J. League
Country	Japan
Confederation	AFC
Founded	1992
Divisions	2
Number of teams	J1: 18 clubs J2: 15 clubs
Promotion to	not applicable; highest league in country
Relegation to	Japan Football League
Levels on pyramid	Level I & II
Domestic cup(s)	Yamazaki Nabisco Cup Emperor's Cup
AFC cup(s)	AFC Champions League
Current champions	Kashima Antlers (2007)
Most successful club	Kashima Antlers
Website	http://www.j-league.or.jp/eng/
J. League 2008

The Japan Professional Football League (日本プロサッカーリーグ, Nippon Puro Sakkā Rīgu^?), or J. Most European countries have two principal Association football competitions a more prestigious league which is typically a double Round-robin tournament restricted The 46 member Asian Football Confederation ( AFC) is the governing body of football in Asia, excluding Cyprus and Israel, and including Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) In many Sports leagues around the world (with North American and Australian professional leagues being the most notable exceptions promotion and relegation In many Sports leagues around the world (with North American and Australian professional leagues being the most notable exceptions promotion and relegation In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different A league system is a hierarchy of leagues in a sport that usually teams can be promoted or relegated between depending on finishing positions or playoffs Format 1992 The founding 10 clubs of the J League participated as a warm-up to the upcoming inaugural league season commonly known as, is a Japanese football Competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan dating back to 1921 before the formation The 46 member Asian Football Confederation ( AFC) is the governing body of football in Asia, excluding Cyprus and Israel, and including The AFC Champions League is the current annual Asian club football competition hosted by Asian Football Confederation (AFC is a professional football team playing in the Japanese J League. The J League 2007 season is the 15th season since the establishment of the J The 2008 season of the J League, the 16th season in the league shall be contested as follows General Promotion and relegation League (Jリーグ, J Rīgu^?), is the top professional football (soccer) league in Japan and one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Currently, J. League Division 1 and 2 falls in to level 1 and level 2 of the Japanese football league system. The Japanese football league system is organized in a pyramidal shape just like the football league systems in the world

Contents 1 The League history 1.1 Phases of the League 1.1.1 Before the Pro League Era (-1992) 1.1.2 The inaugural season, and the J. League boom (1993-1995) 1.1.3 An era after the J.League boom (1996-1999) 1.1.4 Change of the League's infrastructure (1999-2005) 1.1.5 Expansion of J. League Division 2 (2005-present) 1.1.6 Future plans (2009 and beyond) 1.2 Timetable 2 The League structure 2.1 J.League Division 1 (J1) 2.1.1 The 2008 season 2.1.2 Clubs in J1 (2008) 2.1.3 Championship history 2.1.4 Best performance teams 2.1.5 Relegation history 2.2 J. League Division 2 (J2) 2.2.1 The 2008 season 2.2.2 Clubs in J2 (2008) 2.2.3 Championship/Promotion history 2.3 J.League Associate Membership 3 Other Tournaments 4 J. League awards 5 Notable Current Players 6 Notable players from each region 7 Current well-known managers 8 Former managers 9 J. League records 10 See also 11 External links

The League history

Phases of the League

Before the Pro League Era (-1992)

For history of Japanese club football before the inception of the professional league in 1993, see Japan Soccer League. or JSL, was the top flight Soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league the J

Before the inception of the J. League, the highest level of club football was the Japan Soccer League (JSL), and it consisted of amateur clubs. or JSL, was the top flight Soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league the J Fans were few, the grounds were not of the highest quality, and the Japanese national team was not on a par with the Asian powerhouses. To raise the level of play domestically, to attempt to garner more fans, and to strengthen the national team, the Japan Football Association (JFA) decided to form a professional league. The, also known as the JFA, is the governing body responsible for the administration of football in Japan.

The professional football league, J. League was formed in 1992, with eight clubs drawn from the JSL First Division, one from the Second Division, and the newly formed Shimizu S-Pulse. is a professional Japanese football club. Located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, S-Pulse currently competes in the J At the same time, JSL changed its name and became the Japan Football League (former), a semi-professional league. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different Although the J. League did not officially launch until 1993, the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup competition was held between the ten clubs in 1992 to prepare for the inaugural season. Format 1992 The founding 10 clubs of the J League participated as a warm-up to the upcoming inaugural league season

The inaugural season, and the J. League boom (1993-1995)

J. League officially kicked-off its first season with ten clubs on May 15, 1993 as Verdy Kawasaki (current, Tokyo Verdy) played host to Yokohama Marinos (current, Yokohama F. Marinos) at the Kasumigaoka National Stadium. Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) formally Tokyo Verdy 1969 and Verdy Kawasaki, is a Soccer team which plays in Division 1 of Japan's J formally Tokyo Verdy 1969 and Verdy Kawasaki, is a Soccer team which plays in Division 1 of Japan's J is a Japanese football team which participates in the professional J is a Japanese football team which participates in the professional J is a Stadium in Kasumigaoka Shinjuku Tokyo that served as the main stadium for the 1964 Summer Olympics. It made a huge impact on the Japanese sports culture as professional baseball, golf, and sumo were the only well-supported and widely-watched sports in the country. Many famous and post-peak foreign players were brought into the clubs and the stadiums were filling in. On every matchday, at least one game was broadcast live on national TV, and it seemed the league was a huge success. In the second season (1994), the league recorded its highest average attendance of 19,598, which is yet to be broken.

Because of such popularity, clubs in Japan Football League (former) that failed to join "the original ten" in the inaugural season tried to join the league. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different Clubs like Jubilo Iwata and Bellmare Hiratsuka (current, Shonan Bellmare) joined the league in 1994, six more clubs followed in next four years. is a professional Japanese football team currently playing in the J are a Japanese professional football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 are a Japanese professional football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2

An era after the J. League boom (1996-1999)

Despite the success in the first three years, many experts anticipate that "the boom" would soon dissipate, and the league would be in terrible shape financially as the clubs continued paying high wages to the foreign players. In fact, the phenomenon began in early 1996 as the league attendance declined rapidly. In 1997 the average attendance was 10,131, compared to more than 19,000 in 1994. Many claimed that the sudden decline in popularity was also due to rapid expansions; A total of eight clubs were added in the four year span from 1994 to 1998. With high paychecks and low attendance, money was bleeding from the clubs, and the league sponsors were becoming very worried. It seemed that there was no way out from the losses.

Although, J. League clubs were not corporate-owned, clubs still depended heavily on support from sponsors, who were essentially their parent companies. When the Japanese economy took a turn for the worse, clubs suffered as their sponsors were affected. In 1998, Sato Kogyo, a general contractor and primary co-sponsor of Yokohama Flügels, announced that it was experiencing financial difficulties, and it would be pulling its support from the club. was a Japanese football club that played in the J League between 1993 and 1998. The other primary co-sponsor, All Nippon Airways, who could not support the club on its own, met with Nissan Motors, the primary sponsor of Yokohama Marinos, the Flügels' cross-town rival, and decided to merge their clubs. also known as or ANA, is an airline headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. is a Japanese football team which participates in the professional J Under the agreement, the Flügels were dissolved, and the Marinos were renamed Yokohama F. Marinos, the "F. " representing the Flügels. Around the same time, Fujita, the sponsors of Bellmare Hiratsuka (currently, Shonan Bellmare), also had difficulties financing the club. are a Japanese professional football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 are a Japanese professional football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 Many other clubs were having a similar problem across the league. Without a change, it would be just a matter of time before the league collapsed.

