2023 J2 League

The 2023 J2 League, also known as the 2023 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (Japanese: 2023 明治安田生命J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2023 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, will be the 25th season of the J2 League, the second-tier Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999.

J2 League
Season2023
Dates18 February – 12 November
Matches played165
Goals scored415 (2.52 per match)
Top goalscorerRyo Watanabe
(10 goals)
Biggest home winShimizu S-Pulse 9–1 Iwaki FC
(7 May)
Biggest away winRenofa Yamaguchi 0–6 Shimizu S-Pulse
(16 April)
Highest scoringShimizu S-Pulse 9–1 Iwaki FC
(7 May)
Longest winning runMachida Zelvia
(6 matches; From 26 Feb to 2 April)
Longest unbeaten runFagiano Okayama
(10 matches; From 25 Mar to present)
Longest winless runTokushima Vortis
(11 matches; From 19 Feb to 23 Apr)
Longest losing runMontedio Yamagata
(8 matches; From 4 Mar to 16 April)
Highest attendance22,937
Júbilo Iwata 2–2 Shimizu S-Pulse
(18 March)
Lowest attendance1,516
Zweigen Kanazawa 3–0 Iwaki FC
(12 April)
Total attendance1,047,487
Average attendance6,348
← 2022
2024 →
All statistics correct as of 14 May 2023.

Overview

This is the last season to be played with 22 participating clubs, as the number of clubs will be reduced to 20 from the 2024 season.[1]

FC Ryukyu and Iwate Grulla Morioka were relegated to the 2023 J3 League, finishing the previous J2 League season as 21st and 22nd-placed team, respectively.

Relegated from J1, both Shimizu S-Pulse and Júbilo Iwata were the only Shizuoka-based J1 teams last season. Now, they return to J2 after spending six and one season, respectively, at the top flight.

J3 winners Iwaki FC and runners-up Fujieda MYFC were both promoted from the J3 League. Both teams will make their debut in J2 League, with Iwaki being promoted to the J2 just a season after being promoted to J3.

For the first time ever since the 2004 season, three teams from the same prefecture will participate in the J2 League, as Shimizu S-Pulse, Júbilo Iwata and Fujieda MYFC are all based on Shizuoka Prefecture.

Participating clubs
Locations of the 2023 J2 League teams
Greater Tokyo Area J2 League teams
Shizuoka Prefecture J2 League teams
Club nameHometownStadiumCapacityPrevious season rankLicense
Blaublitz Akita Akita Soyu Stadium 20,125 J2 (12th) J1
Fagiano Okayama All cities/towns in Okayama[lower-alpha 1] City Light Stadium 20,000 J2 (3rd) J1
Fujieda MYFC Cities/towns in Shizuoka Prefecture Fujieda Soccer Stadium 13,000 J3 (2nd） J2
Iwaki FC Iwaki and Futaba District, Fukushima Iwaki Green Field 5,600 J3 (1st） J2
JEF United Chiba Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba Fukuda Denshi Arena 18,500 J2 (10th) J1
Júbilo Iwata Iwata Prefecture Yamaha Stadium 15,156 J1 (18th) J1
Machida Zelvia Machida, Tokyo Machida Athletic Stadium 10,600 J2 (15th) J1
Mito HollyHock All cities/towns in central and northern Ibaraki[lower-alpha 2] K's denki Stadium Mito 12,000 J2 (13th) J1
Montedio Yamagata All cities/towns in Yamagata[lower-alpha 3] ND Soft Stadium 20,315 J2 (6th) J1
Oita Trinita Ōita Prefecture Showa Denko Dome Oita 40,000 J2 (5th) J1
Omiya Ardija Saitama, Saitama NACK5 Stadium Omiya 15,500 J2 (19th) J1
Renofa Yamaguchi All cities/towns in Yamaguchi Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium 20,000 J2 (16th) J1
Roasso Kumamoto Kumamoto, Kumamoto Egao Kenko Stadium 32,000 J2 (4th） J1
Shimizu S-Pulse Shizuoka IAI Stadium Nihondaira 20,339 J1 (17th) J1
Thespakusatsu Gunma All cities/towns in Gunma[lower-alpha 4] Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma 15,253 J2 (20th) J1
Tochigi SC Utsunomiya, Tochigi Kanseki Stadium Tochigi 25,244 J2 (17th) J1
Tokushima Vortis Tokushima Prefecture Pocarisweat Stadium 20,441 J2 (8th) J1
Tokyo Verdy All cities/towns in Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium 49,970 J2 (9th) J1
V-Varen Nagasaki All cities/towns in Nagasaki Prefecture[lower-alpha 5] Nagasaki Athletic Stadium 20,246 J2 (11th) J1
Vegalta Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Yurtec Stadium Sendai 19,694 J2 (7th) J1
Ventforet Kofu All cities/towns in Yamanashi Prefecture[lower-alpha 6] Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium 17,000 J2 (18rd) J1
Zweigen Kanazawa All cities/towns in Ishikawa[lower-alpha 7] Ishikawa Kanazawa Stadium 20,000 J2 (14th) J1
  1. centering on Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama
  2. Mito, Hitachi, Hitachinaka, Kasama, Naka, Omitama, Hitachiota, Kitaibaraki, Hitachiomiya, Takahagi, Ibaraki, Shirosato, Oarai, Daigo, Tokai
  3. centering on Yamagata, Tendo, Tsuruoka
  4. centering on Kusatsu and Maebashi
  5. centering on Nagasaki and Isahaya
  6. centering on Kofu and Nirasaki
  7. centering on Kanazawa, Nonoichi, Kahoku, Tsubata, Tsubata

