Japanese Regional Leagues
Japanese Regional Leagues (Japanese: 地域リーグ, Hepburn: Chiiki Rīgu) are a group of parallel association football leagues in Japan that are organized on the regional basis. They form the fifth and sixth tier of the Japanese association football league system below the nationwide Japan Football League.
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| Founded | 1966 (Kansai and Tokai) 1967 (Kanto) 1973 (Chugoku and Kyushu) 1975 (Hokushin'etsu) 1977 (Shikoku and Tohoku) 1978 (Hokkaido) |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Divisions | 5 (first level) 6 (second level) |
| Number of teams | 134 |
| Level on pyramid | 5–6 |
| Promotion to | Japan Soccer League (1966–1991) Japan Football League (1992–1998) Japan Football League (1999–present) |
| Relegation to | Japanese Prefectural Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Emperor's Cup Shakaijin Cup |
| Current: 2024 Japanese Regional Leagues | |
Overview
Football regions in Japan:
Hokkaido Tōhoku Kantō Hokushinetsu Tōkai Kansai Chūgoku Shikoku Kyushu
Hokkaido subdivision boundaries are by Block League.
Hokkaido Tōhoku Kantō Hokushinetsu Tōkai Kansai Chūgoku Shikoku Kyushu
Hokkaido subdivision boundaries are by Block League.
Japan is divided regionally in a variety of ways, some of them administrative and some more historical. For the football purposes, the country is divided into nine regions. All regional league champions earn the right to participate in the Regional Football League Competition (since 2016 renamed Japan Regional Football Champions League) at the end of the year. Runners-up may also qualify according to criteria set by the Japan Football Association.
Regional league clubs also compete in the All Japan Senior Football Championship, a cup competition. The winner of this cup also earns a berth in the Regional League promotion series, and the runner-up may also qualify depending on space and JFA criteria.
Regional league clubs must win the qualifying cup in their home prefecture in order to compete in the Emperor's Cup.
Since the divisions rarely go over 10 members, the season is shorter and long summer breaks may be taken.
Among the existing Japanese clubs there are ten that have never played in the regional leagues. They are:
- Japan Soccer League co-founders Urawa Red Diamonds, JEF United Chiba, Kashiwa Reysol, Cerezo Osaka, Sanfrecce Hiroshima (listed under current names, all formed the old league in 1965);
- Independent club Shimizu S-Pulse, established as a professional club upon J. League creation in 1992;
- Sagan Tosu who took over the folded Tosu Futures in former JFL in 1997;
- Yokohama FC who were directly admitted into the Japan Football League in 1999 upon their formation;
- Kataller Toyama that formed in 2008 as a result of the fusion of JFL clubs ALO's Hokuriku and YKK AP.
- Kagoshima United FC that formed in 2014 as a result of the fusion of Kyushu League clubs Volca Kagoshima and FC Kagoshima, top two in the 2013 Regional Promotion Series, and which joined the JFL as a merged club
Additionally, the forerunners to Tosu Futures, Kashima Antlers, Avispa Fukuoka and Vissel Kobe were originally based in different regions (and won or were promoted from those regions) from where they, or their successors, are based today:
- Kashima Antlers was originally based in Kansai but moved to Kantō in 1975 after reaching the JSL;
- Tosu Futures was originally based in Tōkai but moved to Kyushu in 1994 after reaching the former JFL;
- Avispa Fukuoka was originally based in Tōkai but moved to Kyushu in 1994 after reaching the former JFL;
- Vissel Kobe was originally based in Chūgoku but moved to Kansai in 1995 after reaching the former JFL.
