Emperor's Cup

The Emperor's Cup JFA All-Japan Soccer Championship Tournament (Japanese: 天皇杯 JFA 全日本サッカー選手権大会, Hepburn: Tennōhai Jei Efu Ei Zen Nippon Sakkā Senshuken Taikai), commonly known as The Emperor's Cup (Japanese: 天皇杯, Hepburn: Tennōhai) or The Emperor's Cup Soccer (Japanese: サッカー天皇杯, Hepburn: Sakkā Tennōhai), or also Japan FA Cup is a Japanese football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J.League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League. Before World War II, teams could qualify not only from Japan proper but also from Korea, Taiwan, and sometimes Manchukuo. The women's counterpart is the Empress's Cup.

Emperor's Cup
Founded1921 (1921)
RegionJapan
Number of teams88
Domestic cup(s)Japanese Super Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Current championsVissel Kobe
(1st title)
Most successful club(s)Keio University (9 titles)
Television broadcastersNHK
WebsiteJFA
2020 Emperor's Cup
This logo was used until 2017. However, as of 2019, it is still used for TV broadcasts.

Overview

As it is a competition to decide the "best football team in Japan", the cup is now open to every member club of the Japan Football Association, from J1 and J2 (J.League Divisions 1 and 2) down to teams from J3 (J3 League), JFL, regional leagues, and top college and high school teams from around the country. The Emperor's Cup is one of two well-known national football tournaments named after a monarch (the other is Spain's Copa del Rey).

The holder can wear a Yatagarasu emblem (the ordinary winner wears one, the E letter and the purple line above the bird, the league-cup double winner can wear the gold star and line above the Yatagarasu) and obtains an AFC Champions League spot for the next season.

Since the creation of the J.League in 1992, the professional teams have dominated the competition, although doubles, once common in the JSL, have become very rare. However, because the Emperor's Cup is contested in a knockout tournament format, the opportunity for "giant-killers" from the amateur ranks upsetting a top J.League squad is a very real possibility. For example, a major upset almost occurred in the 2003/04 competition, when Funabashi Municipal High School took the 2003 J.League champion Yokohama F. Marinos to a penalty shootout.[1] Although Waseda University was the last non-league winner in 1966, and the previous non-top tier winner was in 2011 (contested by two second-tier teams, FC Tokyo and Kyoto Sanga, with FC Tokyo winning 4–2).

Since 1969, the Emperor's Cup final had traditionally been played on New Year's Day of the following year at the National Stadium in Tokyo and is regarded as the traditional closing match of the season. Since 2014, the venue has varied due to the stadium's renovation for the 2020 Summer Olympics. The 2014 Emperor's Cup Final was not held on New Year's Day, but 13 December 2014, due to the Japan's qualification to the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. The 2018 final was held on 9 December 2018. Although an official reason has not been given, it was suspected due to the national team's involvement in 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

On 1 January 2020, first time finalist Vissel Kobe beat Kashima Antlers in the 2019 Emperor's Cup Final at the recently built new National Stadium to win the first title in their 54-year club history.[2] This was the first professional match in Japan video assistant referee (VAR) being used.[3]

Format

The first matches to qualify for the Emperor's cup begin anywhere from April to August of that year, and varies year to year. For the 97th Emperor's Cup (2017), the games were played from 22 April 2017 and ended with the final on 1 January 2018.[4] The knockout phase of the competition begins towards the end of the year. This phase is composed of all teams from J1 League (J1) and J2, the winners from each of the 47 prefectural championships (consist of amateur teams ranging from J3 League to college teams), and 1 organizer-nominated team among all amateur teams (this was assigned to the collegiate champion until 2011).

J1 teams, and sometimes J2 team(s) also receive bye(s) in the knockout phase. In 2016, all J1 teams and the previous year's J2 champions received a bye, and AFC Champions League participants received 3 byes. In 2017, all J1 and J2 teams received a bye. However, they lose home advantage starting from the third round, unless they are facing a higher-tier or higher ranked team.

From 1965 to 1970, the top 4 JSL clubs at the end of the season qualified for the Cup and the other four spaces allotted were taken by finalists from universities. From 1971 to 1994, as the League increased in size, the entire top division teams were entered automatically, while the second tier's member clubs participated in regional stages with other clubs. Beginning in 1995, the second-tier clubs (at the time, the old Japan Football League) began to be admitted automatically instead of having to play regional stages, which in turn became prefectural stages.

Before 2008, 48 teams took part in the first two rounds – the winner from each of the 47 prefectural championships and the collegiate champion. The top team in the JFL standings and all thirteen J2 teams joined in the third round. Finally, the eighteen J1 teams joined in the fourth round, making a total of 80 participating teams.

