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Japan Football League
	; ;
Founded	; 1999; 19 years ago (1999);
Country	; Japan
Confederation	; AFC (Asia)
Number of teams	; 16;
Level on pyramid	; 3 (1999–2013); 4 (since 2014)
; Promotion to	; J3 League;
; Relegation to	; Japanese Regional Leagues;
Domestic cup(s)	; Emperor's Cup;
Current champions	; Honda FC ; (2017)
Most championships	; Honda FC; (7 titles)
Website	; http://www.jfl.or.jp/;
	; 2018 Japan Football League;

For the league before 1998 (Japan Futtobōru Rīgu (ジャパンフットボールリーグ), referred to in this page as "the former JFL"), see Japan Football League (1992–98).

The Japan Football League, (日本フットボールリーグ, Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu) also known as simply the JFL is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath three divisions of the J.League, and the top tier of amateur football in the country. Despite its officially amateur status the league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership among its ranks.

History

The Japan Football League started from the 1999 season when the second division of J.League (J2) was also born. Until then, J.League consisted of only one division and the former JFL was the second highest division. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams as well as Yokogawa Electric, the winners of the Regional League Promotion Series, formed the new Japan Football League. These 8 teams together with Yokohama FC that was allowed to participate as a special case after the merger of Yokohama Flügels and Yokohama F. Marinos competed in the inaugural 1999 season.

The 9 teams that competed in the first season were as follows: Denso SC, Honda Motors, Jatco SC, Kokushikan University F.C., Mito HollyHock, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Sony Sendai, Yokohama FC and Yokogawa Electric.

In the second season the number of clubs was increased from 9 to 12, reaching 16 in 2001. In 2002 it was briefly 18 clubs before going back to 16 the next season and settling for good at 18 in 2006. For the 2012 season it had 17 clubs due to the late withdrawal of Arte Takasaki.

The league suffered another contraction after 2013 season, as 10 of its 18 teams joined the newly created J3 League. It also moved a tier down the pyramid, making it fourth-tier league since 2014.

Three former JFL clubs have competed in the top flight: Yokohama FC (2007), Otsuka Pharmaceuticals (2014, as Tokushima Vortis), and Matsumoto Yamaga (2015).

Overview

JFL clubs may be affiliated to companies, or be entirely autonomous clubs or reserve teams of these. Until 2010, university clubs (which as a rule do not play in the Japanese football league system) were recommended by the Japan University Football Association and played off against bottom JFL teams for entrance. B-teams are allowed to participate but only A-squads of truly autonomous clubs are eligible for J.League Associate Membership, and with it, promotion to J.League.

Promotion from JFL

A club that satisfies the following criteria will be promoted to J.League Div. 2 (for the 2012 and 2013 seasons):

Have J.League Associate Membership

Finish the season in the top two in JFL
- If only the champion is an Associate Member, it will be automatically promoted.
- If both the champion and runner-up are Associate Members, the champion will be automatically promoted and the runner-up will play a Promotion/Relegation Series against the second-to-last club in the J2.
- If only the runner-up is an Associate Member, it will play the Promotion/Relegation Series against the last club in the J2.

Pass the final inspection by the J.League Committee

With the establishment of the J3 League in the 2014 season, the top 2 requirements are no longer necessary should a team that is approved by J.League Committee and is a J.League Associate Member. However, they'll start in the J3 instead. The JFL will be the highest tier of amateur level football in Japan again, but they still serve the purpose of helping potential J.League clubs to participate in the J3.

Relegation from JFL

Up to two teams at the bottom of the league may face a direct relegation or relegation/promotion play-off against the teams finishing at the top of the Regional League promotion competition. The number of the teams who need to compete in the play-off varies depending on the number of the teams that are promoted to J3 or withdrawn from the JFL.

Emperor's Cup eligibility

Until 2008, only the club at the top of the standings at half-season (17 matches completed) was qualified for the Emperor's Cup, entering it at the third round along with the clubs in J2, but the allotment was widened to the top three clubs in 2010 due to the expansion of J2. Every other club must qualify through a qualifying cup in their own prefecture and then must enter at the first round.
Since 2015, the winner of the apertura (first half) qualifies again.

