J1 League

J1 League

Organising body	J.League
Founded	1992 (1992)
Country	Japan
Confederation	AFC
Number of teams	20
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	J2 League
Domestic cup(s)	Emperor's Cup Japanese Super Cup
League cup(s)	J.League Cup
International cup(s)	AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two
Current champions	Vissel Kobe (1st title) (2023)
Most championships	Kashima Antlers (8 titles)
Most appearances	Yasuhito Endō (672)
Top goalscorer	Yoshito Ōkubo (179)
TV partners	DAZN (including Abema de DAZN) NHK General TV (selected matches) NHK BS (selected matches) YouTube (selected matches and markets)
Website	jleague.jp
Current: 2024 J1 League

The J1 League (Japanese: J1リーグ, Hepburn: Jē-wan Rīgu), a.k.a. the J.League or the Meiji Yasuda J1 League (Japanese: 明治安田J1リーグ, Hepburn: Meiji Yasuda Jē-wan Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is the top level of the Japan Professional Football League (日本プロサッカーリーグ, Nihon Puro Sakkā Rīgu) system. Founded in 1992, it is one of the most successful leagues in Asian professional club football history. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the J2 League. It was known as the J.League from 1993 to 1998 before becoming a two-division league, and as J.League Division 1 from 1999 to 2014.

History

For the history of Japanese club association football before the inception of the professional league in 1993, see Japan Soccer League.

For the detailed history of J2 League, see J2 League § History.

Phases of J1

Before the professional league (1992 and earlier)

Before the inception of the J.League, the highest level of club football was the Japan Soccer League (JSL), which was formed in 1965 and consisted of amateur clubs. Despite being well-attended during the boom of the late 1960s and early 1970s (when Japan's national team won the bronze Olympic medal at the 1968 games in Mexico), the JSL went into decline in the 1980s, in general line with the deteriorating situation worldwide. Fans were few, the grounds were not of the highest quality, and the Japanese national team was not on a par with the Asian powerhouses. To raise the level of play domestically, to attempt to garner more fans, and to strengthen the national team, the Japan Football Association (JFA) decided to form a professional league.

The professional association football league, J.League was formed in 1992, with eight clubs drawn from the JSL First Division, one from the Second Division, and the newly formed Shimizu S-Pulse. At the same time, JSL changed its name and became the now–defunct Japan Football League, a semi-professional league. Although the J.League did not officially launch until 1993, the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup competition was held between the ten clubs in 1992 to prepare for the inaugural season.

Inaugural season and J.League boom (1993–1995)

J.League officially kicked off its first season with ten clubs in early 1993.

After the boom (1996–1999)

Despite its success in the first three years, in early 1996 the league attendance declined rapidly. In 1997 the average attendance was 10,131, compared to more than 19,000 in 1994. Notably, Arsène Wenger managed Nagoya Grampus Eight during this period.

Change of infrastructure and game formats (1999–2004)

Main article: J2 League

By 1999, the league's management came to a conclusion that they were heading in the wrong direction. They subsequently came up with two solutions to solve the problem.

Firsty, they announced the J.League Hundred Year Vision, in which they aimed to create or endorse 100 professional association football clubs throughout Japan by 2092, which would mark the hundredth season since the establishment of the J1 League. The league also encouraged the clubs to promote football or non-football related sports and health activities, to acquire local sponsorships, and to build good relationships with their hometowns at the grassroots level. The league administration believed that this would allow the clubs to bond with their respective cities and towns, and obtain support from local government, companies, and citizens. In other words, clubs will be able to rely on the locals, rather than major national sponsors.

Secondly, the infrastructure of the league was heavily changed in 1999. The league acquired nine clubs from the semi-professional JFL and one club from the J.League to create a two-division system. The top flight became the J.League Division 1 (J1) with 16 clubs while the J.League Division 2 (J2) was launched with ten clubs in 1999. The former second-tier Japan Football League now became the third-tier Japan Football League (J3).

Also, until 2004 (with the exception of 1996 season), the J1 season was divided into two stages. At the end of each full season, the champions from each half played a two-legged series to determine the overall season winners and runners-up. Júbilo Iwata in 2002, and Yokohama F. Marinos in 2003, won both "halves" of the respective seasons, thus eliminating the need for the playoff series. The league abolished the split-season system in 2005.

European League Format & AFC Champions League (2005–2008)

Since the 2005 season, the J1 League consisted of 18 clubs (from 16 in 2004) and the season format adopted a system similar to European club football. The number of relegated clubs also increased from 2 to 2.5, with the 3rd-to-last club going into a promotion/relegation playoff with the third-placed J2 club. Since then, other than minor adjustments, the top flight has stayed consistent.

