Nadeshiko League
The Japan Women's Football League (Japanese: 日本女子サッカーリーグ, Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu), commonly known as the Nadeshiko League (Japanese: なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu), is a women's association football league in Japan.
 | |
| Founded | 1989, as L.League |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Confederation | Asian Football Confederation |
| Divisions | D1: Division 1 D2: Division 2 D3: Challenge League |
| Number of teams | 32 |
| Level on pyramid | 1–3 |
| Relegation to | Regional leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Empress's Cup League Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Women's Club Championship |
| Current champions | D1: Urawa Reds Ladies (4th title) D2: Sfida Setagaya (1st title) D3: JFA Academy Fukushima (1st title) (2020 season) |
| Most championships | D1: NTV Beleza (14 titles) D2: D3: |
| Top goalscorer | D1: Yuika Sugasawa (17 goals) D2: Yoshino Nakajima (11 goals) D3: (9 goals) |
| TV partners | YouTube Mycujoo (D2 and D3 only) |
| Website | Official website |
| Current: 2020 Nadeshiko League season | |
The Nadeshiko League consists of three divisions that correspond to the top three levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid respectively: the Nadeshiko League Division 1, the Nadeshiko League Division 2, and the Nadeshiko Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ, Charenji Rīgu). Teams are promoted and relegated among the three divisions, and between the Nadeshiko Challenge League and the fourth-level Japanese regional leagues, based on performance in the previous season.
Since 2008, the Nadeshiko League has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fast food company based in Fukuoka.[1]
History
Japan Women's Football League began in 1989. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of that era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back.
Players from the 8 Japan Women's Football League teams would host an annual training camp to build skills and relationships between the L. League and women's international football clubs, including U.S.- and Australia-based teams.
In 2004 the L.League was renamed to Nadeshiko League, with the nickname "Nadeshiko Japan". Nadeshiko is the name of the dianthus flower and was chosen from suggestions by fans, signifying an ideal of a dutiful Japanese woman.[2][3]
Starting in the 2004 season, the L. League had 2 divisions – Division 1, with 8 clubs, and Division 2, with 8 clubs in the 2006 season. Until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men, the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner.
Starting with the 2010 season, the second division is divided into an east and west group of six teams each. The winners of each group are promoted. In 2015 this became Division 3, with the Nadeshiko League becoming two divisions of 10 teams each.
After Japan's World Cup win in 2011 the L. League saw an upsurge in popularity.[4]
On 3 June 2020, the Japan Football Association announced that the newly established WE League will become the top level for women's football in Japan when it begins play in 2021.[5] The Nadeshiko League will then become the second to fourth levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid.
Structure
Since 2015, the Japan Women's Football League system consists of three levels.
| Level | Division | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nadeshiko League Division 1
(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1) ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot | |
| 2 | Nadeshiko League Division 2
(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2) ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot | |
| 3 | Challenge League
(Plenus Challenge League) ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 2 promotion/relegation series spots | |
Clubs
Division 1
Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.[6]
Wins by club
Clubs in bold are those competing in Division 1 as of the 2020 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.
| Club | Champions | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Nippon TV Beleza[lower-alpha 1] | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 | |
| Urawa Reds Ladies[lower-alpha 2] | 2004, 2009, 2014, 2020 | |
| Nikko Securities Dream Ladies | 1996, 1997, 1998 | |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2011, 2012, 2013 | |
| Iga FC Kunoichi[lower-alpha 3] | 1995, 1999 | |
| Shimizu FC Ladies | 1989 | |
| Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina[lower-alpha 4] | 1994 | |
| Tasaki Perule FC | 2003 |
Notes
- Yomiuri Beleza was renamed to Nippon TV Beleza in 1999 and to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2011, when the Yomiuri Group sold its stake.
- Saitama Reinas were absorbed by Urawa Red Diamonds in 2005.
- Prima Ham FC Kunoichi was renamed to Iga FC Kunoichi in 2000.
- Matsushita LSC Bambina was renamed to Speranza FC Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza Osaka-Takatsuki in 2012.
