J.League News - Japanese Football
Japan's J.League is the top division of Japanese soccer. The J.League began in 1993 and presently consists of two leagues - J1 and J2 - with 18 teams in J-1 and 19 teams in J-2.
The bottom 2 teams from J1 are relegated to J2 with the top two J2 gaining automatic promotion to J1. The third placed J2 team contests a two-legged play off with the third from bottom J1 team to decide the final spot.
Japanese teams also compete in the Asian Champions League against other teams from such countries as Australia, South Korea, Saudia Arabia and China.
Keep up with all the soccer news from Japan as well as the Japanese national team, Japanese players overseas in the Premiership and Bundesliga and the Asian Cup.
Latest Japanese Soccer News
November 22, 2025
Emperor's Cup 2025
November 10, 2025
Machida Zelvia beat last year's winners Vissel Kobe 3-1 at the National Stadium in Tokyo to claim their first major silverware.
K's denki Stadium Mito
K's denki Stadium Mito - where Mito Hollyhock call home.
September 16, 2025
Nack5 Stadium
Nack5 Stadium home to RB Omiya Ardija.
July 15th, 2025
East Asian Cup
Japan won the EAFF East Asian Cup beating South Korea 0-1 at the Yongin Mireu Stadium.
June 29th, 2025
Nihondaira Stadium Guide
Nihondaira Stadium - home of Shimizu S-Pulse.
Yamaha Stadium Guide
Yamaha Stadium - home to Jubilo Iwata.
Fukuda Denshi Arena
Fukuda Denshi Arena - home to JEF United.
Best Denki Stadium
Hakata-no-mori Stadium (Best Denki Stadium) is the 21,000 capacity home of Avispa Fukuoka.
Fujieda Soccer Stadium
Fujieda Soccer Stadium - home to Fujieda MYFC.
Ashitaka Park Stadium
Ashitaka Park Stadium - a prefectural stadium in Shizuoka and home to Azul Claro Numazu.
February 24th, 2025
Peace Stadium Connected by SoftBank
Peace Stadium Nagasaki - new home ground of V-Varen Nagasaki.
Oita Stadium
Oita Stadium was a venue for both the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
November 18th, 2024
Nissan Stadium
Nissan Stadium - home ground of Yokohama F. Marinos and venue of 2002 World Cup final.
October 20th, 2024
Hiratsuka Stadium
Hiratsuka Stadium - home ground of Shonan Bellmare.
July 11th, 2024
Kashiwa Stadium
Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium - home ground of Kashiwa Reysol, J1 champions in 2011.
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima - is the new centrally-located home stadium of Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
Japan National Stadium
Japan National Stadium - venue for international fixtures, the final of the Emperor's Cup and occasional J.League fixtures.
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu - home ground of Giravanz Kitakyushu.
Kanseki Stadium Tochigi
Kanseki Stadium Tochigi - home stadium of Tochigi SC in Utsunomiya.
Nagai Stadium
Nagai Stadium Osaka - sometime home stadium of Cerezo Osaka and World Cup 2002 venue.
Yodoko Sakura Stadium
Yodoko Sakura Stadium - usual home stadium of Cerezo Osaka adjacent to the larger Nagai Stadium.
July 7th, 2024
Machida GION Stadium
Machida GION Stadium - home ground of FC Machida Zelvia in western Tokyo.
April 26th, 2024
Noevir Stadium Kobe
Noevir Stadium Kobe - home ground of 2023 J.League champions Vissel Kobe.
April 22th, 2024
Between The Lines Book Review
Read a book review of Between The Lines: Navigating The World Of Japanese Football by Japan-based journalist Sean Carroll.
February 22nd, 2024
Japan v Iran Asian Cup 2023
Pre-tournament favorites Japan lost in the quaterfinals to Iran. We look at what went wrong for the Samurai Blue.
February 11th, 2024
Hajime Moriyasu
Hajime Moriyasu Underwhelms as Samurai Blue Coach at Asian Cup 2023 - Moriyasu was once a hard-nosed defensive midfielder who started his professional career at Sanfrecce's precursor company team, Mazda.
