2015 J3 League

Football league season

Meiji Yasuda J3 LeagueSeason| 2015

|

Champions| Renofa Yamaguchi
Promoted| Renofa Yamaguchi

Machida Zelvia
Matches played| 234
Goals scored| 586 (2.5 per match)
Top goalscorer| Kazuhito Kishida (32 goals)
Highest attendance| 9,040

(Sagamihara vs YSCC Yokohama, 25 October)
Lowest attendance| 461

(YSCC Yokohama vs Tottori, 13 November)
Average attendance| 2,432

← 2014

2016 →

The 2015 Meiji Yasuda J3 League (2015 明治安田生命J3リーグ) was the 19th season of the third tier in Japanese football, and the 2nd season of the professional J3 League.

## Clubs

[edit]

Grulla Morioka

Blaublitz Akita

Fukushima United

Nagano Parceiro

Kataller Toyama

Fujieda MYFC

Gainare Tottori

FC Ryukyu

Machida Zelvia

SC Sagamihara

YSCC Yokohama

Renofa Yamaguchi

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the 2015 J3 League teams

To participate, a club must have held an associate membership, or have submitted an application before 30 June 2014, and then passed an inspection to obtain a participation license issued by J.League Council. J.League has confirmed the following clubs participating in the 2015 J3 season:

Club name  | Home town  | Notes

|
|

Blaublitz Akita | All cities/towns in Akita |
Fukushima United | Fukushima |
Gainare Tottori | All cities/towns in Tottori | Withdrew a J2 license due to financial reasons.[1]
Grulla Morioka | Morioka, Iwate |
Kataller Toyama | All cities/towns in Toyama | Relegated from 2014 J2, eligible for J2 promotion
Fujieda MYFC | Fujieda, Shizuoka |
Nagano Parceiro | Nagano | Eligible for J2 promotion
FC Ryukyu | All cities/towns in Okinawa |
SC Sagamihara | Sagamihara, Kanagawa |
YSCC Yokohama | Yokohama, Kanagawa |
Machida Zelvia | Machida, Tokyo | Eligible for J2 promotion
Renofa Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi | Promoted from 2014 JFL, eligible for J2 promotion
J.League U-22 Selection | n/a  | A special team, composed of best J1 and J2 youngsters to prepare them for the 2016 Olympics. Folded by the JFA after the season.[2]

## Competition rules

[edit]

The league is played in three rounds, each team playing a total of 36 matches. J.League U-22 Selection played all their matches on the road.[3]

Each team must have at least 3 players holding professional contracts. Two foreign players are allowed per team, plus 1 more from the ASEAN partner country of J. League. The matchday roster will consist of 16 players, and up to 5 substitutes will be allowed in a game.[3]

### Promotion and relegation

[edit]

Rules for promotion to J2 are largely similar to those of Japan Football League in the recent seasons: to be promoted, a club must hold a J2 license and finish in top 2 of the league. The U-22 team is not eligible for promotion regardless of their final position. The champions will be promoted directly, in exchange with 22nd-placed J2 club, and the runners-up will participate in the playoffs with 21st J2 club. If either or both top 2 finishers are ineligible for promotion, the playoffs and/or direct exchange will not be held in accordance to the exact positions of promotion-eligible clubs.[3]

No relegation to JFL is planned. Up to 2 clubs may be promoted if they are licensed by J. League for J3 participation and finish in top 4 of JFL.

### Personnel and kits

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team  | Manager1 | Captain  | Kit manufacturer  | Shirt sponsor

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|
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Blaublitz Akita | Shuichi Mase | Toshio Shimakawa | Athleta | TDK
Fukushima United | Keisuke Kurihara | Kazuto Ishido | Hummel | TOHO BANK
Gainare Tottori | Masanobu Matsunami | Ryosuke Kawanabe | Hummel | Tottori Gas Co.
Grulla Morioka | Naoki Naruo | Kenta Matsuda | SVOLME | PalcoHome
Kataller Toyama | Yasuyuki Kishino | Taijiro Mori | Goldwin | YKK
Fujieda MYFC | Atsuto Oishi | Hiroki Narabayashi | Razzoli | Chang
Nagano Parceiro | Naohiko Minobe | Yuji Unozawa | DUELO | Hokto
Renofa Yamaguchi | Nobuhiro Ueno | Kiyohiro Hirabayashi | FINTA | upr
FC Ryukyu | Norihiro Satsukawa | Satoshi Nakayama | mitre | GOO
SC Sagamihara | Keiju Karashima | Naohiro Takahara | gol. | Gion
YSCC Yokohama | Kenji Arima | Akio Yoshida | SVOLME | Kaspersky
Machida Zelvia | Naoki Soma | Ri Han-jae | SVOLME | Eagle Kenso
J.League U-22 Selection | Tsutomu Takahata | Various | Adidas | None

