSCC Yokohama | 2012 | 3 | Yokohama, Kanagawa | 2025– | – | No |
- Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted from Japanese Regional Leagues through the regional league promotion tournament.
- Gray background indicates the club most recently relegated from J3
- ''"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 (2026–27)
Main article: List of football stadiums in Japan
Primary venues used in the JFL:
| Azul Claro Numazu | Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa | Criacao Shinjuku | Honda FC | Iwate Grulla Morioka | J-Lease FC | Maruyasu Okazaki | Minebea Mitsumi | Okinawa SV | ReinMeer Aomori | Tiamo Hirakata | Veertien Mie | Verspah Oita | Vonds Ichihara | Yokogawa Musashino | YSCC Yokohama | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashitaka Park Stadium | Kashiwanoha Stadium | Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka | Honda Miyakoda Soccer Stadium | ||||||||||||||||
| Capacity: 10,000 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 7,258 | Capacity: 2,500 | ||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Ashitaka Stadium 2.JPG | 150px]] | [[File:Kashiwanoha200701021.JPG | 150px]] | [[File:Nishigaoka Stadium 1.JPG | 150px]] | [[File:MIYAKODA.jpg | 150px]] | ||||||||||||
| Iwagin Stadium | Oita Athletic Stadium | Maruyasu Okazaki Ryuhoku Stadium | Nobeoka Nishishina Athletic Stadium | ||||||||||||||||
| Capacity: 9,892 | Capacity: 15,943 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | ||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Moriokaminami.jpg | 150px]] | [[File:Ooita City Stadium 3.JPG | 150px]] | [[File:Okazaki-City-Ryuhoku-Sogo-Undojo-4.jpg | 150px]] | [[File:Nishishina Stadium 1.JPG | 150px]] | ||||||||||||
| Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium | Kakuhiro Group Athletic Stadium | Hirakata City Athletics Stadium | Asahi Gas Energy Toin Stadium | ||||||||||||||||
| Capacity: 12,270 | Capacity: 2,500 | Capacity: 12,500 | Capacity: 5,104 | ||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium 1.jpg | 150px]] | [[File:Field and spectator stand of Shin-Aomori Prefectural Comprehensive Athletic Park Athletics Stadium 004.jpg | 150px]] | [[File:Hirakata City Athletics Stadium.jpg | 150px]] | [[File:Toin Sports Athletics Arena.jpg | 150px]] | ||||||||||||
| Oita Sports Park | ZA Oripri Stadium | Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium | Mitsuzawa Stadium | ||||||||||||||||
| Capacity: 2,040 | Capacity: 14,051 | Capacity: 5,192 | Capacity: 15,454 | ||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Spopa Soccer & Rugby Football Field 20190120.jpg | 150px]] | [[File:Panoramic view of Ichihararyokuchi Sports Park Seaside Stadium.jpg | 150px]] | [[File:Musashino Athretic Stadium.JPG | 150px]] | [[File:Mitsuzawa1.jpg | 150px]] |
Former clubs
| 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 | – | |
| Arte Takasaki | 2004 | 8 | Takasaki, Gunma | 2004–2011 | – | |
| Asuka FC | 2025 | 1 | Kashihara, Nara | 2025 | — | Kansai League Div. 1 |
| Atletico Suzuka | 2019 | 6 | Suzuka, Mie | 2019–2025 | — | Tokai League Div. 1 |
| Blaublitz Akita | 2007 | 7 | All cities/towns in Akita | 2007–2013 | – | J2 |
| Cobaltore Onagawa | 2018 | 1 | Onagawa, Miyagi | 2018 | – | |
