Japanese football champions
Encyclopedia
Japanese League (1st tier)
Japan Soccer League
Japan 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...

 (1965–1971)
Japan Soccer League Division 1
Japan 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...

 (1972–1992)
J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...

 (1993–1998)
J. League Division 1 (1999–present)
Country
Japan
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...


 
Founded
1965
Number of Teams
18 (2011 season)
Current Champions
(2010)
Most successful club
and
(7 championships each)

The Japanese football champions are the winners of the top league in Japan
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...

, the Japan Soccer League
Japan 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...

 from 1965 to 1992 and the J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...

 since then.

and are the only teams that have won the title four times in a row (in 1965–1968 as Toyo Industries and in 1991–1994 as Yomiuri S.C./Verdy Kawasaki respectively). Notice that from 1985 to 1992 Japanese football adjusted to the "fall-spring" season schedule (common in most of Europe) but after establishment of J. League switched back to "spring-fall" scheme (common in North America, East Asia, and Nordic European latitudes).

Teams in bold have completed the double
The Double
The Double is a term in association football which refers to winning a country's top tier division and its primary cup competition in the same season...

 of the title and the Emperor's Cup
Emperor's Cup
, commonly known as or , is a Japanese association football competition. It has the longest tradition of any football tournament in Japan, dating back to 1921, before the formation of the J. League, Japan Football League and their predecessor, Japan Soccer League...

 in the same season. In 1985 no double was possible due to the season's timeframe change; thus, the doubles completed between then and 1992 are won in the middle of the season.

Japan Soccer League (1965–1971)

Numbers in parentheses indicate number of wins at the date. Leading goalscorer's nationality is at the time of award and does not necessarily indicate the national team played for.
Year Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer Goals
1965 
Toyo Industries
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...

Furukawa Electric
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
is a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...

  Mutsuhiko Nomura
Mutsuhiko Nomura
Mutsuhiko Nomura is a former Japanese football player and manager. He was Japan Soccer League's first top scorer.- Team honours :* Japan Soccer League First Division - 1 * Japan Soccer League Cup - 1...

 (Hitachi)
15
1966 
Toyo Industries
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...

 (2)
Furukawa Electric
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
is a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...

  Aritatsu Ogi (Toyo Industries) 14
1967 
Toyo Industries
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...

(3)
Furukawa Electric
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
is a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...

 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

  Takeo Kimura
Takeo Takahashi (footballer)
Takeo Takahashi is a Japanese football manager and former player. His family name was originally Kimura but changed it upon marriage, being adopted by his wife's family.-Club statistics:...

 (Furukawa Electric)
15
1968 
Toyo Industries
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...

 (4)
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

  Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto is a former association football player from Japan, who won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals...

 (Yanmar Diesel)
14
1969 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 
Toyo Industries
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...

 
  Hiroshi Ochiai (Mitsubishi Motors) 12
1970 
Toyo Industries
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...

 (5)
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 
Hitachi
Kashiwa Reysol
is a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...

  Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto is a former association football player from Japan, who won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals...

 (Yanmar Diesel)
16
1971 
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 
  Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto is a former association football player from Japan, who won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals...

 (Yanmar Diesel)
11

Japan Soccer League Division 1 (1972–1992)

Year Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer Goals
1972 
Hitachi
Kashiwa Reysol
is a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...

Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

 
Toyo Industries
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
is a Japanese association football club in the J. League Division 1.-Club name:The club name is a portmanteau of the Japanese numeral for three, San and an Italian word frecce or 'arrows'...

  Akira Matsunaga (Hitachi) 12
1973 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

(2)
Hitachi
Kashiwa Reysol
is a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...

 
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

  Akira Matsunaga (Hitachi) 11
1974 
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

(2)
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 
Hitachi
Kashiwa Reysol
is a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...

  Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto is a former association football player from Japan, who won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals...