2017 season

Competition format

The league follows the Apertura and Clausura system, with two winners of each stage contesting the championship in the playoff.

Participating clubs

Club Name	First Season in JFL	Seasons in JFL	Home Town(s)	Current Spell in JFL	Last title	Qualifiable base for J.League
Cobaltore Onagawa	2018	1	Onagawa, Miyagi	2018–	–	No
Honda FC	1999	20	Hamamatsu, Shizuoka	1999–	2016	No
FC Imabari	2017	2	Imabari, Ehime	2017–	–	Yes
Honda Lock	2005	12	Miyazaki, Miyazaki	2009–	–	No
Maruyasu Okazaki	2014	5	Okazaki, Aichi	2014–	–	No
MIO Biwako Shiga	2008	11	Kusatsu, Shiga	2008–	–	Yes
Nara Club	2015	4	Nara, Nara	2015–	–	Yes
FC Osaka	2015	4	All cities/towns in Osaka	2015–	–	Yes
ReinMeer Aomori	2016	3	Aomori, Aomori	2016–	–	Yes
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons	2015	4	Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki	2015–	–	No
Sony Sendai	1999	20	Miyagi Prefecture	1999–	2015	No
Tegevajaro Miyazaki	2018	1	Miyazaki, Miyazaki	2018–	–	No
Tokyo Musashino City	1999	20	Musashino, Tokyo	1999–	–	Yes
Vanraure Hachinohe	2014	5	Hachinohe, Aomori	2014–	–	Yes
Veertien Mie	2017	2	All cities/towns in Mie	2017–	–	No
Verspah Oita	2012	7	Ōita, Ōita	2012–	–	No

Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted from Japanese Regional Leagues through the Regional League promotion tournament.

"Qualifiable base for J.League" indicates the club has the basic prerequisites for 100 Year Plan status. Clubs who actually hold the status are denoted in bold.