Personnel and kits
ClubManagerCaptainKit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor
Blaublitz Akita Japan Ken Yoshida Japan Ryutaro Iio Brazil Athleta TDK
Fagiano Okayama Japan Takashi Kiyama Japan Yasutaka Takagi Brazil Penalty GROP
Fujieda MYFC Japan Daisuke Sudo Japan Masahiko Sugita Japan Gol. Seikan Kensa Center
Iwaki FC Japan Hiromasa Suguri Japan Yuto Yamashita United States Under Armour BHC
JEF United Chiba Japan Yoshiyuki Kobayashi Japan Daisuke Suzuki Denmark Hummel Fuji Electric
Júbilo Iwata Japan Akinobu Yokouchi Japan Yuto Suzuki England Admiral Yamaha
Machida Zelvia Japan Go Kuroda Japan Masayuki Okuyama Germany Adidas CyberAgent
Mito HollyHock Japan Yoshimi Hamasaki Japan Takumi Kusumoto Japan soccer junky K's Holdings
Montedio Yamagata Japan Susumu Watanabe Japan Shuto Minami Brazil Penalty ABeam
Oita Trinita Japan Takahiro Shimotaira Japan Tsukasa Umesaki Germany Puma Daihatsu Kyushu
Omiya Ardija Japan Naoki Soma Japan Yutaro Hakamata United States Under Armour NTT Docomo
Renofa Yamaguchi Vacant Japan Kensuke Sato Brazil Finta upr
Roasso Kumamoto Japan Takeshi Oki Japan Rei Hirakawa Germany Puma Hirata
Shimizu S-Pulse Japan Tadahiro Akiba Japan Yoshinori Suzuki Germany Puma Suzuyo
Thespakusatsu Gunma Japan Tsuyoshi Otsuki Japan Hajime Hosogai Spain Kelme Cainz
Tochigi SC Japan Yu Tokisaki Japan Sho Sato Brazil Athleta TKC
Tokushima Vortis Spain Beñat Labaien Japan Yoichiro Kakitani Japan Mizuno Otsuka Pharmaceutical
(Pocari Sweat)
Tokyo Verdy Japan Hiroshi Jofuku Japan Koki Morita Brazil Athleta Nicigas
V-Varen Nagasaki Brazil Fábio Carille Japan Shunya Yoneda England Umbro Japanet
Vegalta Sendai Japan Akira Ito Japan Yuta Koide Germany Adidas Iris Ohyama
Ventforet Kofu Japan Yoshiyuki Shinoda Japan Hidehiro Sugai Japan Mizuno Hakubaku
Zweigen Kanazawa Japan Masaaki Yanagishita Japan Yuto Shirai Denmark Hummel Hokkoku Shimbun