 (Yanmar Diesel)
21
1975 
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

 (3)
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 
Hitachi
Kashiwa Reysol
is a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...

  Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto is a former association football player from Japan, who won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals...

 (Yanmar Diesel)
17
1976 
Furukawa Electric
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
is a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...

Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 
Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...

  Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto is a former association football player from Japan, who won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals...

 (Yanmar Diesel)
15
1977 
Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...

Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 
Hitachi
Kashiwa Reysol
is a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...

  Carvalho
João Dickson Carvalho
João Dickson Carvalho is a former Brazilian football player.-Career:Carvalho was one of several foreign players in the Japan Soccer League, and during the 1977 season, he became the first foreign player to win the top scorer in the Japan Soccer League First Division...

 (Fujita Industries)
23
1978 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

(3)
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

 
Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...

  Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto
Kunishige Kamamoto is a former association football player from Japan, who won the bronze medal with the Japan national team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Mexico, finishing as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals...

 (Yanmar Diesel)
  Carvalho
João Dickson Carvalho
João Dickson Carvalho is a former Brazilian football player.-Career:Carvalho was one of several foreign players in the Japan Soccer League, and during the 1977 season, he became the first foreign player to win the top scorer in the Japan Soccer League First Division...

 (Fujita Industries)
15
1979 
Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...

(2)
Yomiuri S.C.  Hitachi
Kashiwa Reysol
is a J. League Division 1 team. Its home town is Kashiwa, Chiba, about an hour northeast of Tokyo.-History:Founded in 1940 as Hitachi, Ltd. Soccer Club in Koganei, Tokyo, the team was a founding member of the Japan Soccer League...

  Ruy Ramos
Ruy Ramos
, formerly Ruy Gonçalves Ramos Sobrinho , is a Brazilian-born football player, who became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1989. He was one of the first foreign players in Japanese professional soccer, joining Yomiuri in 1977 at the age of 20...

 (Yomiuri)
14
1980 
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

 (4)
Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...

 
Furukawa Electric
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
is a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...

  Hiroyuki Usui (Hitachi) 14
1981 
Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...

 (3)
Yomiuri S.C.  Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

  Hiroshi Yoshida (Furukawa Electric) 14
1982 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

 (4)
Yanmar Diesel
Cerezo Osaka
is a J. League Division 1 association football team. The team name Cerezo means cherry tree in Spanish, which is also the flower of Ōsaka city....

 
Furukawa Electric
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
is a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...

  Hiroyuki Usui (Hitachi) 13
1983 
Yomiuri S.C.  Nissan Motors
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...

 
Fujita Industries
Shonan Bellmare
are a Japanese professional football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 2. The team is located in Hiratsuka, in the west of Kanagawa Prefecture; their home stadium is Hiratsuka Athletics Stadium in Hiratsuka. The name Bellmare is derived from the Latin "bellum" for "war" and "mare"...

  Ruy Ramos
Ruy Ramos
, formerly Ruy Gonçalves Ramos Sobrinho , is a Brazilian-born football player, who became a naturalized Japanese citizen in 1989. He was one of the first foreign players in Japanese professional soccer, joining Yomiuri in 1977 at the age of 20...

 (Yomiuri)
10
1984 
Yomiuri S.C. (2) Nissan Motors
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...

 
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...

  Tetsuya Totsuka (Yomiuri) 14
1985–86 
Furukawa Electric
JEF United Ichihara Chiba
is a Japanese professional football club that plays in J. League Division 2. On February 1, 2005, the club changed its name from JEF United Ichihara to the current name after Chiba city had joined Ichihara, Chiba as its hometown in 2003. The club name, JEF -taken from JR East and Furukawa Electric-...

 (2)
  Hiroshi Yoshida (Furukawa Electric) 16
1986–87 
Yomiuri S.C. (3) Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

  Toshio Matsuura (NKK) 17
1987–88 
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...

