Japan Football League

Japan Football League
Founded 1999 (1999)
Country Japan
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Number of teams 16
Level on pyramid 3 (1999–2013)
4 (since 2014)
Promotion to J3 League
Relegation to Japanese Regional Leagues
Domestic cup(s) Emperor's Cup
Current champions Honda FC
(2017)
Most championships Honda FC
(7 titles)
Website http://www.jfl.or.jp/
2018 Japan Football League
For the league before 1998 (Japan Futtobōru Rīgu (ジャパンフットボールリーグ), referred to in this page as "the former JFL"), see Japan Football League (1992–98).

The Japan Football League, (日本フットボールリーグ, Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu) also known as simply the JFL is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath three divisions of the J.League, and the top tier of amateur football in the country. Despite its officially amateur status the league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership among its ranks.

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 F. 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.

Three former JFL clubs have competed in the top flight: Yokohama FC (2007), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (2014, as Tokushima Vortis), and Matsumoto Yamaga (2015).

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'll start in the J3 instead. The JFL will be 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. Since 2015, the winner of the apertura (first half) qualifies again.

2017 season

Competition format

The league follows the Apertura and Clausura system, with two winners of each stage contesting the championship in the playoff.

Participating clubs

Club Name First Season
in JFL		 Seasons
in JFL		 Home Town(s) Current Spell
in JFL		 Last
title		 Qualifiable base
for J.League
Briobecca Urayasu 2016 2 Urayasu, Chiba 2016–  – Yes
Honda FC 1999 19 Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 1999– 2016 No
FC Imabari 2017 1 Imabari, Ehime 2017–  – Yes
Honda Lock 2005 11 Miyazaki, Miyazaki 2009–  – No
Maruyasu Okazaki 2014 4 Okazaki, Aichi 2014–  – No
MIO Biwako Shiga 2008 10 Kusatsu, Shiga 2008–  – Yes
Nara Club 2015 3 Nara, Nara 2015–  – Yes
FC Osaka 2015 3 All cities/towns in Osaka 2015–  – Yes
ReinMeer Aomori 2016 2 Aomori, Aomori 2016–  – Yes
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons 2015 3 Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki 2015–  – No
Sony Sendai 1999 19 Miyagi Prefecture 1999– 2015 No
Tokyo Musashino City 1999 19 Musashino, Tokyo 1999–  – Yes
Tochigi Uva 2010 8 Tochigi, Tochigi 2010–  – Yes
Vanraure Hachinohe 2014 4 Hachinohe, Aomori 2014–  – Yes
Veertien Mie 2017 1 All cities/towns in Mie 2017–  – No
Verspah Oita 2012 6 Ōita, Ōita 2012–  – 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  – J3
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  – J2
Mito HollyHock 1999 1 Mito, Ibaraki 1999  – J2
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  – J2
FC Kariya 1999 11 Kariya, Aichi 1999–2009  – Tōkai League D1
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  – J3
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals 1999 6 All cities/towns in Tokushima 1999–2004 2004 J2
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  – J2
Renofa Yamaguchi 2014 1 Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi 2014  – J2
FC Ryukyu 2006 8 All cities/towns in Okinawa 2006–2013  – J3
Ryutsu Keizai University 2005 6 Ryugasaki, Ibaraki 2005–2010  – Kantō League D1
SC Sagamihara 2013 1 Sagamihara, Kanagawa 2013  – J3
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
Thespa Kusatsu 2004 1 All cities/towns in Gunma 2004  – J2
Tochigi SC 2000 9 Utsunomiya, Tochigi 2000–2008  – J3
V-Varen Nagasaki 2009 4 All cities/towns in Nagasaki 2009–2012 2012 J2
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 J2
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 2017 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons Runners-up seasons
Honda FC
6
4
 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016 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
Ehime FC
1
0
 2005
Gainare Tottori
1
0
 2010
V-Varen Nagasaki
1
0
 2012
Sony Sendai
1
0
 2015
Sagawa Express Tokyo 0 2 2002, 2006
YKK AP
0
1
 2005
Rosso Kumamoto
0
1
 2007
Tochigi SC
0
1
 2008
Tokyo Musashino City
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

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 F.C.
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 S.C.
(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 ShigaYokogawa MusashinoNew 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–

Beginning in 2014 the Japan Football League switched to the Apertura and Clausura format to determine the champions.

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 (withdrew)
2016Honda FC (C)Ryutsu Keizai Dragons (A)Azul Claro NumazuReinMeer Aomori
Briobecca Urayasu		Fagiano Okayama Next (withdrew)
2017Honda FC (1)ReinMeer Aomori (2)NoneFC Imabari
Veertien Mie		Briobecca Urayasu
Tochigi Uva
2018Cobaltore Onagawa
Tegevajaro Miyazaki

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

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Japan Football League Division 2		 Third tier of Japanese football
1999-2013		 Succeeded by
J3 League
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