All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series
Encyclopedia
The All Japan Regional Promotion League Series (全国地域サッカーリーグ決勝大会, Zenkoku Chiiki Sakkā Rīgu Kesshō Taikai) is a play-off tournament meant as a transition for Japan
ese football (soccer)
clubs competing in regional leagues
to the bottom national tier (as of 1999, the Japan Football League
).
was the All Japan Senior Football Championship
, a cup competition
. In 1977, to test clubs in a league environment before entrance to the league, the Japan Football Association
devised this tournament.
In 1984 and 1985 more promotion places were added due to the JSL, expanding its divisions. In 1992 it began promoting clubs to the former JFL
's second division and, from 1994 to 1998, to its single division. In 1999 and 2000 it added extra promotion places due to the formation and expansion of the new JFL.
As of 2010, the regional league runner-ups are no longer eligible and the university association is no longer allowed to make recommendations, reducing the number of places to 12.
is used; however, in case of a draw, a penalty shootout
is added and the winner gets one extra point.
away from the region after winning the title.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese football (soccer)
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
clubs competing in regional leagues
Japanese Regional Leagues
Japanese Regional Leagues are a group of parallel association football leagues in Japan that are organized on the regional basis...
to the bottom national tier (as of 1999, the Japan Football League
Japan Football League
The is the 3rd tier of the Japanese association football league system, following J. League Division 1 and J. League Division 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...
).
History
Until 1976, the main entrance route for regional clubs to the Japan Soccer LeagueJapan Soccer League
, or JSL, was the top flight soccer league in Japan between 1965 and 1992, and was the precursor to the current professional league, the J. League. JSL was the second national league of a team sport in Japan after the professional Japanese Baseball League that was founded in 1936...
was the All Japan Senior Football Championship
All Japan Senior Football Championship
The All Japan Senior Football Championship is a football cup competition in Japan. It is run by the Japan Football Association. As it only involves non-league teams The All Japan Senior Football Championship (Zenkoku Shakaijin Sakkā Senshuken Taikai, 全国社会人サッカー選手権大会) is a football (soccer) cup...
, a cup competition
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
. In 1977, to test clubs in a league environment before entrance to the league, the Japan Football Association
Japan Football Association
The Japan Football Association, sometimes known as the Japan Soccer Association , is the governing body responsible for the administration of association football in Japan. It is responsible for the national team as well as club competitions....
devised this tournament.
In 1984 and 1985 more promotion places were added due to the JSL, expanding its divisions. In 1992 it began promoting clubs to the former JFL
Japan Football League (former)
The former was an association football league that existed from 1992 to 1998. Also known as the JFL, it was the 2nd tier of the Japanese football hierarchy following J...
's second division and, from 1994 to 1998, to its single division. In 1999 and 2000 it added extra promotion places due to the formation and expansion of the new JFL.
Qualification
Until 2009, the number of places in the tournament was 16, distributed as follows:- All regional leagueJapanese Regional LeaguesJapanese Regional Leagues are a group of parallel association football leagues in Japan that are organized on the regional basis...
champions (9 clubs) - 4 regional league runner-ups (4 clubs)
- University club recommended by the university association (1 club)
- Club recommended by the JFA (1 club)
- All Japan Senior CupAll Japan Senior Football ChampionshipThe All Japan Senior Football Championship is a football cup competition in Japan. It is run by the Japan Football Association. As it only involves non-league teams The All Japan Senior Football Championship (Zenkoku Shakaijin Sakkā Senshuken Taikai, 全国社会人サッカー選手権大会) is a football (soccer) cup...
winner (1 club) - Other clubs (other league runner-ups, Senior Cup runner-ups or third places, etc.) (0-3 clubs) - more allowed if Senior Cup holder has won a regional league or been runner-up
As of 2010, the regional league runner-ups are no longer eligible and the university association is no longer allowed to make recommendations, reducing the number of places to 12.
Preliminary round
The clubs are grouped in round-robin groups of 4, playing at a single city per group (no home-and-away format is followed). Only 3 matches are played per club, since the match location is the same. The winners of each group qualify for the final round.Final round
As of 2010, the three group winners plus the highest-scoring runner-up are grouped in a final group in a single locale, with three matches played per club. The top two places are guaranteed promotion and the third place must play a promotion/relegation series against one of the three bottom JFL clubs (subject to JFL place availability).Round-robin rules
The usual 3-1-0 systemThree points for a win
Three points for a win is a standard used in many sports leagues and group tournaments, especially in association football, in which three points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points to the losing team. If the game is drawn, each team receives one point...
is used; however, in case of a draw, a penalty shootout
Penalty shootout (football)
A penalty shoot-out, referred to as kicks from the penalty mark in the Laws of the Game, is the FIFA official term for a method used in association football to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied game...
is added and the winner gets one extra point.
