Japan Football League facts for kids
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| Founded | 1999 |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Level on pyramid | 4 |
| Promotion to | J3 League |
| Relegation to | Japanese Regional Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Emperor's Cup |
| Current champions | Honda FC (10th title) (2023) |
| Most championships | Honda FC (10 titles) |
The Japan Football League, often called the JFL, is a major football league in Japan. It is the fourth level of Japanese football, sitting just below the three divisions of the J.League. Many teams in the JFL are fully professional. Some even hope to join the J.League one day.
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What is the JFL's place in Japanese football?
The JFL is part of Japan's football pyramid. Think of it like different levels of a video game, where teams try to move up. The J.League has three main levels (J1, J2, J3). The JFL is right below them.
When the J3 League started in 2013, the JFL was officially seen as being at the same level as J3. However, in practice, most people consider the JFL to be the fourth level. It's a very important league for teams aiming to become professional and join the J.League.
History of the JFL
The Japan Football League began in 1999. This was the same year that the J.League added its second division, called J2. Before 1999, there was an older JFL that was the second-highest league.
When the new JFL started, nine teams from the old league joined J2. The remaining seven teams, plus a winner from a regional competition, formed the new JFL. Yokohama FC also joined as a special case. So, nine teams played in the very first JFL season in 1999.
Over the years, the number of teams in the JFL changed. It grew from 9 to 12, then to 16, and even 18 teams.
In 2014, a big change happened. The J3 League was created. Ten teams from the JFL moved up to join this new league. This made the JFL move down one step, becoming the fourth-tier league.
Some famous clubs that once played in the JFL have even made it to the top league, J1 League. These include Yokohama FC, Tokushima Vortis, Matsumoto Yamaga FC, and V-Varen Nagasaki.
How the JFL works
JFL clubs can be linked to companies, or they can be independent clubs. Some university teams used to play in the JFL, but that's not common anymore. Only independent clubs can apply to join the J.League.
Moving up from the JFL (Promotion)
Teams in the JFL can move up to the J3 League. To do this, they need to meet certain rules and get approval from the J.League.
Here's how it generally works:
- A team must be approved by the J.League Committee.
- If the JFL champion has the necessary approval, they can automatically switch places with the last-placed team in J3.
- If only the JFL runner-up has the approval, they might play a special playoff game against the last-placed J3 team.
- If both the champion and runner-up have approval, the champion goes up automatically. The runner-up then plays a playoff game against the second-to-last team in J3.
- If neither the champion nor the runner-up has approval, no teams move up.
Moving down from the JFL (Relegation)
Teams can also move down from the JFL. The team at the very bottom of the league usually switches places with the winner of a regional promotion competition. The team ranked 15th might play a playoff game against the second-place team from that competition. The number of teams moving down can change depending on these playoff results.
Emperor's Cup
The Emperor's Cup is a big national football tournament in Japan. JFL teams can play in it. In the past, only the top team at the halfway point of the JFL season would qualify. Now, more JFL teams can join, often by winning a qualifying cup in their local area.
The 2024 JFL Season
How the competition works
The JFL season usually involves all teams playing each other twice, once at home and once away. The team with the most points at the end of the season becomes the champion. From 2014 to 2018, the league used a different system with two halves of the season (Apertura and Clausura). The winners of each half would then play for the championship. But since 2019, it's back to one long season.
Teams playing in 2024
Here are the clubs playing in the 2024 Japan Football League season:
| Club name | First season in JFL |
Seasons in JFL |
Home town(s) | Current spell in JFL |
Last title |
Qualifiable base for J.League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atletico Suzuka | 2019 | 5 | Suzuka, Mie | 2019– | – | No |
| Briobecca Urayasu | 2016 | 3 | Urayasu, Chiba | 2023– | – | No |
| Criacao Shinjuku | 2022 | 2 | Shinjuku, Tokyo | 2022– | – | Yes |
| Honda FC | 1999 | 25 | Hamamatsu, Shizuoka | 1999– | 2023 | No |
| Kochi United | 2020 | 4 | Kochi, Kochi | 2020– | – | No |
| Maruyasu Okazaki | 2014 | 10 | Okazaki, Aichi | 2014– | – | No |
| Minebea Mitsumi | 2005 | 16 | Miyazaki, Miyazaki | 2009– | – | No |
| Okinawa SV | 2023 | 1 | Uruma, Okinawa | 2023– | – | No |
| Reilac Shiga | 2008 | 16 | Kusatsu, Shiga | 2008– | – | Yes |
| ReinMeer Aomori | 2016 | 8 | Aomori, Aomori | 2016– | – | Yes |
| Sony Sendai | 1999 | 25 | Miyagi Prefecture | 1999– | 2015 | No |
| Tiamo Hirakata | 2021 | 3 | Hirakata, Osaka | 2021– | – | No |
| Tochigi City FC | 2010 | 8 | Tochigi | 2024– | – | No |
| Veertien Mie | 2017 | 7 | Kuwana, Mie | 2017– | – | Yes |
| Verspah Oita | 2012 | 12 | Beppu, Ōita | 2012– | 2020 | Yes |
| Yokogawa Musashino | 1999 | 25 | Musashino, Tokyo | 1999– | – | No |
- Teams with a pink background were recently promoted from the Japanese Regional Leagues.
