L.League

Nadeshiko League
Founded 1989 (1989)
Country Japan
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Divisions 1:Nadeshiko League Div.1
2:Nadeshiko League Div.2
3:Challenge League
Number of teams 32
Level on pyramid 1-3
Relegation to Japanese Regional Leagues
Domestic cup(s) Empress's Cup
League Cup
International cup(s) none
Current champions Div.1:NTV Beleza
Div.2:Nojima Stella
Div.3:Orca Kamogawa FC
Most championships NTV Beleza (14 titles)
TV partners Fox Sports and Entertainment
Website http://www.nadeshikoleague.jp/
2018 L. League

The L.League (in Japanese: "L・リーグ", Officially "日本女子サッカーリーグ",Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu) is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. The league consists of three divisions: Divisions 1 and 2 have the nickname Nadeshiko League (なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu) and Division 3 the Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ, Charenji Rīgu). Since 2008 it has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fastfood company based in Fukuoka, and are thus billed as Plenus Nadeshiko League and Plenus Challenge League.[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 Australian based teams.

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.[2][3][4][5][6]

League structure

Since 2015, the L-League consists of three levels.

Level League(s) / Division(s)
1 　Nadeshiko League Div.1

(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1)
10 clubs

↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot

2 Nadeshiko League Div.2

(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2)
10 clubs

↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot

↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot

3 Challenge League

(Plenus Challenge League)
12 (EAST 6 / WEST 6) clubs

↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot

↓ 2 promotion/relegation series spots

Champions

First Division Champions

Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.[7]

Total titles won by club
ClubChampionsYear
Nippon TV Beleza
15
 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
3
 1996, 1997, 1998
INAC Kobe Leonessa
3
 2011, 2012, 2013
Urawa Reds Ladies
3
 2004, 2009, 2014
Iga FC Kunoichi
2
 1995, 1999
Shimizu FC Ladies
1
 1989
Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina
1
 1994
Tasaki Perule FC
1
 2003
  • 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.
  • Matsushita LSC Bambina was renamed to Speranza FC Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki in 2012.
  • Prima Ham FC Kunoichi was renamed to Iga FC Kunoichi in 2000.
  • Nikko Securities Dream Ladies and Tasaki Perule no longer exist.
Total titles won by region
RegionTotalClubs
Kantō 21 Nippon TV Beleza (15), Nikko Securities Dream Ladies (3), Urawa Reds Ladies (3)
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)

Second Division Champions

YearClub
2004Okayama Yunogo Belle
2005INAC Kobe Leonessa
2006Albirex Niigata Ladies
2007TEPCO Mareeze
2008JEF United Chiba Ladies
2009AS Elfen Sayama FC
YearEastWest
2010Tokiwagi Gakuen HSSperanza FC Takatsuki
2011Tokiwagi Gakuen HSFC Kibi International University Charme|Kibi International University
YearClub
2012Vegalta Sendai Ladies
2013Tokiwagi Gakuen HS
2014Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki
2015AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies
2016Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara
2017Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama

Third Division Champions

YearClub
2015Tokiwagi Gakuen HS
2016Orca Kamogawa FC
2017Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita

L. League Clubs (2017)

The L-League consists of 3 levels.

Nadeshiko League Div.1 (Division 1)

Club Hometown(s) First Season in
Top Flight		 Current Spell in
Top Flight
NTV BelezaInagi, Tokyo19891989-
INAC Kobe LeonessaKobe, Hyogo20052005-
AC Nagano Parceiro LadiesNagano, Nagano20152015-
Mynavi Vegalta Sendai LadiesSendai, Miyagi20132013-
Albirex Niigata LadiesNiigata Prefecture20072007-
Iga Football Club KunoichiIga, Mie19892010-
JEF United Chiba LadiesChiba, Chiba20002009-
Urawa Red Diamonds LadiesSaitama, Saitama19991999-
Nojima Stella Kanagawa SagamiharaSagamihara, Kanagawa20172017-
Chifure AS Elfen SayamaSayama, Saitama20022017-

Nadeshiko League Div.2 (Division 2)

ClubsHometown(s)
Konomiya Speranza Osaka-TakatsukiTakatsuki, Osaka
Okayama Yunogo BelleMimasaka, Okayama
Cerezo Osaka Sakai LadiesOsaka, Osaka
Ehime F.C. LadiesMatsuyama, Ehime
Sfida Setagaya F.C.Setagaya, Tokyo
Nippon Sport Science University Fields YokohamaYokohama, Kanagawa
AS Harima ALBIONHimeji, Hyogo
Nippatsu Yokohama F.C. SeagullsYokohama, Kanagawa
F.C. Kibi International University CharmeTakahashi, Okayama
Orca Kamogawa F.C.Kamogawa, Chiba

Challenge League (Division 3)

Clubs (East)Hometown(s)
FC Jumonji VentusTokyo
Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSCSendai, Miyagi
Yamato SylphidYamato, Kanagawa
Norddea HokkaidoSapporo, Hokkaido
Tsukuba FC LadiesTsukuba, Ibaraki
Niigata University of Health and Welfare LSCNiigata, Niigata
Clubs (West)Hometown(s)
Fukuoka J. AnclasKasuga, Fukuoka
Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata BonitaIwata, Shizuoka
JFA Academy Fukushima LSCGotenba, Shizuoka[9]
Bunnys Kyoto SCKyoto, Kyoto
Angeviolet HiroshimaHiroshima
NGU Nagoya F.C. LadiesNagoya, Aichi

Previous clubs

Relegated to regional leagues

Dissolved

Award

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Plenus Co. Ltd. Supports Nadeshiko League". Plenus Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  2. ↑ "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise | The Japan Times Online". Japantimes.co.jp. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  3. ↑ "Toyota to sponsor Nadeshiko League soccer " Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  4. ↑ "Sky Perfect TV to Show Japan Women's Soccer League Live Following World Cup Win". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise". The Japan Times. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
  7. ↑ "Japan - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  8. ↑ "Goals galore on three continents". FIFA. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
  9. ↑ It has transferred more temporarily than Naraha for an 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
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