Winners
Teams in bold were promoted.| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Also promoted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Yamaha Motors Júbilo Iwata is a professional Japanese association football team currently playing in the J. League Division 1 . The team name Júbilo means 'joy' in Portuguese and Spanish. The team's home town is Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture and they play at Yamaha Stadium... |
Toshiba Horikawa-cho Consadole Sapporo is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaidō.... |
Toho Titanium | |
| 1978 | Yamaha Motors Júbilo Iwata is a professional Japanese association football team currently playing in the J. League Division 1 . The team name Júbilo means 'joy' in Portuguese and Spanish. The team's home town is Iwata, Shizuoka prefecture and they play at Yamaha Stadium... |
Toho Titanium | Dainichi Nippon Densen | |
| 1979 | Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi | Kyoto Shiko Club | Furukawa Electric Chiba | |
| 1980 | Nagoya S.C. | Furukawa Electric Chiba | Saitama Teachers | |
| 1981 | Saitama Teachers | NTT West Japan Kyoto | Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi | |
| 1982 | Toho Titanium | Seino Transportation | Hyogo Teachers | |
| 1983 | Yokohama TriStar Yokohama Flügels was a Japanese football club that played in the J. League between 1993 and 1998. In 1999 the club was officially merged with local rivals Yokohama Marinos and the two teams became known together as Yokohama F. Marinos.- History :... |
Matsushita Gamba Osaka is a Japanese professional association football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 1. The team's name comes from the Italian word "gamba" meaning "leg" and the Japanese , meaning "to do your best" or "to stand firm". Located in Suita, Osaka, the team's home stadium is Osaka Expo '70... |
Teijin Matsuyama | |
| 1984 | Seino Transportation | Kyoto Police Dept. | TDK S.C. | Osaka Gas |
| 1985 | Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi | Kawasaki Steel Mizushima Vissel Kobe is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 1. The team is located in Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture. The home stadium is Kobe Wing Stadium, in Hyōgo-ku, though some home matches are played at Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium in Suma-ku.-History:The club was... |
Toho Titanium | NTT Kansai |
| 1986 | NTT Kanto Omiya Ardija is a professional football club which play in the J. League Division 1, and are based in Ōmiya-ku in Saitama, Japan. Its "hometown" as designated by the league is the whole of Saitama city, which is shared with neighbours Urawa Red Diamonds... |
Mazda Auto Hiroshima | Toyota Machine Works | |
| 1987 | Teijin Matsuyama | Fujieda City Hall | Matsushima S.C. | |
| 1988 | Mazda Auto Hiroshima | Kyoto Shiko Club | Tokyo Gas | |
| 1989 | Yomiuri S.C. Juniors | Otsuka Pharmaceutical Tokushima VORTIS is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture... |
Seino Transportation | |
| 1990 | Tokyo Gas | Chuo Bohan Avispa Fukuoka For the record label, see Avispa. is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 1 having been promoted from J. League Division 2 in the 2010 season. The team is located in Hakata, Fukuoka. "Avispa" means "wasp" in Spanish.-In Fujieda:The club was founded as... |
Seino Transportation | |
| 1991 | Osaka Gas | Osaka Taidai Kemari Club Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. Sagawa Express Osaka Soccer Club were a Japanese soccer team based in Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka. They were founded in 1965 and played in the Japan Football League from 2002–2007, when they merged with Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. to form what is now Sagawa Shiga F.C... |
Seino Transportation | |
| 1992 | PJM Futures Tosu Futures was a Japanese football club that played in the former Japan Football League between 1993 and 1997.-History:PJM Futures was originally founded in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka in 1987 and moved to Tosu, Saga in 1995, changing its name to Tosu Futures. This happened one year after joining the former Japan... |
Toyota Motors Higashifuji | NEC Yamagata Montedio Yamagata Montedio Yamagata is a professional association football club based in Yamagata Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in J. League Division 1.Montedio is a coined word combining two Italian words Monte and Dio .-History:... |
|
| 1993 | Nippon Denso F.C. Kariya are a football club based in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. They play in the Tokai Regional League Division 1. Their team colours are white and red.- History :The club was founded in 1949 as Nippon Denso Soccer Club... |
NEC Yamagata Montedio Yamagata Montedio Yamagata is a professional association football club based in Yamagata Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in J. League Division 1.Montedio is a coined word combining two Italian words Monte and Dio .-History:... |
Jatco | |
| 1994 | Brummell Sendai Vegalta Sendai is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in J. League Division 1. The team is located in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Their home stadium is Yurtec Stadium Sendai, in Izumi-ku, Sendai, although a few home games have also been played at nearby Miyagi Stadium.-History:Founded in 1988... |
