V.League (Japan)

Top-level semi-professional volleyball league in Japan

It has been suggested that this article should be split into articles titled V.League Division 1 Men's and V.League Division 1 Women's. (discuss) (March 2020)

|

V.League 1Current season, competition or edition:
2023–24 V.League Division 1 Men's
2023–24 V.League Division 1 Women's

Sport| Volleyball
Founded| 1994; 30 years ago (1994)
No. of teams| Men: 10
Women: 12
Country| Japan
Most recent
champion(s)| Men: Wolfdogs Nagoya
Women: NEC Red Rockets
(2022–23)
Most titles| Men: Shin Nihon Steel (16)
(later; Osaka Blazers Sakai)
Women: Hitachi (17)
TV partner(s)| V.TV by Easy sports
Related
competitions| V.Challenge League
Official website| vleague.jp

The V.League 1 (Japanese: Vリーグ) is the top-level professional volleyball league for both men and women in Japan. The league started in 1994.

The competitions are organized by the Japan Volleyball League Organization. The league was called V.Premier League before the reform took place in 2018.

## History[edit]

### V.League[edit]

In 2016, the Japan Volleyball League Organization, which hosts Premier League, held a press conference in Tokyo and announced plans to create a new league and aim for professionalization. They plan to recruit participating teams by the end of November and aim to start in the fall of 2018.[1][2]

This project to create a new league was called NEW BORN V.LEAGUE. The new league was named V.League. The new V.League aims to promote the "sports business" of volleyball by realizing a system of "earning through sports and returning the profits to sports" without being bound by conventional concepts. In addition, the V.League aims to further enhance the value of volleyball, push volleyball up to Japan's top arena sports, connect with the world, and become the world's best volleyball league.[3]

### S-V League[edit]

The Japan volleyball league organization held an online press conference on January 15 to explain a new league to be launched in the 2024-25 season. Under the philosophy of "strong, broad, and connected to society," the league aims to become the world's top league by 2030.[4]

This new league is a mid-tern project called V.LEAGUE REBORN. The official name of the new league is S-V League. S stands for Strong, Spread and Sociaty.[5] S-V League will replace V.League as the highest level of Japanese volleyball league.

S-V League as a highest level league and the necessary requirements to be licensed include:[6]

1. The main arena can accommodate more than 5,000 people and more than 80% of the home games are held there;
2. Annual revenue of more than 600 million yen;
3. Having youth teams under the age of 18 and under the age of 15;
4. A dedicated clubhouse;

#### The relation with V.League[edit]

For teams that do not wish to join the S-V League, both men's and women's leagues will be unified into one division under the name of V.League. The East-West Conference system will be introduced.[7]

## Clubs (2022–23 season)[edit]

The League currently consists of the following member clubs:

### Men (10 teams)[8][edit]

* JTEKT Stings
* Panasonic Panthers
* JT Thunders Hiroshima
* Toray Arrows
* Wolfdogs Nagoya
* Tokyo Great Bears
* Oita Miyoshi Weisse Adler
* VC Nagano Tridents
* Suntory Sunbirds
* Sakai Blazers

### Women (12 teams)[9][edit]

* JT Marvelous
* Okayama Seagulls
* Saitama Ageo Medics
* Denso Airybees
* Toyota Auto Body Queenseis
* Toray Arrows
* Hisamitsu Springs
* NEC Red Rockets
* Hitachi Rivale
* Kurobe AquaFairies
* PFU BlueCats
* Victorina Himeji

## Previous winners[edit]

* 1967–68 to 1993–94: Japan Volleyball League
* 1994–95 to 2005–06: V League
* 2006–07 to 2017–18: V.Premier League
* 2018–19 to present: V.League Division 1