 
Mitsubishi Motors
Urawa Red Diamonds
are a professional association football club playing in Japan's football league, J. League Division 1. One of Japan and Asia's best supported teams, the club has been able to boast the highest average crowds for thirteen of the J-League's twenty season history...

  Toshio Matsuura (NKK) 11
1988–89 
Nissan Motors
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...

ANA
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 :...

 
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...

  Adílson
Adílson Luíz Anastácio
-External links:*...

 (Yamaha Motors)
11
1989–90 
Nissan Motors
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...

(2)
Yomiuri S.C.  ANA
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 :...

  Renato
Carlos Renato Frederico
Carlos Renato Frederico, best known as Renato is a former association footballer in offensive midfielder role....

 (Nissan Motors)
17
1990–91 
Yomiuri S.C. (4) Nissan Motors
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...

 
  Tetsuya Totsuka (Yomiuri)
  Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
is a retired Japanese football player. He was a midfielder known for his tireless work load and was capped 58 times for Japan. He is currently working on television as a football commentator.-Club:...

 (Honda Motor)
  Renato
Carlos Renato Frederico
Carlos Renato Frederico, best known as Renato is a former association footballer in offensive midfielder role....

 (Nissan Motors)
10
1991–92 
Yomiuri S.C. (5) Nissan Motors
Yokohama F. Marinos
is a Japanese association football team that participates in the fully professional J. League Division 1; the top Japanese professional football league. Having won the J-League title three times and finished second twice, they are one of the most successful J-League clubs. The team are based in...

 
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...

  Toninho
Antônio Benedito da Silva
Antônio Benedito da Silva, nicknamed Toninho is a former Brazilian football player who played for Portuguesa , Guarani , Yomiuri , Shimizu S-Pulse , Urawa Red Diamonds and Vasco da Gama...

 (Yomiuri)
18

J. League (1993–1998)

In 1992, professional J. League
J. League
The or is the top division of and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese...

 was established. All teams elected to it strip themselves of corporate identities and adopt their own names. From 1993 to 2005 (except for 1996 season) the league was contested in an Apertura and Clausura
Apertura and Clausura
The Apertura and Clausura tournaments are a relatively recent innovation for many Latin American football leagues in which the traditional European football season from August to May is divided in two sections per season, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are the Spanish words for...

 manner, thus the "runners-up" for these seasons are actually the winners of one of these tournaments which lost to the winners of the playoff
J. League Championship
The J. League Championship was a two-legged championship series which determined the season champion for the first 12 J. League seasons excluding the 1996 season. In the early years, the J.League seasons were divided into two halves, the first and second stages, and the champions of each stage...

. The "third places" are the highest-scoring teams in the aggregate table which were not involved in the playoff. If there was no playoff due to the champions winning both stages, the third place is the second-best points earning team who are not the champions.
Year Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer Goals
1992
1992 in Japanese football
-National team:-Players statistics:...

 
Transition period; top flight clubs only play the J. League Cup
J. League Cup
J. League Cup is a Japanese football competition organized by J. League. It is also known as Yamazaki Nabisco Cup or Nabisco Cup because confectionery/bakery company Yamazaki Nabisco have sponsored the competition since its inception in 1992.It is generally regarded as the Japanese equivalent to...

, but Japan Football League plays inaugural season
1993 
(6)   Ramón Díaz
Ramón Díaz
Ramón Ángel Díaz , is a former Argentine football player. For most of his career, he played for, and later coached, Club Atlético River Plate. He is also known by the nickname of El Pelado ....

 (Yokohama Marinos)
28
1994 
(7)   Frank Ordenewitz
Frank Ordenewitz
Frank Ordenewitz is a retired German football player. He was capped 2 times for the West German national team. In a German League match against FC Cologne on 7 May 1988 the Werder Bremen player admitted handball in the penalty area to the referee. Cologne went on to win the match 2–0...