- "Qualifiable base for J.League" means the club has a special license to join the J3 League. Clubs in bold currently have this license.
Stadiums used in 2024
Here are some of the main stadiums where JFL teams play:
| Atletico Suzuka | Briobecca Urayasu | Criacao Shinjuku | Honda FC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mie Suzuka Sports Garden | Kashiwanoha Stadium | Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka | Honda Miyakoda Soccer Stadium |
| Capacity: 19,694 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 7,258 | Capacity: 2,500 |
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| Kochi United | Maruyasu Okazaki | Minebea Mitsumi | Okinawa SV |
| Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium | Maruyasu Okazaki Ryuhoku Stadium | Nobeoka Nishishina Athletic Stadium | Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium |
| Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 15,000 | Capacity: 12,270 |
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| Reilac Shiga | ReinMeer Aomori | Sony Sendai | Tiamo Hirakata |
| General Sports Park Nunobiki Athletics Stadium | Kakuhiro Group Athletic Stadium | Yurtec Stadium Sendai | Hirakata City Athletics Stadium |
| Capacity: 5,060 | Capacity: 2,500 | Capacity: 20,809 | Capacity: 12,500 |
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| Tochigi City FC | Veertien Mie | Verspah Oita | Yokogawa Musashino |
| City Football Station | Asahi Gas Energy Toin Stadium | Oita Sports Park | Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium |
| Capacity: 5,129 | Capacity: 5,104 | Capacity: 2,040 | Capacity: 5,192 |
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JFL Champions and Promotions
Most Successful Clubs
Honda FC is the most successful club in the JFL, having won the league 10 times! Other clubs like Sagawa Shiga and Otsuka Pharmaceuticals have also won multiple titles.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda FC |
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2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 2023 |
1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2021 |
| Sagawa Shiga |
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2007, 2009, 2011 | 2010 |
| Otsuka Pharmaceuticals |
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2003, 2004 | 2001 |
| Yokohama FC |
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1999, 2000 | |
| Nagano Parceiro |
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2013 | 2011, 2012 |
| Sony Sendai |
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2015 | 2019 |
| Ehime FC |
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2005 | |
| Gainare Tottori |
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2010 | |
| V-Varen Nagasaki |
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2012 | |
| Verspah Oita |
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2020 | |
| Iwaki FC |
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2021 | |
| Nara Club |
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2022 | |
| Sagawa Express Tokyo | 0 | 2 | 2002, 2006 | |
| YKK AP |
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2005 | |
| Rosso Kumamoto |
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2007 | |
| Tochigi SC |
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2008 | |
| Yokogawa Musashino |
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2009 | |
| Kamatamare Sanuki |
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2013 | |
| SP Kyoto FC |
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2014 | |
| Vanraure Hachinohe |
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2015 | |
| Ryutsu Keizai Dragons |
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2016 | |
| ReinMeer Aomori |
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2017 | |
| FC Osaka |
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2018, 2022 | |
| Tegevajaro Miyazaki |
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2020 | |
| Briobecca Urayasu |
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2023 |
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See also
In Spanish: Japan Football League para niños
- Sport in Japan
- Football in Japan
- Women's football in Japan
- Football in Japan
- Japan Football Association (JFA)
- Soccer/Football
- League system
- Japanese association football league system
- J.League
- Japan Football League (JFL) (Tier 4)
- Regional Champions League (Promotion playoffs to JFL)
- Regional Leagues (Tier 5/6)
- Domestic cup
- Fujifilm Super Cup (Super Cup)
- Emperor's Cup (National Cup)
- J.League YBC Levain Cup (League Cup)
- F.League
- F1 League (Tier 1)
- F2 League (Tier 2)
- JFA Futsal Championship (National Cup)
- F.League Ocean Cup (League Cup)
- Beach soccer
- Beach Soccer Championship (National Cup)