Fukushima F.C. | Yokogawa Denki Yokogawa Musashino F.C. are a football club based in Musashino City, Tokyo, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colour is blue.-History:The club was founded as a football club of Yokogawa Electric Corporation in 1939. In 1978, the club achieved their first promotion to the Kanto Regional League... |
|
| 1995 | Nippon Denso F.C. Kariya are a football club based in Kariya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. They play in the Tokai Regional League Division 1. Their team colours are white and red.- History :The club was founded in 1949 as Nippon Denso Soccer Club... |
Oita F.C. Oita Trinita is a J. League Division 2 team. The team name Trinita can be considered either a combination of the English word trinity and Ōita, or the Italian word trinità. The dual meaning expresses the will of the citizens, companies, and local governments to support the team.The team's home town is Ōita... |
Yokogawa Denki Yokogawa Musashino F.C. are a football club based in Musashino City, Tokyo, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colour is blue.-History:The club was founded as a football club of Yokogawa Electric Corporation in 1939. In 1978, the club achieved their first promotion to the Kanto Regional League... |
|
| 1996 | Jatco | Prima Ham Mito HollyHock is a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team's hometown is located in Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture.... |
Mazda S.C. | |
| 1997 | Sony Sendai F.C. Sony Sendai F.C. are a football club based in Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colour is navy.-History:... |
Albirex Niigata Albirex Niigata is a Japanese J. League Division 1 association football team. Despite the club's relative youth, only joining the J. League in 1999, Albirex are one of Japan's best supported teams. In 2003, while still playing in the second tier of Japanese football , Albirex attracted the best average crowd in... |
Yokogawa Denki Yokogawa Musashino F.C. are a football club based in Musashino City, Tokyo, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colour is blue.-History:The club was founded as a football club of Yokogawa Electric Corporation in 1939. In 1978, the club achieved their first promotion to the Kanto Regional League... |
|
| 1998 | Yokogawa Denki Yokogawa Musashino F.C. are a football club based in Musashino City, Tokyo, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colour is blue.-History:The club was founded as a football club of Yokogawa Electric Corporation in 1939. In 1978, the club achieved their first promotion to the Kanto Regional League... |
Hitachi Shimizu | Ehime F.C. Ehime F.C. Ehime F.C. is a professional football club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan. After winning the JFL championship in 2005, the club now plays in J. League Division 2. Ehime F.C. is one of only four J. League clubs whose names simply consist of a place name and "F.C."... |
|
| 1999 | Alo's Hokuriku ALO's Hokuriku were a Japanese football club based in Toyama, the capital city of Toyama Prefecture. They played in the Japan Football League. Their team colour was blue.... |
Tochigi S.C. Tochigi S.C. are a football club based in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. They play in the J. League Division 2. Their team colour is yellow.Tochigi, uniquely, is the only major Japanese professional club to retain the word "soccer" in its English name, despite efforts by football authorities to... |
Honda Luminoso Sayama F.C. | F.C. Kyoken |
| 2000 | Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. was an industrial-league association football team based in the Kōtō, Tokyo. The team was founded in 1991 and was a member of the Japan Football League from 2001–2007, when it merged with Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. to form Sagawa Shiga F.C... |
YKK AP F.C. YKK AP F.C. is a Japanese football club based in Kurobe, Toyama Prefecture. They play in Toyama Prefectural League. Their team colour is blue.-History:The club was founded as the football club of YKK in 1962... |
NTT Kumamoto Roasso Kumamoto is a Japanese football club based in Kumamoto, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. Roasso Kumamoto was promoted to J. League Division 2 for the first time at the end of the 2007 season, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 12th... |
S.C. Tottori Gainare Tottori are a Japanese football club based in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture. They play in the J. League Division 2. Their team colour is green.Their team name Gainare derives from a Tottori dialect gaina meaning "great" and Italian sperare meaning "to hope".Their team mascot is well-known horror anime... Ehime F.C. Ehime F.C. Ehime F.C. is a professional football club based in Matsuyama, the capital city of Ehime Prefecture of Japan. After winning the JFL championship in 2005, the club now plays in J. League Division 2. Ehime F.C. is one of only four J. League clubs whose names simply consist of a place name and "F.C."... |
| 2001 | Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. Sagawa Express Osaka Soccer Club were a Japanese soccer team based in Higashisumiyoshi-ku, Osaka. They were founded in 1965 and played in the Japan Football League from 2002–2007, when they merged with Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. to form what is now Sagawa Shiga F.C... |
Professor Miyazaki | Nangoku Kochi F.C. | |