### Managerial changes

[edit]

Team  | Outgoing manager  | Date of separation  | Manner of departure  | Incoming manager  | Date of announcement

|
|
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|
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Nagano Parceiro  |  Naohiko Minobe | 5 August  | Resigned on health issues[4] |  Hajime Eto | 5 August
Kataller Toyama  |  Yasuyuki Kishino | 27 August  | Mutual consent[5] |  Shigeo Sawairi (acting)  | 27 August
SC Sagamihara  |  Keiju Karashima | 2 November  | Resigned[6] |  Yoshika Matsubara | 2 November

## Foreign players

[edit]

Club  | Player 1  | Player 2  | Player 3  | Asian player  | Non-visa foreign  | Type-C contract

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Blaublitz Akita |  Agustin Ortega |  Leonardo |  |  |  |
Fukushima United |  Kim Kong Chyong |  Kim Hong-yeon |  |  |  |
Gainare Tottori |  Fernandinho |  |  |  |  |
Grulla Morioka |  Jung Hoon-sung |  |  |  |  |
Kataller Toyama |  Tam Sheang Tsung  |  Lee Jae-won |  |  |  |
Fujieda MYFC |  Park Iru-gyu |  |  |  |  |
Nagano Parceiro |  Kim Yeong-gi |  Ko Kyung-dae |  Murilo |  |  |
Renofa Yamaguchi |  Kim Jeong-seok  |  Choi Ju-yong  |  |  |  |
FC Ryukyu |  Mac  |  Park Riki |  |  |
SC Sagamihara |  Leozinho |  Toró |  Mobi Fehr |  |  |
YSCC Yokohama | None
Machida Zelvia |  Bae Dae-won |  Ri Han-jae |  Lee Min-soo |  |  |
J.League U-22 Selection1 | N/A

Note:

^1 A special team, composed of best J1 and J2 youngsters to prepare them for the 2016 Olympics

## League table

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation

|
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1  | Renofa Yamaguchi (C, P) | 36  | 25  | 3  | 8  | 96  | 36  | +60  | 78  | Promotion to 2016 J2 League
2  | Machida Zelvia (P) | 36  | 23  | 9  | 4  | 52  | 18  | +34  | 78  | Qualification to J2 League promotion playoffs[a]
3  | Nagano Parceiro | 36  | 21  | 7  | 8  | 46  | 28  | +18  | 70  |
4  | SC Sagamihara | 36  | 17  | 7  | 12  | 59  | 51  | +8  | 58
5  | Kataller Toyama | 36  | 14  | 10  | 12  | 37  | 36  | +1  | 52
6  | Gainare Tottori | 36  | 14  | 8  | 14  | 47  | 41  | +6  | 50
7  | Fukushima United | 36  | 13  | 10  | 13  | 42  | 48  | −6  | 49
8  | Blaublitz Akita | 36  | 12  | 9  | 15  | 37  | 40  | −3  | 45
9  | FC Ryukyu | 36  | 12  | 9  | 15  | 45  | 51  | −6  | 45
10  | Fujieda MYFC | 36  | 11  | 4  | 21  | 37  | 61  | −24  | 37
11  | Grulla Morioka | 36  | 8  | 11  | 17  | 36  | 47  | −11  | 35
12  | J.League U-22 Selection (W) | 36  | 7  | 7  | 22  | 28  | 71  | −43  | 28  | Folded by JFA after the season.
13  | YSCC Yokohama | 36  | 7  | 6  | 23  | 24  | 58  | −34  | 27  |

Updated to match(es) played on 23 November 2015. Source: JLeague.jp
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4th) head-to-head results; 5th) disciplinary points; 6th) draw
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (W) Withdrawn
Notes:

1. ^ Only teams that hold a J2 license are eligible for promotion.

## Results

[edit]

### Rounds 1–13

[edit]