Japanese teams did not view the AFC Champions League (ACL) as a major competition in the early years, in part due to the distances travelled and teams involved. Despite this, three Japanese sides made the quarter-finals in the 2008 ACL.

However, in recent years, with the inclusion of the A-League in Eastern Asia, introduction to the Club World Cup, and increased marketability in the Asian continent, both the league and the clubs paid more attention to Asian competition. For example, Kawasaki Frontale built up a notable fan base in Hong Kong, owing to their participation in the Asian Champions League during the 2007 season. Continuous effort led to the success of Urawa Red Diamonds in 2007 and Gamba Osaka in 2008. Thanks to excellent league management and competitiveness in Asian competition, the AFC awarded J.League the highest league ranking and a total of four slots starting from the 2009 season. The league took this as an opportunity to sell TV broadcasting rights to foreign countries, especially in Asia.

Also starting from the 2008 season, the Emperor's Cup Winner was allowed to participate in the upcoming Champions League season, rather than waiting a whole year (i.e. 2005 Emperor's Cup winner, Tokyo Verdy, participated in the 2007 ACL season, instead of the 2006 season). In order to fix this one-year lag issue, the 2007 Emperor's Cup winner, Kashima Antlers' turn was waived. Nonetheless, Kashima Antlers ended up participating in the 2009 ACL season by winning the J.League title in the 2008 season.

Modern phase (2009–2016)

Three major changes were seen starting in the 2009 season. First, starting that season, four clubs entered the AFC Champions League. Secondly, the number of relegation slots increased to three. Finally, the AFC Player slot was implemented starting this season. Each club will be allowed to have a total of four foreign players; however, one slot is reserved for a player that derives from an AFC country other than Japan. Also, as a requirement of being a member of the Asian Football Confederation, in 2012 the J.League Club Licence became one criterion of whether a club was permitted to be promoted to a higher tier in professional level leagues. No major changes happened to J.League Division 1 as the number of clubs stayed at 18.

In 2015 the J.League Division 1 was renamed J1 League. Also, the tournament format was changed to a three-stage system. The season was split into first and second stages, followed by a third and final championship stage. The third stage was composed of three to five teams. The top point accumulator in each stage and the top three point accumulators for the overall season qualified. If both of the stage winners finished in the top three teams for the season, then only three teams qualified for the championship stage. These teams then took part in a championship playoff stage to decide the winner of the league trophy.

Current (2017–)

Despite the new multi-stage format being initially reported as locked in for five seasons, due to negative reaction from hardcore fans and failure to appeal to casual fans, after 2016 it was abandoned in favour of a return to a single-stage system. From 2017, the team which accumulates the most points will be named champion, with no championship stage taking place at the season's end, and from 2018, the bottom two clubs are relegated and the 16th-placed club enters a playoff with the J2 club that wins a promotion playoff series. If the J2 playoff winner prevails, the club is promoted, with the J1 club being relegated, otherwise the J1 club can retain its position in J1 League with the promotion failure of the J2 club.

In November 2017, Urawa Red Diamonds played the AFC Champions League final against Al Hilal. After a draw in the first leg, Urawa Red Diamonds won the second leg 1-0 and were crowned Asian Champions. In the past 10–15 years, Japanese clubs have risen also intercontinentally. Clubs Gamba Osaka and Urawa Red Diamonds have been crowned Asian champions and participated in the Club World Cup, always targeting at least the semi-finals. Kashima Antlers were finalists of the 2016 edition and eventually lost to Real Madrid.

Beginning in 2026/27, the J.League will use a fall–spring format. The regular season will begin in August and pause for a winter break between December and February, with the final matches played in May.