Change of the League's infrastructure (1999-2005)

The league's management finally realized that they were heading into the wrong direction. In order to solve the problem, the management came out with two solutions.

First, they announced the J. League Hundred Year Vision, in which they aim to make 100 professional football clubs in the nation of Japan by 2093. The league also encouraged the clubs to promote football or non-football related sports and health activities, to acquire local sponsorships, and to build good relationship with their hometowns at the grass-root level. The league believe that this will allow clubs to bond with their respective cities and towns and get support from local government, companies, and citizens. In other words, clubs will be able to rely on the locals, rather than major national sponsors.

Secondly, the infrastructure of the league was heavily changed in 1999. The league acquired nine clubs from the semi-professional JFL (former) and one club from J. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League to create a two division system. The topflight became the J. League Division 1 (J1) with 16 clubs while J. League Division 2 (J2) was launched with ten clubs in 1999. The second-tier Japan Football League (former), now became third-tier Japan Football League. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different

The criteria for becoming a J2 club was not as strict as the top division. This allowed smaller cities and towns to maintain a club successfully without investing as much as clubs in J1. In fact, clubs like Mito HollyHock only draw an average of 3,000 fans a game and receive minimal sponsorship, yet still field fairly competitive teams in J2. is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2

Clubs took time to build their teams for J1 promotion as they also tried to gradually improve the youth systems, the home stadium, the financial status, and the relationship with their hometown. Clubs such as Oita Trinita, Albirex Niigata, and Kawasaki Frontale accomplished the scheme successfully. is a J League team The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian is a Japanese J League football team Despite the club's relative youth only joining the J is a J League football club The team is located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo All these clubs originally started as J2 in 1999 and were comparatively small, but they eventually earned J1 promotion in 2002, 2003, and 2004 respectively. Now they are all well established in the topflight.

The league also began to follow European game formats as time went on. Originally, due to the cultural unease of neither side coming out as the winner of a game, extra time, golden goal rules, and penalty shoot-outs were employed for regular league matches. Aggregated Extra Time (AET, commonly known as extra time is an additional period played in some sports codes if the score is tied at the end of normal time The golden goal is a method used to decide the winner of games in elimination matches which end in a draw after the end of regulation time Penalty shootouts, properly named kicks from the penalty mark, are a method sometimes used to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament (or wins the tournament Penalty shoot-outs were abolished in the beginning of the 1999 season, and extra time was abolished in 2002 for J2 and 2003 for J1.

Also, until 2004 (with the exception of 1996 season), the J1 season was divided into two. At the end of each full season, the champion from each half played a two-legged series to determined the overall season winner and runners-up. The J League Championship was a two-legged championship series which determined the season champion for the first 12 J Jubilo Iwata in 2002, and Yokohama F. Marinos in 2003, won both "halves" of the respective seasons, thus eliminating the need for the playoff series. is a professional Japanese football team currently playing in the J is a Japanese football team which participates in the professional J This was the part of the reason for the league to abolish the split-season system beginning in 2005.

Expansion of J. League Division 2 (2005-present)

Beginning 2005 season, J. League Division 1 consisted 18 clubs (increased from 16 in 2004) and season format became similar to the European club football. The number of relegated clubs also increased to 2. 5 from 2, with the third-from-bottom club going into promotion/relegation playoffs with the third-placed J2 club. In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J Since then, other than minor adjustments, the top flight has stayed consistent.

Meanwhile, J. League Division 2 started to expand to fulfill the demands of lower-level clubs becoming professional. At the end of 2004 two clubs were promoted from the Japan Football League and in the following year Ehime F.C. followed. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different Ehime FC is a professional football (soccer club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan At the beginning of the 2006 season, the league took a survey to figure out the number of non-league clubs interested in joining the professional league. As it turned out, about 40-60 clubs in Japan plan to be professional in the next 30 years. From the league's perspective, proposal of J. League Hundred Year Vision back in late 90s has been moving is the positive direction.

The league management formed a committee and looked at two practical options; either expand the second division or form a third division. In other words, the league had a choice between letting the non-league clubs catch up to the J2 standard or form a third division with non-league clubs where these clubs can prepare for J2. After studying several case studies, the committee made a professional assessment that it is the best interest of the league to expand the J2 to 22 clubs before forming a third division. Several reasonings led the committee to such decision:

• Japan Football League, the third-tier in Japanese football league system was already serving the purpose of preparing the non-league clubs. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different The Japanese football league system is organized in a pyramidal shape just like the football league systems in the world
• At the time, most non-league club interested becoming professional were in the regional leagues or Prefectural leagues, two to four level below J2.
• Twenty-two clubs is the perfect number as it allows enough number of home games for annual revenue, while keeping the competition at fair double-round robin format.
• Most European leagues have similar football pyramids where there is more clubs in 2nd- and 3rd-tier leagues than the top flight.

Committee also reintroduced Associate Membership System to identify and assist such non-league clubs. J League Associate Membership 　 is a status given to non-league football clubs in Japan that has intention to join the professional league J The membership is exclusively given to non-league clubs that have intention to joining the J. League and also fulfill most of the criteria for J2 promotion. Several clubs in Japan Football League and Regional Leagues have applied and received the membership. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different Associate members finishing top 4 of JFL will be promoted to J2, although a few corporate and university holdouts may prevent a smooth transition (Japan, like Spain and Germany, allows reserve teams to compete in the main football league system, though not in the J. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League itself). As of 2008, two clubs joined J2 through this system.

Future plans (2009 and beyond)

Currently the league has 18 clubs in Division 1 and 15 clubs in Division 2. As mentioned in the last section, league plans to have 22 clubs in a decade. First, J2 will be expanded to 18 clubs by 2010, and 22 clubs by 2016. However, this is merely a plan and the league will not allow promotion unless the non-league clubs meet the criteria. The league believe this strict system will prevent financially unstable clubs and also allow the league to maintain certain standard as a professional league without having to adopt the "closed shop" franchise system Nippon Professional Baseball has. Nippon Professional Baseball or NPB is the highest level of Baseball in Japan.