Sapporo Dome
Sapporo Dome - home ground of Consadole.
January 21, 2024
Urawa Reds
Saitama Stadium - home of Urawa Reds and the largest soccer-specific stadium in Japan.
FC Gifu
Nagaragawa Stadium Gifu - home ground of FC Gifu.
January 20, 2024
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium - home ground of Sanfrecce Hiroshima until they move to a new stadium in 2024.
January 19, 2024
Kamatamare Sanuki
Pikara Stadium - home ground of Kamatamare Sanuki.
September 23, 2023
Vissel Kobe
Vissel Kobe's Best Foreign Imports Ranked - Andrés Iniesta to Juan Mata via David Villa, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Vermaelen.
September 18, 2023
Bafetimbi Gomis
Well-traveled striker Bafetimbi Gomis joins Kawasaki Frontale from Turkish giants Galatasaray.
May 20, 2023
Toyota Stadium
The impressive Toyota Stadium - home of Nagoya Grampus, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture.
December 21, 2021
Mizuho Stadium
Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, central Japan is a home ground of J.League club Nagoya Grampus along with the newer and larger Toyota Stadium. It is the venue for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya.
December 17, 2022
Qatar 2022
Japan at World Cup Qatar 2022 - Japan vowed to reach new heights in Qatar 2022 by winning a first-round World Cup knockout match for the first time in their history, avenging the ghosts of 2002, 2010, and 2018.
September 28, 2021
Tosu Stadium
Tosu Stadium - home of Sagan Tosu in Tosu, Saga Prefecture, Kyushu.
May 14, 2021
Kyoto's Sanga Stadium
Sanga Stadium in Kameoka, 20 km outside Kyoto, is one of the best, small stadiums in Japan.
December 21, 2017
2018 World Cup
In 2017 Japan qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia and Urawa Reds were ACL champions. So overall a good year for the Japanese national team and Japanese clubs internationally.
December 6, 2017
Kawasaki Frontale J.League 2017 Champions
Kawasaki Frontale edged Kashima Antlers to win their first ever J.League title.
October 20, 2017
J.League Relegation and Promotion Battle
The J.League relegation and promotion battle sees almost a full league of teams split across the two divisions scrapping to confirm which tier they will be competing in next year.
July 18, 2017
Cerezo Osaka Lead The Pack
Cerezo Osaka lead the J.League just past the halfway mark ahead of Kashima Antlers and Kawasaki Frontale.
December 5, 2016
Kashima Antlers J.League Champions 2016
Kashima Antlers were rather bashfully crowned J.League Champions 2016 after beating Urawa Reds in the J.League Championship despite Urawa leading the Antlers by 15 points at the end of the season.
September 14, 2016
J.1 To Return To Single Championship From 2017
Following a US$1.98 billion investment from Perform Group J.1 will return to a straight through, top-at-the-end-is-champion format from 2017.
June 14, 2016
Three Horse Race For First Stage
It's a three horse race for the J.League First Stage with Kawasaki Frontale, Kashima Antlers and Urawa Reds all in contention.
December 23, 2015
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Finish Third In Club World Cup
J. League champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat ACL champions Guangzhou Evergrande in the third-place play-off of the Club World Cup.
December 9, 2015
Sanfrecce Hiroshima J1 Champions
Sanfrecce Hiroshima win the 2015 J1 title beating Gamba Osaka 2-1 in the final play off game.
November 11, 2015
J2 Promotion Race
The J2 promotion race has only two games to go, but no club has made sure of promotion to J1 for 2016.
September 30, 2015
J.League Play Offs
The J.League Play Offs are fast approaching as the league returns to a two-stage system.
September 7, 2015
Nagoya Grampus v Gamba Osaka Nabisco Cup
Nagoya Grampus hosted Gamba Osaka in a Nabisco Cup Quarter Final Second Leg yesterday in the teeming rain at Paloma Mizuho Stadium. The teams had fought out a 1-1 draw in Osaka so all was to play for in the return fixture, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.
