J2 League

Football league

Former logo

This logo was used from 2015 to 2018

The J2 League ( japanese : J2リーグ, Hepburn : J2 Rīgu ) or simply J2 is the second base division of the Japan Professional Football League ( 日本プロサッカーリーグ, Nihon Puro Sakkā Rīgu ) and the second flat of the japanese association football league arrangement. The top tier is represented by the J1 League. It ( along with the rest of the J.League ) is presently sponsored by Meiji Yasuda Life and it is therefore officially known as the Meiji Yasuda J2 League ( japanese : 明治安田生命J2リーグ ). [ 2 ] Until the 2014 season it was named the J.League Division 2. Second-tier club football has existed in Japan since 1972 ; however, it was lone professionalized during the 1999 season with ten-spot clubs. The league took one relegate club from the top class and nine clubs from the second-tier semi-professional early Japan Football League to create the J2 League. The remaining seven clubs in the Japan Football League, the newly formed Yokohama FC, and one promoting club from the Regional Leagues, formed the nine-club Japan Football League, then the third tier of japanese football. The third base tier is now represented by the J3 League .

history [edit ]

For a history of japanese club football before the origin of the master league in 1993, see Japan Soccer League. For a detail history of the J1 League, see J1 League § History

amateurish era ( until 1999 ) [edit ]

A national second tier of japanese association football was inaugural established in 1972, when the Japan Soccer League formed a second Division. Among the founding 10 clubs, 5 former competed in the J.League : Toyota Motors ( inauguration champion ), Yomiuri, Fujitsu, Kyoto Shiko Club and Kofu Club. The newfangled division consisted of 10 clubs, like the First Division, and initially required both the champion and runner-up teams to play off a Promotion/Relegation series of test matches against the top flight ‘s bottom clubs. The requirement was abolished for the champions in 1980, and for the runner-up in 1984. prior to 1977, the means for clubs to gain access to the Second Division was by making the finals of the All Japan Senior Football Championship and then playing off in their own Promotion/Relegation series against the second tier ‘s bottom clubs. After 1977, the modern Regional Football League Competition served as supplier of aspiring League clubs. In 1985, the Second Division increased to 12 clubs and in 1986, the total reached 16. Until 1989, the board was divided into East and West groups, depending on geographic placement ; after that year and until 1992 the table was unified. In 1992, following the formation of the J.League, the JSL Second Division was renamed the ( former ) Japan Football League. The league was divided into two hierarchical, inadequate divisions of 10 clubs each. In 1994, the JFL was again reunified into a unmarried division. As the J.League expanded in numbers, the need for another second base tier with forwarding and delegating arise, as the number of clubs which wanted to become professional increased ( peculiarly in the sheath of Shonan Bellmare, Kashiwa Reysol, Cerezo Osaka and Júbilo Iwata, who had been JSL First Division champions but had not been chosen for the inaugural J.League temper ) .

professionalization earned run average ( 1999–2004 ) [edit ]

The infrastructure of the league was heavily changed in 1999. The new division acquired nine clubs from the semi-professional JFL and one relegated golf club from J.League to create a two-division system, both being the professional leagues. The top escape became the J.League Division 1 ( J1 ) with 16 clubs while J.League Division 2 ( J2 ) was launched with ten clubs in 1999. The second-tier ( erstwhile ) Japan Football League became the third-tier Japan Football League at that time. The criterion for becoming a J2 club were not deoxyadenosine monophosphate rigid as those for the top division. This allowed smaller cities and towns to maintain a club successfully without investing angstrom much as clubs in J1. In fact, clubs like Mito HollyHock only draw an average of 3,000 fans a game and receive minimal sponsorship, yet however field fairly competitive teams in J2. Clubs in J2 took clock to build their teams for J1 promotion, as they besides tried to gradually improve their young systems, their home stadium, their fiscal condition, and their relationship with their hometown. Clubs such as Oita Trinita, Albirex Niigata, Kawasaki Frontale, and Ventforet Kofu accomplished this successfully. All these clubs in the first place started as J2 in 1999 and were relatively humble, but they finally earned J1 promotion, in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005 respectively. even though Kofu and Ōita were late relegated back to Division 2, they are well-established association football clubs, managing to average 10,000 fans per game. The league besides began to follow european plot formats, as meter went on. In the beginning three seasons ( 1999–2001 ), games were played with extra time for regular league matches if there was no achiever at end of the regulation. The extra time was abolished in 2002, and the league adopted the standard 3-1-0 points system .

