Japanese Regional Football Champions League

Football league

Japan Regional Football Champions LeagueFounded| 1977; 48 years ago (1977)

|

Region| Japan
Confederation| AFC (Asia)
Number of clubs| 12
Promotion to|

* Japan Soccer League (1977–1991)
* Japan Football League (1992–1998)
* Japan Football League (1999–present)

Current champions| Asuka FC
(1st title)
(2024)
Most championships|

* Yamaha Motor
* Daikyo Oil Yokkaichi/Kosmo Daikyo
* Nippon Denso
* (2 titles each)

Current: 2025 Japanese Regional Football Champions League

The Japanese Regional Champions League (Japanese: 全国地域サッカーチャンピオンズリーグ, Zenkoku Chiiki Sakkā Championzu Rīgu), known before 2016 as Japan Regional Football League Competition, is a nationwide play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japanese football clubs competing in regional leagues to the Japan Football League.

## History

[edit]

Main article: Japanese football league system

Until 1976, the main entrance route for regional clubs to the Japan Soccer League was the All Japan Senior Football Championship, a cup competition. In 1977, to test clubs in a league environment before entrance to the league, the Japan Football Association devised this tournament.

In 1984 and 1985 more promotion places were added due to the JSL, expanding its divisions. In 1992 it began promoting clubs to the former JFL's second division and, from 1994 to 1998, to its single division. In 1999 and 2000 it added extra promotion places due to the formation and expansion of the new JFL.

Yamaha Motors (Júbilo Iwata) are, thus far, the only Regional Series champions to later become First Division champions. They are also the only club to retain the title, as they failed to be promoted in their first attempt due to losing a playoff series. Since 1980 every champion has been automatically promoted, exceptions being in 1993 (Nippon Denso/FC Kariya lost a playoff) and in 2002 (Ain Foods requested not to be promoted as they lacked the resources to compete at the national level).

## Qualification

[edit]

Until 2009, the number of places in the tournament was 16, distributed as follows:

* All regional league champions (9 clubs)
* 4 regional league runners-up (4 clubs)
* University club recommended by the university association (1 club)
* Club recommended by the JFA (1 club)
* All Japan Senior Cup winner (1 club)
* Other clubs (other league runners-up, Senior Cup runners-up or third places, etc.) (0-3 clubs) – more allowed if Senior Cup holder has won a regional league or been runner-up

As of 2010, the regional league runners-up are no longer eligible and the university association is no longer allowed to make recommendations, reducing the number of places to 12.

* All regional league champions (9 clubs)
* Club recommended by the JFA (at most 1 club)
* All Japan Senior Cup winners and runners-up (at most 2 clubs)
* This may be replaced by third and/or fourth-placed team if the winners and/or runners-up win a regional league or recommended by the JFA.
* Regional league runners-up (0-3 clubs)
* This number of clubs changes by the result of "Club recommended by the JFA" and "All Japan Senior Cup".

## Format

[edit]

### Preliminary round

[edit]

The clubs are grouped in round-robin groups of four, playing at a single city per group (no home-and-away format is followed). Only three matches are played per club, since the match location is the same. The winners of each group qualify for the final round.

### Final round

[edit]

As of 2010, the three group winners plus the highest-scoring runner-up are grouped in a final group in a single locale, with three matches played per club. The top two places are guaranteed promotion and the third place may play a promotion/relegation series against one of the three bottom JFL clubs (subject to JFL place availability).

### Round-robin rules

[edit]

The usual 3-1-0 system is used; however, in case of a draw, a penalty shootout is added and the winner gets one extra point.

## Winners

[edit]

Teams in bold were promoted.