Managerial changes
TeamOutgoingManner Exit datePosition in tableIncomingIncoming date Ref.
Announced onDeparted onAnnounced onArrived on
JEF United Chiba Yoon Jong-hwan Contract expiration Pre-season — Yoshiyuki Kobayashi Pre-season [2]
Júbilo Iwata Hiroki Shibuya Contract expiration Pre-season — Akinobu Yokouchi Pre-season [3]
Machida Zelvia Ranko Popovic Contract expiration Pre-season — Go Kuroda Pre-season [4]
Tokushima Vortis Dani Poyatos Resigned Pre-season — Beñat Labaien Pre-season [5]
Ventforet Kofu Tatsuma Yoshida Contract expiration Pre-season — Yoshiyuki Shinoda Pre-season [6]
Shimizu S-Pulse Zé Ricardo Sacked 3 April 2023 19th Tadahiro Akiba 3 April 2023 [7]
Montedio Yamagata Peter Cklamovski Sacked 4 April 2023 18th Susumu Watanabe 4 April 2023 [8]
Renofa Yamaguchi Yoshihiro Natsuka Resigned 9 May 2023 18th TBC TBC [9]

Foreign players

As of the 2023 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[10] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the midseason transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from school in the country.[11]
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Left mid-season
Blaublitz Akita
Fagiano Okayama Brazil Lucão Brazil Tiago Alves South Korea Han Eui-kwon Australia Stefan Mauk Netherlands Jordy Buijs
Fujieda MYFC Brazil Kauan Brazil Pedro Henrique Brazil Anderson Chaves
Iwaki FC
JEF United Chiba Brazil Mendes
Júbilo Iwata Brazil Ricardo Graça Brazil Dudu Pacheco Colombia Fabián González
Machida Zelvia Brazil Erik Australia Mitchell Duke Spain Carlos Gutiérrez South Korea Jang Min-gyu Serbia Nedeljko Stojišić
Mito HollyHock Philippines Jefferson Tabinas
Montedio Yamagata Brazil Dellatorre Portugal Tiago Alves
Oita Trinita Brazil Matheus Pereira Brazil Samuel Brazil Derlan
Omiya Ardija Brazil Rodrigo Angelotti
Renofa Yamaguchi Brazil Renan South Korea Choi Hyun-chan
Roasso Kumamoto
Shimizu S-Pulse Brazil Carlinhos Júnior Brazil Thiago Santana Brazil Renato Augusto Brazil Ronaldo Kosovo Benjamin Kololli South Korea Oh Se-hun
Thespakusatsu Gunma
Tochigi SC Brazil Juninho
Tokushima Vortis Brazil Cacá Brazil Elsinho Nigeria Oriola Sunday Dominican Republic Luismi Quezada Spain José Aurelio Suárez South Korea Rio Hyon
Tokyo Verdy Brazil Matheus Vidotto Germany Mario Engels Chile Byron Vásquez Indonesia Pratama Arhan
V-Varen Nagasaki Brazil Caio César Brazil Cristiano Brazil Edigar Junio Brazil Kaique Brazil Clayson Brazil Valdo Spain Juanma Serbia Luka Radotić
Vegalta Sendai Brazil Foguinho Brazil Ewerton South Korea Kim Tae-hyeon South Korea Heo Yong-joon North Korea Ryang Yong-gi
Ventforet Kofu Brazil Eduardo Mancha Brazil Getúlio Nigeria Peter Utaka
Zweigen Kanazawa Brazil Jefferson Baiano South Korea Taiga Son

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
    1 Machida Zelvia 15 10 3 2 21 7 +14 33 Promotion to the 2024 J1 League
    2 Oita Trinita 16 9 2 5 22 22 0 29
    3 Tokyo Verdy 15 8 2 5 20 9 +11 26 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
    4 V-Varen Nagasaki 15 8 2 5 23 14 +9 26
    5 Shimizu S-Pulse 15 6 7 2 33 11 +22 25
    6 Blaublitz Akita 15 7 4 4 15 13 +2 25
    7 Thespakusatsu Gunma 15 7 3 5 18 18 0 24
    8 Júbilo Iwata 15 6 5 4 26 19 +7 23
    9 Ventforet Kofu 15 7 2 6 17 18 −1 23
    10 Fagiano Okayama 15 4 10 1 20 14 +6 22
    11 Roasso Kumamoto 15 5 6 4 20 16 +4 21
    12 Vegalta Sendai 15 5 5 5 18 16 +2 20
    13 Fujieda MYFC 15 6 2 7 24 28 −4 20
    14 Zweigen Kanazawa 15 6 1 8 23 26 −3 19
    15 JEF United Chiba 15 4 5 6 15 20 −5 17
    16 Mito HollyHock 15 4 5 6 15 28 −13 17
    17 Tochigi SC 15 4 4 7 15 17 −2 16
    18 Montedio Yamagata 16 5 1 10 22 25 −3 16
    19 Renofa Yamaguchi 15 3 6 6 15 29 −14 15
    20 Tokushima Vortis 15 2 8 5 15 22 −7 14
    21 Omiya Ardija 15 4 1 10 12 20 −8 13 Relegation to 2024 J3 League
    22 Iwaki FC 15 3 2 10 11 28 −17 11
    Updated to match(es) played on 17 May 2023, 09:50 UTC±0. Source: Meiji Yasuda J2 League, J.League Data Site
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.