Regional Leagues clubs, 2023
Hokkaido Soccer League
| League | Teams | Hometown | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Hokkaido Soccer League 北海道サッカーリーグ |
BTOP Hokkaido | Kuriyama, Hokkaido | 2023 Champions |
| Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth | Obihiro, Hokkaido | ||
| Norbritz Hokkaido | Ebetsu, Hokkaido | ||
| Sapporo University Goal Plunderers (ja) | Sapporo, Hokkaido | ||
| Hokushukai Iwamizawa (ja) | Iwamizawa, Hokkaido | ||
| Kyokusyuukai FC | Asahikawa, Hokkaido | ||
| ASC Hokkaido (ja) | Atsuma, Hokkaido | Promotion (1st place in Block Final) | |
| Canale Otaru (ja) | Otaru City, Hokkaido | Promotion (2nd place in Block Final) |
Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League
| Name of league | Division | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League 東北社会人サッカーリーグ |
Division 1 | Blancdieu Hirosaki FC | Hirosaki, Aomori |
| Hitome Senbonzakura SUFT | Sendai, Miyagi | ||
| Cobaltore Onagawa | Onagawa, Miyagi | ||
| Ganju Iwate | Morioka, Iwate | ||
| Nippon Steel Corp. Kamaishi | Kamaishi, Iwate | ||
| Morioka Zebra | Morioka, Iwate | ||
| Fuji Club 2003 | Hanamaki, Iwate | ||
| Shichigahama SC | Shichigahama, Miyagi | ||
Oshu United FC  |
Ōshū, Iwate | ||
| FC LA U. de Sendai |
Sendai, Miyagi | ||
| Division 2 North | Akita FC Cambiare | Akita, Akita | |
Bogolle D. Tsugaru FC  |
Tsugaru, Aomori | ||
| NewPearl Hiraizumi Maesawa | Hiraizumi, Iwate | ||
| TDK Shinwakai | Nikaho, Akita | ||
| Hokuto Bank | Akita, Akita | ||
| Lascivo Aomori | Aomori, Aomori | ||
| Omiya SC |
Morioka, Iwate | ||
| Shichinohe SC |
Shichinohe, Aomori | ||
| Saruta Kogyo |
Akita, Akita | ||
| Kuzumaki Club | Kuzumaki, Iwate | ||
| Division 2 South | RICOH Industry Tohoku | Shibata, Miyagi | |
| Oyama Club | Tsuruoka, Yamagata | ||
| Sendai Sasuke | Sendai, Miyagi | ||
| Primeiro Fukushima |
Kōriyama, Fukushima | ||
| Merry FC | Fukushima, Fukushima | ||
| Parafrente Yonezawa | Yonezawa, Yamagata | ||
| Sendai universität |
Sendai, Miyagi | ||
| Ardore Kuwahara | Iwanuma, Miyagi | ||
| Nagai Club | Nagai, Yamagata | ||
| Iwaki Furukawa FC | Iwaki, Fukushima |
Kantō Soccer League
| Name of league | Division | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanto Soccer League 関東サッカーリーグ |
Division 1 | Toin University of Yokohama | Yokohama, Kanagawa |
| Vonds Ichihara | Ichihara, Chiba | ||
| Tochigi City FC | Tochigi, Tochigi | ||
| Tokyo 23 FC | Special wards of Tokyo | ||
| Tokyo International University FC | Sakado, Saitama | ||
| RKU Dragons | Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki | ||
| Tsukuba FC | Tsukuba, Ibaraki | ||
| Tokyo United FC | Bunkyō, Tokyo | ||
| Toho Titanium SC | Chigasaki, Kanagawa | ||
| Nankatsu SC | Katsushika, Tokyo | ||
| Division 2 | Esperanza SC | Yokohama, Kanagawa | |
| Hitachi Building System SC | Chiyoda, Tokyo | ||
| Sakai Trinitas | Sakai, Ibaraki | ||
| Tonan Maebashi | Maebashi, Gunma | ||
| Yokohama Takeru | Yokohama, Kanagawa | ||
| Identy Mirai | Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki | ||
| Aventura Kawaguchi | Kawaguchi, Saitama | ||
| Atsugi Hayabusa | Atsugi, Kanagawa | ||
| Aries Tokyo FC | Nerima, Tokyo | ||
| Vertfee Yaita | Yaita, Tochigi | ||
Hokushinetsu Football League
| Name of league | Division | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hokushinetsu Football League 北信越フットボールリーグ |
Division 1 | Fukui United FC | Fukui, Fukui |
| Artista Asama | Tōmi, Nagano | ||
| Niigata University of Health and Welfare FC | Niigata, Niigata | ||
| Toyama Shinjo Club | Toyama, Toyama | ||
| Japan Soccer College | Seiro, Niigata | ||
| FC Hokuriku | Kanazawa, Ishikawa | ||
| '05 Kamo FC | Kamo, Niigata | ||
| FC Antelope Shiojiri | Shiojiri, Nagano | ||
| Division 2 | Sakai Phoenix FC | Sakai, Fukui | |
| Libertas Chikuma FC | Chikuma, Nagano | ||
| FC Matsucelona | Matsumoto, Nagano | ||
| CUPS Seiro | Seiro, Niigata | ||
| SR Komatsu | Komatsu, Ishikawa | ||
| AS Jamineiro | Niigata, Niigata | ||
| Azalee Iida | Iida, Nagano | ||
| N-Style Toyama | Toyama, Toyama | ||
Tōkai Adult Soccer League