Timeline

Year	Important events	No. J clubs	No. ACL Elite clubs	No. ACL Two clubs	Rel. slots
1989	JFA forms a professional league assessment committee.			–
1990	The committee decides the criteria for professional clubs Fifteen to twenty clubs from Japan Soccer League applies for the professional league membership
1992	The professional league, J.League is formed with the following 10 clubs: Gamba Osaka, JEF United Ichihara, Nagoya Grampus Eight, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Urawa Red Diamonds, Verdy Kawasaki, Yokohama Flügels, and Yokohama Marinos (pre-existing from the old JSL First Division) Kashima Antlers (promoted from the old Second Division) Shimizu S-Pulse (newly formed, non-company club). Japan Soccer League becomes then second-tier Japan Football League J.League hosts the first domestic league cup competition with the ten clubs
1993	The J.League officially kicks off its first season	10
1994	Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League: Júbilo Iwata and Bellmare Hiratsuka	12
1995	Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League: Cerezo Osaka and Kashiwa Reysol The points system is introduced for the first time: a club receives 3 pts for any win, 1 pt for PK loss, and 0 pts for regulation or extra time loss.	14
1996	Following clubs are promoted from Japan Football League: Kyoto Purple Sanga and Avispa Fukuoka The league adopts single season format J.League average attendance hits the record low 10,131	16
1997	Following club is promoted from Japan Football League: Vissel Kobe The league goes back to split-season format The points system changes: a club receives 3 pts for a regulation win, 2 pts for extra-time win, 1 pt for PK win, and 0 pts for any loss.	17
1998	Following club is promoted from Japan Football League: Consadole Sapporo Yokohama Flügels announce that they will be dissolved into crosstown rivals Yokohama Marinos for the 1999 season The league announces the J.League Hundred Year Vision The league announces incorporation of two-division system for the 1999 season The league hosts J.League Promotion Tournament to decide to promote and/or relegate clubs. As a result, Consadole Sapporo becomes the first club be to relegated.	18
1999	Yokohama Marinos merge with Yokohama Flügels to become Yokohama F. Marinos Penalty kick shootouts are abolished in both divisions; however, golden goal extra-time rules stayed The points system changes: a club receives 3 pts for a regulation win, 2 pts for an extra time win, and 1 pt for a tie Japan Football League (former) is also restructured, as it becomes the 3rd-tier Japan Football League. Note: To distinguish between the former and the current JFL, the new JFL is pronounced Nihon Football League in Japanese.	16			2
2000
2001
2002			2
2003	Extra time is abolished in Division 1 and traditional 3–1–0 points system is adopted
2004	No automatic relegation this season, as the top flight expands to 18 clubs in the following season Inception of the two-legged Promotion/relegation Series				0.5
2005	J.League Division 1 expands to 18 clubs J.League Division 1 adopts single-season format	18			2.5
2006	Away goals rule is adopted in Yamazaki Nabisco Cup and Promotion/relegation Series The league forms J.League expansion committee The league reintroduces J.League Associate Membership
2007	J.League champion qualifies to the FIFA Club World Cup as the host for next two seasons. Note: If a Japanese club wins the AFC Champions League, the host loses its right. Urawa Red Diamonds wins the 2007 AFC Champions League, becoming the first Japanese club to win the AFC Champions League since its rebranding in 2002. Urawa wins the bronze medal at the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first Japanese club to do so.
2008	Gamba Osaka wins the 2008 AFC Champions League, the second straight championship by a Japanese club and wins the bronze medal at the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, the second straight Japanese bronze medal at the competition.		2+1
2009	Four clubs enter AFC Champions League. Implementation of a 4th foreign player slot, a.k.a. AFC player slot Promotion/relegation Series is eliminated and 16th-place club is now relegated by default.		4		3
2010
2011	J.League champion qualifies to the FIFA Club World Cup as the host for next two seasons again.
2012
2013
2014
2015	J.League reinstates split-season format for the next five seasons. J.League champion qualifies to the FIFA Club World Cup as the host for the next two seasons again.
2016	J.League champion qualifies to the FIFA Club World Cup as the host. Kashima Antlers reaches the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup Final becoming the first Asian club and only Japanese club to reach the Final, finishing with the silver medal.
2017	J.League reinstates single-season format after only two seasons. Urawa Red Diamonds wins the 2017 AFC Champions League becoming the first Japanese club to win this competition twice.
2018	J.League implements entry playoff between 16th J1 club and J2 playoffs winner. Kashima Antlers wins the 2018 AFC Champions League becoming only the third Japanese club to win this competition. Kashima goes on to finish 4th at 2018 FIFA Club World Cup, the best performance by a Japanese club in a FIFA World Cup held overseas outside of Japanese soil.				2.5
2019	J.League implements a new foreigners rule. J1, J2 and J3 clubs can recruit as many foreign players as they desire, but only 5 (J1) or 4 (J2 and J3) can be in the matchday squad. The "Asian slot" is removed. Players from certain J.League partner nations such as Thailand, Vietnam, etc. are not counted as foreigners.
2020	No relegation due to the COVID-19 pandemic		3		0
2021	League is expanded to hold 20 clubs, as no team was relegated from the J1 and two teams were promoted from the J2	20			4
2022	League returns to have 18 clubs, as there were four relegated teams from J1 and two promoted to J2.	18			2.5
2023	It is decided that from the 2024 season, the J1, J2 and J3 Leagues will be levelled to 20 clubs in each, with promotions and relegations of the 2023 season of each league being adjusted accordingly for it to be possible. As league will be expanded to permanently hold 20 clubs, only one team will be directly relegated to the J2 for 2023. There will be promotion play-offs for the J1 with teams from 3rd to 6th place, with no team from the J1 participating on it.				1
2024	No J1-J2 promotion/relegation play-offs will be held and instead, the three worst-placed teams will be directly relegated to the J2.	20	2	1	3

