Japan Football League

The Japan Football League, (Japanese: 日本フットボールリーグ, Hepburn: Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu) 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.

Japan Football League
Founded1999 (1999)
CountryJapan
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams17
Level on pyramid4
Promotion toJ3 League
Relegation toJapanese Regional Leagues
Domestic cup(s)Emperor's Cup
Current championsVerspah Oita
(2020)
Most championshipsHonda FC
(9 titles)
Websitewww.jfl.or.jp
Current: 2021 Japan Football League

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.[1] 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.

Four former JFL clubs have competed in the top flight: Yokohama FC (2007), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (2014, as Tokushima Vortis), Matsumoto Yamaga (2015), and V-Varen Nagasaki (2018).

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 J.League.

Promotion from JFL

A club that satisfies the following criteria will be promoted to J.League Div. 2 (for the 2012 and 2013 seasons):

  • Have J.League Associate Membership
  • Finish the season in the top two in JFL
    • If only the champion is an Associate Member, it will be automatically promoted.
    • If both the champion and runner-up are Associate Members, the champion will be automatically promoted and the runner-up will play a Promotion/Relegation Series against the second-to-last club in the J2.
    • If only the runner-up is an Associate Member, it will play the Promotion/Relegation Series against the last club in the J2.
  • Pass 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.

Relegation from JFL

Up to two teams at the bottom of the league may face a direct relegation or relegation/promotion play-off against the teams finishing at the top of the Regional League promotion competition. The number of the teams who need to compete in the play-off varies depending on the number of the teams that are promoted to J3 or 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 since 2014, a JFL XI team has played off-season matches against guest teams. The 2016 season also featured an JFL East vs JFL West all-star encounter.

2021 season

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 NameFirst Season
in JFL
Seasons
in JFL
Home Town(s)Current Spell
in JFL
Last
title
Qualifiable base
for J.League
Honda FC 1999 22 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 1999– 2019 No
Iwaki FC 2020 1 Iwaki, Fukushima 2020– Yes
FC Kariya 1999 11 Kariya, Aichi 2021– Yes
Honda Lock 2005 14 Miyazaki, Miyazaki 2009– No
Maruyasu Okazaki 2014 7 Okazaki, Aichi 2014– No
Matsue City FC 2019 2 Matsue, Shimane 2019– - Yes
MIO Biwako Shiga 2008 13 Kusatsu, Shiga 2008– Yes
Nara Club 2015 6 Nara, Nara 2015– Yes
FC Osaka 2015 6 Higashiosaka, Osaka 2015– Yes
Kochi United SC 2020 1 Kochi, Kochi 2020- Yes
ReinMeer Aomori 2016 5 Aomori, Aomori 2016– Yes
Sony Sendai 1999 22 Miyagi Prefecture 1999– 2015 No
Suzuka Point Getters 2019 2 Suzuka, Mie 2019– Yes
FC Tiamo Hirakata 2021 0 Hirakata, Osaka 2021– Yes
Tokyo Musashino United 1999 22 Musashino, Tokyo 1999– Yes
Veertien Mie 2017 4 Kuwana, Mie 2017– Yes
Verspah Oita 2012 9 Ōita, Ōita 2012– 2020 No