Former clubs

Club Name	First Season in JFL	Seasons in JFL	Home Town(s)	Last Spell in JFL	Last JFL title	Current League
ALO's Hokuriku	2000	8	Toyama, Toyama	2000–2007	–	Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama
Arte Takasaki	2004	8	Takasaki, Gunma	2004–2011	–	Defunct
Azul Claro Numazu	2014	3	Numazu, Shizuoka	2014–2016	–	J3
Kyoto BAMB 1993	2000	4	Kyoto, Kyoto	2000–2004	–	Kansai League D1
Blaublitz Akita	2007	7	All cities/towns in Akita	2007–2013	–	J3
Briobecca Urayasu	2016	2	Urayasu, Chiba	2016-2017	–	Kantō League D1
Ehime FC	2001	5	All cities/towns in Ehime	2001–2005	2005	J2
Fagiano Okayama	2008	1	All cities/towns in Okayama	2008	–	J2
Fagiano Okayama Next	2014	3	Okayama, Okayama	2014–2016	–	Defunct
Fukushima United	2013	1	Fukushima, Fukushima	2013	–	J3
Gainare Tottori	2001	10	All cities/towns in Tottori	2001–2010	2010	J3
FC Gifu	2007	1	All cities/towns in Gifu	2007	–	J2
Mito HollyHock	1999	1	Mito, Ibaraki	1999	–	J2
Jatco SC	1999	5	Numazu, Shizuoka	1999–2003	–	Defunct
JEF Reserves	2006	6	Ichihara, Chiba	2006–2011	–	Defunct
Kagoshima United	2014	2	Kagoshima, Kagoshima	2014–2015	–	J3
Kamatamare Sanuki	2011	3	All cities/towns in Kagawa	2011–2013	–	J2
FC Kariya	1999	11	Kariya, Aichi	1999–2009	–	Tōkai League D1
Kataller Toyama	2008	1	All cities/towns in Toyama	2008	–	J3
Kokushikan University	1999	6	Machida, Tokyo	1999–2003	–	Kantō University League
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima	2005	5	Kurashiki, Okayama	2005–2009	–	Chugoku League
Fujieda MYFC	2012	2	Fujieda, Shizuoka	2012–2013	–	J3
New Wave Kitakyushu	2008	2	Kitakyushu, Fukuoka	2008–2009	–	J3
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals	1999	6	All cities/towns in Tokushima	1999–2004	2004	J2
Nagano Parceiro	2011	3	Nagano, Nagano	2011–2013	2013	J3
Profesor Miyazaki	2002	1	All cities/towns in Miyazaki	2002	–	Defunct
Rosso Kumamoto	2001	4	Kumamoto, Kumamoto	2006–2007	–	J2
Renofa Yamaguchi	2014	1	Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi	2014	–	J2
FC Ryukyu	2006	8	All cities/towns in Okinawa	2006–2013	–	J3
Ryutsu Keizai University	2005	6	Ryugasaki, Ibaraki	2005–2010	–	Kantō League D1
SC Sagamihara	2013	1	Sagamihara, Kanagawa	2013	–	J3
Sagawa Express Osaka	2002	5	Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka	2002–2006	–	Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga
Sagawa Express Tokyo	2001	6	Kōtō, Tokyo	2001–2006	–	Defunct, merged into Sagawa Shiga
Sagawa Shiga	2007	6	Moriyama, Shiga	2007–2012	2011	Defunct
Shizuoka Sangyo University	2000	3	Iwata, Shizuoka	2000–2002	–	Tōkai University League
SP Kyoto FC	2003	13	Uji, Kyoto	2003–2015	–	Defunct
Thespa Kusatsu	2004	1	All cities/towns in Gunma	2004	–	J2
Tochigi SC	2000	9	Utsunomiya, Tochigi	2000–2008	–	J3
Tochigi Uva FC	2010	8	Tochigi, Tochigi	2010-2017	–	Kantō League D1
V-Varen Nagasaki	2009	4	All cities/towns in Nagasaki	2009–2012	2012	J2
Matsumoto Yamaga	2010	2	Matsumoto, Nagano	2010–2011	–	J2
YKK AP	2001	7	Kurobe, Toyama	2001–2007	–	Defunct, merged into Kataller Toyama
Yokohama FC	1999	2	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1999–2000	2000	J2
YSCC Yokohama	2012	2	Yokohama, Kanagawa	2012–2013	–	J3
Machida Zelvia	2009	4	Machida, Tokyo	2013	–	J2
Zweigen Kanazawa	2010	4	Kanazawa, Ishikawa	2010–2013	–	J2

Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted to J3 League.

Championship, promotion and relegation history

Most successful clubs

Clubs in bold compete in JFL as of 2017 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Winning seasons	Runners-up seasons
Honda FC	6	4	2001, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2014, 2016	1999, 2000, 2003, 2004
Sagawa Shiga	3	1	2007, 2009, 2011	2010
Otsuka Pharmaceuticals	2	1	2003, 2004	2001
Yokohama FC	2	0	1999, 2000
Nagano Parceiro	1	2	2013	2011, 2012
Ehime FC	1	0	2005
Gainare Tottori	1	0	2010
V-Varen Nagasaki	1	0	2012
Sony Sendai	1	0	2015
Sagawa Express Tokyo	0	2		2002, 2006
YKK AP	0	1		2005
Rosso Kumamoto	0	1		2007
Tochigi SC	0	1		2008
Tokyo Musashino City	0	1		2009
Kamatamare Sanuki	0	1		2013
SP Kyoto FC	0	1		2014
Vanraure Hachinohe	0	1		2015
Ryutsu Keizai Dragons	0	1		2016