Year | Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Also promoted

|
|
|
|

1977 | Yamaha Motors | Toshiba Horikawa-cho | Toho Titanium
1978 | Yamaha Motors | Toho Titanium | Dainichi Nippon Densen
1979 | Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi | Kyoto Shiko Club | Furukawa Electric Chiba
1980 | Nagoya S.C. | Furukawa Electric Chiba | Saitama Teachers
1981 | Saitama Teachers | NTT West Japan Kyoto | Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi
1982 | Toho Titanium | Seino Transportation | Hyōgo Teachers
1983 | Yokohama TriStar | Matsushita | Teijin Matsuyama
1984 | Seino Transportation | Kyoto Police Dept. | TDK SC | Osaka Gas
1985 | Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi | Kawasaki Steel Mizushima | Toho Titanium | NTT Kansai
1986 | NTT Kanto | Mazda Auto Hiroshima | Toyoda Machine Works
1987 | Teijin Matsuyama | Fujieda City Hall | Matsushima S.C.
1988 | Mazda Auto Hiroshima | Kyoto Shiko Club | Tokyo Gas
1989 | Yomiuri S.C. Juniors | Otsuka Pharmaceutical | Seino Transportation
1990 | Tokyo Gas | Chuo Bohan | Seino Transportation
1991 | Osaka Gas | Osaka Taidai Kemari Club | Seino Transportation
1992 | PJM Futures | Toyota Motors Higashifuji | NEC Yamagata
1993 | Nippon Denso | NEC Yamagata | Jatco
1994 | Brummell Sendai | Fukushima FC | Yokogawa Denki
1995 | Nippon Denso | Ōita F.C. | Yokogawa Denki
1996 | Jatco | Prima Ham | Mazda S.C.
1997 | Sony Sendai FC | Albirex Niigata | Yokogawa Denki
1998 | Yokogawa Denki | Hitachi Shimizu | Ehime FC
1999  | Alo's Hokuriku | Tochigi SC | Honda Luminoso Sayama F.C. | F.C. Kyoken
2000 | Sagawa Express Tokyo SC | YKK AP F.C. | NTT Kumamoto | S.C. Tottori
Ehime FC
2001  | Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. | Professor Miyazaki | Nangoku Kochi F.C.
2002  | Ain Foods | Sagawa Printing SC | Shizuoka F.C.
2003  | Thespa Kusatsu | Gunma F.C. Horikoshi | Shizuoka F.C.
2004  | Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. | Ryutsu Keizai University FC | Honda Lock SC
2005  | F.C. Ryukyu | JEF United Ichihara Chiba B | Rosso Kumamoto
2006  | TDK SC | FC Gifu | Fagiano Okayama F.C.
2007  | Fagiano Okayama | New Wave Kitakyushu | F.C. Mi-O Biwako Kusatsu
2008 | Machida Zelvia | V-Varen Nagasaki | Honda Lock
2009 | Matsumoto Yamaga | Hitachi Tochigi Uva | Zweigen Kanazawa
2010 | Kamatamare Sanuki | Nagano Parceiro | Sanyo Electric Sumoto
2011 | YSCC Yokohama | Fujieda MYFC | Hoyo AC Elan Ōita
2012 | SC Sagamihara | Fukushima United | Norbritz Hokkaido
2013 | Grulla Morioka | Fagiano Okayama Next | FC Kagoshima
(merged with Volca Kagoshima
to form Kagoshima United FC) | Vanraure Hachinohe
Azul Claro Numazu
Renofa Yamaguchi
Maruyasu Okazaki
2014 | Nara Club | FC Osaka | Club Dragons
2015 | ReinMeer Aomori | Briobecca Urayasu | Saurcos Fukui
2016 | FC Imabari | Veertien Mie | Suzuka Unlimited
2017 | Cobaltore Onagawa | Tegevajaro Miyazaki | Vonds Ichihara
2018 | Matsue City | Suzuka Unlimited | FC Kariya
2019 | Iwaki FC | Kochi United SC | Ococias Kyoto AC
2020 | FC Tiamo Hirakata | FC Kariya | Tochigi City FC
2021 | Criacao Shinjuku | FC Ise-Shima | Ococias Kyoto AC
2022 | Briobecca Urayasu | Okinawa SV | Tochigi City
2023 | Tochigi City FC | Vonds Ichihara | Tsukuba FC
2024 | Asuka FC | Vonds Ichihara | Fukui United FC
2025 |  |  |

Source: JFA

### Wins by region

[edit]

Clubs in bold compete in the J.League (any division) in the 2025 season. Clubs in italics no longer exist. A dagger (†) indicates clubs that moved away from the region after winning the title.

Region | Number of titles | Clubs

|
|

Kantō | 15  | Saitama SC, Toho Titanium SC, Yokohama Flügels, Omiya Ardija, Yomiuri S.C. Juniors, FC Tokyo, Yokogawa Musashino, Sagawa Express Tokyo, Thespa Gunma, Machida Zelvia, YSCC Yokohama, SC Sagamihara, Criacao Shinjuku, Briobecca Urayasu, Tochigi City FC
Tōkai | 10  | Júbilo Iwata (2), Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi (2), Nagoya S.C., Seino Transportation, Tosu Futures †, FC Kariya (2), Jatco SC
Tōhoku | 7  | Vegalta Sendai, Sony Sendai, Blaublitz Akita, Grulla Morioka, ReinMeer Aomori, Cobaltore Onagawa, Iwaki FC
Kansai | 6  | Osaka Gas, Sagawa Express Osaka, Ain Foods, Nara Club, FC Tiamo Hirakata, Asuka FC
Chūgoku | 4  | Mazda Auto Hiroshima, Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima, Fagiano Okayama, Matsue City
Shikoku | 3  | Teijin SC, Kamatamare Sanuki, FC Imabari
Koshin'etsu | 2  | ALO's Hokuriku, Matsumoto Yamaga
Kyūshū | 1  | FC Ryukyu
Hokkaidō | –  |

