The 2014
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 ...
season was the 43rd season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 16th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season commenced on 2 March and ended on 23 November. Post-season promotion and relegation playoffs will be played until 7 December.
Clubs
Gamba Osaka
is a Japanese professional football club based in Suita, Osaka Prefecture. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. The club's name ''Gamba'' comes from the Japanese , meaning "to do your best" or "to s ...
and
Vissel Kobe
is a Japanese professional football club based in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture. The club plays in the J1 League, which is the top tier of football in the country. The team's home stadium is Noevir Stadium Kobe, in Hyōgo-ku, though some home matc ...
have stayed in the second division for just a year, winning a promotion as champions and runners-up respectively. Fourth-placed
Tokushima Vortis
is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J2 League. The team is located in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture. Their home stadium is Naruto Otsuka Sports Park Pocari Sweat Stadium, in Naruto, Tokushima.
The name, "Vorti ...
won the promotion playoffs and become the very first Shikoku club to play in the top flight since the establishment of Japan Soccer League, the first amateur nationwide football league in Japan. Shonan Bellmare and Oita Trinita were relegated from the first division immediately after promotion, and Júbilo Iwata have suffered their debut relegation after 20 years in the first division.
On the other end of the table, Kamatamare Sanuki have been promoted from 2013 Japan Football League, replacing Gainare Tottori whom they defeated in the J2–JFL playoffs.
On 29 September the J.League licensing board issued J1 licenses to all J2 clubs except Mito HollyHock, FC Gifu, and Giravanz Kitakyushu.
This means these three clubs are not eligible to play in J1 for 2015 season and therefore cannot be promoted directly or via playoffs.
The participating clubs are listed in the following table:
Foreign players
League table
Results
Play-offs
Promotion Playoffs to Division 1
2014 J.League Road To J1 Play-Offs (2014 J1昇格プレーオフ)
Because Giravanz Kitakyushu did not obtain J1 license for 2015 season, they were ineligible to participate in the playoffs. Thus, JEF United Chiba who finished third in the season received a bye into the final.
Semifinal
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Final
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Montedio Yamagata was promoted to J1 League.
J3 Relegation Playoffs
2014 J2/J3 Play-Offs (2014 J2・J3入れ替え戦)
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Kamatamare Sanuki remains in J2 League.
Nagano Parceiro remains in J3 League.
Top scorers
Updated to games played on 23 November 2014
Source
J. League data
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Attendances
References
{{Japanese Club Football, group=second
J2 League seasons
2014 in Japanese football leagues, 2
2013–14 in Asian second tier association football leagues, Japan
2014–15 in Asian second tier association football leagues, Japan