A national third tier of Japanese league
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
was first established in 1992, as the second division of
former Japan Football League, though it only lasted for two seasons. In 1999, following the establishment of J.League Division 2, a new
Japan Football League
The also known as simply the JFL is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath the three divisions of the J.League. The league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership am ...
was created, fulfilling the third tier until a fully professional
J3 League
or simply J3 is the third division of . It was established in 2013 as the third-tier professional association football league in Japan.
The third-tier nationwide league is a relatively recent development in Japanese football with a first attempt ...
was launched in 2014.
(former) Japan Football League Division 2 (1992–1993)
The old Japan Football League was established simultaneously with creation of
J.League and was initially a two-level tournament but that lasted only for two inaugural seasons.
Japan Football League (JFL) (1999–2013)
With the establishment of
J.League Division 2
The or simply J2 is the second division of the and the second level of the Japanese association football league system. The top tier is represented by the J1 League. It (along with the rest of the J.League) is currently sponsored by Meiji Y ...
, the new Japan Football League was automatically moved a tier down the pyramid comparing to its discontinued namesake.
†Not promoted to J2
For additional promoted teams, the number in parentheses indicates their position after the end of the season.
J3 League (2014–present)
In 2014, J. League launched a fully professional third division.
† Not promoted to J2.
‡ Not promoted to J2 due to a loss in the play-off series.
Total wins
Clubs in bold compete in J3 as of
2023 season. Clubs in ''italic'' no longer exist.
Years in ''italic'' indicate seasons of amateur football (former and new Japan Football League).
See also
*
Japan Football League (1992–98)
The also known as simply the JFL is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath the three divisions of the J.League. The league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership am ...
*
Japan Football League
The also known as simply the JFL is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath the three divisions of the J.League. The league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership am ...
*
J3 League
or simply J3 is the third division of . It was established in 2013 as the third-tier professional association football league in Japan.
The third-tier nationwide league is a relatively recent development in Japanese football with a first attempt ...
*
List of Japanese football champions
The Japanese football champions are the winners of the top league in Japan, the Japan Soccer League from 1965 to 1992 and the J1 League since then.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Tokyo Verdy are the only teams that have won the title four times in a row ...
*
List of winners of J2 League and predecessors
A national second tier of Japanese league football was first established in 1972, as the Japan Soccer League Second Division. In 1992, with the breakup of the JSL and restructuring of the top flight into the J.League, the (former) Japan Footb ...
Sources
Contents of Domestic Competition of Football in Japan
{{Japanese Club Football, group=third
Winners
Winners Merchants International L.P is a chain of off-price Canada, Canadian department stores owned by TJX Companies.
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Japan Football League (1992–1998)
Japan
Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...
Winners
Winners Merchants International L.P is a chain of off-price Canada, Canadian department stores owned by TJX Companies.
It offers brand name clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, fine jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. Products are at a ...