Timetable

Year	Important Events	Participating Clubs
1989	JFA forms a professional league assessment committee.
1990	The committee decides the criteria for professional clubs Fifteen to twenty clubs from Japan Soccer League applies for the professional league membership
1992	The professional league, J. or JSL, was the top flight Soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league the J League is formed with the following 10 clubs: Kashima Antlers, Urawa Red Diamonds, JEF United Ichihara, Verdy Kawasaki, Yokohama Marinos, Yokohama Flügels, Shimizu S-Pulse, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Gamba Osaka, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima Japan Soccer League becomes second-tier JFL (former) J. or JSL, was the top flight Soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league the J In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League hosts the first domestic league cup competition with the ten clubs
1993	The J. Format 1992 The founding 10 clubs of the J League participated as a warm-up to the upcoming inaugural league season League officially kicks off its first season	J. League: 10
1994	Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League (former): Júbilo Iwata and Bellmare Hiratsuka	J. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League: 12
1995	Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League (former): Cerezo Osaka and Kashiwa Reysol The points system is introduced for the firs time: a club receives 3pts for any win, 1pts for PK loss, and 0pts for regulation or extra time loss. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different	J. League: 14
1996	Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League (former): Kyoto Purple Sanga and Avispa Fukuoka The league adopts single season format J. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League average attendance hits the record low 10,131	J. League: 16
1997	Following club is promoted from Japan Football League (former): Vissel Kobe The league goes back to split-season format The points system changes: a club receives 3pts for regulation win, 2pts for extra-time win, 1pt for PK win, and 0pts for any loss. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different	J. League: 17
1998	Following club is promoted from Japan Football League (former): Consadole Sapporo Yokohama Flügels announces that they will dissolved into crosstown rivals Yokohama Marinos starting 1999 season The league announces the J. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League Hundred Year Vision The league announces incorporation of two-division system starting 1999 season The league hosts J. League Promotion Tournament to decide promoting and/or relegating clubs. As a result, Consadole Sapporo becomes the first club be to relegated.	J. League: 18
1999	Yokohama Marinos merges with Yokohama Flügels and becomes Yokohama F. Marinos The league adopts two divisions as following nine clubs from Japan Football League (former) joins the league along with the relegated Consadole Sapporo: Montedio Yamagata, Vegalta Sendai, Omiya Ardija, Kawasaki Frontale, Ventforet Kofu, Sagan Tosu, F. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different C. Tokyo, Albirex Niigata, and Oita Trinita Penalties are abolished in both divisions; however, golden goal extra-time rules stayed The points system changes: a club receives 3pts for a regulation win, 2pts for an extra time win, and 1pt for a tie Japan Football League (former) is also restructured as well, as it becomes the 3rd-tier Japan Football League. Penalty shootouts, properly named kicks from the penalty mark, are a method sometimes used to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament (or wins the tournament In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different Note: To distinguish between the former and the current JFL, the new JFL is pronounced Nihon Football League in Japanese.	J1: 16 J2: 10
2000	Bellmare Hiratsuka becomes Shonan Bellmare Following club is promoted from Japan Football League: Mito HollyHock	J1: 16 J2: 11
2001	Verdy Kawasaki becomes Tokyo Verdy 1969 Following club is promoted from Japan Football League: Yokohama F. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different C.	J1: 16 J2: 12
2002	Extra time is abolished in Division 2 and traditional 3-1-0 points system is adopted Note: Division 1 keeps extra time rule with 3-2-1-0 points system (see 1999 for detail)	J1: 16 J2: 12
2003	Extra time is abolished in Division 1 and traditional 3-1-0 points system is adopted	J1: 16 J2: 12
2004	JEF United Ichihara becomes JEF United Chiba Inception of the two-legged Promotion/Relegation Series as the top flight expands to 18 clubs in the following season	J1: 16 J2: 12
2005	J. Aggregated Extra Time (AET, commonly known as extra time is an additional period played in some sports codes if the score is tied at the end of normal time Aggregated Extra Time (AET, commonly known as extra time is an additional period played in some sports codes if the score is tied at the end of normal time In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J League Division 1 expands to 18 clubs J. League Division 1 adopts singles-season format Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League: Tokushima Vortis and Thespa Kusatsu	J1: 18 J2: 12
2006	Following club is promoted from Japan Football League: Ehime F. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different C. Away goals rule is adopted in Yamazaki Nabisco Cup and Promotion/Relegation Series The league forms J. The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in Association football and other sports when teams play each other twice once at each Format 1992 The founding 10 clubs of the J League participated as a warm-up to the upcoming inaugural league season In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J League expansion committee The league reintroduces J. League Associate Membership	J1: 18 J2: 13
2007	Kyoto Purple Sanga becomes Kyoto Sanga F. J League Associate Membership 　 is a status given to non-league football clubs in Japan that has intention to join the professional league J C. J. League champions qualifies to Club World Cup as the host Note: If a Japanese club wins the AFC Champions League, the host loses its right. The FIFA Club World Cup, formerly known as the FIFA Club World Championship, is a football competition contested between the champion clubs from all six continental The AFC Champions League is the current annual Asian club football competition hosted by Asian Football Confederation (AFC Urawa Red Diamonds becomes the first Japanese clubs to win the AFC Champions League under the current format. The AFC Champions League is the current annual Asian club football competition hosted by Asian Football Confederation (AFC	J1: 18 J2: 13
2008	Nagoya Grampus Eight becomes Nagoya Grampus Tokyo Verdy 1969 becomes Tokyo Verdy Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League: Roasso Kumamoto and F. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different C. Gifu	J1: 18 J2: 15

The League structure

Main article: Japanese football league system

Since the inception of the second division in 1999, promotion and relegation follow a pattern similar to European leagues, where the two bottom clubs of J1 and the top two clubs of J2 are guaranteed to move. The Japanese football league system is organized in a pyramidal shape just like the football league systems in the world Also starting 2005, a third place J2 club can also move up if they were able to defeat the third-to-last J1 club in the Promotion/Relegation Series. In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J However, promotion or right to play the pro/rele series relies on the J2 clubs meeting the requirements for J1 franchise status set by the league. This has generally not been a hindrance, in fact, no club is yet to be denied promotion due to not meeting the J1 criteria.

Japan Football League (JFL) is currently the third level in the football system and being a semi-professional league, the J. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League limits only certain club from JFL to be promoted. In 2000, 2001, and 2006 the JFL league champion was promoted to J2; in 2005 two teams were promoted. From 2007, the league requires J. League Associate Membership and at least 4th-place finish in JFL to be promoted to J2. J League Associate Membership 　 is a status given to non-league football clubs in Japan that has intention to join the professional league J There is no relegation from J2 to JFL. Since 1999, seven club from JFL were promoted J2, two of which were expanded into J1. Currently, J1 has 18 clubs and J2 has 15 clubs. The division 2 will have 18-22 clubs in the near future.

J. League Division 1 (J1)

Until 2004 season, the J1 season was divided into two halves, with an annual championship series involving the champions from each halves (with exception of the 1996 season). The J League Championship was a two-legged championship series which determined the season champion for the first 12 J However, from 2005 season, the split format is dropped. Now 18 clubs plays in double round robin, home and away.