Crest

• 
  Logo used between 1999 and 2014
• 
  Logo used between 2015 and 2018

2024 season

League format

Main article: 2024 J1 League

Twenty clubs play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 38 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tiebreakers are, in the following order:

• Goal differential
• Goals scored
• Head-to-head results
• Disciplinary points

A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied for first place, both clubs will be declared as co-champions. The top two clubs will qualify to the following season's AFC Champions League Elite, the third-placers qualify to the following season's AFC Champions League Two, while the bottom three clubs will be relegated to J2.

Prize money (2020 figures)

• Champions: 300,000,000 yen
• Second place: 120,000,000 yen
• Third place: 60,000,000 yen

In addition to the prize, the top 4 clubs are awarded with the following funds.

J league funds distributed to top 4 clubs (from 2017)

• Champions: 1,550,000,000 yen
• Second place: 700,000,000 yen
• Third place: 350,000,000 yen
• Fourth place: 180,000,000 yen

Participating clubs

Club	Year joined	Seasons in J1	Based in	First season in top flight	Seasons in top flight	Current spell in top flight	Last title
Albirex Niigata	1999 (J2)	15	Niigata, Niigata	2004	15	2023–	–
Avispa Fukuoka	1996	12	Fukuoka, Fukuoka	1996	12	2021–	–
Cerezo Osaka	1995	23	Osaka & Sakai, Osaka	1965	49	2017–	1980
Gamba Osaka	1993	30	North cities in Osaka	1986/87	36	2014–	2014
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo	1998	12	All cities/towns in Hokkaidō	1989/90	15	2017–	–
Júbilo Iwata	1994	25	Iwata, Shizuoka	1980	36	2024–	2002
Kashima Antlers	1993	31	Southwestern cities/towns of Ibaraki	1985/86	34	1993–	2016
Kashiwa Reysol	1995	26	Kashiwa, Chiba	1965	50	2020–	2011
Kawasaki Frontale	1999 (J2)	20	Kawasaki, Kanagawa	1977	22	2005–	2021
Kyoto Sanga	1996	13	Southwestern cities/towns in Kyoto	1996	13	2022–	–
Machida Zelvia	2012 (J2)	0	Machida, Tokyo	2024	0	2024–	–
Nagoya Grampus	1993	30	All cities/towns in Aichi	1973	38	2018–	2010
Sagan Tosu	1999 (J2)	12	Tosu, Saga	2012	12	2012–	–
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	1993	29	Hiroshima, Hiroshima	1965	51	2009–	2015
Shonan Bellmare	1994	16	South and central cities/town in Kanagawa	1972	34	2018–	1981
FC Tokyo	1999 (J2)	23	Chōfu	2000	23	2012–	–
Tokyo Verdy	1993	14	Tokyo	1978	28	2024–	1994
Urawa Red Diamonds	1993	30	Saitama	1965	56	2001–	2006
Vissel Kobe	1997	25	Kobe, Hyōgo	1997	25	2014–	2023
Yokohama F. Marinos	1993	31	Yokohama, Yokosuka & Yamato	1979	43	1982–	2022

Source for teams participating:

• Pink background denotes club was most recently promoted from J2 League.
• "Year joined" is the year the club joined the J.League (Division 1 unless otherwise indicated).
• "First season in top flight", "Seasons in top flight", "Current spell in top flight", and "Last title" include seasons in the old Japan Soccer League First Division.