early expansion earned run average ( 2004–2009 ) [edit ]

Two Japan Football League clubs, Mito HollyHock and Yokohama FC joined the J2 League in the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Mito initially tried in the 1999 season, but failed, having better luck the follow year. On the early hand, Yokohama FC was formed by the fans of Yokohama Flügels, who went defunct after the fusion with Yokohama F. Marinos on 1 January 1999. In essence, these two clubs could and should have joined the league in the inaugural address class with the original ten clubs, and it was inevitable that they were finally accepted by the league. however, besides these two clubs, it seemed that there was no concern from the lower-level clubs ; the second base division did not see any further expansion for a few seasons. In 2004, however, two clubs showed interest as Thespa Kusatsu and Tokushima Vortis were accepted to the league. Two years by and by, in the 2006 temper, Ehime FC followed in their footsteps. It turned out that many clubs were aiming for membership at the professional level. however, in the early 2000s, these clubs were still in the regional leagues, and it took them three to four years to even center professionalism. clearly, the concept of second-tier professional association football – the fact that clubs can compete at the professional flush with humble budgets, was something that attracted many amateurish clubs across the japanese nation. At the begin of the 2006 season, the league took a review to determine the number of non-league clubs concerned in joining the professional league. The results showed that about 40 to 60 clubs in Japan had plans to professionalize over the future 30 years. From the league ‘s perspective, the J.League ‘Hundred Year Vision ‘ from the late 90s has been moving in a incontrovertible steering. In light of this, league management formed a committee and looked at two virtual options for far expansion – either expand the second division or form a third gear division. In early words, the league had a choice between letting the non-league clubs achieve the J2 standard, or forming a third division with non-league clubs, where these clubs can prepare for J2. After conducting respective encase studies, the committee made a professional appraisal that it was in the best interest of the league to expand the J2 to 22 clubs preferably than form a third division. several reasons led the committee to this decision :

The Japan Football League, then the third tier in the Japanese football league system, was already serving the purpose of preparing the non-league clubs.
At the time, most non-league clubs interested in professionalism were still in the regional or prefectural leagues, two to four levels below J2.
Twenty-two clubs is the perfect number for the J2 league, as it allows enough home games for annual revenue, while keeping the competition a fair double-round-robin format.
Most European leagues have similar association football pyramids, where there are more clubs in 2nd and 3rd-tier leagues than in the top flight.

The committee besides reintroduced Associate Membership System in the 2006 season. This allowed the committee to identify interested non-league clubs and provide necessity resources to them. The membership was entirely given to non-league clubs that had intentions of joining the J.League, while meeting most of the criteria for J2 promotion. several clubs in the Japan Football League and Regional Leagues have applied for and received membership. associate members finishing in the top 4 of the JFL were promoted to J2. Following the promotion of Ehime FC, six more clubs joined J2 League through this system. As the number of clubs increased, the league format changed from a quadruple round-robin to a ternary round-robin format. This was adopted during the 2008 season with 15 clubs and the 2009 season with 18 clubs. In 2009, the J2 league besides saw an increase in promotion slots to three, to accommodate the eighteen-club league. As a resultant role, the Promotion/Relegation Series, which allowed the third-place J2 clubs to fight for J1 slots for the following season, was abolished, after its introduction in the 2004 season .

introduction of double over round-robin ( 2010–2011 ) [edit ]