| Name of league | Division | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tōkai Adult Soccer League 東海社会人サッカーリーグ |
Division 1 | FC Kariya | Kariya, Aichi |
| Fujieda City Hall SC | Fujieda, Shizuoka | ||
| FC Ise-Shima | Shima, Mie | ||
| Chukyo Univ. FC | Nagoya, Aichi | ||
| Tokai Gakuen FC | Miyoshi, Aichi | ||
| Wyvern FC | Kariya, Aichi | ||
| FC Gifu SECOND | Gifu, Gifu | ||
| Yazaki Valente | Shimada, Shizuoka | ||
| Division 2 | Bombonera Gifu | Seki, Gifu | |
| Toyota SC | Toyota, Aichi | ||
| Chukyo University FC | Toyota, Aichi | ||
| AS Kariya | Kariya, Aichi | ||
| Tokoha University Hamamatsu FC | Hamamatsu, Shizuoka | ||
| Nagara Club | Gifu, Gifu | ||
| Nagoya SC | Nagoya, Aichi | ||
| Gakunan F. Mosuperio | Fuji, Shizuoka and Fujinomiya, Shizuoka | ||
| Sports & Society Izu | Izu, Shizuoka | ||
Kansai Soccer League
| Name of league | Division | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansai Soccer League 関西サッカーリーグ |
Division 1 | Ococias Kyoto AC | Kyoto, Kyoto |
| Arterivo Wakayama | Wakayama, Wakayama | ||
| Asuka FC | Kashihara, Nara | ||
| FC Basara Hyogo | Akashi, Hyōgo | ||
| Cento Cuore Harima | Kakogawa, Hyogo | ||
| Kandai FC 2008 | Suita, Osaka | ||
| Lagend Shiga FC | Moriyama, Shiga | ||
| Moriyama Samurai 2000 | Moriyama, Shiga | ||
| Division 2 | AS Laranja Kyoto | Ukyo-ku, Kyoto | |
| FC AWJ | Awaji Island | ||
| St.Andrew's FC | Izumi, Osaka | ||
| Hannan University Club | Matsubara, Osaka | ||
| Hannan University Revolution | Matsubara, Osaka | ||
| Takasago Mineiro FC | Takasago, Hyōgo | ||
| Kyoto Shiko Club | Kita-ku, Kyoto | ||
| Kobe FC 1970 | Kobe, Kobe | ||
Chūgoku Soccer League
| Name of league | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Chūgoku Soccer League 中国サッカーリーグ |
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC | Kurashiki, Okayama |
| FC Baleine Shimonoseki | Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi | |
| International Pacific University FC | Okayama, Okayama | |
| Belugarosso Iwami | Iwami, Shimane | |
| NTN Okayama | Bizen, Okayama | |
| SRC Hiroshima | Hiroshima, Hiroshima | |
| Yonago Genki SC | Yonago, Tottori | |
| Hatsukaichi FC | Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima | |
| Vajra Okayama | Okayama, Okayama | |
| Fukuyama City FC | Fukuyama, Hiroshima | |
Shikoku Soccer League
| Name of league | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Shikoku Soccer League 四国サッカーリーグ |
FC Tokushima | Tokushima, Tokushima |
| KUFC Nankoku | Nankoku, Kōchi | |
| Llamas Kochi FC | Kōchi, Kōchi | |
| Tadotsu FC | Tadotsu, Kagawa | |
| Lvnirosso NC | Niihama, Ehime | |
| R.Velho Takamatsu | Takamatsu, Kagawa | |
| FC RSG | Kochi, Kochi | |
| Nakamura Club | Shimanto, Kōchi | |
Kyushu Soccer League
| Name of league | Names of teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Kyushu Soccer League 九州サッカーリーグ |
Kaiho Bank SC |
Okinawa |
| Veroskronos Tsuno | Tsuno, Miyazaki Prefecture | |
| J-Lease FC | Oita, Oita | |
| Brew Kashima | Kashima, Saga Prefecture | |
| NIFS Kanoya FC | Kanoya, Kagoshima | |
| KMG Holdings FC | Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture | |
| Kawasoe Club | Kawasoe, Saga | |
| Itazuke FC |
Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture | |
| Nippon Steel Oita SC | Ōita, Ōita | |
| FC Nobeoka Agata | Nobeoka, Miyazaki | |
See also
- Sport in Japan
- Football in Japan
- Women's football in Japan
- Football in Japan
- Japan Football Association (JFA)
References
External links
- Japanese Regional Leagues summary – Soccerway
- Hokkaido Football Association
- Tohoku Football Association
- Kanto Soccer League
- Hokushinetsu Football League
- Tokai Member of Society League
- Kansai Soccer League
- Chūgoku Soccer League
- Shikoku Soccer League
- Kyushu Soccer League
- Japan Football Federation for Members of Society
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| National teams (2024) |
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| Leagues (2024) |
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| Cups (2024) |
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| International cups |
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