### Men[edit]

| Japan Volleyball League

Season | Winner
1967–68 | Yahata Steel
1968–69 | Nihon Koukan
1969–70
1970–71
1971–72 | Matsushita Denki
1972–73 | Nihon Koukan
1973–74 | Shin Nihon Steel
1974–75
1975–76
1976–77
1977–78 | Nihon Koukan
1978–79 | Shin Nihon Steel
1979–80
1980–81
1981–82 | Fuji Photo Film
1982–83 | Shin Nihon Steel
1983–84 | Fuji Photo Film
1984–85
1985–86
1986–87
1987–88
1988–89 | Shin Nihon Steel
1989–90
1990–91
1991–92 | NEC Blue Rockets
1992–93 | Fuji Photo Film
1993–94 | NEC Blue Rockets
| V League

Season | Winner
1994–95 | Suntory Sunbirds
1995–96 | NEC Blue Rockets
1996–97 | Osaka Blazers Sakai
1997–98
1998–99 | NEC Blue Rockets
1999-00 | Suntory Sunbirds
2000–01
2001–02
2002–03
2003–04
2004–05 | Toray Arrows
2005–06 | Osaka Blazers Sakai
| V.Premier League

Season | Winner
2006–07 | Suntory Sunbirds
2007–08 | Panasonic Panthers
2008–09 | Toray Arrows
2009–10 | Panasonic Panthers
2010–11 | Osaka Blazers Sakai
2011–12 | Panasonic Panthers
2012–13 | Osaka Blazers Sakai
2013–14 | Panasonic Panthers
2014–15 | JT Thunders
2015–16 | Toyoda Gosei Trefuerza
2016–17 | Toray Arrows
2017–18 | Panasonic Panthers
| V.League Division 1

Season | Winner
2018–19 | Panasonic Panthers
2019–20 | JTEKT Stings
2020–21 | Suntory Sunbirds
2021–22
2022–23 | Wolfdogs Nagoya
2023–24 | [to be determined]

### Women[edit]

| Season | Winner

|

1967–68 | Hitachi Musashi
1968–69 | Unitika Kaizuka
1969–70 | Unitika Kaizuka
1970–71 | Unitika Kaizuka
1971–72 | Unitika Kaizuka
1972–73 | Yashika
1973–74 | Hitachi Musashi
1974–75 | Hitachi Musashi
1975–76 | Hitachi
1976–77 | Hitachi
1977–78 | Hitachi
1978–79 | Kanebo
1979–80 | Unitika
1980–81 | Unitika
1981–82 | Hitachi
1982–83 | Hitachi
1983–84 | Hitachi
1984–85 | Hitachi
1985–86 | Hitachi
1986–87 | Hitachi
1987–88 | NEC
1988–89 | Hitachi
1989–90 | Ito Yokado
1990–91 | Hitachi
1991–92 | Hitachi
1992–93 | Hitachi
1993–94 | Hitachi
| Season | Winner

|

1994–95 | Daiei
1995–96 | Unitika
1996–97 | NEC Red Rockets
1997–98 | Daiei
1998–99 | Toyobo
1999-00 | NEC Red Rockets
2000–01 | Toyobo
2001–02 | Hisamitsu Springs
2002–03 | NEC Red Rockets
2003–04 | Pioneer Red Wings
2004–05 | NEC Red Rockets
2005–06 | Pioneer Red Wings
2006–07 | Hisamitsu Springs
2007–08 | Toray Arrows
2008–09 | Toray Arrows
2009–10 | Toray Arrows
2010–11 | JT Marvelous
2011–12 | Toray Arrows
2012–13 | Hisamitsu Springs
2013–14 | Hisamitsu Springs
2014–15 | NEC Red Rockets
2015–16 | Hisamitsu Springs
2016–17 | NEC Red Rockets
2017–18 | Hisamitsu Springs
2018–19 | Hisamitsu Springs
2019–20 | JT Marvelous
2020–21 | JT Marvelous
2021–22 | Hisamitsu Springs
2022–23 | NEC Red Rockets

## Spectators[edit]

Records show from the new born V.League Division 1 from Season 2018/19.