When the league reached 19 clubs in the 2010 temper, the J2 League adopted the double round-robin format. The league continued to expand to 22 clubs, and until then there was no delegating to the Japan Football League. In the next few seasons, the maximal total of clubs that could be promoted to J2 was decided by taking the difference of twenty-two subtraction the number of clubs in J2 .

end of expansion and J2 Playoffs ( 2012–present ) [edit ]

When the league reached 22 clubs, two new regulations were introduced. only the top two clubs earn automatic promotion, while clubs from 3rd to 6th enter playoffs for the final third promotion slot, as in the English Football League Championship, Serie B, or Segunda División. [ citation needed ] however, the rules will be heavily slanted to favor those with higher league placement :

current plans ( 2013–present ) [edit ]

Starting in 2013, a club license system was implemented. Clubs failing to fulfill this license prerequisite can be relegated to the one-third tier, careless of their league position. The third-tier league, J3 League, was established in 2014, targeting teams having ambitions to reach the J.League. The structure of J2 is likely to remain stable. Since 2017, two clubs are promoted from and relegated to J3 [ 3 ] and starting in 2018, the J2 playoffs winner plays against the 16th-placed J1 club [ 4 ] after discussions were held during the prior season. [ 5 ] If the J2 playoff winner prevails, the club is promoted, with the J1 club being relegated, otherwise the J1 golf club can retain its status in J1 with the forwarding failure of the J2 club .

timeline [edit ]

Since the origin of the second class in 1999, promotion and relegation follow a practice similar to european leagues, where the two bottom clubs of J1 and the peak two clubs of J2 are guaranteed to move. From the 2004 to the 2008 season, the third-place J2 clubhouse entered a Promotion/Relegation Series against the sixteenth-place J1 club, with the winner dally in the peak fledge in the watch year. Starting after the 2009 season, the top three J2 clubs received J1 promotion by default, replacing three relegate bed J1 clubs. however, promotion or the right to play the now-defunct pro/rele series relied on the J2 clubs meeting the requirements for J1 franchise status set by the league. This was not a hindrance, in fact, as no club has been denied promotion ascribable to not meeting the J1 criteria. The J3 League is presently the third base flat in the affiliation football system, supplanting the Japan Football League ( JFL ) which is now one step lower in the system. Being a professional league, the J.League allows only certain clubs from J3 to be promoted. In 2000, 2001, and 2006 the JFL league champion was promoted to J2 ; in 2005 two teams were promoted. From 2007, the league requires J.League Associate Membership and at least a fourth-place finish in JFL ( J3 from 2013 ) to be promoted to J2. presently, there are two relegations from J2 to J3. Since 1999, a full of sixteen clubs from JFL ( subsequently J3 ) have been promoted to J2, two of which were expanded into J1. Currently, J1 has 18 clubs and J2 has 22 clubs. Division two expanded to 22 clubs from 20 ; even forwarding and relegation is in place. Since its origin in 1999, the format of J2 has been consistent. Clubs played a quadruple round-robin ( two home and away ) format during the 1999 to 2007 seasons. To accommodate the ongoing expansion process, a treble round-robin format was implemented during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Until the 2001 temper, the clubs played extra time if they were tied after regulation and the clubs received three points for a regulation win, two points for an excess meter win, one target for a hook, and no points for a loss ( there were no penalties ). however, starting in 2002, the league abolished extra prison term and set the points system to the standard three-one-nil system. The phone number of clubs reached 19 in 2010, and the league format was changed to double round-robin. The number increased to 20 in 2011 and to 22 in 2012, where it has remained since then .

