Japanese Regional Leagues(Japanese:Địa vực リーグ,Hepburn:Chiiki Rīgu)are a group of parallelassociation footballleagues in Japan that are organized on the regional basis. They form the fifth and sixth tier of theJapanese association football league systembelow the nationwideJapan Football League.
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| Founded | 1966(Kansai and Tokai) 1967(Kanto) 1973(Chugoku and Kyushu) 1975(Hokushin'etsu) 1977(Shikoku and Tohoku) 1978(Hokkaido) |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC(Asia) |
| Divisions | 5(first level) 6(second level) |
| Number of clubs | 130 |
| Level on pyramid | 5–6 |
| Promotionto | Japan Soccer League(1966–1991) Japan Football League (1992–1998) Japan Football League(1999–present) |
| Relegationto | Japanese Prefectural Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Emperor's Cup Shakaijin Cup |
| Current:2025 Japanese Regional Leagues | |
Overview
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HokkaidoTōhokuKantōHokushinetsuTōkaiKansaiChūgokuShikokuKyushu
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 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 renamedJapanese Regional Football Champions League) at the end of the year. Runners-up may also qualify according to criteria set by theJapan Football Association.
Regional league clubs also compete in theAll Japan Senior Football Championship,acup 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 theEmperor'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:
- Japan Soccer Leagueco-foundersUrawa Red Diamonds,JEF United Chiba,Kashiwa Reysol,Cerezo Osaka,Sanfrecce Hiroshima(listed under current names, all formed the old league in 1965);
- Independent clubShimizu S-Pulse,established as a professional club uponJ. Leaguecreation in 1992;
- Sagan Tosu,took over the foldedTosu Futuresin theformer JFLin 1997;
- Yokohama FC,directly admitted into theJapan Football Leaguein 1999 upon their formation;
- Kataller Toyama,formed in 2008 as a result of the fusion of JFL clubsALO's HokurikuandYKK AP.
- Kagoshima United FC,formed in 2014 as a result of the fusion of Kyushu League clubs Volca Kagoshima and FC Kagoshima, top two in the 2013 Regional Promotion Series, and which joined the JFL as a merged club
Additionally, the forerunners to Tosu Futures,Kashima Antlers,Avispa FukuokaandVissel Kobewere originally based in different regions (and won or were promoted from those regions) from where they, or their successors, are based today:
- Kashima Antlers were originally based in Kansai but moved to Kantō in 1975 after reaching the JSL;
- Tosu Futures were 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, 2025
editHokkaido Soccer League
edit| League | Teams | Hometown |
|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido Soccer League Hokkaido サッカーリーグ |
ASC Hokkaido (ja) | Tomakomai, Hokkaido |
| BTOP Hokkaido | Kuriyama, Hokkaido | |
| Canale Otaru (ja) | Otaru City, Hokkaido | |
| Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth | Obihiro, Hokkaido | |
Japan Steel Muroran (ja)
|
Asahikawa, Hokkaido | |
| Norbritz Hokkaido | Ebetsu, Hokkaido | |
| Sabas FC
|
Sapporo, Hokkaido | |
| Sapporo University Goal Plunderers(ja) | Sapporo, Hokkaido |
Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League
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Kantō Soccer League
editHokushinetsu Football League
editTōkai Adult Soccer League
editKansai Soccer League
editChūgoku Soccer League
editShikoku Soccer League
editKyushu Soccer League
editSee also
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References
edit- ^"2024 niên độ Đông Bắc xã hội người サッカーリーグ1 bộ | thí hợp nhật trình ／ kết quả".tohoku-fa.jp(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"2024 niên độ Đông Bắc xã hội người サッカーリーグ2 bộ bắc | thí hợp nhật trình ／ kết quả".tohoku-fa.jp(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"2024 niên độ Đông Bắc xã hội người サッカーリーグ2 bộ nam | thí hợp nhật trình ／ kết quả".tohoku-fa.jp(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Đệ 58 hồi quan đông サッカーリーグ1 bộ".goalnote.net(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Đệ 58 hồi quan đông サッカーリーグ2 bộ | nhật trình ・ kết quả".goalnote.net(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Đệ 50 hồi bắc tin càng フットボールリーグDivision1".goalnote.net(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Đệ 50 hồi bắc tin càng フットボールリーグDivision2 | nhật trình ・ kết quả".goalnote.net(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"2024 năm 1 bộ リーグ の thí hợp nhật trình をご án nội いたします".tokai-sl.jp(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Đệ 59 hồi アストエンジ quan tây サッカーリーグDivision１ | nhật trình ・ kết quả".goalnote.net(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Đệ 59 hồi アストエンジ quan tây サッカーリーグDivision2 | nhật trình ・ kết quả".goalnote.net(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"2024 niên độ đệ 52 hồi Trung Quốc サッカーリーグ | thí hợp nhật trình ／ kết quả".csl-jp(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"Đệ 48 hồi tứ quốc サッカーリーグ | nhật trình ・ kết quả".goalnote.net(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"KYFA đệ ５２ hồi Cửu Châu サッカーリーグ | thí hợp nhật trình ／ kết quả".football-system.jp(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
- ^"KYFA đệ ５２ hồi Cửu Châu サッカーリーグ | thí hợp nhật trình ／ kết quả".football-system.jp(in Japanese).Retrieved23 May2024.
External links
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- Japanese Regional Leagues summary– Soccerway
- Hokkaido Football Association
- Tohoku Football Association
- Kanto Soccer League
- Hokushinetsu Football League
- Tokai Member of Society League
- Kansai Soccer League
- Chūgoku Soccer League
- Shikoku Soccer League
- Kyushu Soccer League
- Japan Football Federation for Members of Society