Former clubs

Club Name First Season
in JFL
Seasons
in JFL
Home Town(s) Last Spell
in JFL
Last
JFL title
Current League
ALO's Hokuriku 2000 8 Toyama, Toyama 2000–2007   Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama
Arte Takasaki 2004 8 Takasaki, Gunma 2004–2011   Defunct
Azul Claro Numazu 2014 3 Numazu, Shizuoka 2014–2016   J3
Kyoto BAMB 1993 2000 4 Kyoto, Kyoto 2000–2004   Kansai League D1
Blaublitz Akita 2007 7 All cities/towns in Akita 2007–2013   J2
Briobecca Urayasu 2016 2 Urayasu, Chiba 2016–2017   Kantō League D1
Cobaltore Onagawa 2018 1 Onagawa, Miyagi 2018   Tohoku League D1
Ehime FC 2001 5 All cities/towns in Ehime 2001–2005 2005 J2
Fagiano Okayama 2008 1 All cities/towns in Okayama 2008   J2
Fagiano Okayama Next 2014 3 Okayama, Okayama 2014–2016   Defunct
Fukushima United 2013 1 Fukushima, Fukushima 2013   J3
Gainare Tottori 2001 10 All cities/towns in Tottori 2001–2010 2010 J3
FC Gifu 2007 1 All cities/towns in Gifu 2007   J3
Mito HollyHock 1999 1 Mito, Ibaraki 1999   J2
FC Imabari 2017 3 Imabari, Ehime 2017–2019   J3
Jatco SC 1999 5 Numazu, Shizuoka 1999–2003   Defunct
JEF Reserves 2006 6 Ichihara, Chiba 2006–2011   Defunct
Kagoshima United 2014 2 Kagoshima, Kagoshima 2014–2015   J3
Kamatamare Sanuki 2011 3 All cities/towns in Kagawa 2011–2013   J3
Kataller Toyama 2008 1 All cities/towns in Toyama 2008   J3
Kokushikan University 1999 6 Machida, Tokyo 1999–2003   Kantō University League
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima 2005 5 Kurashiki, Okayama 2005–2009   Chugoku League
Fujieda MYFC 2012 2 Fujieda, Shizuoka 2012–2013   J3
New Wave Kitakyushu 2008 2 Kitakyushu, Fukuoka 2008–2009   J2
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals 1999 6 All cities/towns in Tokushima 1999–2004 2004 J1
Nagano Parceiro 2011 3 Nagano, Nagano 2011–2013 2013 J3
Profesor Miyazaki 2002 1 All cities/towns in Miyazaki 2002   Defunct
Rosso Kumamoto 2001 4 Kumamoto, Kumamoto 2006–2007   J3
Renofa Yamaguchi 2014 1 Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi 2014   J2
FC Ryukyu 2006 8 All cities/towns in Okinawa 2006–2013   J2
Ryutsu Keizai University 2005 6 Ryugasaki, Ibaraki 2005–2010   Kantō League D1
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki 2015 5 Ryugasaki, Ibaraki 2015-2019   Kantō League D1
SC Sagamihara 2013 1 Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2013   J2
Sagawa Express Osaka 2002 5 Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 2002–2006   Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga
Sagawa Express Tokyo 2001 6 Kōtō, Tokyo 2001–2006   Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga
Sagawa Shiga 2007 6 Moriyama, Shiga 2007–2012 2011 Defunct
Shizuoka Sangyo University 2000 3 Iwata, Shizuoka 2000–2002   Tōkai University League
SP Kyoto FC 2003 13 Uji, Kyoto 2003–2015   Defunct
Tegevajaro Miyazaki 2018 3 Miyazaki, Miyazaki 2018–2020   J3
Thespa Kusatsu 2004 1 All cities/towns in Gunma 2004   J2
Tochigi SC 2000 9 Utsunomiya, Tochigi 2000–2008   J2
Tochigi Uva FC 2010 8 Tochigi, Tochigi 2010–2017   Kantō League D1
V-Varen Nagasaki 2009 4 All cities/towns in Nagasaki 2009–2012 2012 J2
Vanraure Hachinohe 2014 5 Hachinohe, Aomori 2014–2018   J3
Matsumoto Yamaga 2010 2 Matsumoto, Nagano 2010–2011   J2
YKK AP 2001 7 Kurobe, Toyama 2001–2007   Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama
Yokohama FC 1999 2 Yokohama, Kanagawa 1999–2000 2000 J1
YSCC Yokohama 2012 2 Yokohama, Kanagawa 2012–2013   J3
Machida Zelvia 2009 4 Machida, Tokyo 2013   J2
Zweigen Kanazawa 2010 4 Kanazawa, Ishikawa 2010–2013   J2
  • Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted to J3 League.

Championship, promotion and relegation history

Most successful clubs

Clubs in bold compete in JFL as of 2021 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.

ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasonsRunners-up seasons
Honda FC
9
4
2001, 2002, 2006, 2008,
2014, 2016, 2017, 2018,
2019
1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
Sagawa Shiga
3
1
2007, 2009, 2011 2010
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals
2
1
2003, 2004 2001
Yokohama FC
2
0
1999, 2000
Nagano Parceiro
1
2
2013 2011, 2012
Sony Sendai
1
1
2015 2019
Ehime FC
1
0
2005
Gainare Tottori
1
0
2010
V-Varen Nagasaki
1
0
2012
Verspah Oita
1
0
2020
Sagawa Express Tokyo 0 2 2002, 2006
YKK AP
0
1
2005
Rosso Kumamoto
0
1
2007
Tochigi SC
0
1
2008
Tokyo Musashino United
0
1
2009
Kamatamare Sanuki
0
1
2013
SP Kyoto FC
0
1
2014
Vanraure Hachinohe
0
1
2015
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons
0
1
2016
ReinMeer Aomori
0
1
2017
FC Osaka
0
1
2018
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
0
1
2020