Home \ Away  | BLA | FUK | GAI | GRU | KAT | MYF | PAR | REN | RYU | SGM | YSC | ZEL | J22

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Blaublitz Akita |  |  | 1–2  | 1–0  |  |  |  | 1–2  |  | 3–0  | 0–1  |  | 1–0
Fukushima United | 1–1  |  |  | 1–0  |  | 0–2  | 1–2  | 3–4  |  |  |  |  | 1–4
Gainare Tottori |  | 1–2  |  |  | 2–1  | 2–0  | 0–1  |  | 1–0  |  | 1–1  |  | 2–0
Grulla Morioka |  |  | 0–1  |  | 0–0  | 2–0  | 0–2  |  |  |  | 2–2  | 0–0  | 1–2
Kataller Toyama | 1–0  | 1–2  |  |  |  | 1–0  |  |  |  | 0–1  | 2–0  | 1–2  | 2–1
Fujieda MYFC | 0–2  |  |  |  |  |  | 0–1  |  | 0–0  | 0–2  |  | 1–1  | 1–1
Nagano Parceiro | 1–0  |  |  |  | 0–1  |  |  | 2–1  | 2–1  | 1–2  |  |  | 2–0
Renofa Yamaguchi |  |  | 2–1  | 4–0  | 1–0  | 3–0  |  |  | 4–3  | 2–0  |  |  | 8–0
FC Ryukyu | 2–0  | 1–1  |  | 3–1  | 0–0  |  |  |  |  |  | 0–1  |  | 2–1
SC Sagamihara |  | 2–0  | 0–2  | 1–1  |  |  |  |  | 0–1  |  |  | 2–1  | 3–0
YSCC Yokohama |  | 0–1  |  |  |  | 0–1  | 0–2  | 0–1  |  | 0–4  |  | 0–1  | 0–0
Machida Zelvia | 0–1  | 1–1  | 2–0  |  |  |  | 0–0  | 1–0  | 1–0  |  |  |  | 6–0
J.League U-22 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Updated to match(es) played on 24 May 2015. Source: J. League data
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

### Rounds 14–26

[edit]

Home \ Away  | BLA | FUK | GAI | GRU | KAT | MYF | PAR | REN | RYU | SGM | YSC | ZEL | J22

|
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Blaublitz Akita |  | 2–3  | 1–2  |  | 1–1  | 0–0  | 1–2  |  |  |  |  | 0–1  | 0–0
Fukushima United |  |  | 1–0  | 1–1  | 0–3  |  |  |  |  | 1–1  |  | 1–1  | 1–1
Gainare Tottori |  |  |  | 2–1  | 1–2  | 2–1  |  | 1–1  |  |  |  | 0–0  | 1–1
Grulla Morioka | 0–0  |  |  |  |  | 0–2  |  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 2–3  | 1–1  |  | 5–0
Kataller Toyama |  |  |  | 1–0  |  |  |  | 2–5  | 0–1  | 0–0  | 1–1  |  | 0–0
Fujieda MYFC |  | 3–0  |  |  | 1–4  |  | 2–1  | 0–4  | 0–1  |  |  |  | 2–0
Nagano Parceiro |  | 1–0  | 2–0  | 0–1  | 1–0  |  |  |  |  | 0–0  | 1–0  |  | 0–1
Renofa Yamaguchi | 3–1  | 3–0  |  |  |  |  | 3–2  |  | 5–0  |  | 6–1  | 1–2  | 3–0
FC Ryukyu | 2–1  | 1–2  | 2–1  |  |  |  | 1–1  |  |  |  | 2–1  |  | 2–1
SC Sagamihara | 3–1  |  | 2–1  |  |  | 5–0  |  | 0–3  | 1–1  |  |  | 0–1  | 1–2
YSCC Yokohama | 0–0  | 0–1  | 1–0  |  |  | 1–2  |  |  |  | 0–1  |  |  | 0–3
Machida Zelvia |  |  |  | 0–1  | 1–0  | 4–0  | 2–0  |  | 2–0  |  | 2–1  |  | 3–1
J.League U-22 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Updated to match(es) played on 16 August 2015. Source: J. League data
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

### Rounds 27–39

[edit]

Home \ Away  | BLA | FUK | GAI | GRU | KAT | MYF | PAR | REN | RYU | SGM | YSC | ZEL | J22

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Blaublitz Akita |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1–1  | 3–1  | 3–3  | 2–2  | 1–0  |  | 1–0
Fukushima United | 1–2  |  |  |  |  | 2–1  | 0–1  | 2–1  | 1–1  |  | 3–0  |  | 3–0
Gainare Tottori | 0–1  | 1–1  |  |  |  |  |  | 2–2  | 3–0  | 6–2  |  | 1–1  | 0–1
Grulla Morioka | 0–1  | 3–1  | 1–2  |  |  |  |  | 1–4  |  |  |  | 1–1  | 1–0
Kataller Toyama | 0–2  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 2–1  |  | 1–0  | 0–0  |  |  |  |  |  | 2–1
Fujieda MYFC | 3–1  |  | 4–2  | 2–1  |  |  |  |  |  | 1–3  | 2–3  | 1–2  | 1–4
Nagano Parceiro |  |  | 1–0  | 2–2  |  | 2–1  |  |  | 2–1  |  | 5–1  | 1–1  | 2–1
Renofa Yamaguchi |  |  |  |  | 1–2  | 2–3  | 1–2  |  |  | 5–0  | 4–0  |  | 0–0
FC Ryukyu |  |  |  | 1–1  | 1–1  | 1–0  |  | 0–2  |  | 4–6  |  | 0–2  | 6–0
SC Sagamihara |  | 0–2  |  | 2–2  | 5–1  |  | 2–0  |  |  |  | 0–2  |  | 3–2
YSCC Yokohama |  |  | 1–3  | 0–1  | 0–2  |  |  |  | 1–0  |  |  | 0–2  | 4–0
Machida Zelvia | 2–0  | 1–0  |  |  | 2–0  |  |  | 1–3  |  | 1–0  |  |  | 1–0
J.League U-22 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Updated to match(es) played on 23 November 2015. Source: J. League data
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