The 2008 season

Eighteen clubs will play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 34 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
• Disciplinary points

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 bottom two clubs will be relegated to J2, while the 16th placed club plays a two-legged Promotion/Relegation Series. In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J

Clubs in J1 (2008)

Club Name	Year Joined	Home Town(s)	Home Stadium(s)	Capacity	Current Spell in The Top Flight
Kashima Antlers	1993	Southwestern cities/towns of Ibaraki	Kashima Stadium	39,026	1993-
Urawa Red Diamonds	1993	Saitama, Saitama	Saitama Stadium Urawa Komaba Stadium	63,700 21,500	2001-
Gamba Osaka	1993	Suita, Osaka	Osaka Expo '70 Stadium	23,000	1988/89-
Shimizu S-Pulse	1993	Shimizu, Shizuoka	Nihondaira Sports Stadium Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa	20,339 51,349	1993-
Kawasaki Frontale	1999 (J2)	Kawasaki, Kanagawa	Todoroki Athletics Stadium	25,000	2005-
Albirex Niigata	1999 (J2)	Niigata & Seiro, Niigata	Tohoku Denryoku Big Swan Stadium	42,300	2004-
Yokohama F. Marinos	1993	Yokohama & Yokosuka, Kanagawa	Nissan Stadium	72,370	1982-
Kashiwa Reysol	1995	Kashiwa, Chiba	Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium	15,900	2007-
Júbilo Iwata	1994	Iwata, Shizuoka	Yamaha Stadium Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa	16,893 51,349	1994-
Vissel Kobe	1997	Kobe, Hyōgo	Home's Stadium Kobe Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium	30,132 45,000	2007-
Nagoya Grampus	1993	Nagoya, Aichi	Mizuho Athletic Stadium Toyota Stadium	27,000 45,000	1990/91-
F.C. Tokyo	1999 (J2)	All cities/towns in Tokyo	Tokyo Stadium	50,000	2000-
JEF United Chiba	1993	Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba	Fukuda Denshi Arena	18,500	1965-
Oita Trinita	1999 (J2)	All cities/towns in Oita	Ōita Stadium	40,000	2003-
Omiya Ardija	1999 (J2)	Saitama, Saitama	Ōmiya Park Soccer Stadium	12,500	2005-
Consadole Sapporo	1998	Sapporo, Hokkaidō	Sapporo Atsubetsu Park Stadium Sapporo Dome	20,005 42,831	2008-
Tokyo Verdy	1993	All cities/towns in Tokyo	Tokyo Stadium	50,000	2008-
Kyoto Sanga	1996	Kyoto, Kyoto	Nishikyogoku Athletic Stadium	20,242	2008-

Championship history

Main article: Japanese football champions

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As of 2008, the city has an estimated Population of 354600 and the density WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture located in the Kinki region on Honshū, the main island of is an athletic stadium in Suita, Osaka Prefecture, Japan It is in the Expo Memorial Park, the site of Expo '70. is a professional Japanese football club. Located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, S-Pulse currently competes in the J is a ward of Shizuoka, Shizuoka prefecture, Japan. It started on April 1 in 2005 when Shizuoka city gained designation by government ordinance WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū Island is a multi-use Stadium in Shimizu-ku Shizuoka, Japan. It is currently mostly used for football matches and has been the home stadium of the is a sports Stadium used primarily for football. The stadium is in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, although the stadium itself is a J League football club The team is located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. is a multi-use Stadium in Kawasaki, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Kawasaki Frontale. is a Japanese J League football team Despite the club's relative youth only joining the J is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. is a town located in Kitakanbara District, Niigata, Japan. As of 2003, the town has an estimated Population of 13474 and a WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located on Honshū Island on the coast of the is a Japanese football team which participates in the professional J is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area is a city located in Kanagawa, Japan. It is located at the mouth of Tokyo Bay in the Miura Peninsula, and the city stretches across The, once known as the is a sports venue in Yokohama, Japan. The stadium was inaugurated in March 1998 is a J League team The name Reysol comes from the Spanish words rey ('king' and sol ('sun' and reflect the fact that the team had originally is a city located in Chiba, Japan. As of May 1, 2005, the city has an estimated Population of 382957 WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Greater Tokyo Area. Hitachi Kashiwa Soccer Stadium is a football Stadium in Kashiwa Chiba, Japan. is a professional Japanese football team currently playing in the J is a city located in Shizuoka, Japan. The city was founded on April 1, 1948. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū Island is a football Stadium in Iwata Shizuoka, Japan. It is the home ground for the J is a sports Stadium used primarily for football. The stadium is in Fukuroi City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, although the stadium itself is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1 WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region on Honshū Island Home's Stadium Kobe, formerly is a football Stadium in Misaki Park Hyogo-ku, Kobe, Japan. Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Kobe Sports Park Kobe, Japan. (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J is the third-largest incorporated city and the fourth most populous urban area in Japan. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. is a multi-use Stadium in Nagoya, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the part time home stadium of Nagoya Grampus is a 45000 seat Retractable roof Stadium in Toyota Aichi, Japan. is a Japanese football (soccer club playing in J League Division 1 officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. For the current football stadium see Ajinomoto Stadium. Tokyo Stadium was a Stadium in Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan. is a football (soccer club that plays in J League. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after is a city located in Chiba, Japan. As of April 2006 the city has an estimated Population of 280178 and the density of 761 persons WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Greater Tokyo Area. known commonly as Fuku-Ari (フクアリ is a football stadium in Chiba, Japan. is a J League team The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. Ōita Stadium or Kyushu Oil Dome for sponsorship reasons is a Stadium in the city of Ōita in Ōita Prefecture on Kyushu Island is a professional Football (soccer club which play in the J League, and are based in Ōmiya-ku in Saitama, Japan. is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū. is a Football (soccer Stadium located in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama city, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. is a Japanese professional football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 1 is the fifth-largest city in Japan by population It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan 's Sapporo Atsubetsu Park Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Sapporo, Japan. The is a Stadium located in Toyohira-ku Sapporo, Japan, and is primarily used for football and Baseball. formally Tokyo Verdy 1969 and Verdy Kawasaki, is a Soccer team which plays in Division 1 of Japan's J officially, is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan and located on the eastern side of the main island Honshū. For the current football stadium see Ajinomoto Stadium. Tokyo Stadium was a Stadium in Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan. is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club based in Kyoto. (IPA /kʲoːto / is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kinki region of the island of Honshū or is a multi-use Stadium in Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Japan Soccer League First Division (1965-1992 JLeague (1992-present Top flight becomes Japan Professional Football League First Division ( The J League 1993 season is the inaugural season of the J League The J League 1994 season is the 2nd season of the J League The league fixture began on March 12, 1994 and ended on November 19, 1994 The J League 1995 season is the 3rd season of the J League The league fixture began on March 18, 1995 and ended on November (date 1995 Marinos Kashima Antlers 2001 Júbilo Iwata Kashima Antlers 2002‡ Júbilo Iwata 2003‡ Yokohama F. The 2002 season was the 10th season since the establishment of the J The 2003 season was the 11 season since the establishment of the J Marinos 2004 Yokohama F. The J League 2004 season is the 12th season of the J League The league fixture began on March 13, 2004 and ended on December 11, 2004 Marinos Urawa Red Diamonds * Bold designates champions; † Single season; ‡ Single club won both stages

