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.

Japanese Regional Leagues
Founded1966; 58 years ago (1966) (Kansai and Tokai)
1967; 57 years ago (1967) (Kanto)
1973; 51 years ago (1973) (Chugoku and Kyushu)
1975; 49 years ago (1975) (Hokushin'etsu)
1977; 47 years ago (1977) (Shikoku and Tohoku)
1978; 46 years ago (1978) (Hokkaido)
CountryJapan
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Divisions5 (first level)
6 (second level)
Number of teams134
Level on pyramid5–6
Promotion toJapan Soccer League (1966–1991)
Japan Football League (1992–1998)
Japan Football League (1999–present)
Relegation toJapanese Prefectural Leagues [ja]
Domestic cup(s)Emperor's Cup
Shakaijin Cup
Current: 2024 Japanese Regional Leagues

Overview edit

 
Football regions in Japan:
  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:

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 edit

Hokkaido Soccer League edit

Name of league Names of teams Hometown
Hokkaido Soccer League
北海道サッカーリーグ
Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth Obihiro, Hokkaido
Norbritz Hokkaido Ebetsu, Hokkaido
Sapporo Univ. Goal Plunderers Sapporo, Hokkaido
Sapporo FC Sapporo, Hokkaido
Hokushukai Iwamizawa Iwamizawa, Hokkaido
Kyokusyuukai FC   Muroran, Hokkaido
BTOP Hokkaido Kuriyama, Hokkaido
Nippon Express FC   Tomakomai, Hokkaido

Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

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 edit

Name of league Names of teams Hometown
Kyushu Soccer League
九州サッカーリーグ
Kajiki FC   Kajiki, Kagoshima
Veroskronos Tsuno Tsuno, Miyazaki
J-Lease FC Oita, Oita
Brew Kashima Kashima, Saga
NIFS Kanoya FC Kanoya, Kagoshima
KMG Holdings FC Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Kawasoe Club Kawasoe, Saga
Kyushu Sogo Sports College Usa, Oita
Nippon Steel Oita SC Ōita, Ōita
FC Nobeoka Agata Nobeoka, Miyazaki

See also edit

References edit

External links edit