| 2002 | Ain Foods | Sagawa Printing S.C. Sagawa Printing S.C. are an association football club based in Muko, Kyoto, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League.-History:The club was founded in 1986 and started to compete in the Kyoto Prefecture Division 4. They were promoted to Division 1 in 1999 and again to the Kansai Regional League in 2000... |
Shizuoka F.C. | |
| 2003 | Thespa Kusatsu Thespa Kusatsu is a professional football club based in Gunma Prefecture in Japan. The club plays in J. League Division 2. J. League Division 2 is the second professional football league in Japan.... |
Gunma F.C. Horikoshi Arte Takasaki are a football club based in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Japan. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colours are black and red.Arte means art in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.-History:... |
Shizuoka F.C. | |
| 2004 | Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C. are a football club based in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. They play in the Okayama Prefectural League Division 1.-History:The club was founded in 1946 to provide recreational activities in the war-torn Mizushima area of Kurashiki city... |
Ryutsu Keizai University F.C. Ryutsu Keizai University F.C. are a Japanese football club based in Ryugasaki, Ibaraki Prefecture. They play in the Japan Football League as well as the Kantō University league Division 1. Their team colours are grey and navy.-History:... |
Honda Lock S.C. Honda Lock S.C. are a Japanese football club based in Miyazaki, the capital city of Miyazaki Prefecture. They play in the Japan Football League. Their team colour is red.-History:... |
|
| 2005 | F.C. Ryukyu F.C. Ryukyu are a football club from Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. They currently play in the Japan Football League.The word Ryūkyū is Okinawa Prefecture's historical name. The club also has futsal and handball teams.-History:... |
JEF United Ichihara Chiba B JEF United Ichihara Chiba Reserves JEF United Ichihara Chiba Reserves is a Japanese football club that plays in the Japan Football League. It is the reserve team of J. League club JEF United Ichihara Chiba. They play their home games at Ichihara Seaside Stadium.-Current squad:... |
Rosso Kumamoto Roasso Kumamoto is a Japanese football club based in Kumamoto, the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture. Roasso Kumamoto was promoted to J. League Division 2 for the first time at the end of the 2007 season, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 12th... |
|
| 2006 | TDK S.C. | F.C. Gifu F.C. Gifu is a Japanese football club based in Gifu Prefecture. Gifu were promoted to J. League Division 2 for the first time at the end of 2007, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 13th. The team colour is green.-History:... |
Fagiano Okayama F.C. Fagiano Okayama F.C. Fagiano Okayama is a football club from Okayama, Okayama, Japan. Fagiano currently play in the J. League Division 2, the second-tier professional football league in the country. Fagiano in Italian means "pheasant", and it's a reference to the pheasant that was a companion of local legend character... |
|
| 2007 | F.C. Mi-O Biwako Kusatsu MIO Biwako Kusatsu is a Japanese football club based in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture.They were promoted to Japan Football League for the first time at the end of 2007, and played their first season in 2008 where they finished 14th. "Biwako" is a reference to Biwa Lake, the largest lake in Japan.-History:The club was... |
|||
| 2008 | ||||
| 2009 | ||||
| 2010 | Sanyo Electric Sumoto | |||
| 2011 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Wins by region
Clubs in bold currently compete in the J. League. Clubs in italics no longer exist. A dagger (†) indicates clubs that movedRelocation of professional sports teams
Relocation of professional sports teams is a practice which involves a sporting franchise moving from one metropolitan area to another, although occasionally moves between municipalities in the same conurbation are also included...
away from the region after winning the title.
| Region | Number of titles | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Tōkai Tokai region The is a sub-region of the Chūbu region in Japan that runs along the Pacific Ocean. The name means "East sea" and comes from the Tōkaidō, one of the Edo Five Routes... |
10 | (2), Cosmo Oil Yokkaichi (2), Nagoya S.C., Seino Transportation, †, (2), |
| Kantō Kanto region The is a geographical area of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region includes the Greater Tokyo Area and encompasses seven prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa. Within its boundaries, slightly more than 40 percent of the land area is the Kantō Plain.... |
10 | Saitama Teachers, Toho Titanium, , , Yomiuri S.C. Juniors, , , , , |
| Chūgoku Chugoku region The , also known as the , is the westernmost region of Honshū, the largest island of Japan. It consists of the prefectures of Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori and Yamaguchi. It has a population of about 7.8 million.- History :... |
3 | Mazda Auto Hiroshima, , |
| Kansai | 3 | Osaka Gas, , Ain Foods |
| Tōhoku Tohoku region The is a geographical area of Japan. The region occupies the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. The region consists of six prefectures : Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi and Yamagata.... |
3 | , , |
| Hokushin'etsu | 2 | , |
| Shikoku | 2 | Teijin Matsuyama, |
| Kyūshū | 1 | |