Single Season Era (2005-present) Year Champion Runners-Up 3rd Place 2005 Gamba Osaka Urawa Red Diamonds Kashima Antlers 2006 Urawa Red Diamonds Kawasaki Frontale Gamba Osaka 2007 Kashima Antlers Urawa Red Diamonds Gamba Osaka 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Best performance teams

#	Club	Winners	Runners-up
1	Kashima Antlers	5	2
2	Júbilo Iwata	3	3
3	Yokohama F. Marinos	3	2
4	Tokyo Verdy	2	1
5	Urawa Red Diamonds	1	3
6	Gamba Osaka	1	0
7	Nagoya Grampus	0	1
7	Kawasaki Frontale	0	1
7	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	0	1
7	Shimizu S-Pulse	0	1

Relegation history

The 1998 Season

When the league introduced the two-division system in 1999, they also reduced number of Division 1 club from 18 to 16. The J League 2005 season is the 13th season of the J League The league fixture began on March 5, 2005 and ended on December 3, 2005 The 2006 season was the 14th season of the Japan Professional Football League. The J League 2007 season is the 15th season since the establishment of the J The 2008 season of the J League, the 16th season in the league shall be contested as follows General Promotion and relegation is a professional football team playing in the Japanese J League. is a professional Japanese football team currently playing in the J is a Japanese football team which participates in the professional J formally Tokyo Verdy 1969 and Verdy Kawasaki, is a Soccer team which plays in Division 1 of Japan's J is a professional football club playing in Japan 's football league J is a Japanese professional football club currently playing in the J (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J is a J League football club The team is located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo is a football team in the J League. Team name The team name comes from the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian is a professional Japanese football club. Located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, S-Pulse currently competes in the J At the end of 1998 season, they hosted the J. League Promotion Tournament to determine two relegating clubs from J. League. Originally, tournament was supposed to have six participants; Kawasaki Frontale from Japan Football League (former) and five bottom clubs from very-complex combined ranking of 1997 and 1998 J. is a J League football club The team is located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, south of Tokyo In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different League seasons. However, Yokohama Flügels merged with Yokohama Marinos reducing the number J. was a Japanese football club that played in the J League between 1993 and 1998. is a Japanese football team which participates in the professional J League club to 17. Thus, the league took bottom four clubs from J. League and Kawasaki Frontale and decided that three survivor will join J. League Division 1 and two non-survivor will relegate/join the Division 2. As a results, Kawasaki Frontale failed to win J1 promotion and Consadole Sapporo became the first club in J. is a Japanese professional football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 1 League history to relegate to J2. These two clubs and other eight clubs from JFL (former) were brought up to create the division 2. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different

Split-Season Era (1999-2004)

During the 1999 to 2003 season, two bottom clubs clubs were relegated to Division 2. To accommodate for split-season format, combined overall standings were used to determine the relegating clubs. This created a confusing situation, where for championship race stage standing were used, while overall standing was used for relegation survival.

At end of the 2004 season, Division 1 again expanded from 16 clubs to 18 clubs. No clubs were relegated; however, last-placed (16th) club had to play Promotion/Relegation Series against 3rd placed club from J2. In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J Again, to determined 16th placed club, overall standing was used instead of stage standing.

Single Season Era (2005-present)

From 2005 season, number of relegating club increased 2. 5. To accommodate for two incoming Division 2 clubs, two bottom clubs were relegated; the only difference is that now 18 clubs is competing instead of 16 clubs. Also, 16th-placed club now has to play and win Promotion/Relegation Series against 3rd-placed club from J2 to ensure their spot in J1 next year. In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J

Summary

Year	15th Place	16th Place	17th Place	18th Place
1998	JEF United Ichihara	Consadole Sapporo	Vissel Kobe	Avispa Fukuoka
1999	Urawa Red Diamonds	Bellmare Hiratsuka
2000	Kyoto Purple Sanga	Kawasaki Frontale
2001	Avispa Fukuoka	Cerezo Osaka
2002	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Consadole Sapporo
2003	Vegalta Sendai	Kyoto Purple Sanga
2004	Cerezo Osaka	Kashiwa Reysol †
2005	Shimizu S-Pulse	Kashiwa Reysol ‡	Tokyo Verdy 1969	Vissel Kobe
2006	Ventforet Kofu	Avispa Fukuoka ‡	Cerezo Osaka	Kyoto Purple Sanga
2007	Omiya Ardija	Sanfrecce Hiroshima ‡	Ventforet Kofu	Yokohama F. The 2002 season was the 10th season since the establishment of the J The 2003 season was the 11 season since the establishment of the J The J League 2004 season is the 12th season of the J League The league fixture began on March 13, 2004 and ended on December 11, 2004 The J League 2005 season is the 13th season of the J League The league fixture began on March 5, 2005 and ended on December 3, 2005 The 2006 season was the 14th season of the Japan Professional Football League. The J League 2007 season is the 15th season since the establishment of the J C.
2008		† or ‡

* Bold designates relegated clubs; † Won the Pro/Rele Series; ‡ Lost the Pro/Rele Series and relegated

J. The 2008 season of the J League, the 16th season in the league shall be contested as follows General Promotion and relegation In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J League Division 2 (J2)

Since the inception in 1999, format of J2 has been very consistent. The clubs play a quadruple round-robin (two home and away) format in a single season. Until 2001, the clubs played extra time if they were tied after regulation and the clubs received 3pts for a regulation win, 2pts for an extra time win, 1pt for a tie, and 0pts for loss (there were no penalties). Aggregated Extra Time (AET, commonly known as extra time is an additional period played in some sports codes if the score is tied at the end of normal time Aggregated Extra Time (AET, commonly known as extra time is an additional period played in some sports codes if the score is tied at the end of normal time Penalty shootouts, properly named kicks from the penalty mark, are a method sometimes used to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament (or wins the tournament However, since 2002, the league abolished extra time and set the points system to the normal 3-1-0 system. Aggregated Extra Time (AET, commonly known as extra time is an additional period played in some sports codes if the score is tied at the end of normal time

As the number of clubs in J2 grows larger, to avoid fixture congestion it is expected that league format will be reduced to a triple round-robin format for cases of 15 to 18 clubs and then to double round-robin format for 19 to 22 clubs.