| Ehime FC | 2001 | 5 | All cities/towns in Ehime | 2001–2005 | 2005 | J3 |
| Fagiano Okayama | 2008 | 1 | All cities/towns in Okayama | 2008 | – | J1 |
| Fagiano Okayama Next | 2014 | 3 | Okayama, Okayama | 2014–2016 | – | |
| 2012 | 2 | Fujieda, Shizuoka | 2012–2013 | – | J2 | |
| Fukushima United | 2013 | 1 | Fukushima, Fukushima | 2013 | – | J3 |
| Gainare Tottori | 2001 | 10 | All cities/towns in Tottori | 2001–2010 | 2010 | J3 |
| 2007 | 1 | All cities/towns in Gifu | 2007 | – | J3 | |
| FC Imabari | 2017 | 3 | Imabari, Ehime | 2017–2019 | – | J2 |
| Iwaki FC | 2020 | 2 | Iwaki, Fukushima | 2020–2021 | 2021 | J2 |
| Jatco SC | 1999 | 5 | Numazu, Shizuoka | 1999–2003 | – | |
| JEF Reserves | 2006 | 6 | Ichihara, Chiba | 2006–2011 | – | |
| 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 | – | |
| Kataller Toyama | 2008 | 1 | All cities/towns in Toyama | 2008 | – | J2 |
| Kochi United | 2020 | 4 | Kochi, Kochi | 2020–2024 | – | J3 |
| Kokushikan University | 1999 | 6 | Machida, Tokyo | 1999–2003 | – | |
| Kyoto BAMB 1993 | 2000 | 4 | Kyoto, Kyoto | 2000–2004 | – | |
| 2009 | 4 | Machida, Tokyo | 2013 | – | J1 | |
| 1999 | 1 | Mito, Ibaraki | 1999 | – | J1 | |
| Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima | 2005 | 5 | Kurashiki, Okayama | 2005–2009 | – | |
| 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 |
| 2011 | 3 | Nagano, Nagano | 2011–2013 | 2013 | J3 | |
| Profesor Miyazaki | 2002 | 1 | All cities/towns in Miyazaki | 2002 | – | |
| Reilac Shiga | 2008 | 17 | Hikone, Shiga | 2008–2025 | – | J3 |
| Renofa Yamaguchi | 2014 | 1 | Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi | 2014 | – | J3 |
| Rosso Kumamoto | 2001 | 4 | Kumamoto, Kumamoto | 2006–2007 | – | J3 |
| 2006 | 8 | All cities/towns in Okinawa | 2006–2013 | – | J3 | |
| Ryutsu Keizai University | 2005 | 6 | Ryugasaki, Ibaraki | 2005–2010 | – | Ibaraki Prefectural League |
| Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki | 2015 | 5 | Ryugasaki, Ibaraki | 2015-2019 | – | |
| 2013 | 1 | Sagamihara, Kanagawa | 2013 | – | J3 | |
| 2002 | 5 | Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka | 2002–2006 | – | ||
| 2001 | 6 | Kōtō, Tokyo | 2001–2006 | – | ||
| 2007 | 6 | Moriyama, Shiga | 2007–2012 | 2011 | ||
| Shizuoka Sangyo University | 2000 | 3 | Iwata, Shizuoka | 2000–2002 | – | |
| Sony Sendai FC | 1999 | 26 | Sendai, Miyagi | 1999–2024 | 2015 | Defunct |
| 2003 | 13 | Uji, Kyoto | 2003–2015 | – | ||
| Tegevajaro Miyazaki | 2018 | 3 | Miyazaki, Miyazaki | 2018–2020 | – | J2 |
| Thespa Kusatsu | 2004 | 1 | All cities/towns in Gunma | 2004 | – | J3 |
| Tochigi City FC | 2010 | 8 | Tochigi | 2024 | 2024 | J2 |
| Tochigi SC | 2000 | 9 | Utsunomiya, Tochigi | 2000–2008 | – | J3 |
| V-Varen Nagasaki | 2009 | 4 | All cities/towns in Nagasaki | 2009–2012 | 2012 | J1 |
| Vanraure Hachinohe | 2014 | 5 | Hachinohe, Aomori | 2014–2018 | – | J2 |
| 2010 | 2 | Matsumoto, Nagano | 2010–2011 | – | J3 | |
| YKK AP | 2001 | 7 | Kurobe, Toyama | 2001–2007 | – | |
| Yokohama FC | 1999 | 2 | Yokohama, Kanagawa | 1999–2000 | 2000 | J2 |
| Zweigen Kanazawa | 2010 | 4 | Kanazawa, Ishikawa | 2010–2013 | – | J3 |
- Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted to J3 League.
