Japan Football League

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In Japan's football history, there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different. One (日本フットボールリーグ, Nihon futtobōru Līgu^?) still exists and is the subject of this page while the other (ジャパンフットボールリーグ, Japan futtobōru Līgu^?) ceased to exist in 1998. In this page, the ceased Japan Football League is referred to as "the former JFL".

Japan Football League
Sport	Football
Founded	1999
No. of teams	18
Country(ies)	Japan
Most recent champion(s)	Sagawa Express S.C.

The Japan Football League (日本フットボールリーグ, Nihon futtobōru Līgu^?) is the 3rd tier of the Japanese football league system, following J. League division 1 and 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although in reality it is a semi-professional league as many full-time footballers play in the league. The JFL is directly governed by the Japan Football Association, as opposed to J. League whose governing body is the independent Japan Professional Football League (like the Football Conference being governed by the FA in England).

Contents 1 Foundation 2 Overview 2.1 Promotion from JFL 2.2 Relegation from JFL 3 2008 Season 4 Championship, promotion and relegation history 5 External links

[edit] Foundation

The Japan Football League started from the 1999 season when the second division of J. League (J2) was also born. Until then, J. League consisted of only one division and the former JFL was the second highest division. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams as well as Yokogawa Denki, the winners of the resional league play-off, formed the new Japan Football League. These 8 teams together with Yokohama F.C. that was allowed to participate as a special case after the merger of Yokohama Flügels and Yokohama Marinos competed in the inaugural 1999 season.

The 9 teams that competed in the first season were as follows: Denso F.C., Honda Giken F.C., Jatco F.C., Kokushikan University F.C., Mito HollyHock, Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C., Sony Sendai F.C., Yokohama F.C. and Yokogawa Denki F.C..

[edit] Overview

Clubs may be affiliated to companies, universities, or be entirely autonomous clubs or reserve teams of these. University clubs, which as a rule do not play in the Japanese football league system, are recommended by the Japan University Football Association and must play off against bottom JFL teams for entrance. B-teams are allowed to participate as only A-squads of truly autonomous clubs are eligible for J. League Associate Membership (see below).

[edit] Promotion from JFL

A club that satisfies the following criteria will be promoted to J. League Div. 2.

• Have J. League Associate Membership
• Finish the season in the top four in JFL, and in the top two amongst associate members.
• Pass the final inspection by J. League Committee

[edit] Relegation from JFL

Two teams at the bottom of the league may face a relegation/promotion play-off against the teams finished at the top of the Regional League play-offs. The number of the teams who need to compete in the play-off varies depending on the number of the teams that are promoted to J2 or withdraw from the JFL.

[edit] 2008 Season

Following eighteen clubs will be competing in the 2008 season. The league will follow double round-robin system, home and away.

• Arte Takasaki ↑
• Fagiano Okayama F.C. ↑
• Gainare Tottori ↑
• Honda F.C.
• JEF United Ichihara Chiba Reserves
• F.C. Kariya
• Kataller Toyama ↑
• MIO Biwako Kusatsu ↑
• Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. ↑
• New Wave Kitakyushu ↑
• F.C. Ryūkyū ↑
• Ryutsu Keizai University F.C.
• Sagawa Shiga F.C.
• Sagawa Printing S.C.
• Sony Sendai F.C.
• TDK S.C.
• Tochigi S.C. ↑
• Yokogawa Musashino F.C. ↑

* Bold designates J. League associate members; ↑ Clubs intending to join J. League in the future

[edit] Championship, promotion and relegation history

Season	Champions	Runners-up	Promoted to J2 after the season	Promoted from Regional Leagues before the season	Relegated to Regional Leagues after the season
1999	Yokohama F.C.	Honda F.C.	Mito HollyHock	Yokogawa Denki	None
2000	Yokohama F.C.	Honda F.C.	Yokohama FC	Tochigi S.C. Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C. Alo's Hokuriku F.C. Kyoken	None
2001	Honda F.C.	Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.	None	Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. YKK AP F.C. S.C. Tottori Ehime F.C. NTT West Japan-Kumamoto	None
2002	Honda F.C.	Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.	None	Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. Professor Miyazaki	Shizuoka Kengyo University F.C. Alouette Kumamoto Professor Miyazaki
2003	Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.	Honda F.C.	None	Sagawa Printing S.C.	Jatco F.C. F.C. Kyoto BAMB 1993 (F.C. Kyoken)
2004	Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C.	Honda F.C.	Otsuka (Tokushima Vortis) Thespa Kusatsu	Thespa Kusatsu Gunma Horikoshi	Kokushikan University F.C.
2005	Ehime F.C.	YKK AP F.C.	Ehime	Ryutsu Keizai University F.C. Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. Honda Lock S.C.	None
2006	Honda F.C.	Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C.	None	JEF United Ichihara Chiba B Rosso Kumamoto F.C. Ryukyu	Honda Lock S.C.
2007	Sagawa Express S.C.	Rosso Kumamoto	Rosso F.C. Gifu	TDK S.C. F.C. Gifu	None
2008				Fagiano Okayama F.C. New Wave Kitakyushu F.C. Mi-O Biwako Kusatsu

[edit] External links

• (Japanese) Official Site

v • d • e Football in Japan Japan Football Association     League Comp. J. League Division 1 J. League Division 2 Japan Football League League system Women's League National Team Women/Futsal Champions List of clubs List of venues Cup Competitions Emperor's Cup J. League Cup Japanese Super Cup Shakaijin Cup Women's Cup

v • d • e 2008 Japan Football League Clubs Arte Takasaki · Fagiano Okayama F.C. · Gainare Tottori · Honda F.C. · JEF United Reserves · F.C. Kariya Kataller Toyama · MIO Biwako Kusatsu · Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. · New Wave Kitakyushu F.C. Ryūkyū · Ryutsu Keizai University F.C. · Sagawa Shiga F.C. · Sagawa Printing S.C. · Sony Sendai F.C. TDK S.C. · Tochigi S.C. · Yokogawa Musashino F.C.