Third-tier league: 1999–2013

Season	Champions	Runners-up	Promoted to J2 after the season	Promoted from Regional Leagues before the season	Relegated to Regional Leagues after the season
1999	Yokohama F.C.	Honda F.C.	Mito HollyHock	Yokogawa Denki	None
2000	Yokohama F.C.	Honda F.C.	Yokohama FC	Tochigi S.C. Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C. Alo's Hokuriku F.C. Kyoken	None
2001	Honda F.C.	Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.	None	Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. YKK AP F.C. S.C. Tottori Ehime F.C. NTT West Japan-Kumamoto	None
2002	Honda F.C.	Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.	None	Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. Profesor Miyazaki	Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C. Alouette Kumamoto Profesor Miyazaki
2003	Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.	Honda F.C.	None	Sagawa Printing S.C.	Jatco F.C. (disbanded) F.C. Kyoto BAMB 1993 (F.C. Kyoken)
2004	Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.	Honda F.C.	Otsuka (Tokushima Vortis) Kusatsu	Thespa Kusatsu Gunma Horikoshi	Kokushikan University F.C. (forced to withdraw due to scandal)
2005	Ehime F.C.	YKK AP F.C.	Ehime	Ryutsu Keizai University F.C. Mitsubishi Mizushima F.C. Honda Lock S.C.	None
2006	Honda F.C.	Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.	None	JEF United Ichihara Chiba B Rosso Kumamoto F.C. Ryukyu	Honda Lock S.C. (Sagawa Express Tokyo and Osaka clubs merge to form a single club)
2007	Sagawa Express S.C.	Rosso Kumamoto	Kumamoto Gifu	TDK S.C. F.C. Gifu	(Alo's Hokuriku and YKK AP merge to form Kataller Toyama)
2008	Honda FC	Tochigi SC	Tochigi SC Fagiano Okayama Kataller Toyama	Fagiano Okayama New Wave Kitakyushu MIO Biwako Shiga	None
2009	Sagawa Shiga	Yokogawa Musashino	New Wave Kitakyushu	Machida Zelvia V-Varen Nagasaki Honda Lock	Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima (voluntary withdrawal) FC Kariya
2010	Gainare Tottori	Sagawa Shiga	Tottori	Matsumoto Yamaga Hitachi Tochigi Uva Zweigen Kanazawa	Ryutsu Keizai University
2011	Sagawa Shiga	Nagano Parceiro	Machida Matsumoto	Kamatamare Sanuki Nagano Parceiro	JEF Reserves (disbanded) Arte Takasaki (disbanded)
2012	V-Varen Nagasaki	Nagano Parceiro	Nagasaki	YSCC Yokohama Fujieda MYFC Hoyo AC Elan Oita	Sagawa Shiga (disbanded)
2013	Nagano Parceiro	Kamatamare Sanuki	Sanuki	SC Sagamihara Fukushima United	None
2013	Nagano Parceiro	Kamatamare Sanuki	*The following teams were admitted to the new J3 League: Nagano Parceiro, SC Sagamihara, Machida Zelvia, Zweigen Kanazawa, Blaublitz Akita, FC Ryukyu, YSCC Yokohama, Fujieda MYFC and Fukushima United.

Fourth-tier League: 2014–

Beginning in 2014 the Japan Football League switched to the Apertura and Clausura format to determine the champions.

Season	Champions	Runners-up	Promoted to J3 after the season	Promoted from Regional Leagues before the season	Relegated to Regional Leagues after the season
2014	Honda FC (A)	SP Kyoto FC (C)	Renofa Yamaguchi	Fagiano Okayama Next Kagoshima United Vanraure Hachinohe Azul Claro Numazu Maruyasu Industries SC Renofa Yamaguchi	None
2015	Sony Sendai (C)	Vanraure Hachinohe (A)	Kagoshima United	Nara Club FC Osaka Ryutsu Keizai Dragons	SP Kyoto FC (withdrew)
2016	Honda FC (C)	Ryutsu Keizai Dragons (A)	Azul Claro Numazu	ReinMeer Aomori Briobecca Urayasu	Fagiano Okayama Next (withdrew)
2017	Honda FC (1)	ReinMeer Aomori (2)	None	FC Imabari Veertien Mie	Briobecca Urayasu Tochigi Uva
2018	Honda FC (1)			Cobaltore Onagawa Tegevajaro Miyazaki

A = Apertura champion, C = Clausura champion, 1 = Won both stages, 2 = Earned the second most points total in the overall table if 1 applies.

External links

Official Site (in Japanese)

Japan Football League on Facebook

JFLOffice(in Japanese) on Twitter

JFLChanne(in Japanese)l

Unofficial news site (in Japanese)

2010 season(in French/English)

Sporting positions
Preceded by Japan Football League Division 2	Third tier of Japanese football 1999-2013	Succeeded by J3 League

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