    Play-offs

    The usual format will be applied on the 2023 season. Promotion play-offs will be held from the semi-final stage, where the match-ups are previously semi-determined. Based on the J2 placements at the end of the regular season: The 3rd-placed team plays against the 6th-placed, while the 4th-placed team plays against the 5th-placed. The winners of the semi-finals will play the Promotion Play-offs Final, with who ever wins being promoting to the J1.

    Should a match be tied at any of the play-off matches, the team with the best placement will qualify for the next stage. The placement order currently is: J2 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place.

    For the 2023 season, three teams will be promoted to the 2024 J1 League. There will not be relegation playoffs between J1 and J2.

    Season statistics
    As of 13 May 2023.

    Top scorers
    RankPlayerClubGoals[12]
    1 Japan Ryo Watanabe Fujieda MYFC 10
    2 Spain Juanma Delgado V-Varen Nagasaki 8
    3 Japan Daichi Ishikawa Zweigen Kanazawa 7
    Brazil Thiago Santana Shimizu S-Pulse
    5 Japan Erik Machida Zelvia 6
    Japan Junya Kato Zweigen Kanazawa

    Top assists
    RankPlayerClubAssists[13]
    1 Japan Naoki Nomura Oita Trinita 5
    2 Brazil Clayson V-Varen Nagasaki 4
    Australia Mitchell Duke Machida Zelvia
    Japan Ryo Sato Thespakusatsu Gunma
    5 18 players 3

    Clean sheets
    RankPlayerClubClean sheets[14]
    1 Brazil Matheus Vidotto Tokyo Verdy 8
    2 Japan William Popp Machida Zelvia 7
    3 Japan Kentaro Kakoi Blaublitz Akita 6
    Japan Shuichi Gonda Shimizu S-Pulse
    Japan Go Hatano V-Varen Nagasaki

    Player

    Club
    • Most yellow cards: 26 [17] (Tokushima Vortis)
    • Most red cards: 3 [18] (Roasso Kumamoto)

    Awards

    Monthly awards
    Month Manager of the Month Monthly MVP Goal of the Month Refs.
    ManagerClubPlayerClubPlayerClub
    February/March Japan Go Kuroda Machida Zelvia Brazil Erik Machida Zelvia Japan Akira Silvano Disaro Shimizu S-Pulse [19]
    April Brazil Fábio Carille V-Varen Nagasaki Spain Juanma V-Varen Nagasaki Japan Shunta Araki Machida Zelvia [20]

    Club seasons

    See also
    National association
    League
    Cup

    References
    1. "League Structure and Competition Format from 2024 Season Unify the number of clubs in each category to 20 League Cup changed to a knockout competition with participation of all J1, J2 and J3 clubs". Japan Professional Football League. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
    2. "小林 慶行 監督の就任内定について" (in Japanese). 1 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    3. "横内 昭展監督 就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 25 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
    4. "黒田剛 監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 24 October 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    5. "ベニャート ラバイン氏 新監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 9 December 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
    6. "篠田 善之氏 監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
    7. "秋葉 忠宏 監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
    8. "トップチーム監督交代のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
    9. "名塚善寛監督および石原正康GM退任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 9 May 2023. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
    10. "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について". J.LEAGUE.jp. Archived from the original on 2018-12-23.
    11. "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" (PDF). jfa.jp.
    12. "Goals". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    13. "Assists". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    14. "Clean Sheets (GK)". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    15. "J2 2022 Yellow cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    16. "J2 2022 Red Cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    17. "Club yellow cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    18. "Club red cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
    19. "2・3月度「２０２３明治安田生命Ｊリーグ KONAMI月間MVP」を発表！「２０２３明治安田生命ＪリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」も決定！". jleague.jp. Japan Professional Football League. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
    20. "4月度「２０２３明治安田生命Ｊリーグ KONAMI月間MVP」を発表！「２０２３明治安田生命ＪリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」も決定！". jleague.jp. Japan Professional Football League. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
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