Stadiums (2024)

Main article: List of football stadiums in Japan

See also: Category:Football venues in Japan

Primary venues used in the J1 League:

Albirex Niigata	Avispa Fukuoka	Cerezo Osaka		Gamba Osaka	Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo		Jubilo Iwata
Denka Big Swan Stadium	Best Denki Stadium	Yanmar Stadium Nagai	Yodoko Sakura Stadium	Panasonic Stadium Suita	Sapporo Dome	Sapporo Atsubetsu Stadium	Yamaha Stadium
Capacity: 42,300	Capacity: 21,562	Capacity: 47,816	Capacity: 24,481	Capacity: 40,000	Capacity: 42,065	Capacity: 20,861	Capacity: 15,165
Kashima Antlers	Kashiwa Reysol	Kawasaki Frontale	Kyoto Sanga FC	Machida Zelvia	Nagoya Grampus		Sagan Tosu
Kashima Soccer Stadium	Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium	Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium	Sanga Stadium by Kyocera	Machida Gion Stadium	Paloma Mizuho Stadium	Toyota Stadium	Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
Capacity: 37,638	Capacity: 15,349	Capacity: 26,232	Capacity: 21,600	Capacity: 15,489	Capacity: 27,000	Capacity: 44,692	Capacity: 24,130
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Shonan Bellmare	FC Tokyo	Tokyo Verdy	Urawa Red Diamonds	Vissel Kobe	Yokohama F. Marinos	All J1 Stadiums
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima	Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka	Ajinomoto Stadium		Saitama Stadium 2002	Noevir Stadium Kobe	Nissan Stadium
Capacity: 28,520	Capacity: 15,380	Capacity: 49,970		Capacity: 63,700	Capacity: 30,132	Capacity: 72,327

Former clubs

Club	Year Joined	Seasons in J1	Based in	First season in top flight	Seasons in top flight	Last spell in top flight	Last title	Current league
JEF United Chiba	1993	17	Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba	1965	44	1965–2009	1985/86	J2
Matsumoto Yamaga	2012 (J2)	2	Central cities/village in Nagano	2015	2	2019	–	J3
Montedio Yamagata	1999 (J2)	4	All cities/towns in Yamagata	2009	4	2015	–	J2
Oita Trinita	1999 (J2)	11	All cities/towns in Ōita	2003	11	2019–2021	–	J2
Omiya Ardija	1999 (J2)	12	Saitama	2005	12	2016–2017	–	J3
Shimizu S-Pulse	1993	28	Shizuoka	1993	28	2017–2022	–	J2
Tokushima Vortis	2005 (J2)	2	All cities/towns in Tokushima	2014	2	2021	–	J2
V-Varen Nagasaki	2013 (J2)	1	All cities/towns in Nagasaki	2018	1	2018	–	J2
Vegalta Sendai	1999 (J2)	14	Sendai, Miyagi	2002	14	2010–2021	–	J2
Ventforet Kofu	1999 (J2)	8	All cities/towns in Yamanashi	2006	8	2013–2017	–	J2
Yokohama FC	1999 (J2)	4	Yokohama	2007	4	2023	–	J2
Yokohama Flügels	1993	6	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1985/86	11	1988/89–1998	–	Defunct

• Grey background denotes club was most recently relegated to J2 League.
• "Year joined" is the year the club joined the J.League (Division 1 unless otherwise indicated).
• "First season in top flight", "Seasons in top flight", "Last spell in top flight", and "Last title" includes seasons in the old Japan Soccer League First Division.

Statistics

All-time J1 League table

The all-time J1 League table is a cumulative record of all match results, points, and goals of every team that has played in the J1 League. The table that follows is accurate as of the end of the 2022 season. Teams in bold are part of the 2023 J1 League.

Note: For statistical purposes, the traditional 3–1–0 points system is used for all matches. As in the season, 1993–1994 did not use the point system. In seasons 1995–1996 were using 3 pts for any win, 1 pt for PK loss, and 0 pts for regulation or extra time loss. In seasons 1997-1998 were using 3 pts for a regulation win, 2 pts for extra-time win, 1 pt for PK win, and 0 pts for any loss. And from seasons 1999–2002 were using 3 pts for a regulation win, 2 pts for an extra time win, and 1 pt for a tie.