Trophy
Emperor's Cup trophy

The original All Japan Championship Tournament trophy was awarded to the JFA by the English Football Association in 1919. This trophy was used until January 1945, when the militarist government confiscated it and melted down to procure additional metal for the war effort.[5] When the tournament was reinstated, the present trophy, showing the Imperial chrysanthemum seal began to be awarded.

In August 2011, the English FA presented its Japanese counterpart with a replica of the original trophy, made by London silversmiths Thomas Lyte.[6] JFA President Junji Ogura expressed hope that the trophy, to be awarded at the 2011 final, would be "a symbol of peace".[7][5]

Qualification to AFC Champions League

The cup winner qualifies for AFC Champions League (ACL) since 2001 tournament, where Shimizu S-Pulse qualified for the ACL 2002–03. Before the establishment of ACL, the cup winner also qualified for the Asian Cup Winners' Cup. From 2012, as a part of the requirement of AFC, the champion team must also hold a J1 Club License in order to enter the ACL (but not necessary to be a Division 1 team).

From the 2002–03 to 2008 ACL editions, the cup winner participated in the ACL that began one year later; for example, the Emperor's Cup winner for the 2005 season, crowned on 1 January 2006, participated in the 2007 tournament.

In November 2007, the JFA announced that the 2009 ACL spot would be given to the 2008 season's winner (crowned on 1 January 2009), not to the 2007 winner. As a result, the 2007 winner, Kashima Antlers, did not earn the 2009 ACL spot through the championship, qualifying for the 2008 edition instead. (However, Antlers earned the 2009 ACL spot by 2008 J.League Division 1 result.)

If the cup winner has already earned an AFC Champions League spot through finishing above third in J1 League, the spot obtained in the cup will be given to J1's fourth-placed team.

List of Emperor's Cup finals
The crowd during the 2006 Emperor's Cup Final between Urawa Red Diamonds and Gamba Osaka

Teams in bold indicate doubles with the league title, while teams in italics indicate non-top flight clubs (both after 1965).