The 2008 season

Fifteen clubs will play in triple round-robin format, a total of 42 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
• Disciplinary points

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. In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J

Clubs in J2 (2008)

Club Name	Year Joined	Home Town(s)	Home Stadium(s)	Capacity	Last Spell in The Top Flight
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	1993	Hiroshima, Hiroshima	Hiroshima Big Arch	50,000	2004-2007
Ventforet Kofu	1999 (J2)	All cities/towns in Yamanashi	Kose Sports Stadium	17,000	2006-2007
Yokohama F.C.	2001 (J2)	Yokohama, Kanagawa	Mitsuzawa Stadium	15,064	2007
Vegalta Sendai	1999 (J2)	Sendai, Miyagi	Sendai Stadium	19,694	2002-2003
Cerezo Osaka	1995	Osaka, Osaka	Nagai Stadium	50,000	2003-2006
Shonan Bellmare	1994	Central cities/towns in Kanagawa	Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium	18,500	1994-1999
Avispa Fukuoka	1996	Fukuoka, Fukuoka	Level Five stadium	22,563	2006
Sagan Tosu	1999 (J2)	Tosu, Saga	Tosu Stadium	25,000
Montedio Yamagata	1999 (J2)	All cities/towns in Yamagata	Yamagata Park Stadium	20,315
Ehime F.C.	2006 (J2)	All cities/towns in Ehime	Ehime Prefectural General Athletics Park	20,000
Thespa Kusatsu	2005 (J2)	All cities/towns in Gunma	Shikishima Stadium	10,050
Mito HollyHock	2000 (J2)	Mito, Ibaraki	Kasamatsu Stadium	22,022
Tokushima Vortis	2005 (J2)	All cities/towns in Tokushima	Naruto Athletic Stadium	20,000
Roasso Kumamoto	2008 (J2)	Kumamoto, Kumamoto	KKWing Stadium Kumamoto Suizenzi Stadium	32,000 15,000
F.C. Gifu	2008 (J2)	All cities/towns in Gifu	Nagaragawa Stadium	31,000

Championship/Promotion history

Main article: List of winners of J2 and predecessors

The top two clubs receive promotion. is a football team in the J League. Team name The team name comes from the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian The Japanese city of ( is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan 's WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshū is a multi-use Stadium in Hiroshima, Japan. It is the home ground of J are a Japanese Football (soccer club from Kofu. They compete in the J WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Kose Sports Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Kofu, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches are a Japanese football (soccer club based in the city of Yokohama. is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture, located in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshū and is a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area Mitsuzawa Stadium is a football Stadium in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama, Japan. is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in Division 2 of the J-league. is the capital city of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and the largest city in the Tōhoku (northeast region WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region on Honshū island Sendai Stadium (仙台スタジアム is a football stadium in the Nanakita Park Izumi-ku Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. is a J League team The team name Cerezo means Cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city is a city in Japan, located at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, in the Kansai region of the main island of Honshū WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture located in the Kinki region on Honshū, the main island of is an athletic Stadium in Osaka, Japan. It is the home ground of J are a Japanese professional football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 is a multi-use Stadium in Hiratsuka Kanagawa, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Shonan Bellmare For the record label see Avispa. is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyūshū in Japan, across WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. Level-5 stadium (formerly Hakata no mori stadium, renamed on March 1 2008 for sponsorship reasons located in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka city is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 is a city located in the east part of Saga Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū, Japan. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is located in the northwest part of the island of Kyūshū, Japan. Tosu Stadium is a football Stadium in Tosu Saga, Japan. It serves as a home ground of J Montedio Yamagata is a professional football (soccer club based in Yamagata Prefecture in Japan WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tohoku region on Honshū island Yamagata Park Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Tendo Yamagata, Japan. Ehime FC is a professional football (soccer club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan "Ehime" redirects here For the school ship see Ehime Maru and USS Greeneville collision. For the club in Kusatsu Shiga, see FC Mi-O Biwako Kusatsu. is a professional football (soccer club based in Gunma Prefecture WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Shikishima Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Maebashi, Japan. is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 is the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and has a central location moderately offset towards the coast in that prefecture WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region on Honshū Kasamatsu Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Naka, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football matches is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J-league Division 2 WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture of Japan located on Shikoku Island. Naruto Athletic Stadium (is a multi-use Stadium in Naruto Tokushima, Japan. are a Japanese football (soccer club based in Kumamoto, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the Island of Kyūshū, Japan. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines --> is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. KKWing Stadium is a multi-use Stadium in Kumamoto, Japan. It is currently used mostly for football ( Roasso Kumamoto) matches is a Japanese football (soccer club based in Gifu Prefecture. WikipediaWikiProject Japanese prefectures for guidelines--> is a prefecture located in the Chūbu region of central Japan. The is a collection of sports facilities located in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture, Japan. A national second tier of Japanese league football was first established in 1972, as the Japan Soccer League Second Division From the 2004 season, the 3rd placed club plays Promotion/Relegation Series against 16th-placed club in J1. In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J

Year	Champion	Runner-Up	3rd Place	4th Place
1999	Kawasaki Frontale	F. C. Tokyo	Oita Trinita	Albirex Nigata
2000	Consadole Sapporo	Urawa Red Diamonds	Oita Trinita	Omiya Ardija
2001	Kyoto Purple Sanga	Vegalta Sendai	Montedio Yamagata	Albirex Nigata
2002	Oita Trinita	Cerezo Osaka	Albirex Nigata	Kawasaki Frontale
2003	Albirex Nigata	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Kawasaki Frontale	Avispa Fukuoka
2004	Kawasaki Frontale	Omiya Ardija	Avispa Fukuoka†	Montedio Yamagata
2005	Kyoto Purple Sanga	Avispa Fukuoka	Ventforet Kofu‡	Vegalta Sendai
2006	Yokohama F. The 2002 season was the 10th season since the establishment of the J The 2003 season was the 11 season since the establishment of the J The J League 2004 season is the 12th season of the J League The league fixture began on March 13, 2004 and ended on December 11, 2004 The J League 2005 season is the 13th season of the J League The league fixture began on March 5, 2005 and ended on December 3, 2005 The 2006 season was the 14th season of the Japan Professional Football League. C.	Kashiwa Reysol	Vissel Kobe‡	Sagan Tosu
2007	Consadole Sapporo	Tokyo Verdy 1969	Kyoto Sanga F. The J League 2007 season is the 15th season since the establishment of the J C. ‡	Vegalta Sendai
2008			† or ‡

* Bold type designates the promoted club; † Lost the Promotion/Relegation Series; ‡ Won the Promotion/Relegation Series and promoted

J. The 2008 season of the J League, the 16th season in the league shall be contested as follows General Promotion and relegation In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J League Associate Membership

Main article: J. League Associate Membership

J. J League Associate Membership 　 is a status given to non-league football clubs in Japan that has intention to join the professional league J League Associate Membership is a status given to the non-league football clubs in Japan that has intention to join J. League, in the near future. Clubs from the Japan Football League, Regional Divisions, and Prefectual Divisions, may apply for the membership. In Japan's football history there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different The applications are reviewed and inspected by a committee formed by the league. The Associate Membership is now required for J2 promotion and the system allows the J. League to identify the clubs that are intending to join the league. The committee also assist the members to fasten the process for lower division clubs.

