Japanese Regional Leagues

Japanese Regional Leagues
Founded1966 (1966) (Kansai and Tokai)
1967 (1967) (Kanto)
1973 (1973) (Chugoku and Kyushu)
1975 (1975) (Hokushin'etsu)
1977 (1977) (Shikoku and Tohoku)
1978 (1978) (Hokkaido)
CountryJapan
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Divisions5 (first level)
6 (second level)
Number of clubs130
Level on pyramid5–6
Promotion toJapan Soccer League (1966–1991)
Japan Football League (1992–1998)
Japan Football League (1999–present)
Relegation toJapanese Prefectural Leagues
Domestic cup(s)Emperor's Cup
Shakaijin Cup
Current: 2025 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.

Overview

Japan is divided regionally in a variety of ways, some of them administrative and some more historical. For 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 Japanese 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:

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 were originally based in Kansai but moved to Kantō in 1975 after reaching the JSL;
  • Tosu Futures were 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, 2025

Hokkaido Soccer League

League Teams Hometown
Hokkaido Soccer League
北海道サッカーリーグ 		ASC Hokkaido (ja) Tomakomai, Hokkaido
BTOP Hokkaido Kuriyama, Hokkaido
Canale Otaru (ja) Otaru City, Hokkaido
Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth Obihiro, Hokkaido
Japan Steel Muroran (ja) Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Norbritz Hokkaido Ebetsu, Hokkaido
Sabas FC Sapporo, Hokkaido
Sapporo University Goal Plunderers (ja) Sapporo, Hokkaido

Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League

League Division Teams[1] Hometown
Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League
東北社会人サッカーリーグ 		Division 1 Blancdieu Hirosaki Hirosaki, Aomori
Cobaltore Onagawa Onagawa, Miyagi
Fuji Club 2003 (ja) Hanamaki, Iwate
Ganju Iwate Morioka, Iwate
Hitome Senbonzakura SUFT (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
FC LA U. de Sendai (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
Michinoku Sendai Iwanuma, Miyagi
Sendai Sasuke Sendai, Miyagi
Shichigahama SC Shichigahama, Miyagi
Shichinohe SC Shichinohe, Aomori
Division 2 North [2] Bogolle D. Tsugaru Tsugaru, Aomori
Morioka Zebra Morioka, Iwate
Saruta Kogyo Akita, Akita
TDK Shinwakai Nikaho, Akita
Nippon Steel Corp. Kamaishi (ja) Kamaishi, Iwate
Omiya SC Morioka, Iwate
Oshu United Ōshū, Iwate
Nu Perle Hiraizumi Maesawa Hiraizumi, Iwate
Division 2 South[3] Chaneaule Koriyama Kōriyama, Fukushima
Iwaki Furukawa Iwaki, Fukushima
FC La U. de Sendai Second (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
Merry FC (ja) Fukushima, Fukushima
Parafrente Yonezawa (ja) Yamagata
Oyama SC Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Primeiro Fukushima Kōriyama, Fukushima
RICOH Industry Tohoku Shibata, Miyagi

Kantō Soccer League

League Division Teams[4] Hometown
Kanto Soccer League
関東サッカーリーグ 		Division 1 Aries Toshima Toshima, Tokyo
Joyful Honda Tsukuba Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Nankatsu SC Katsushika, Tokyo
Nihon University N. (ja) Inagi, Tokyo
RKD Ryugasaki Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki
Toho Titanium SC Chigasaki, Kanagawa
Toin University of Yokohama FC (ja) Yokohama, Kanagawa
Tokyo 23 Special wards of Tokyo
Tokyo United Bunkyō, Tokyo
Vonds Ichihara Ichihara, Chiba
Division 2 [5] Atsugi Hayabusa FC Atsugi, Kanagawa
Coedo Kawagoe Kawagoe, Saitama
Edo All United Chūō, Kōtō, Tokyo
Esperanza SC Yokohama, Kanagawa
Hitachi Building System SC Chiyoda, Tokyo
Shibuya City FC Shibuya, Tokyo
Tokyo International University FC (ja) Sakado, Saitama
Tonan Maebashi Maebashi, Gunma
Vertfee Yaita Yaita, Tochigi
Yokohama Takeru Yokohama, Kanagawa

Hokushinetsu Football League

League[6] Division Teams Hometown
Hokushinetsu Football League
北信越フットボールリーグ 		Division 1 Artista Asama Tōmi, Nagano
Fukui United Fukui, Fukui
FC Hokuriku (ja) Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Japan Soccer College Seiro, Niigata
Niigata University of Health and Welfare FC (ja) Niigata, Niigata
Niigata University of Management FC (ja) Kamo, Niigata
SR Komatsu Komatsu, Ishikawa
Toyama Shinjo Club Toyama, Toyama
Division 2[7] FC Abies Chino, Nagano
Antelope Shiojiri Shiojiri, Nagano
CUPS Seiro Seiro, Niigata
Kanazawa Gakuin University FC Kanazawa, Ishikawa
FC Matsucelona (ja) Matsumoto, Nagano
N-Style Toyama, Toyama
NUHW FC (ja) Niigata, Niigata
Sakai Phoenix Sakai, Fukui