Year Winners Score Runners-up Final venue Number of entrants
1921 Tokyo Shukyu-dan1–0Mikage Shukyu-dan (Kobe)Hibiya Park4
1922 Nagoya Shukyu-dan1–0Hiroshima Koto-shihanToshima-shihan Ground4
1923 Astra Club (Tokyo)2–1Nagoya Shukyu-danTokyo Koto-shihan Ground4
1924 Rijo Shukyu Football Club (Hiroshima)1–0All Mikage Shihan Club (Kobe)Meiji Jingu Stadium4
1925 Rijo Shukyu Football Club (Hiroshima)3–0Imperial University of TokyoMeiji Jingu Stadium6
1926 Cancelled due to the death of Emperor Taishō
1927 Kobe-Ichi Junior High School Club2–0Rijo Shukyu Football Club (Hiroshima)Meiji Jingu Stadium8
1928 Waseda University WMW6–1Imperial University of KyotoMeiji Jingu Stadium7
1929 Kwangaku Club3–0Hosei UniversityMeiji Jingu Stadium8
1930 Kwangaku Club3–0Keio BRBKoshien-minami Ground4
1931 Imperial Univ. of Tokyo LB3–0Kobun Junior High School (Taiwan)Meiji Jingu Stadium7
1932 Keio Club5–1Yoshino Club (Nagoya)Koshien-minami Ground3
1933 Tokyo Old Boys Club4–1Sendai Soccer ClubMeiji Jingu Stadium8
1934 No tournament due to the Far Eastern Championship Games
1935 Kyungsung FC6–1Tokyo Bunri UniversityMeiji Jingu Stadium6
1936 Keio BRB3–2Bosung College (Seoul)Army Toyama Ground5
1937 Keio University3–0Kobe University of CommerceMeiji Jingu Stadium4
1938 Waseda University4–1Keio UniversityMeiji Jingu Stadium5
1939 Keio BRB3–2Waseda UniversityMeiji Jingu Stadium8
1940 Keio BRB1–0Waseda University WMWMeiji Jingu Stadium8
1941–45 Suspended during World War II campaign
1946 University of Tokyo LB3–2Kobe University of EconomicsTokyo Imperial Univ. Gotenshita Stadium12
1947–48 Cancelled due to post-World War II unrest
1949 University of Tokyo LB3–2Kandai ClubWaseda Univ. Higashifushimi Ground5
1950 All Kwangaku6–1Keio UniversityKariya City Stadium16
1951 Keio BRB3–2Osaka ClubMiyagino Soccer Stadium (Sendai)14
1952 All Keio6–2Osaka ClubFujieda Higashi High School16
1953 All Kwangaku5–4 (AET)Osaka ClubNishikyogoku Stadium16
1954 Keio BRB5–3Toyo IndustriesYamanashi Prefectural Stadium (Kofu)16
1955 All Kwangaku4–2Chuo University ClubNishinomiya Stadium16
1956 Keio BRB4–2Yawata SteelOmiya Athletic Stadium16
1957 Chuo University Club1–0Toyo IndustriesKokutaiji High School (Hiroshima)16
1958 Kwangaku Club1–0Yawata SteelFujieda Higashi High School16
1959 Kwangaku Club1–0Chuo Universitykoishikawa Football Stadium16
1960 Furukawa Electric4–0Keio BRBOsaka Utsubo Soccer Stadium16
1961 Furukawa Electric3–2Chuo UniversityFujieda Higashi High School16
1962 Chuo University2–1Furukawa ElectricKyoto Nishikyogoku Stadium16
1963 Waseda University2–1Hitachi Ltd.Kobe Oji Stadium7
1964 Yawata Steel
Furukawa Electric		0–0 (AET)none (title shared)Kobe Oji Stadium10
1965 Toyo Industries3–2Yawata SteelTokyo Komazawa Stadium8
1966 Waseda University3–2 (AET)Toyo IndustriesTokyo Komazawa Stadium8
1967 Toyo Industries1–0Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesTokyo National Stadium8
1968 Yanmar Diesel1–0Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesTokyo National Stadium8
1969 Toyo Industries4–1Rikkyo UniversityTokyo National Stadium8
1970 Yanmar Diesel2–1 (AET)Toyo IndustriesTokyo National Stadium8
1971 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries3–1Yanmar DieselTokyo National Stadium8
1972 Hitachi Ltd.2–1Yanmar DieselTokyo National Stadium75
1973 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries2–1Hitachi Ltd.Tokyo National Stadium807
1974 Yanmar Diesel2–1Eidai IndustriesTokyo National Stadium1,105
1975 Hitachi Ltd.2–0Fujita IndustriesTokyo National Stadium1,298
1976 Furukawa Electric4–1Yanmar DieselTokyo National Stadium1,358
1977 Fujita Industries4–1Yanmar DieselTokyo National Stadium1,421
1978 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries1–0Toyo IndustriesTokyo National Stadium1,481
1979 Fujita Industries2–1Mitsubishi Heavy IndustriesTokyo National Stadium1,494
1980 Mitsubishi Heavy Industries1–0Tanabe PharmaceuticalTokyo National Stadium1,474
1981 Nippon Kokan2–0Yomiuri FCTokyo National Stadium1,569
1982 Yamaha Motor Company0–0
(1–0 replay)		Fujita IndustriesTokyo National Stadium1,567
1983 Nissan Motor Company2–0Yanmar DieselTokyo National Stadium1,565
1984 Yomiuri FC2–0Furukawa ElectricTokyo National Stadium1,476
1985 Nissan Motor Company2–0Fujita IndustriesTokyo National Stadium1,498
1986 Yomiuri FC2–1Nippon KokanTokyo National Stadium1,612
1987 Yomiuri FC2–0Mazda Soccer ClubTokyo National Stadium1,690
1988 Nissan Motor Company3–2 (AET)Fujita IndustriesTokyo National Stadium1,786
1989 Nissan Motor Company3–2Yamaha Motor CompanyTokyo National Stadium1,737
1990 Matsushita Electric Industrial0–0
(4–3 PSO)		Nissan Motor CompanyTokyo National Stadium1,776
1991 Nissan Motor Company4–2 (AET)Yomiuri FCTokyo National Stadium1,872
1992 Yokohama F. Marinos2–1 (AET)Verdy KawasakiTokyo National Stadium2,452
1993 Yokohama Flügels6–2 (AET)Kashima AntlersTokyo National Stadium2,511
1994 Bellmare Hiratsuka2–0Cerezo OsakaTokyo National Stadium2,792
1995 Nagoya Grampus Eight3–0Sanfrecce HiroshimaTokyo National Stadium2,800
1996 Verdy Kawasaki3–0Sanfrecce HiroshimaTokyo National Stadium(unknown)
1997 Kashima Antlers3–0Yokohama FlügelsTokyo National Stadium6,107
1998 Yokohama Flügels2–1Shimizu S-PulseTokyo National Stadium6,317
1999 Nagoya Grampus Eight2–0Sanfrecce HiroshimaTokyo National Stadium6,516
2000 Kashima Antlers3–2 (AET)Shimizu S-PulseTokyo National Stadium6,578
2001 Shimizu S-Pulse3–2Cerezo OsakaTokyo National Stadium6,306
2002 Kyoto Purple Sanga2–1Kashima AntlersTokyo National Stadium6,418
2003 Júbilo Iwata1–0Cerezo OsakaTokyo National Stadium6,849
2004 Tokyo Verdy 19692–1Júbilo IwataTokyo National Stadium6,685
2005 Urawa Red Diamonds2–1Shimizu S-PulseTokyo National Stadium5,918
2006 Urawa Red Diamonds1–0Gamba OsakaTokyo National Stadium6,390
2007 Kashima Antlers2–0Sanfrecce HiroshimaTokyo National Stadium6,161
2008 Gamba Osaka1–0 (AET)Kashiwa ReysolTokyo National Stadium5,948
2009 Gamba Osaka4–1Nagoya GrampusTokyo National Stadium(unknown)
2010 Kashima Antlers2–1Shimizu S-PulseTokyo National Stadium(unknown)
2011 FC Tokyo4–2Kyoto Sanga FCTokyo National Stadium(unknown)
2012 Kashiwa Reysol1–0Gamba OsakaTokyo National Stadium4,927[8]
2013 Yokohama F. Marinos2–0Sanfrecce HiroshimaTokyo National Stadium(unknown)
2014 Gamba Osaka3–1Montedio YamagataInternational Stadium Yokohama(unknown)
2015 Gamba Osaka2–1Urawa Red DiamondsAjinomoto Stadium(unknown)
2016 Kashima Antlers2–1 (AET)Kawasaki FrontaleSuita City Football Stadium(unknown)
2017 Cerezo Osaka2–1 (AET)Yokohama F. MarinosSaitama Stadium 2002(unknown)
2018 Urawa Red Diamonds1–0Vegalta SendaiSaitama Stadium 2002(unknown)
2019 Vissel Kobe2–0Kashima AntlersJapan National Stadium(unknown)