Pos.	Club	Seasons	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Best Pos.
1	Kashima Antlers	30	1024	561	155	308	1,749	1,211	+538	1,838	1st
2	Yokohama F. Marinos	30	1024	508	180	336	1,643	1,233	+410	1,704	1st
3	Urawa Red Diamonds	29	994	457	174	363	1,526	1,319	+207	1,545	1st
4	Nagoya Grampus	29	990	448	162	380	1,475	1,370	+105	1,506	1st
5	Gamba Osaka	29	990	445	155	390	1,640	1,459	+181	1,490	1st
6	Shimizu S-Pulse	29	990	421	167	402	1,415	1,459	−44	1,430	2nd
7	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	28	960	411	165	384	1,390	1,279	+111	1,398	1st
8	Júbilo Iwata	25	848	391	142	315	1,374	1,170	+204	1,315	1st
9	Kashiwa Reysol	25	842	363	144	335	1,261	1,217	+44	1,233	1st
10	Kawasaki Frontale	19	646	340	134	172	1,193	813	+380	1,154	1st
11	FC Tokyo	22	732	307	157	268	1,007	934	+73	1,078	2nd
12	Cerezo Osaka	22	744	306	133	305	1,117	1,120	−3	1,051	3rd
13	Vissel Kobe	24	794	266	163	365	1,056	1,250	−194	961	3rd
14	JEF United Chiba	17	578	227	70	281	874	980	−106	751	3rd
15	Tokyo Verdy	14	476	226	43	207	767	713	+54	721	1st
16	Albirex Niigata	14	472	156	115	201	557	679	−122	583	6th
17	Shonan Bellmare	15	532	166	83	283	663	908	–245	581	5th
18	Vegalta Sendai	14	472	144	122	206	561	686	−125	554	2nd
19	Sagan Tosu	11	378	133	107	138	443	479	−36	506	5th
20	Omiya Ardija	12	408	129	104	175	455	579	−124	491	5th
21	Oita Trinita	11	370	108	88	174	387	512	−125	412	4th
22	Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo	11	370	110	68	192	472	653	−181	398	4th
23	Kyoto Sanga	12	352	112	53	221	428	678	−250	389	5th
24	Yokohama Flügels	6	228	117	0	111	375	373	+2	351	3rd
25	Avispa Fukuoka	11	360	94	51	215	384	642	–258	333	8th
26	Ventforet Kofu	8	272	69	73	130	255	404	–149	280	13th
27	Montedio Yamagata	4	136	30	36	70	108	199	−91	126	13th
28	Yokohama FC	3	106	19	19	68	89	203	−114	76	15th
29	Matsumoto Yamaga	2	68	13	20	35	51	94	−43	59	16th
30	Tokushima Vortis	2	72	13	11	48	50	129	–79	50	17th
31	V-Varen Nagasaki	1	34	8	6	20	39	59	−20	30	18th

League or status at 2023:

	2023 J1 League teams
	2023 J2 League teams
	2023 J3 League teams
	Defunct teams

Championship history

Main article: List of Japanese football champions

Year	Champions	Runners-up
1993	Verdy Kawasaki	Kashima Antlers
1994	Verdy Kawasaki	Sanfrecce Hiroshima
1995	Yokohama Marinos	Verdy Kawasaki
1996	Kashima Antlers	Nagoya Grampus Eight
1997	Júbilo Iwata	Kashima Antlers
1998	Kashima Antlers	Júbilo Iwata
1999	Júbilo Iwata	Shimizu S-Pulse
2000	Kashima Antlers	Yokohama F. Marinos
2001	Kashima Antlers	Júbilo Iwata
2002	Júbilo Iwata	Yokohama F. Marinos
2003	Yokohama F. Marinos	Júbilo Iwata
2004	Yokohama F. Marinos	Urawa Red Diamonds
2005	Gamba Osaka	Urawa Red Diamonds
2006	Urawa Red Diamonds	Kawasaki Frontale
2007	Kashima Antlers	Urawa Red Diamonds
2008	Kashima Antlers	Kawasaki Frontale
2009	Kashima Antlers	Kawasaki Frontale
2010	Nagoya Grampus	Gamba Osaka
2011	Kashiwa Reysol	Nagoya Grampus
2012	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Vegalta Sendai
2013	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Yokohama F. Marinos
2014	Gamba Osaka	Urawa Red Diamonds
2015	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Gamba Osaka
2016	Kashima Antlers	Urawa Red Diamonds
2017	Kawasaki Frontale	Kashima Antlers
2018	Kawasaki Frontale	Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2019	Yokohama F. Marinos	FC Tokyo
2020	Kawasaki Frontale	Gamba Osaka
2021	Kawasaki Frontale	Yokohama F. Marinos
2022	Yokohama F. Marinos	Kawasaki Frontale
2023	Vissel Kobe	Yokohama F. Marinos

Most successful clubs

Clubs in bold compete in top flight for the 2024 season.