December 12, 2014
Gamba Osaka Crowned J.League Champions
Gamba Osaka are crowned J.League champions as Urawa Reds buckle under the pressure.
November 14, 2014
J.League Heads To Another Close Finish
Urawa Reds lead Gamba Osaka in another close finish to a J.League season.
July 18, 2014
J.League Resumes After World Cup Recess
The 2014 J.League seasons restarts after the break for the World Cup in Brazil.
June 3, 2014
Japan World Cup 2014 Team Profile
We look at the Blue Samurai squad for Brazil, its strengths and weaknesses and likely progress at the tournament.
May 8, 2014
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Tosu top the J.League, Diego Forlan draws the crowds as the "Japanese Only" scandal rocks Urawa Reds and Gamba Osaka struggle.
April 3, 2014
Is the J.League Too Big?
Is there a case to making the J.League smaller?
30 January, 2014
Talent Line
The J.League continues to churn out young talented players.
3 December, 2013
J.League To Be Decided On Final Weekend
The 2013 J.League season heads to its climax with Yokohama and Sanfrecce hoping to clinch the title on the final weekend.
23 November, 2013
J.League Heads To Close Finish As Maeda Curse Broken
The 2013 J.League season heads for a close finish between Yokohama and Urawa as the Maeda Curse is finally broken and Jubilo go down.
12 September, 2013
Omiya Ardija
Ardija slump after a promising start to their J.League season.
10 May, 2013
What Makes A Top League?
Since 2005, when the J.League went to a single season format, there have been six different J1 winners in eight seasons.
28 March, 2013
Yokohama F Marinos & the Maeda Curse
Can Yokohama achieve their goal of reaching the ACL this season and news on the incredible "Maeda Curse."
12 November, 2012
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Hisato Sato stars as Sanfrecce Hiroshima take control of J.League title race.
30 September, 2012
Gamba Osaka
It's make or break time for Gamba Osaka who are close to the drop.
August 30, 2012
Sanfrecce & Vegalta Lead The Way
Hiroshima Sanfrecce and Vegalta Sendai head J-1 through the long, hot summer.
August 3, 2012
Summer football heats up in Japan
The first week of August means sweltering temperatures in Japan and the action in the J. League is also hotting up. Sanfrecce Hiroshima are the current league leaders just after the halfway point of the campaign, but second-placed Vegalta Sendai are hot on their heels.
May 21, 2012
Vegalta Sendai Early Leaders
Surprise early leaders of the J.League are Vegalta Sendai.
March 30, 2012
J.League 2012 Season Preview
There's a new era beginning in Japanese football as Reysol begin the defence of their first title.
February, 2, 2012
FC Tokyo aiming to step on the gas
What does a club do when it has just won the second division at a canter and has been crowned national Cup champions for the first time in its history? Sign a new coach, if that club is FC Tokyo.
December 3, 2011
Kashiwa Reysol Win J.League
Kashiwa Reysol won the J.League for the first time in their history.
October 28, 2011
Three-way race for the J. League title
And then there were three. Two familiar contenders, one plucky outsider and four league games are all that stand between Kashiwa Reysol, Gamba Osaka, Nagoya Grampus and the J. League title.
4 September, 2011
Japan National Team Road to Brazil 2014
The Japan national team takes its first steps on the road to Brazil 2014.
August 10, 2011
Kashima Antlers
Kashima Antlers, once Japan's best club are going through a generational change.
August 1, 2011
Yokohama F. Marinos lead the way in the J. League
Umbrella sellers are no doubt doing a brisk trade in Yokohama as Kanagawa giants Yokohama F. Marinos lead the way in the J. League standings.
June 20, 2011
Avispa Fukuoka
Are Avispa Fukuoka the worst team in J.League history?
May 7, 2011
Urawa Reds the big losers in Golden Week gala
It's tough being Urawa Reds. The "biggest club in Asia" tag is a difficult one to live down, even if the Saitama giants haven't come close to winning a trophy for years.
April 25, 2011
J. League Resumes
The J. League season resumed after the tragic earthquake on March 11.
April 9, 2011
Nabisco Cup 2011
Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan on March 11, the J-League has rearranged the schedule for the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup.
