The Japanese Professional Football League is called the J1 League. In this article, we will see all the teams in Japan and some curiosities about the J-League of the JFA.
When it comes to the first division of Japanese football, the J1 League is often considered one of the most competitive and exciting leagues in the world.
We also recommend reading:
Table of Contents
About the J-League
Nihon Puro Sakkā Rīgu [日本プロサッカーリーグ] is the Japanese name for the J.League, which can also be called Meiji Yasuda J.League. It is the second largest football championship in all of Asia.
The numbering after the J refers to the division of the league. That is, J1 is the first division of the Japanese professional football championship, composed of 3 divisions like in many countries.
The J-League had its first championship on May 15, 1993, with a total of ten teams, formed by players from the former Japan Football League post-war.
The league is currently sponsored by Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance Company and is known as the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. The official website of the league is http://www.j-league.com
How does the J1-League work?
The J1-League is divided into two phases. The first stage, called the regular season, runs from February to November, contested by all 18 teams.
Each team plays against all other teams twice, once at home and once away. The team with the highest number of points at the end of the regular season is crowned champion.
The second stage of the J1-League is called the playoffs. The playoffs are contested by the four best teams from the regular season. These teams play against each other in a two-legged playoff, with the winner advancing to the final.
The final is a single match, played at a neutral venue, with the winner being crowned champion of the J1 League. We also recommend reading: Why does the Japan national team play in blue in football?
Curiosities about the J-League
Now let’s see some curiosities involving the Japanese Football League:
Short players? Not really…
It may seem unexpected, but the J-League has some of the tallest players in the world, even though the Japanese have a low stature, the average height in the J-League is 1.78m.
This is partly due to the quota for foreign players in the league, which allows each team to have up to four foreign players in their starting lineup.
The largest league in Asia
The J1-League has the highest average attendance of any football league in Asia, with over 20,000 spectators per game. As mentioned, it is the second largest championship in Asia.
This is partly due to the passionate support of Japanese fans, who are known for their impressive displays of support and passion for their teams.
In terms of international competition, the J1-League is the most successful league in Asia. Japanese teams have won the AFC Champions League a total of five times, with three of those victories in the last four years.
Valuable players in the J-League
According to a recent study, the J1 League is home to four of the most valuable football players in the world. These players are worth an estimated total of 1.1 billion euros, which is more than the total value of the Premier League!
Some famous Japanese players are Shinji Kagawa, Keisuke Honda, and Yuto Nagatomo. The championship hosts some of the most successful clubs in Asia, including the current champion Kawasaki Frontale and Urawa Reds.
The Champions of the J1-League
Below we have the champion teams of the J1-League for each year from 1993 to 2022, with Kashima Antlers being the team with the most victories over the years.
| 1993 | Verdy Kawasaki |
| 1994 | Verdy Kawasaki |
| 1995 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| 1996 | Kashima Antlers |
| 1997 | Júbilo Iwata |
| 1998 | Kashima Antlers |
| 1999 | Júbilo Iwata |
| 2000 | Kashima Antlers |
| 2001 | Kashima Antlers |
| 2002 | Júbilo Iwata |
| 2003 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| 2004 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| 2005 | Gamba Osaka |
| 2006 | Urawa Red Diamonds |
| 2007 | Kashima Antlers |
| 2008 | Kashima Antlers |
| 2009 | Kashima Antlers |
| 2010 | Nagoya Grampus |
| 2011 | Kashiwa Reysol |
| 2012 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 2013 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 2014 | Gamba Osaka |
| 2015 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| 2016 | Kashima Antlers |
| 2017 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| 2018 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| 2019 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
| 2020 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| 2021 | Kawasaki Frontale |
| 2022 | Yokohama F. Marinos |
List of Japanese Football Teams and Clubs
Now let’s see the list of all current football teams in the J-League, from the first to the third division.
Note that the team names usually take the second name as the locality to which they belong.
Teams of the J1-League
- Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
- Kashima Antlers
- Urawa Reds
- Kashiwa Reysol
- F.C.Tokyo
- Kawasaki Frontale
- Yokohama F･Marinos
- Shonan Bellmare
- Shimizu S-Pulse
- Jubilo Iwata
- Nagoya Grampus
- Kyoto Sanga F.C.
- Gamba Osaka
- Cerezo Osaka
- Vissel Kobe
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima
- Avispa Fukuoka
- Sagan Tosu
Teams of the J2-League
- Iwate Grulla Morioka
- Vegalta Sendai
- Blaublitz Akita
- Montedio Yamagata
- Mito Hollyhock
- Tochigi SC
- Thespakusatsu Gunma
- Omiya Ardija
- JEF United Chiba
- Tokyo Verdy
- FC Machida Zelvia
- Yokohama FC
- Ventforet Kofu
- Albirex Niigata
- Zweigen Kanazawa
- Fagiano Okayama
- Renofa Yamaguchi FC
- Tokushima Vortis
- V-Varen Nagasaki
- Roasso Kumamoto
- Oita Trinita
- FC Ryukyu
Teams of the J3-League
- Vanraure Hachinohe
- Fukushima United FC
- Iwaki FC
- Y.S.C.C. Yokohama
- S.C. Sagamihara
- Matsumoto Yamaga F.C.
- AC Nagano Parceiro
- Kataller Toyama
- Fujieda MYFC
- Azul Claro Numazu
- FC Gifu
- Gainare Tottori
- Kamatamare Sanuki
- Ehime FC
- FC Imabari
- Giravanz Kitakyushu
- Tegevajaro Miyazaki
- Kagoshima United FC
Leave a Reply