- Gray background indicates clubs most recently relegated to JRL
Championship, promotion and relegation history
Most successful clubs
Clubs in bold compete in JFL as of 2026–27 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda FC | 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, | |||
| 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2023, | ||||
| 2025 | 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, | |||
| 2021 | ||||
| Sagawa Shiga | 2007, 2009, 2011 | 2010 | ||
| Otsuka Pharmaceuticals | 2003, 2004 | 2001 | ||
| Yokohama FC | 1999, 2000 | |||
| Nagano Parceiro | 2013 | 2011, 2012 | ||
| Sony Sendai | 2015 | 2019 | ||
| Ehime FC | 2005 | |||
| Gainare Tottori | 2010 | |||
| V-Varen Nagasaki | 2012 | |||
| Verspah Oita | 2020 | |||
| Iwaki FC | 2021 | |||
| Nara Club | 2022 | |||
| Tochigi City FC | 2024 | |||
| Sagawa Express Tokyo | 0 | 2 | 2002, 2006 | |
| FC Osaka | 2018, 2022 | |||
| YKK AP | 2005 | |||
| Rosso Kumamoto | 2007 | |||
| Tochigi SC | 2008 | |||
| Yokogawa Musashino | 2009 | |||
| Kamatamare Sanuki | 2013 | |||
| SP Kyoto FC | 2014 | |||
| Vanraure Hachinohe | 2015 | |||
| Ryutsu Keizai Dragons | 2016 | |||
| ReinMeer Aomori | 2017 | |||
| Tegevajaro Miyazaki | 2020 | |||
| Briobecca Urayasu | 2023 | |||
| Kochi United SC | 2024 | |||
| Reilac Shiga | 2025 |
Third-tier league: 1999–2013
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Promoted to J2 after the season | Relegated from J2 after the season | Promoted from Regional Leagues before the season | Relegated to Regional Leagues after the season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Yokohama F.C. | Honda F.C. | Mito HollyHock | — | Yokogawa Denki | None |
| 2000 | Yokohama F.C. | Honda F.C. | Yokohama FC | Tochigi S.C. | ||
| Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C. | ||||||
| Alo's Hokuriku | ||||||
| F.C. Kyoken | None | |||||
| 2001 | Honda F.C. | Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C. | None | Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. | ||
| YKK AP F.C. | ||||||
| S.C. Tottori | ||||||
| Ehime F.C. | ||||||
| NTT West Japan-Kumamoto | None | |||||
| 2002 | Honda F.C. | Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. | None | Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. | ||
| Profesor Miyazaki | Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C. | |||||
| Alouette Kumamoto | ||||||
| Profesor Miyazaki | ||||||
| 2003 | Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C. | Honda F.C. | None | Sagawa Printing S.C. | Jatco F.C. (disbanded) | |
| F.C. Kyoto BAMB 1993 (F.C. Kyoken) | ||||||
| 2004 | Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C. | Honda F.C. | Otsuka (Tokushima Vortis) | |||
| Kusatsu | Thespa Kusatsu | |||||
| Gunma Horikoshi | Kokushikan University F.C. (forced to withdraw due to scandal) | |||||
| 2005 | Ehime F.C. | YKK AP F.C. | Ehime | Ryutsu Keizai University F.C. | ||
| Mitsubishi Mizushima FC | ||||||
| Honda Lock S.C. | None | |||||
| 2006 | Honda F.C. | Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. | None | JEF United Ichihara Chiba B | ||
| Rosso Kumamoto | ||||||
| F.C. Ryukyu | Honda Lock SC | |||||
| (Sagawa Express Tokyo and Osaka clubs merge to form a single club) | ||||||
| 2007 | Sagawa Express S.C. | Rosso Kumamoto | Kumamoto | |||
| Gifu | TDK S.C. | |||||
| F.C. Gifu | (Alo's Hokuriku and YKK AP merge to form Kataller Toyama) | |||||
| 2008 | Honda FC | Tochigi SC | Tochigi SC | |||
| Fagiano Okayama | ||||||
| Kataller Toyama | Fagiano Okayama | |||||
| New Wave Kitakyushu | ||||||
| MIO Biwako Shiga | None | |||||
| 2009 | Sagawa Shiga | Tokyo Musashino City | New Wave Kitakyushu | Machida Zelvia | ||
| V-Varen Nagasaki | ||||||
| Honda Lock | Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima (voluntary withdrawal) | |||||
| FC Kariya | ||||||
| 2010 | Gainare Tottori | Sagawa Shiga | Tottori | Matsumoto Yamaga | ||
| Hitachi Tochigi Uva | ||||||
| Zweigen Kanazawa | Ryutsu Keizai University | |||||
| 2011 | Sagawa Shiga | Nagano Parceiro | Machida | |||
| Matsumoto | Kamatamare Sanuki | |||||
| Nagano Parceiro | JEF Reserves (disbanded) | |||||
| Arte Takasaki (disbanded) | ||||||
| 2012 | V-Varen Nagasaki | Nagano Parceiro | Nagasaki | Machida Zelvia | YSCC Yokohama | |
| Fujieda MYFC | ||||||
| Hoyo AC Elan Oita | Sagawa Shiga (disbanded) | |||||
| 2013 | Nagano Parceiro | Kamatamare Sanuki | Sanuki | — | SC 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–
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.