Third-tier league: 1999–2013

SeasonChampionsRunners-upPromoted to J2 after the seasonPromoted from Regional Leagues before the seasonRelegated to Regional Leagues after the season
1999Yokohama F.C.Honda F.C.Mito HollyHockYokogawa DenkiNone
2000Yokohama F.C.Honda F.C.Yokohama FCTochigi S.C.
Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C.
Alo's Hokuriku
F.C. Kyoken
None
2001Honda F.C.Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.NoneSagawa Express Tokyo S.C.
YKK AP F.C.
S.C. Tottori
Ehime F.C.
NTT West Japan-Kumamoto
None
2002Honda F.C.Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.NoneSagawa Express Osaka S.C.
Profesor Miyazaki
Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C.
Alouette Kumamoto
Profesor Miyazaki
2003Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.Honda F.C.NoneSagawa Printing S.C.Jatco F.C. (disbanded)
F.C. Kyoto BAMB 1993 (F.C. Kyoken)
2004Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.Honda F.C.Otsuka (Tokushima Vortis)
Kusatsu
Thespa Kusatsu
Gunma Horikoshi
Kokushikan University F.C. (forced to withdraw due to scandal)
2005Ehime F.C.YKK AP F.C.EhimeRyutsu Keizai University F.C.
Mitsubishi Mizushima FC
Honda Lock S.C.
None
2006Honda F.C.Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.NoneJEF United Ichihara Chiba B
Rosso Kumamoto
F.C. Ryukyu
Honda Lock SC
(Sagawa Express Tokyo and Osaka clubs merge to form a single club)
2007Sagawa Express S.C.Rosso KumamotoKumamoto
Gifu
TDK S.C.
F.C. Gifu
(Alo's Hokuriku and YKK AP merge to form Kataller Toyama)
2008Honda FCTochigi SCTochigi SC
Fagiano Okayama
Kataller Toyama
Fagiano Okayama
New Wave Kitakyushu
MIO Biwako Shiga
None
2009Sagawa ShigaTokyo Musashino CityNew Wave KitakyushuMachida Zelvia
V-Varen Nagasaki
Honda Lock
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima (voluntary withdrawal)
FC Kariya
2010Gainare TottoriSagawa ShigaTottoriMatsumoto Yamaga
Hitachi Tochigi Uva
Zweigen Kanazawa
Ryutsu Keizai University
2011Sagawa ShigaNagano ParceiroMachida
Matsumoto
Kamatamare Sanuki
Nagano Parceiro
JEF Reserves (disbanded)
Arte Takasaki (disbanded)
2012V-Varen NagasakiNagano ParceiroNagasakiYSCC Yokohama
Fujieda MYFC
Hoyo AC Elan Oita
Sagawa Shiga (disbanded)
2013Nagano ParceiroKamatamare SanukiSanukiSC 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.

SeasonChampionsRunners-upPromoted to J3 after the seasonPromoted from Regional Leagues before the seasonRelegated to Regional Leagues after the season
2014Honda FC (A)SP Kyoto FC (C)Renofa YamaguchiFagiano Okayama Next
Kagoshima United
Vanraure Hachinohe
Azul Claro Numazu
Maruyasu Industries SC
Renofa Yamaguchi
None
2015Sony Sendai (C)Vanraure Hachinohe (A)Kagoshima UnitedNara Club
FC Osaka
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons
SP Kyoto FC (disbanded)
2016Honda FC (C)Ryutsu Keizai Dragons (A)Azul Claro NumazuReinMeer Aomori
Briobecca Urayasu
Fagiano Okayama Next (disbanded)
2017Honda FC (1)ReinMeer Aomori (2)NoneFC Imabari
Veertien Mie
Briobecca Urayasu
Tochigi Uva
2018Honda FC (1)FC Osaka (2)Vanraure HachinoheCobaltore Onagawa
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
Cobaltore Onagawa
2019Honda FCSony SendaiFC ImabariMatsue City FC
Suzuka Unlimited
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons
2020Verspah OitaTegevajaro MiyazakiTegevajaro MiyazakiIwaki FC
Kochi United SC
None
2021FC Tiamo Hirakata
FC Kariya

A = Apertura champion, C = Clausura champion, 1 = Won both stages, 2 = Earned the second most points total in the overall table if 1 applies.

† Only second half of season was played due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.

JFL records and statistics

As of Dec. 2020.

In bold the ones who are actually playing in JFL. In italic the ones who are still active in other league.

See also

References

  1. "リーグ構成". Japan Football League. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
Sporting positions
Preceded by
Japan Football League Division 2
Third tier of Japanese football
1999–2013
Succeeded by
J3 League
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