Season  | Men (Division 1)  | Women (Division 1)  | Total

|
|
|

2018/2019[10] | 174,516 (avg 2,053 per matchday)  | 185,953 (avg 2,296 per matchday)  | 360,469
2019/2020[11] | 216,564 (avg 2,741 per matchday)  | 184,081 (avg 2,301 per matchday)  | 400,645
2020/2021[12] | 144,091 (avg 901 per matchday)  | 61,683 (avg 717 per matchday)  | 205,774
2021/2022[13] | 138,256 (avg 859 per matchday)  | 109,664 (avg 783 per matchday)  | 247,920
2022/2023[14] | 263,221 (avg 1,431 per matchday)  | 197,863 (avg 1,192 per matchday)  | 461,084

## Registered players[edit]

Records show from the new born V.League Division 1 from Season 2018/19.

Season  | Men (Division 1) | Women (Division 1)

|
|

2018/2019[15] | 196  | 220
2019/2020[16] | 203  | 238
2020/2021[17] | 199  | 248
2021/2022[18] | 169  | 251
2022/2023[19] | 190  | 248

## See also[edit]

* Volleyball portal

* V.Challenge League
* Emperor's Cup and Empress' Cup All Japan Volleyball Championship
* Kurowashiki All Japan Volleyball Tournament
* Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship
* Asian Women's Club Volleyball Championship
* FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship

## References[edit]

1. ^ "バレーボールリーグ機構 新リーグとプロ化を構想を発表 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex スポーツ". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-28.
2. ^ "Vリーグを世界のトップリーグへ 「Vリーグの未来構想」について". 一般社団法人日本バレーボールリーグ機構. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
3. ^ "2018/19シーズン 新リーグ名称・ロゴデザイン決定のお知らせ 記者会見を開催！". 一般社団法人日本バレーボールリーグ機構. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
4. ^ 只木信昭 (2023-02-15). "２０２４年発足の新Ｖリーグ構想を説明 ３０年をメドに世界最高峰リーグ目指す／バレー". サンスポ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
5. ^ "【バレー】Vリーグ機構が新リーグ構想を発表。世界最高峰を目指す「S-V.LEAGUE」を新設（バレーボールマガジン）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
6. ^ "【バレー】Vリーグ機構 2024年からの新リーグ参加要件となるクラブライセンス概要を発表（月刊バレーボール）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
7. ^ "バレーVリーグ再編成「SVリーグ」来年10月発足「世界最高峰のリーグになるチャンスある」 - スポニチ Sponichi Annex スポーツ". スポニチ Sponichi Annex (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-28.
8. ^ "一般社団法人日本バレーボールリーグ機構".
9. ^ "一般社団法人日本バレーボールリーグ機構".
10. ^ "第 14 期事業報告" (PDF).
11. ^ "第 15 期事業報告" (PDF).
12. ^ "第 16 期事業報告" (PDF).
13. ^ "第 17 期事業報告" (PDF).
14. ^ "第 18 期事業報告" (PDF).
15. ^ "V. League Report Year 2018" (PDF).
16. ^ "V. League Report Year 2019" (PDF).
17. ^ "V. League Report Year 2020" (PDF).
18. ^ "V. League Report Year 2021" (PDF).
19. ^ "V. League Report Year 2022" (PDF).

## External links[edit]

* Official website (in Japanese)
* Japan V.League Division 1. women.volleybox.net (in English)
* NEW BORN V.LEAGUE (in Japanese)

* v
* t
* e

2023–24 V.League Division 1 Men's

* Wolfdogs Nagoya
* Suntory Sunbirds
* Panasonic Panthers
* Toray Arrows
* Nippon Steel Sakai Blazers
* JTEKT Stings
* JT Thunders Hiroshima
* Tokyo Great Bears
* VC Nagano Tridents
* Voreas Hokkaido

* v
* t
* e

2022–23 V.League Division 1 Women's

* Denso Airybees
* Himeji Victorina
* Hisamitsu Springs
* Hitachi Rivale
* JT Marvelous
* Kurobe AquaFairies
* NEC Red Rockets
* Okayama Seagulls
* PFU BlueCats
* Saitama Ageo Medics
* Toray Arrows
* Toyota Auto Body Queenseis