## See also

[edit]

* Asia portal
* Japan portal
* Sports portal
* Association football portal
* Women's association football portal

* Sport in Japan
* Football in Japan
* Women's football in Japan
* Japan Football Association (JFA)

Soccer/Football
League system

* Japanese association football league system
* J.League
* J1 League (Tier 1)
* J2 League (Tier 2)
* J3 League (Tier 3)
* Japan Football League (JFL) (Tier 4)
* Regional Champions League (Promotion playoffs to JFL)
* Regional Leagues (Tier 5/6)

Domestic cup

* Fujifilm Super Cup (Super Cup)
* Emperor's Cup (National Cup)
* J.League YBC Levain Cup (League Cup)

Futsal

* F.League
* F1 League (Tier 1)
* F2 League (Tier 2)
* JFA Futsal Championship (National Cup)
* F.League Ocean Cup (League Cup)

Beach soccer

* Beach Soccer Championship (National Cup)

## References

[edit]

* Contents of Domestic Competition of Football in Japan

## External links

[edit]

* JFA official page
* Japanese Regional Leagues summary(SOCCERWAY)
* 2011 season at the JFA
* Unofficial site from JFL News Archived 2019-04-01 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Japanese Regional Football Champions League

Editions|

* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

* v
* t
* e

Football in Japan

* Records
* Trophies and awards
* Venues
* History

National association|

* Japan Football Association (JFA)

National teams
(2025)|

| Men|

* Japan
* results
* footballers
* managers
* B
* U-23
* results
* footballers
* managers
* U-20
* U-17
* Futsal
* U-23
* U-20
* Beach soccer
* FIFAe

|

Women|

* Japan
* results
* footballers
* managers
* B
* U-23
* results
* footballers
* managers
* U-20
* U-17
* Futsal
* U-23
* U-20
* Beach soccer

Leagues
(2025)|

| Men|

* J.League
* J1 League
* J2 League
* J3 League
* Japan Football League (JFL)
* Regional Leagues
* Prince Takamado Cup
* U-18 Premier League
* U-18 Prince Leagues

|

Women|

* WE League
* Nadeshiko League
* Division 1
* Division 2

Cups
(2025)|

| Men|

* Emperor's Cup
* YBC Levain Cup
* Fujifilm Super Cup
* Shakaijin Cup
* Club Teams Cup
* Intercollegiate Cup
* All Japan High School Cup
* Inter-High
* Club Youth Cup

|

Women|

* Empress's Cup
* WE League Cup
* Intercollegiate

International cups|

| Men|

* Kirin Cup Soccer (Senior)
* Kirin Challenge Cup (Senior / U-23)
* SBS Cup (U-18)
* Ibaraki Next Generation Cup (U-18)
* International Youth Soccer in Niigata (U-17)
* U-16 International Dream Cup

|

Women|

* MS&AD Cup (Senior)
* JENESYS U-17 Women’s Football Memorial Cup

Culture|

| Historical matches|

* Japan v Iraq (1994 FIFA World Cup qualification)

|

Anime and Manga|

* Aoashi
* Blue Lock
* Captain Tsubasa
* Days
* Giant Killing
* Inazuma Eleven

Rivalries|

* National teams
* Japan–South Korea
* Australia–Japan
* China–Japan
* North Korea–Japan

* Football in Japan by prefecture
* Tokyo
* Osaka
* by city
* Competitions

* v
* t
* e

Japanese club football

First-tier club football seasons, 1965–present

| Japan Soccer League
1965–1992
Japan Soccer League Division 1
since 1972|

* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92

|

J.League
1993–present
J.League Division 1/J1 League
since 1999|

* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* List of champions
* J.League Championship
* Promotion / Relegation series
* Super Cup

Second-tier club football seasons, 1972–present

| Japan Soccer League Division 2
1972–1992|

* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985–86
* 1986–87
* 1987–88
* 1988–89
* 1989–90
* 1990–91
* 1991–92

|

(former) Japan Football League
1992–1998
(former) Japan Football League Division 1
1992–1993|

* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998

J2 League
1999–present|

* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

* List of champions
* Promotion / Relegation series

Third-tier club football seasons, 1992–93, 1999–present

| (former) Japan Football League Division 2
1992–93|

* 1992
* 1993

|

* No national third tier, 1994–1998

Japan Football League
1999–2013|

* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013

J3 League
2014–present|

* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

List of champions

Fourth-tier club football seasons, 2014–present

| Japan Football League
2014–present|

* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

|

Regional level club football seasons, 1966–present

| Japanese Regional Leagues
1966–present|

* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

|

* Regional Champions League
* Shakaijin Cup

Emperor's Cup seasons, 1921–present

| Emperor's Cup
1921–present|

* 1921
* 1922
* 1923
* 1924
* 1925
* ~~1926~~
* 1927
* 1928
* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1932
* 1933
* ~~1934~~
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* WW II
* 1946
* ~~1947~~
* ~~1948~~
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1971
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991
* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

|

Super Cup

League Cup seasons, 1976–present

| JSL Cup
1976–1991|

* 1976
* 1977
* 1978
* 1979
* 1980
* 1981
* 1982
* 1983
* 1984
* 1985
* 1986
* 1987
* 1988
* 1989
* 1990
* 1991

|

J.League Cup
1992–present|

* 1992
* 1993
* 1994
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Suruga Bank Championship

Football clubs in Japan, 2025

| J1 League|

* Albirex Niigata
* Avispa Fukuoka
* Cerezo Osaka
* Fagiano Okayama
* Gamba Osaka
* Kashima Antlers
* Kashiwa Reysol
* Kawasaki Frontale
* Kyoto Sanga FC
* FC Machida Zelvia
* Nagoya Grampus
* Sanfrecce Hiroshima
* Shimizu S-Pulse
* Shonan Bellmare
* FC Tokyo
* Tokyo Verdy
* Urawa Red Diamonds
* Vissel Kobe
* Yokohama F. Marinos
* Yokohama FC

|

J2 League|

* Blaublitz Akita
* Ehime FC
* Fujieda MYFC
* Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
* FC Imabari
* Iwaki FC
* JEF United Chiba
* Júbilo Iwata
* Kataller Toyama
* Mito HollyHock
* Montedio Yamagata
* Oita Trinita
* Omiya Ardija
* Renofa Yamaguchi FC
* Roasso Kumamoto
* Sagan Tosu
* Tokushima Vortis
* V-Varen Nagasaki
* Vegalta Sendai
* Ventforet Kofu

J3 League|

* AC Nagano Parceiro
* Azul Claro Numazu
* FC Gifu
* Fukushima United FC
* Gainare Tottori
* Giravanz Kitakyushu
* Kagoshima United FC
* Kamatamare Sanuki
* Kochi United
* Matsumoto Yamaga FC
* Nara Club
* FC Osaka
* FC Ryukyu
* SC Sagamihara
* Tegevajaro Miyazaki
* Thespa Gunma
* Tochigi City
* Tochigi SC
* Vanraure Hachinohe
* Zweigen Kanazawa

100 Year Plan clubs|

* Criacao Shinjuku
* Nankatsu SC
* Tokyo 23
* Vonds Ichihara

Japan Football League|

* Asuka FC
* Atletico Suzuka Club
* Briobecca Urayasu Ichikawa
* Criacao Shinjuku
* Honda FC
* Iwate Grulla Morioka
* Maruyasu Okazaki
* Minebea Mitsumi
* Okinawa SV
* Reilac Shiga
* ReinMeer Aomori
* FC Tiamo Hirakata
* Veertien Mie
* Verspah Oita
* Yokogawa Musashino
* YSCC Yokohama

Defunct clubs
(clubs belonging to
nationwide leagues only)|

* Sony Sendai
* Fukushima FC
* Arte Takasaki
* JEF Reserves
* Sagawa Express Tokyo
* NKK SC
* Yokohama Flügels
* ALO's Hokuriku
* Jatco SC
* Hagoromo Club
* Toyota Higashi-Fuji
* Seino Transportation
* Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi
* Sagawa Shiga
* NTT Kinki/Kansai
* SP Kyoto
* Tanabe Pharmaceutical
* Dainichi Cable Industries
* Sagawa Express Osaka
* Eidai SC
* Kagura Shimane
* Teijin SC
* Nippon Steel Yawata
* Tosu Futures
* Profesor Miyazaki
* J.League U-22 Selection
* FC Tokyo U-23
* Cerezo Osaka U-23
* Gamba Osaka U-23

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