History
The Japan Women's Football League, or the L. League, was founded in 1989. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of that era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back. Teams from this early era would host annual training camps to build skills and relationships with international women's football clubs, such as those in the United States and Australia. In 2004 the L. League acquired the nickname the Nadeshiko League. Nadeshiko is the name of the dianthus flower and was chosen from suggestions by fans, signifying an ideal of Yamato Nadeshiko, a dutiful Japanese woman. In the 2004 season, the L. League added a second division, and until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men where the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner. In 2010, the second division was divided into east and west groups of six teams each; the winners of each group were promoted to the first division. After Japan women's national football team, Japan's 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, World Cup win in 2011, the L. League saw an upsurge in popularity. In 2015, the league added a third division called the Nadeshiko was added, and the first and second divisions now had 10 teams each. In 2020, the Japan Football Association announced that the newly established WE League will become the top level for women's football in Japan in 2021. The Nadeshiko League would then become the second to fourth levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid. After many top teams left for the WE League, the Nadeshiko League abolished the third division in 2021.Structure
Since 2021, the Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions:Clubs
Champions
Division 1
Bold indicate Double (association football), doubles with the Empress's Cup.=Wins by club
= Clubs in bold are those competing in Division 1 as of the 2021 season. Clubs in ''italics'' no longer exist. Notes=Wins by region
=Division 2
Challenge League
2022 season
Division 1
Division 2
Previous clubs
The following clubs are not competing in the Nadeshiko League during the 2021 season, but have previously competed in the Nadeshiko League for at least one season.Joined WE League in 2021
*Mynavi Sendai Ladies, Mynavi Sendai *Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies, Urawa Reds *Omiya Ardija Ventus (formerly FC Jumonji Ventus) *Chifure AS Elfen Saitama, Elfen Saitama *JEF United Chiba Ladies, JEF United Chiba *Nippon TV Tokyo Verdy Beleza, NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza *Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara *AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies, AC Nagano Parceiro *Albirex Niigata Ladies, Albirex Niigata *INAC Kobe LeonessaRelegated to regional leagues
*Je Vrille Kagoshima: relegated to Kyushu League from 2014 *Shimizudaihachi Pleiades: relegated to Tōkai region, Tokai League from 2015 *Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto F.C.: relegated to Kyushu League from 2016Defunct
*Fujita Soccer Club Mercury (affiliated with Shonan Bellmare) *Nikko Securities Dream Ladies *Nissan F.C. Ladies (affiliated with Yokohama Marinos) *OKI F.C. Winds *Shiroki F.C. Serena *Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies (affiliated with Shimizu S-Pulse) *Tasaki Perule F.C. *Tokyo Shidax LSC, Tokyo Shidax L.S.C. (formerly Shinko Seiko F.C. Clair) *Urawa Ladies F.C. *TEPCO Mareeze (dissolved after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; many of the players moved to Vegalta Sendai Ladies) *Aguilas Kobe *Hoyo Sukarabu F.C.Division 1 awards
Most Valuable Player
Top Goalscorers
Best Young Player
See also
* Football in Japan * Women's football in Japan * Japan Football Association, Japan Football Association (JFA) * Japanese association football league system * WE League (I) * Japanese Regional Leagues (women) (IV) * Empress's Cup (National Cup) * Nadeshiko League Cup (League Cup)References
External links