Current Members

• Gainare Tottori
• Tochigi S.C.
• Fagiano Okayama F.C.
• Kataller Toyama
• New Wave Kitakyushu

Other Tournaments

Domestic Tournaments

• Yamazaki Nabisco Cup (1992-present, excluding 1995)
• Emperor's Cup (1993-present)
• XEROX Super Cup (1994-present)
• JOMO All-Stars Soccer (1993-present)
• Promotion/Relegation Series (2004-present)

International Tournaments

• AFC Champions League
• A3 Champions Cup
• Pan-Pacific Championship
• Suruga Bank Championship

Defunct Tournament

• Suntory Championship (1993-2004, excluding 1996)
• Sanwa Bank Cup (1994-1997)

J. are a Japanese football (soccer club based in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture. are a football (soccer club based in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan Fagiano Okayama Football Club is a football club from Okayama Okayama, Japan. Kataller Toyama ( Katāre Toyama, カターレ富山 is a football club in Japan that was formed from the merger of the old ALO's Hokuriku and New Wave Kitakyushu (ニューウェーブ北九州 Nyū Wēbu Kitakyūshū) is a Japanese football club based in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Format 1992 The founding 10 clubs of the J League participated as a warm-up to the upcoming inaugural league season commonly known as, is a Japanese football Competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan dating back to 1921 before the formation The Japanese Super Cup or is an annual one-match Football (soccer competition in Japan organised by J The J League All-Star Soccer or JOMO All-Star Soccer is an annual exhibition match organised by the Japan Football Association and J In 2004 J League introduced a series of two test matches called League between the sixteenth-place J The AFC Champions League is the current annual Asian club football competition hosted by Asian Football Confederation (AFC A3 Champions Cup (also known as East Asian Champions Cup is an annual Football (soccer event involving the league champions of China, Japan and South History Inaugural tournament The inaugural edition of the competition took place from February 20 to February 23 in Honolulu Hawaii. The J League Championship was a two-legged championship series which determined the season champion for the first 12 J The Sanwa Bank Cup was a one-match friendly competition officially organised by J League awards

• Most Valuable Player Award
• Top Scorer Award
• The Best Eleven
• Rookie of the Year Award
• Manager of the Year Award

Notable Current Players

Naohiro Takahara (Urawa Red Diamonds) Yuki Abe (Urawa Red Diamonds) Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Urawa Red Diamonds) Keita Suzuki (Urawa Red Diamonds) Tatsuya Tanaka (Urawa Red Diamonds) Keisuke Tsuboi (Urawa Red Diamonds) Akira Kaji (Gamba Osaka} Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka) Ryuji Bando (Gamba Osaka) Hiroki Mizumoto (Gamba Osaka) Mitsuo Ogasawara (Kashima Antlers) Masashi Motoyama (Kashima Antlers) Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers) Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata) Yūichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata) Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata) Robert Cullen (Jubilo Iwata) Masashi Nakayama (Jubilo Iwata) Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos) Naoaki Aoyama (Shimizu S-Pulse) Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale) Kazuki Ganaha (Kawasaki Frontale) Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo) Sota Hirayama (FC Tokyo) Seiichiro Maki (JEF United Ichihara Chiba) Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus) Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus) Yoshito Okubo (Vissel Kobe) Tadanari Lee (Kashiwa Reysol) Hisato Sato (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Atsushi Yanagisawa (Kyoto Sanga FC) Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata) Takashi Fukunishi (Tokyo Verdy) Kazuyoshi Miura (Yokohama FC)

Mark Rudan (Avispa Fukuoka) Ufuk Talay (Avispa Fukuoka) Joel Griffiths (Avispa Fukuoka) Alessandro Nunes (Albirex Niigata) Nonato (Consadole Sapporo) Cabore (FC Tokyo) Bare (Gamba Osaka) Lucas Severino (Gamba Osaka) Danilo (Kashima Antlers) Marquinhos (Kashima Antlers) França (Kashiwa Reysol) Hulk (Kawasaki Frontale) Juninho (Kawasaki Frontale) Paulinho (Kyoto Sanga FC) Ueslei (Oita Trinita) Denis Marques (Omiya Ardija) Marcos Aurélio (Shimizu S-Pulse) Marcos Paulo (Shimizu S-Pulse) Jean (Shonan Bellmare) Leandro (Tokyo Verdy) Robson Ponte (Urawa Red Diamonds) Edmilson (Urawa Red Diamonds) Lopes (Yokohama F. Marinos) Roni (Yokohama F. Marinos) Popo (Kashiwa Reysol) Mirko Hrgović (JEF United Chiba) Ilian Stoyanov (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Chong Tese (Kawasaki Frontale) Ri Han-Jae (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) Ryang Yong-Gi (Vegalta Sendai) Frode Johnsen (Nagoya Grampus) Miloš Bajalica (Nagoya Grampus) Choi Sung-Yong (Thespa Kusatsu) Kim Nam-Il (Vissel Kobe) Park Kang-Jo (Vissel Kobe)

Notable players from each region

• Notable J-League Players from Japan
• Notable J-League Players from AFC
• Notable J-League Players from CAF
• Notable J-League Players from CONCACAF
• Notable J-League Players from CONMEBOL
• Notable J-League Players from OFC
• Notable J-League Players from UEFA

Current well-known managers

• Pericles Chamusca -Oita Trinita
• Levir Culpi -Cerezo Osaka
• Gert Engels -Urawa Red Diamonds
• Josip Kuže - JEF United Ichihara Chiba
• Kenta Hasegawa - Shimizu S-Pulse
• Tetsuji Hashiratani - Tokyo Verdy
• Pierre Littbarski -Avispa Fukuoka
• Akira Nishino -Gamba Osaka
• Oswaldo de Oliveira -Kashima Antlers
• Michael Petrovic -Sanfrecce Hiroshima
• Dragan Stojković -Nagoya Grampus
• Satoshi Tsunami - Yokohama FC