Club	Champions	Runners-up	Winning seasons	Runners-up seasons
Kashima Antlers	8	3	1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2016	1993, 1997, 2017
Yokohama F. Marinos	5	5	1995, 2003, 2004, 2019, 2022	2000, 2002, 2013, 2021, 2023
Kawasaki Frontale	4	4	2017, 2018, 2020, 2021	2006, 2008, 2009, 2022
Júbilo Iwata	3	3	1997, 1999, 2002	1998, 2001, 2003
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	3	2	2012, 2013, 2015	1994, 2018
Gamba Osaka	2	3	2005, 2014	2010, 2015, 2020
Tokyo Verdy	2	1	1993, 1994	1995
Urawa Red Diamonds	1	5	2006	2004, 2005, 2007, 2014, 2016
Nagoya Grampus	1	2	2010	1996, 2011
Kashiwa Reysol	1	0	2011
Vissel Kobe	1	0	2023
Shimizu S-Pulse	0	1		1999
Vegalta Sendai	0	1		2012
FC Tokyo	0	1		2019

Relegation history

Only four clubs have never been relegated from J1. Among those, only two clubs – Kashima Antlers and Yokohama F. Marinos – have participated in every league season since its establishment in 1993. Sagan Tosu were promoted to the first division in 2012, and remain there ever since. The former J.League club Yokohama Flügels never experienced relegation before their merger with Yokohama Marinos in 1999.

JEF United Chiba holds the record for the longest top flight participation streak of 44 consecutive seasons in the first divisions of JSL and J.League that lasted from the establishment of JSL in 1965 and ended with their relegation in 2009. The longest ongoing top flight streak belongs to Yokohama F. Marinos who have played in the top flight since 1982 (43 seasons as of 2023).

The 1998 season

When the league introduced the two-division system in 1999, they also reduced number of Division 1 clubs from 18 to 16. At the end of 1998 season, they ran the J.League Promotion Tournament to determine the two relegated clubs.

Split-season era (1999–2004, 2015–2016)

Throughout 1999 to 2003 seasons, the two bottom clubs were relegated to Division 2. To accommodate the split-season format, combined overall standings were used to determine the relegated clubs. This created a confusing situation, where for the championship race stage standings were used, while overall standing was used for relegation survival.

At end of the 2004 season, Division 1 again expanded from 16 to 18 clubs. No clubs were relegated; however, the last-placed (16th) club had to play the Promotion/Relegation Series against the 3rd placed club from J2. Again, to determine the 16th placed club, the overall standing was used instead of stage standings.

For two seasons starting in 2015, the three bottom clubs were relegated based on overall standings.

Single season era (2005–2014, 2017–2019, 2022–present)

For the next four seasons, 2005 to 2008, the number of relegating clubs was increased to 2.5, with two clubs from each division being promoted and relegated directly, and two more (15th in J1 and 3rd in J2) competing in the Promotion/Relegation Series.

In 2009, the promotion/relegation series was abandoned and three teams were directly exchanged between divisions. In 2012, promotion playoffs were introduced in J2, allowing teams that finished from 3rd to 6th to compete for the last J1 promotion place. For the 2018, 2019 and 2022 seasons, the bottom two teams are relegated and the entry playoff has the 16th team play the J2 playoff winner.

Single season era (2021)

No teams descended to J2 after the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and its effects. Instead, four relegations were in place for the 2021 season to bring back the number of teams from 20 to 18.

Summary

Year	15th place	16th place	17th place	18th place	19th place	20th place
1998	JEF United Ichihara	Consadole Sapporo	Vissel Kobe	Avispa Fukuoka	Only 18 clubs participated
1999	Urawa Red Diamonds	Bellmare Hiratsuka	Only 16 clubs participated
2000	Kyoto Purple Sanga	Kawasaki Frontale
2001	Avispa Fukuoka	Cerezo Osaka
2002	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Consadole Sapporo
2003	Vegalta Sendai	Kyoto Purple Sanga
2004	Cerezo Osaka	Kashiwa Reysol †
2005	Shimizu S-Pulse	Kashiwa Reysol ‡	Tokyo Verdy 1969	Vissel Kobe	Only 18 clubs participated
2006	Ventforet Kofu	Avispa Fukuoka ‡	Cerezo Osaka	Kyoto Purple Sanga
2007	Omiya Ardija	Sanfrecce Hiroshima ‡	Ventforet Kofu	Yokohama FC
2008	JEF United Chiba	Júbilo Iwata †	Tokyo Verdy	Consadole Sapporo
2009	Montedio Yamagata	Kashiwa Reysol	Oita Trinita	JEF United Chiba
2010	Vissel Kobe	FC Tokyo	Kyoto Sanga	Shonan Bellmare
2011	Urawa Red Diamonds	Ventforet Kofu	Avispa Fukuoka	Montedio Yamagata
2012	Albirex Niigata	Vissel Kobe	Gamba Osaka	Consadole Sapporo
2013	Ventforet Kofu	Shonan Bellmare	Júbilo Iwata	Oita Trinita
2014	Shimizu S-Pulse	Omiya Ardija	Cerezo Osaka	Tokushima Vortis
2015	Albirex Niigata	Matsumoto Yamaga	Shimizu S-Pulse	Montedio Yamagata
2016	Albirex Niigata	Nagoya Grampus	Shonan Bellmare	Avispa Fukuoka
2017	Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Ventforet Kofu	Albirex Niigata	Omiya Ardija
2018	Nagoya Grampus	Júbilo Iwata †	Kashiwa Reysol	V-Varen Nagasaki
2019	Sagan Tosu	Shonan Bellmare	Matsumoto Yamaga	Júbilo Iwata
2020	Yokohama FC	Shimizu S-Pulse	Vegalta Sendai	Shonan Bellmare
2021	Kashiwa Reysol	Shonan Bellmare	Tokushima Vortis	Oita Trinita	Vegalta Sendai	Yokohama FC
2022	Gamba Osaka	Kyoto Sanga †	Shimizu S-Pulse	Júbilo Iwata	Only 18 clubs participated
2023	Shonan Bellmare	Gamba Osaka	Kashiwa Reysol	Yokohama FC
2024						Sagan Tosu
2025