Tōkai Soccer League

League Division Teams[8] Hometown
Tōkai Soccer League
東海サッカーリーグ 		Division 1 Chukyo University FC (ja) Nagoya, Aichi
Fujieda City Hall SC Fujieda, Shizuoka
Gakunan F. Mosuperio Fuji, Shizuoka and Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
FC Ise-Shima Shima, Mie
AS Kariya Kariya, Aichi
FC Kariya Kariya, Aichi
Vencedor Mie Tsu, Mie
Wyvern FC Kariya, Aichi
Division 2[9] Chukyo Univ.FC (ja) Toyota, Aichi
FC Gifu SECOND (ja) Gifu, Gifu
Nagoya SC Nagoya, Aichi
Rajil FC Higashimikawa Toyokawa, Toyohashi, Aichi
Sports & Society Izu Izu, Shizuoka
Tokai FC Yatomi, Aichi
Tokai Gakuen University FC (ja) Miyoshi, Aichi
Yazaki Valente Shimada, Shizuoka

Kansai Soccer League

League Division Teams[10] Hometown
Kansai Soccer League
関西サッカーリーグ 		Division 1 Arterivo Wakayama Wakayama, Wakayama
FC AWJ Awaji Island
FC Basara Hyogo Akashi, Hyōgo
Cento Cuore Harima Kakogawa, Hyogo
Kobe FC 1970 Kobe, Hyogo
Laranja Kyoto Kyoto, Kyoto
Moriyama Samurai 2000 Moriyama, Shiga
Velago Ikoma Ikoma, Nara
Division 2[11] Hannan University Club (ja) Matsubara, Osaka
Kandai FC 2008 (ja) Suita, Osaka
Kyoto Shiko Club Kyoto, Kyoto
AC Middle Range Osaka, Osaka
Ococias Kyoto Kyoto, Kyoto
Osaka Korean FC Osaka, Osaka
Route 11 Kishiwada, Osaka
St.Andrew's FC (ja) Izumi, Osaka

Chūgoku Soccer League

League Teams[12] Hometown
Chūgoku Soccer League
中国サッカーリーグ 		Baleine Shimonoseki Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
Banmel Tottori Tottori, Tottori
Belugarosso Iwami Iwami, Shimane
ENEOS Mizushima (ja) Kurashiki, Okayama
Fukuyama City FC Fukuyama, Hiroshima
Hatsukaichi FC Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
International Pacific University FC (ja) Okayama, Okayama
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC Kurashiki, Okayama
SRC Hiroshima Hiroshima, Hiroshima
Yonago Genki SC Yonago, Tottori

Shikoku Soccer League

League Teams[13] Hometown
Shikoku Soccer League
四国サッカーリーグ 		KUFC Nankoku (ja) Nankoku, Kōchi
Llamas Kochi Kōchi, Kōchi
Lvnirosso NC Niihama, Ehime
R.Velho Takamatsu Takamatsu, Kagawa
Sonio Takamatsu Takamatsu, Kagawa
Tadotsu FC Tadotsu, Kagawa
FC Tokushima Tokushima, Tokushima
Yamaji FC Shikokuchūō Shikokuchūō, Ehime

Kyushu Soccer League

League Teams[14] Hometown
Kyushu Soccer League
九州サッカーリーグ
Brew Kashima Kashima, Saga
FC Hakata Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Kawasoe Club Kawasoe, Saga
KMG Holdings FC Fukuoka, Fukuoka
J-Lease FC Oita, Oita
MHI Nagasaki SC Nagasaki, Nagasaki
NIFS Kanoya FC (ja) Kanoya, Kagoshima
Nippon Steel Oita SC (ja) Ōita, Ōita
Nobeoka Agata Nobeoka, Miyazaki
Veroskronos Tsuno Tsuno, Miyazaki

See also

References

  1. ^ "2024年度 東北社会人サッカーリーグ1部 | 試合日程／結果". tohoku-fa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. ^ "2024年度 東北社会人サッカーリーグ2部北 | 試合日程／結果". tohoku-fa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  3. ^ "2024年度 東北社会人サッカーリーグ2部南 | 試合日程／結果". tohoku-fa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. ^ "第58回関東サッカーリーグ1部". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. ^ "第58回関東サッカーリーグ2部 | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  6. ^ "第50回北信越フットボールリーグDivision1". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. ^ "第50回北信越フットボールリーグDivision2 | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. ^ "2024年 1部リーグの試合日程をご案内いたします". tokai-sl.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  9. ^ "第59回アストエンジ関西サッカーリーグDivision１ | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. ^ "第59回アストエンジ関西サッカーリーグDivision2 | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  11. ^ "2024年度 第52回 中国サッカーリーグ | 試合日程／結果". csl-jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  12. ^ "第48回四国サッカーリーグ | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  13. ^ "KYFA第５２回九州サッカーリーグ | 試合日程／結果". football-system.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  14. ^ "KYFA第５２回九州サッカーリーグ | 試合日程／結果". football-system.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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