March 7, 2011
J. League 2011 Kicks Off
The 2011 J. League season could be the most exciting yet.
December 5, 2010
Vissell Stay Up; FC Tokyo Go Down
Ecstasy for Vissell Kobe; agony for FC Tokyo.
November 9, 2010
Nagoya Grampus
Nagoya can't choke now, can they?
September 30, 2010
Eddy Bosnar
Eddy Bosnar: big in Japan!
September 5, 2010
Zac Japan
Alberto Zaccheroni is to be the new national coach of Japan.
July 25, 2010
Nagoya v Shimizu
S-Pulse and Grampus play out a thrilling 3-3 draw with an Aussie flavour.
June 22, 2010
Defensive Japan
Japan remain unrepentant over their defensive tactics at World Cup 2010.
June 15, 2010
Honda In Cruise Control
Honda in cruise control as they begin with a 1-0 win over Cameroon.
June 8, 2010
Japan in Crisis?
Japan failed to defeat Zimbabwe in a hastily arranged World Cup warm-up match.
May 28, 2010
Japan v South Korea
Japan lose 0-2 to South Korea in another disappointing defeat.
May 6, 2010
Shimizu On Top
Could Shimizu S-Pulse be heading for their first J.League title?
April 27, 2010
Japan To Play in Copa America
The Japan national team is planning to take part in this year's Copa America.
March 5, 2010
J. League 2010 Gets Underway
The J. League 2010 season kicks off this weekend
February 17, 2010
Okada Woes
Things get worse for Okada as Japan crash 3-1 to rivals South Korea.
February 10, 2010
Okada Under Mounting Pressure
Takeshi Okada - Japan coach Takeshi Okada is under mounting pressure as poor results continue.
J.League 2002-2010 seasons - J.League archive from 2002-2010 including the 2002 World Cup.
More Japanese Soccer News - all the latest from Japan's J.League
Monthly News
Catch up with monthly J.League news from 2003 until 2010 - national teams, World Cup plus J1, J2 and J3 reports.
2003
Yuichiro Nagai came off the bench to score a fluke goal in extra time to give Zico his first victory in his brief tenure as head coach of the Samarai Blue.
Jubilo sits at the top of the J1 table with 21 points in 10 matches.
Japan lose 1-4 to Argentina in a friendly at Osaka's Nagai Stadium; Kyoto Purple Sanga's Gert Engels catches J.League watchers by surprise.
By defeating Mexico 2-0 in a mid-July playoff, the Japan women's team has qualified for the World Cup to be held in the United States this fall. Homare Sawa, who plays for the Atlanta Heat in the US Women's League, opened the scoring from close range.
Japan opened its Women's World Cup campaign on September 20th with a 6-0 thrashing of Argentina.
The Japan men's national team was on the road in the middle of October to play in two friendlies. Against Tunisia, Sampdoria's Atsushi Yanagisawa scored the lone goal of the match to give Coach Zico a much-needed victory.
Yokohama win second stage title. Kyoto Purple Sanga relegated.
2004
In late December 2003, the J.League's executive committee announced that it had ratified plans that would abolish the two-stage format beginning in the 2005 season.
J.League Chairman Masaru Suzuki announced in late January that the 2004 opening day will feature 2003 Nabisco Cup winners Urawa Reds against defending champions Yokohama Marinos.
In a June 1, 2004 friendly match at the City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester (Etihad Stadium), England and Japan drew 1-1, with Michael Owen scoring for England and Shinji Ono equalizing for Japan.
The Japanese women's thrashed Canada in a final warmup before the Athens Olympiad.
In a must-win match against Oman, Japan held on for a 1-0 victory in Muscat.
In spite of a loss to Nagoya Grampus on November 20th, Urawa Reds clinched the J.League's Second Stage title when second place Gamba Osaka lost to First Stage winner Yokohama Marinos.
Japan captain and Fiorentina midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata played but eight minutes in a 1-0 victory in a Serie A league match against Bologna.
More Japanese Soccer News - all the latest from Japan's J-League
Buy tickets for soccer matches around the world