2021 season [edit ]

League formats [edit ]

twenty-two clubs play in double round-robin format, a entire of 42 games each. A club receives three points for a gain, one point for a tie, and no points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the watch regulate :

Goal difference
Goals scored
Head-to-head results
Disciplinary points

A draw would be conducted, if necessary. however, if two clubs are tied at first place, both clubs will be declared champions. Two top clubs will be directly promoted to J1, and the third gear spot will be decided in the playoff series among clubs placed third to sixth. The team that wins this series will face the 16th J1 team for an introduction in the following J1 temper. note that in order to participate in the playoffs a golf club must possess a J1 license ; if one or more clubs fail to do then, they are not allowed in the playoffs and will not be replaced by early clubs. The delegating to the lower tier J3 League will depend on the number and final standings of promotion-eligible clubs that possess a J2 license. Up to two clubs can be exchanged between two leagues, with aim promotion/relegation between the two bottom-place J2 teams ( 21st and 22nd ) and lead two J3 teams ( champion and runner-up ). If one or both J3 forwarding candidates fail to obtain a J2 license, they will not be allowed to promote and J2 relegation spots will be cut consequently .

Prize money

First place: 20,000,000 yen
Second place: 10,000,000 yen
Third place: 5,000,000 yen

Participating clubs ( 2021 ) [edit ]

Gray background denotes club was most recently relegated/demoted from Division 1.
Pink background denotes club was most recently promoted from J3 League.
“Year joined” is the year the club joined the J.League (Division 2 unless otherwise indicated).
“First season in D2”, “Seasons in D2”, and “Last spell in D2” take into account all past incarnations of second-tier football: the second division of the Japan Soccer League and the former Japan Football League.
“Last spell in top flight” includes seasons in the old Japan Soccer League First Division.

Stadiums ( 2021 ) [edit ]

basal venues used in the J2 League :

erstwhile clubs [edit ]

Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted to J1 League.
Gray background denotes club that was most recently relegated to J3 League.
“Year joined” is the year the club joined the J.League (Division 2 unless otherwise indicated).
“First season in D2”, “Seasons in D2”, and “Last Spell in D2” take into account all past incarnations of second-tier football: the second division of the Japan Soccer League and the former Japan Football League

Champions and promotion history [edit ]

The top two clubs receive promotion. From the 2004 temper to the 2008 temper, the 3rd target club played the Promotion/Relegation Series against the 16th-place club in J1. From the 2009 season to the 2011 season, the 3rd topographic point baseball club was promoted by default. Beginning in the 2012 temper, the third forwarding place is determined by a playoff between the 3rd to 6th actual places .
* Bold designates the promote club
† Lost the Promotion/Relegation Series or entry playoff
‡ Won the Promotion/Relegation Series or entry playoff and got promoted

Most successful clubs [edit ]

Clubs in bold compete in J2 as of the 2021 season .

Promotion playoff results [edit ]

Results

Relegation history [edit ]

Upon the constitution of the second division, the league had not implemented any relegation mechanism between J2 and the ( once ) third-tier Japan Football League, and the exchange between divisions worked one-way only. After years of gradual expansion the division has reached its aforethought capacity of 22 teams, consequently allowing J.League to start relegating bottom-place teams to JFL. Machida Zelvia set the unhappy milestone in 2012, becoming the identical first gear team to be relegated from J2 ( and the entirely team ever to be relegated to JFL ). following year the professional J3 League was formed, making delegating between second and third tiers a permanent administration. The rules for exchange between J2 and J3 are the following between 2017 and 2019, and starting in 2022 : the 21st and 22nd-place J2 teams are relegated immediately and are replaced by the J3 champion and runner-up. [ 3 ] If one or both J3 contenders do not possess J2 licenses, they are not allowed to be promoted, and the relegation spots for J2 sides are reduced accordingly. No teams descended from J1 or to J3 after the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan and its effects. [ 7 ] rather, two promotions and four relegations are in place for the 2021 season, keeping the phone number of J2 teams at 22. [ 8 ]

Year

19th place

20th place

21st place

22nd place

2021

TBD

* Bold designates relegated clubs
† Won the playoff against JFL or J3 team
‡ Lost the playoff series to JFL or J3 team and was relegated