 (JEF United Ichihara)
30
1995 
(3)   Masahiro Fukuda
Masahiro Fukuda
is a former Japanese football player. He was a forward but sometimes played in the midfield.-Club:After studying at and playing for Sagami Institute of Technology High School and Chuo University, he joined Mitsubishi Motors in 1989 and started to play for their football club that played in the...

 (Urawa Red Diamonds)
32
1996 
  Kazuyoshi Miura
Kazuyoshi Miura
----Kazuyoshi Miura , often known simply as Kazu, is a Japanese football striker. He has played for the Japanese national team and was the first Japanese recipient of the Asian Player of the Year award in 1993, an award presented annually by the Asian Football Confederation. He is currently with...

 (Verdy Kawasaki)
23
1997 
(2)   Patrick Mboma (Gamba Osaka) 25
1998 
(2)   Masashi Nakayama
Masashi Nakayama
is a professional footballer currently playing for Consadole Sapporo of the J. League Division 2, the second-tier professional football league in Japan. Born in Shizuoka, Gon Nakayama attended Fujieda Higashi High School and Tsukuba University before he joined Jubilo Iwata of the Japan Football...

 (Júbilo Iwata)
36

J. League Division 1 (1999–present)

Top flight becomes J. League Division 1 in 1999.
Year Champions
(number of titles)
Runners-up Third place Leading goalscorer Goals
1999 
(3)   Hwang Sun-Hong
Hwang Sun-Hong
Hwang Sun-Hong or Hwang Seon-Hong is a South Korean football manager and former player, currently managing Pohang Steelers- Biography :During most of the last 2 decades Hwang was regarded as a Korean scoring sensation...

 (Cerezo Osaka)
24
2000 
(3)   Masashi Nakayama
Masashi Nakayama
is a professional footballer currently playing for Consadole Sapporo of the J. League Division 2, the second-tier professional football league in Japan. Born in Shizuoka, Gon Nakayama attended Fujieda Higashi High School and Tsukuba University before he joined Jubilo Iwata of the Japan Football...

 (Júbilo Iwata)
20
2001 
(4)   Will
Will Robson Emilio Andrade
-Clubs:Will played for Atlético Paranaense in Brazil, before moving to play in Japan. He spent three seasons in the J. League Division 2 with Oita Trinita from 1998 to 2000. Next, he joined Consadole Sapporo, where he was the 2001 J. League's top scorer with 24 goals. He spent the following season...

 (Consadole Sapporo
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....

)
20
2002 
(4)   Naohiro Takahara
Naohiro Takahara
is a Japanese footballer. He currently plays for J. League Division 1 side Shimizu S-Pulse as a strikerTakahara was born in Mishima, Shizuoka. He has previously played for Júbilo Iwata in Japan, Boca Juniors in Argentina, Hamburger SV and Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany.On December 3, 2006, he...

 (Júbilo Iwata)
26
2003 
(4)   Ueslei
Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva
Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva or better known as Ueslei is a Brazilian former football player.Ueslei played for Bahia, Vitória and Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro.- Club career statistics :...

 (Nagoya Grampus Eight)
22
2004 
(5)   Emerson
Marcio Emerson Passos
Márcio Passos de Albuquerque , also known as Emerson or Emerson Sheik, is a Brazilian-Qatari football striker, who plays for Corinthians Paulista.-Controversy:...

 (Urawa Red Diamonds)
27
2005 
  Araújo
Clemerson de Araújo Soares
Clemerson de Araújo Soares, best known as Araújo is a Brazilian footballer. Currently playing for Fluminense in Brazil after recently moving from Al-Gharafa ....

 (Gamba Osaka)
33
2006 
(5)   Washington (Urawa Red Diamonds)
  Magno Alves
Magno Alves
Magno Alves de Araújo is a Brazilian football player, currently associated with Atlético Mineiro.- Career :...