Former managers

• Osvaldo Ardiles - Shimizu S-Pulse (1996-98), Yokohama F. Marinos (2000-01), Tokyo Verdy 1969 (2003-05)
• Paulo Autuori -Kashima Antlers (2006)
• Nelsinho Baptista - Verdy Kawasaki (1994-95), Nagoya Grampus Eight (2003-05)
• Stuart Baxter -Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1992-93), Vissel Kobe(1995-97, 2006)
• José Oscar Bernardi - Kyoto Purple Sanga (1995-96)
• Guido Buchwald - Urawa Red Diamonds (2004-06)
• João Carlos - Kashima Antlers (1996-98), Nagoya Grampus Eight (1999-01), Cerezo Osaka (2001), Consadole Sapporo (2003)
• Toninho Cerezo - Kashima Antlers (2000-05)
• Hugo Fernandez - Consadole Sapporo (1997-98)
• Benito Floro Sanz - Vissel Kobe (1998)
• Alexandre Gallo -FC Tokyo(2006)
• Ivan Hašek - Vissel Kobe (2004)
• Siegfried Held - Gamba Osaka (1995)
• Wim Jansen - Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1995-96)
• Kunishige Kamamoto - Gamba Osaka (1991-94)
• Shu Kamo - Yokohama Flügels (1991-94), Japan national football team(1995-97), Kyoto Purple Sanga (1999-00)
• Horst Köppel - Urawa Red Diamonds (1997)
• Émerson Leão - Shimizu S-Pulse (1992-94), Verdy Kawasaki (1996), Vissel Kobe (2005)
• Gordon Milne -Nagoya Grampus Eight(1994)
• Takeshi Okada -Japan national team(1997-98), Consadole Sapporo (1999-01), Yokohama F. Marinos(2003-06), Japan national team ((2007-incumbent)
• Hans Ooft - Japan national team(1992-93), Júbilo Iwata (1994-96), Kyoto Purple Sanga (1998), Urawa Red Diamonds (2002-03)
• Holger Osieck -Urawa Red Diamonds(1995-96, 2007-08)
• Ivica Osim -JEF United Ichihara Chiba(2003-06), Japan national team(2006-07)
• Ruy Ramos - Tokyo Verdy 1969 (2006-07)
• Pavel Řehák - Vissel Kobe (2005)
• Steve Perryman - Shimizu S-Pulse (1998-00), Kashiwa Reysol (2001-02)
• Carles Rexach - Yokohama Flügels (1998)
• Rivelino - Shimizu S-Pulse (1994)
• Joel Santana -Vegalta Sendai (2006)
• Luiz Felipe Scolari - Júbilo Iwata (1997)
• Eddie Thomson - Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1997-00)
• Jozef Vengloš - JEF United Ichihara (2002)
• Pim Verbeek - Omiya Ardija (1998-99), Kyoto Purple Sanga (2003)
• Robert Verbeek -Omiya Ardija(2007)
• Zdenko Verdenik - JEF United Ichihara (2001), Nagoya Grampus Eight (2002-03), Vegalta Sendai (2003-04)
• Sef Vergoossen -Nagoya Grampus Eight(2006-07)
• Arsène Wenger - Nagoya Grampus Eight (1995-96)
• Carlos Queiroz - Nagoya Grampus Eight (1996-97)
• Masakuni Yamamoto - U-23 Japan national team (2002-04), Júbilo Iwata(2004-06)

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Frode Johnsen (born March 17, 1974 in Skien) is a Norwegian footballer currently playing for Japanese football club (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J Miloš Bajalica ( Serbian Cyrillic: Милош Бајалица born December 15, 1981 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J Choi Sung-Yong (최성용 (born 25 December, 1975) is a South Korean football player who plays at Wingback and Midfielder For the club in Kusatsu Shiga, see FC Mi-O Biwako Kusatsu. is a professional football (soccer club based in Gunma Prefecture Kim Nam-Il ( Korean: 김남일 Hanja: 金南一 born March 14 1977) is a South Korean footballer is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J Park Kang-Jo (born January 24, 1980) is Korean football player for Vissel Kobe in Japan. is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in the J Notable J-League Players from Japan. Japan Yutaka Akita - Kashima Antlers (1993-2003 Nagoya Grampus Notable J League Players from AFC. Australia Graham Arnold - Sanfrecce Hiroshima (1997-1998 Notable J-League Players from CAF. Cote d'Ivoire Doumbia - Kashiwa Reysol (2006-present Notable J-League Players from CONCACAF. Canada Issey Nakajima - Albirex Niigata (2003 Notable J-League Players from CONMEBOL. Argentina Ramón Medina Bello - Yokohama F Notable J-League Players from OFC. New Zealand Wynton Rufer - JEF United Ichihara (1995-1996 Notable J League Players from UEFA. Albania Rudi Vata - Yokohama FC (2003 is a J League team The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian Levir Culpi ( Curitiba, February 28, 1953) is a football manager and a former player is a J League team The team name Cerezo means Cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city Gert Engels (born 26 April 1957 is a former German Football (soccer player who works these days as manager in Japan. is a professional football club playing in Japan 's football league J Josip Kuže (born 13 November 1952 in Vranje, Serbia, FPR Yugoslavia) is a Croatian football coach and player is a football (soccer club that plays in J League. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after is a former Japanese international football player He was a right-footed forward is a professional Japanese football club. 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Located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, S-Pulse currently competes in the J is a J League team The name Reysol comes from the Spanish words rey ('king' and sol ('sun' and reflect the fact that the team had originally Carles Rexach Cerdà (born Pedralbes Barcelona, 13 January 1947) also referred to as Charly Rexach or Carlos Rexach, is a was a Japanese football club that played in the J League between 1993 and 1998. Roberto Rivellino (born January 1, 1946 in São Paulo) is a former Brazilian football player is a professional Japanese football club. Located in Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, S-Pulse currently competes in the J Joel Natalino Santana, usually known as Joel Santana (born on December 25, 1948, in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in Division 2 of the J-league. Luiz Felipe Scolari, ComIH (born November 9, 1948 in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) also known as Felipão is a professional Japanese football team currently playing in the J Eddie Thomson ( February 25, 1947 – February 21, 2003) was a football (soccer player and coach. is a football team in the J League. Team name The team name comes from the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian Jozef Vengloš (born 18 February 1936) is a former Slovakian football player and coach. is a football (soccer club that plays in J League. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Pim Verbeek (derived from his first name Peter and second name Tim Verbeek (born March 12, 1956 in Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland) is a professional Football (soccer club which play in the J League, and are based in Ōmiya-ku in Saitama, Japan. is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club based in Kyoto. Robert Verbeek (born 26 July 1961, Rotterdam (? is a Dutch former footballer and nowadays manager is a professional Football (soccer club which play in the J League, and are based in Ōmiya-ku in Saitama, Japan. Zdenko Verdenik (born May 2, 1949 in Slovenia) is a Slovenian football manager and former player is a football (soccer club that plays in J League. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J is a Japanese professional Football (soccer club currently playing in Division 2 of the J-league. Sef Vergoossen (born May 8, 1947 in Echt) is a former Dutch football manager. (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J Arsène Wenger OBE (born October 22, 1949 in Strasbourg) is a French football manager, in charge of Arsenal (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J Carlos Queirós, ComIH ('kaɾluʃ kɐi'ɾɔʃ (born 1 March 1953 in Nampula, Portuguese Mozambique) is a (formerly Nagoya Grampus Eight) is a Japanese Football (soccer club which plays in the first division of the J Masakuni Yamamoto (born April 4, 1958 in Numazu Shizuoka, Japan) is a Japanese former football player and is currently a commentator of football is a professional Japanese football team currently playing in the J League records

See J. League records

See also

• J. League contracts – policies for athlete contracts
• Winning Eleven — the official video game of J. This page details J League records. J League Division 1 As of March 13, 2008 Individual Most career Contracts in Japan 's professional soccer league ( J League) are subject to certain rules and regulations Winning Eleven is a soccer/football Video game series made by Konami Tokyo. A video game is a Game that involves interaction with a User interface to generate visual feedback on a video device. League.
• List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues — the J. The table below lists domestic professional Sports leagues from around the world by total attendances for the last completed season for which data is available League in a worldwide context

External links

• (Japanese) Official Site
• (English) Official Site
• Blog fan J-League in spanish

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