* v
* t
* e

V.League seasons

Men|

| Premier|

* 2017–18

|

Division 1|

* 2018–19
* squads
* 2019–20
* squads
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23

Women|

| Premier|

* 2017–18

|

Division 1|

* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23

* v
* t
* e

Sports leagues in Japan

Baseball|

* Nippon Professional Baseball
* Central League
* Pacific League

Basketball|

* B.League
* B1 League
* B2 League
* B3 League

Dancing|

* D.League

Football|

* J.League
* J1 League
* J2 League
* J3 League
* Japan Football League
* Japanese Regional Leagues
* Japanese Prefectural Leagues [ja]

Gridiron football|

* X-League

Handball|

* Japan Handball League

Road bicycle racing|

* Japan Cycle League [ja]

Roller derby|

* Tokyo Roller Girls
* Okinawa Roller Derby

Rugby|

* Japan Rugby League One

Table tennis|

* T.League

Volleyball|

* V.League
* V1 League
* V2 League
* V3 League

Professional sports|

* Asia League Ice Hockey
* J.League
* Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB)
* X-League

Women's sports|

* Football
* WE League
* Nadeshiko League
* Ice Hockey
* Women's Japan Ice Hockey League
* Softball
* Japan Diamond Softball League

Defunct|

* Baseball
* Football

* v
* t
* e

Men's volleyball leagues

* FIVB
* National leagues
* Club World Championship
* Records and statistics

Africa|

| Continental|

* African Clubs Championship

|

Domestic|

* Algeria
* Tunisia

Asia and Oceania|

| Continental|

* AVC Club Championship

|

Domestic|

* Australia
* China
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Japan
* New Zealand
* Philippines
* Qatar
* South Korea
* Taiwan
* Thailand
* Vietnam

Europe|

| Continental|

* CEV Champions League

|

Regional|

* Baltic League
* MEVZA League
* NEVZA Clubs Championship

Domestic|

* Albania
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Czech Republic
* Czechoslovakia (defunct)
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Denmark
* East Germany (defunct)
* England
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Israel
* Italy
* Lithuania
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Soviet Union (defunct)
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* Yugoslavia (defunct)

North America|

| Domestic|

* Dominican Republic
* Puerto Rico
* United States

|

Universities|

* NAIA
* NJCAA

South America|

| Continental|

* South American Club Championship

|

Domestic|

* Argentina
* Brazil
* Chile
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

* v
* t
* e

Women's volleyball leagues

* FIVB
* National leagues
* Club World Championship
* Records and statistics

Africa|

| Continental|

* African Cup of Champions Clubs
* Women's African Cup Winners' Cup (defunct)

|

Regional|

* Arab Clubs Championship

Domestic|

* Algeria
* Angola
* Cameroon
* Kenya
* Morocco
* Tunisia

Asia and Oceania|

| Continental|

* AVC Club Championships

|

Regional|

* Arab Clubs Championship

Domestic|

* Australia
* China
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Japan
* Kazakhstan
* New Zealand
* Philippines
* South Korea
* Taiwan
* Thailand
* Uzbekistan
* Vietnam

Europe|

| Continental|

* CEV Champions League
* CEV Cup
* CEV Challenge Cup

|

Regional|

* Baltic League
* BVA Cup
* MEVZA League
* NEVZA Clubs Championship

Domestic|

* Albania
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Czechoslovakia
* Denmark
* England
* East Germany
* Estonia
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Israel
* Italy
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Soviet Union
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* Yugoslavia

North, Central America
and Caribbean|

| Domestic|

* Dominican Republic
* Mexico
* Puerto Rico
* United States

|

Universities|

* NAIA
* NCAA
* NJCAA
* U Sports

South America|

| Continental|

* South American Club Championship

|

Domestic|

* Argentina
* Brazil
* Chile [it]
* Paraguay
* Peru
* Uruguay
* Venezuela

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template