Wins by region
| Region | Total | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Kantō | 24 | Nippon TV Beleza (17), Nikko Securities Dream Ladies (3), Urawa Reds Ladies (4) |
| Kansai | 5 | INAC Kobe Leonessa (3), Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina (1), Tasaki Perule FC (1) |
| Tōkai | 3 | Iga FC Kunoichi (2), Shimizu FC Ladies (1) |
Division 2
| Year | Club | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Okayama Yunogo Belle | |
| 2005 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | |
| 2006 | Albirex Niigata Ladies | |
| 2007 | TEPCO Mareeze | |
| 2008 | JEF United Chiba Ladies | |
| 2009 | AS Elfen Sayama FC | |
| Year | East | West |
| 2010 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | Speranza FC Takatsuki |
| 2011 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | FC Kibi International University Charme |
| Year | Club | |
| 2012 | Vegalta Sendai Ladies | |
| 2013 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | |
| 2014 | Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki | |
| 2015 | AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies | |
| 2016 | Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara | |
| 2017 | Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama | |
| 2018 | Iga FC Kunoichi | |
Challenge League
| Year | Club | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | |
| 2016 | Orca Kamogawa FC | |
| 2017 | Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita | |
2020 season
The Nadeshiko League Divisions 1 and 2 consist of 10 teams each. The Nadeshiko Challenge League is divided into two groups (East and West) of six teams each.
Division 1
|
Locations of 2020 Nadeshiko League Division 1 Teams
|
Division 2
| Clubs | Hometown(s) |
|---|---|
| Bunny's Kyoto | Kyoto. (Kyoto) |
| Elfen Saitama | kawagoe, Saitama |
| Harima | Himeji, (Hyogo) |
| Jumonji Ventus | Niza, Saitama, |
| Kamogawa | Kamogawa |
| Nittaidai | Yokohama |
| Nagano Parceiro | Nagano |
| Sfida Setagaya | Musashino |
| Yamato Sylphid | Yokohama |
| Yokohama | Yokohama |
Challenge League
| Clubs (East) | Hometown(s) |
|---|---|
| Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSC | Sendai, Miyagi |
| Norddea Hokkaido | Sapporo, Hokkaido |
| Tsukuba FC Ladies | Tsukuba, Ibaraki |
| Niigata University of Health and Welfare LSC | Niigata, Niigata |
| JFA Academy Fukushima LSC | Susono, Shizuoka[8] |
| Clubs (West) | Hometown(s) |
| Speranza Osaka Takatsuki | Takatsuki, Osaka |
| KIU Charme | Takahashi, Okayama |
| Yunogo Belle | Mimasaka, Okayama |
| Angeviolet Hiroshima | Hiroshima |
| NGU Nagoya F.C. Ladies | Nagoya, Aichi |
Previous clubs
The following clubs are not competing in the Nadeshiko League during the 2020 season, but have previously competed in the Nadeshiko League for at least one season.
Relegated to regional leagues
- Je Vrille Kagoshima: relegated to Kyushu League from 2014
- Shimizudaihachi Pleiades: relegated to Tokai League from 2015
- Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto F.C.: relegated to Kyushu League from 2016
Defunct
- Fujita Soccer Club Mercury (affiliated with Shonan Bellmare)
- Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
- Nissan F.C. Ladies (affiliated with Yokohama Marinos)
- OKI F.C. Winds
- Shiroki F.C. Serena
- Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies (affiliated with Shimizu S-Pulse)
- Tasaki Perule F.C.
- Tokyo Shidax L.S.C. (formerly Shinko Seiko F.C. Clair)
- Urawa Ladies F.C.
- TEPCO Mareeze (dissolved after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; many of the players moved to Vegalta Sendai Ladies)
- Aguilas Kobe
- Hoyo Sukarabu F.C.
Division 1 awards
Best Player
|
Top Goalscorers
|
Best Young Player
|
See also
References
- "Plenus Co. Ltd. Supports Nadeshiko League". Plenus Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- Alisa Freedman, Laura Miller, Christine R. Yano. Modern Girls on the Go: Gender, Mobility, and Labor in Japan at Google Books. Stanford University Press, 2013.
- Gregory G. Reck, Bruce Allen Dick. American Soccer: History, Culture, Class at Google Books McFarland, 2015.
-
- "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise | The Japan Times Online". Japantimes.co.jp. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- "Toyota to sponsor Nadeshiko League soccer " Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- "Sky Perfect TV to Show Japan Women's Soccer League Live Following World Cup Win". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- "Women's football is booming in Japan as the game tries to capitalise on Nadeshiko's World Cup and Olympic success". Goal.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise". The Japan Times. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- "Japan unveils professional WE league". AFC. 3 June 2020.
- "Japan – List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- "Goals galore on three continents". FIFA. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the team has relocated from Naraha, Fukushima to sport facilities in Shizuoka Prefecture. http://www.jfa.jp/youth_development/jfa_academy/fukushima/operation.html
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- NADESHIKO LEAGUE 1 at women.soccerway.com (in English)
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