### Promotion/relegation playoffs

[edit]

2015 J2/J3 Play-Offs (2015 J2・J3入れ替え戦)

Team 1  | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2  | 1st leg  | 2nd leg

|
|
|
|

Oita Trinita | 1–3  | Machida Zelvia | 1–2  | 0-1

* * *

29 November 2015 (2015-11-29)

12:30

Machida Zelvia| 2–1| Oita Trinita

|
|

K. Suzuki 45+2', 72' | Report | Daniel 22'

Machida Municipal Athletic Stadium, Machida, Tokyo

Attendance: 8,629

* * *

6 December 2015 (2015-12-06)

12:30

Oita Trinita| 0–1| Machida Zelvia

|
|

| Report | K. Suzuki 58' (pen.)

Ōita Bank Dome, Ōita

Attendance: 14,217

Machida Zelvia was promoted to J2 League.
Oita Trinita was relegated to J3 League.

## Top scorers

[edit]

Rank  | Scorer  | Club  | Goals

|
|
|

1  |  Kazuhito Kishida | Renofa Yamaguchi |

2  |  Takaki Fukumitsu |

3  |  Yatsunori Shimaya |

4  |  Tsugutoshi Oishi | Fujieda MYFC |

5  |  Koji Suzuki | Machida Zelvia | 12
Yuki Sato | Nagano Parceiro
7  |  Hiroki Higuchi | SC Sagamihara |

8  |  Kyohei Maeyama | Blaublitz Akita | 10
Takafumi Suzuki | Machida Zelvia
Masato Nakayama | Gainare Tottori
11  |  Keita Tanaka | FC Ryukyu |

Updated to games played on 23 November 2015
Source: Meiji Yasuda J3 League Stats & Data - Ranking:Goals

## Attendances

[edit]

Pos  | Team  | Total | High | Low | Average | Change

|
|
|
|
|
|

1  | Nagano Parceiro | 94,665  | 8,681  | 3,159  | 4,733 | +31.7%†
2  | Renofa Yamaguchi | 87,348  | 8,474  | 1,697  | 4,367 | +90.1%‡
3  | Machida Zelvia | 75,312  | 7,803  | 2,005  | 3,766 | +20.2%†
4  | SC Sagamihara | 62,533  | 9,040  | 1,660  | 3,291 | +5.0%†
5  | Kataller Toyama | 56,392  | 4,542  | 1,870  | 2,820 | −33.9%†
6  | Blaublitz Akita | 37,955  | 3,233  | 1,237  | 1,998 | +12.7%†
7  | Gainare Tottori | 38,637  | 4,013  | 1,096  | 1,932 | −37.0%†
8  | FC Ryukyu | 28,466  | 8,993  | 673  | 1,498 | +7.2%†
9  | Fukushima United | 24,497  | 3,207  | 692  | 1,289 | −2.4%†
10  | Grulla Morioka | 24,784  | 3,025  | 635  | 1,239 | −18.6%†
11  | Fujieda MYFC | 20,962  | 1,516  | 618  | 1,103 | −16.4%†
12  | YSCC Yokohama | 17,465  | 1,723  | 461  | 919 | −9.7%†
| League total  | 569,016  | 9,040  | 461  | 2,432 | +8.2%†

Updated to games played on 23 November 2015
Source: J.League data
Notes:
† Team played previous season in J2.
‡ Team played previous season in JFL.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "弊クラブの経営状況に関する記者会見を行いました".
2. ^ "JFA holds 10th Council meeting". Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 19 November 2015. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
3. ^ a b c ２０１４Ｊ３リーグ 大会方式および試合方式について [Playing system and rules of 2014 J3 League] (PDF) (in Japanese), J.League, 17 December 2013, archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2013, retrieved 30 December 2013
4. ^ "AC長野パルセイロ". parceiro.co.jp. Archived from the original on 2015-08-05.
5. ^ "ニュース - KATALLER TOYAMA OFFICIAL WEB SITE". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-13.
6. ^ "SC相模原 オフィシャルブログ » 辛島監督退任および松原新監督就任のお知らせ". Archived from the original on 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2015-11-09.

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*[Pos]: Position
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal difference
*[Pts]: Points
*[Agg.]: Aggregate score
*[Total]: Total season attendance
*[High]: Highest season attendance
*[Low]: Lowest season attendance
*[Average]: Average season attendance
*[Change]: Change in average attendance in comparison with the previous season
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