* Bold designates relegated clubs;
† Won the Pro/rele Series or entry playoff;
‡ Lost the Pro/rele Series or entry playoff and relegated

Other tournaments

Domestic tournaments

• Fujifilm Super Cup (1994–present)
• The JFA Emperor's Cup (1921–present)
• YBC Levain Cup (1992–present, except 1995)

International tournaments

• FIFA Club World Cup (2007–2008, 2011–2012, 2015–2016)
• AFC Champions League (1969, 1986/87–2002/03, 2004–present)

Defunct tournament

• Suntory Championship (1993–2004, excluding 1996)
• Sanwa Bank Cup (1994–1997)
• JOMO All-Stars Soccer (1993–2007)
• A3 Champions Cup (2003–2007)
• Promotion/Relegation Series (2004–2008)
• Pan-Pacific Championship (2008, 2009)
• J1/J2 play-offs (2018, 2019, 2022)
• J-League Cup/Copa Sudamericana Championship (2008–present)

Players and managers

Main article: J.League awards

Players

• List of foreign J.League players

Managers

• List of J.League managers

Media coverage

Japan

DAZN brought exclusive digital broadcasting rights for the entire J.League matches (including J1 League itself) until 2033. The league was also available to stream on Abema through Abema de DAZN subscription plan.

Linear broadcast for 2024 season was limited to selected matches aired on NHK General TV and NHK BS, in addition to some regional network based on their team regions (such as Tokyo MX, MBS TV, SBS Shizuoka, Saga TV, Sapporo TV, Mētele, TSS, NST, etc.)

Outside Japan

Selected matches are livestreamed globally (excluding the following regions) via J.League International YouTube channel.

Country/region	Broadcaster
Australia	Optus Sport
Austria	Sportdigital
Germany
Switzerland
China	K-Ball Regional broadcaster (FTA & pay) Tianjin TV Streaming Penguin Sports
Hong Kong	TVB
Indian subcontinent	Fancode
Indonesia	PSJTV
Macau	TDM
Nigeria	Sporty TV
Thailand	Siam Sport (via AIS Play), BG Sports (via YouTube), and PPTV (terrestrial only)

Sponsorship

Title Partner

• Meiji Yasuda Life

Official Broadcasting Partner

• DAZN

Top Partners

• AiDEM
• Route-Inn Hotels
• ÆON
• NTT docomo
• KONAMI
• Ichigo

League Cup Partner

• Yamazaki Biscuit

Super Cup Partner

• Fujifilm Business Innovation

Equipment Partner

• Adidas

Sports Promotion Partner

• Japan Sports Council

Ticketing Partner

• PIA Corporation

EC Platform Partner

• Rakuten

Technology Partner

• NTT Group

Supporting Companies

• The Asahi Shimbun
• Sportsnavi
• Deloitte
• Data Stadium
• IMAGICA GROUP
• LINE LY Corp
• Suntory Wellness
• Nikon
• TikTok
• Kearney

See also

• List of Japanese football champions
• Japanese association football league system
• J.League records and statistics
• Nadeshiko League

External links

• Official website (in English)
• Official YouTube Channel (in Japanese)
• RSSSF.com - Japan - List of Champions