Top performing clubs
Club Winners Runners-up
Keio University94
Urawa Red Diamonds74
Yokohama F. Marinos72
Kwansei Gakuin University71
Tokyo Verdy53
Kashima Antlers53
Gamba Osaka52
Cerezo Osaka48
JEF United Chiba42
Waseda University42
Sanfrecce Hiroshima311
Shonan Bellmare34
Kashiwa Reysol33
University of Tokyo31
Chuo University23
Júbilo Iwata22
Nagoya Grampus21
Yokohama Flügels21
Rijo Shukyu Football Club21
Shimizu S-Pulse14
Yawata Steel13
Kyoto Sanga FC11
NKK SC11
Nagoya Shukyu-dan11
Vissel Kobe10
FC Tokyo10
Astra Club (Tokyo)10
Kobe-Ichi Junior High School Club10
Kyungsung FC10
Tokyo Shukyu-dan10
Tokyo Old Boys Club10
Osaka Club03
Kobe University02
Eidai Industries01
Hiroshima University01
Hosei University01
Kansai University01
Kobun Junior High School01
Korea University01
Kyoto University01
All Mikage Shihan Club01
Mikage Shukudan01
Rikkyo University01
Sendai Soccer Club01
Tanabe Pharmaceuticals01
Tokyo Bunri University01
Tsukuba University01
Yoshino Club01
Montedio Yamagata01
Kawasaki Frontale01
Vegalta Sendai01

Other Emperor's Cups
Sumo Emperor's Cup

The Emperor's Cup term is used for many national championships in other sports, including Judo (the All-Japan Judo Championships) and Volleyball (Emperor's Cup and Empress's Cup All Japan Volleyball Championship).

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 October 2005. Retrieved 21 May 2006.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "AFCチャンピオンズリーグ2020　ヴィッセル神戸が本大会の出場権を獲得" (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  3. "第99回天皇杯 決勝でビデオアシスタントレフェリー（VAR）を導入" (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  4. "第97回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会". JFA.jp. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  5. "England replaces football trophy Japan melted down during Second World War". The Telegraph. 7 September 2011.
  6. "FA Gives Japan New Cup". Acumen. British Chamber of Commerce in Japan. October 2011.
  7. "F.A. Silver Cup to be presented to Emperor's Cup winners". Japan Football Association. 29 August 2011.
  8. "サッカー日本一を決める最大のトーナメント 第92回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会、９月１日（土）いよいよ開幕！" [The largest tournament in Japan for the championship – The 92nd Emperor's Cup All-Japan Soccer Championship begins on September 1!]. Japan Football Association. 31 August 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
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