| Season | Champions | Runners-up | Promoted to J3 after the season | Relegated from J3 after the season | Promoted from Regional Leagues before the season | Relegated to Regional Leagues after the season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Honda FC (A) | SP Kyoto FC (C) | Renofa Yamaguchi | — | Fagiano Okayama Next | |
| Kagoshima United | ||||||
| Vanraure Hachinohe | ||||||
| Azul Claro Numazu | ||||||
| Maruyasu Industries SC | ||||||
| Renofa Yamaguchi | None | |||||
| 2015 | Sony Sendai (C) | Vanraure Hachinohe (A) | Kagoshima United | Nara Club | ||
| FC Osaka | ||||||
| Ryutsu Keizai Dragons | SP Kyoto FC (disbanded) | |||||
| 2016 | Honda FC (C) | Ryutsu Keizai Dragons (A) | Azul Claro Numazu | ReinMeer Aomori | ||
| Briobecca Urayasu | Fagiano Okayama Next (disbanded) | |||||
| 2017 | Honda FC (1) | ReinMeer Aomori (2) | None | FC Imabari | ||
| Veertien Mie | Briobecca Urayasu | |||||
| Tochigi Uva | ||||||
| 2018 | Honda FC (1) | FC Osaka (2) | Vanraure Hachinohe | Cobaltore Onagawa | ||
| Tegevajaro Miyazaki | Cobaltore Onagawa | |||||
| 2019 | Honda FC | Sony Sendai | FC Imabari | Matsue City FC | ||
| Suzuka Unlimited | Ryutsu Keizai Dragons | |||||
| 2020† | Verspah Oita | Tegevajaro Miyazaki | Miyazaki | Iwaki FC | ||
| Kochi United SC | None | |||||
| 2021 | Iwaki FC | Honda FC | Iwaki | Tiamo Hirakata | ||
| FC Kariya | FC Kariya | |||||
| 2022 | Nara Club | FC Osaka | Nara | |||
| FC Osaka | Criacao Shinjuku | Kagura Shimane (disbanded) | ||||
| 2023 | Honda FC | Briobecca Urayasu | None | Briobecca Urayasu | ||
| Okinawa SV | None | |||||
| 2024 | Tochigi City FC | Kochi United SC | Tochigi City | |||
| Kochi | YSCC Yokohama | |||||
| Iwate Grulla Morioka | Tochigi City FC | Sony Sendai FC (disbanded) | ||||
| 2025 | Honda FC | Reilac Shiga | Shiga | Azul Claro Numazu | Asuka FC | Atletico Suzuka Club |
| Asuka | ||||||
| 2026–27 | J-Lease FC | |||||
| Vonds Ichihara |
† Only second half of season was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.}}
JFL records and statistics
| No. | Player | Caps | Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daiki Koyama | 389 | 2000–2002, 2004–2017 |
| 2 | Hajime "Gen" Nakamura | 374 | 2003–2017 |
| 3 | Takanori Kanamori | 349 | 2008–2022 |
| 4 | Hirotaka Nagatomi | 348 | 2006–2021 |
| 5 | Kazuhisa Hamaoka | 338 | 2001–2005, 2007, 2010–2013, 2014–2016 |
| 6 | Takuya Tomiyama | 333 | 1999–2012 |
| 7 | Masayuki Ishii | 314 | 1999–2010 |
| 8 | Takahito Seta | 313 | 2008–2018 |
| 9 | Keisuke Iwata | 312 | 2009–2020 |
| 10 | Junya Nitta | 307 | 1999–2011 |
| # | Player | Goals | Career |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Junya Nitta | 146 | 1999–2011 |
| 2 | Tatsuya Furuhashi | 127 | 1999–2004, 2014–2020 |
| 3 | Kodai Suzuki | 111 | 2000–2010 |
| 4 | Sho Gokyu | 104 | 2006–2007, 2009–2013, 2015 |
| 5 | Mitsuru Hasegawa | 103 | 2001–2008 |
| 6 | Masatoshi Matsuda | 100 | 2014–2015 |
| 7 | Hajime "Gen" Nakamura | 94 | 2003–2017 |
| 8 | Takehiro Hayashi | 91 | 1999–2004 |
| 9 | Shoma Mizunaga | 83 | 2005–2006, 2009–2012, 2018–2020 |
| 10 | Tomohiro Ito | 71 | 1999–2008 |
References
References
- "リーグ構成". Japan Football League.
- (19 December 2023). "2026-27シーズンからのシーズン移行について". J.League.
- (21 December 2024). "2026年からのシーズン移行について". Japan Football League.
- (1 September 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". J.League.
- (25 November 2021). "２３年にも入れ替え実施 Ｊ３とＪＦＬ". Jiji.com.
- (6 January 2023). "Promotion and Relegation between J3 and JFL from 2023 Season".
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