 (Gamba Osaka)
26
2007 
(5)   Juninho
Carlos Alberto Carvalho dos Anjos Junior
Carlos Alberto Carvalho dos Anjos Junior "Juninho" is a Brazilian professional football striker who currently plays for Japan's J. League club Kawasaki Frontale. He played as an offensive midfielder in Brazil. But after moving to Japan from Palmeiras, he was converted to a striker. In the 2007...

 (Kawasaki Frontale)
22
2008 
(6)   Marquinhos
Marcos Gomes de Araujo
Marcos Gomes de Araujo, better known as Marquinhos , is a Brazilian striker who currently plays for Clube Atlético Mineiro. He has spent his career playing mostly in the J. League.-Biography:...

 (Kashima Antlers)
21
2009 
(7)   Ryoichi Maeda
Ryoichi Maeda
is a Japanese football player who currently plays for Jubilo Iwata of the J. League Division 1.-Club career:Maeda was born in Kobe, Japan but spent his childhood in the United States. He was educated at and played for Gyosei Junior High and Ghosei High School in Tokyo. While he was a high school...

 (Júbilo Iwata)
20
2010
2010 J. League Division 1
The 2010 J. League Division 1 season was the 46th season of the top-flight club football in Japan and the 18th season since the establishment of J1 League. The season began on March 6 and ended on December 4....

 
  Joshua Kennedy
Joshua Kennedy
Joshua Blake Kennedy is an Australian professional football player who plays as a striker for the Australia national association football team and Nagoya Grampus.- Club career :...

 (Nagoya Grampus)
  Ryoichi Maeda
Ryoichi Maeda
is a Japanese football player who currently plays for Jubilo Iwata of the J. League Division 1.-Club career:Maeda was born in Kobe, Japan but spent his childhood in the United States. He was educated at and played for Gyosei Junior High and Ghosei High School in Tokyo. While he was a high school...

 (Júbilo Iwata)
17
2011
2011 J. League Division 1
The 2011 J. League Division 1 season is the 46th season of Japanese top flight football and 19th since the establishment of the J. League. The season began on March 5 and is scheduled to end on December 3, with a planned five-week summer break between June 27–July 29 in order to allow preparation...

 
TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Total wins

Twelve clubs have been champions, though only seven have won the title since the establishment of J. League. Of these seven, Kashima Antlers, Gamba Osaka, and Nagoya Grampus have never been Japan Soccer League champions.

All Japanese champion clubs still exist and are competing in the J. League; however, some may have moved from their Japan Soccer League locations they won the title at, or may have cut off ties with their original parent company.

Years in italic indicate Japan Soccer League seasons. Clubs in italic no longer exist.
Club Winners Runners-Up Winning Seasons Runners-Up Seasons
7 4 1983, 1984, 1986–87, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1993, 1994 1979, 1981, 1989–90, 1995
7 2 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2007, 2008, 2009 1993, 1997
5 9 1969, 1973, 1978, 1982, 2006 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 2004, 2005, 2007
5 6 1988–89, 1989–90, 1995, 2003, 2004 1983, 1984, 1990–91, 1991–92, 2000, 2002
5 2 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 1969, 1994
4 4 1971, 1974, 1975, 1980 1968, 1972, 1978, 1982
4 3 1987–88, 1997, 1999, 2002 1998, 2001, 2003
3 1 1977, 1979, 1981 1980
2 1 1976, 1985 1967
1 1 1972 1973
1 1 2005 2010
1 1 2010 1996
0 3 1985, 1986–87, 1987–88
0 3 2006, 2008, 2009
0 2 1965, 1966
0 1 1988–89
0 1 1999

Wins by region

This is a breakdown by Japanese region, as clubs have moved cities before and even during the J. League period. Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Júbilo Iwata, Yokohama F. Marinos, Cerezo Osaka and Nagoya Grampus are the only champion clubs who have always been based in their respective cities.

Note that JFA divides Japan into nine regions opposing to more traditional eight, splitting Chūbu
Chubu region
The is the central region of Honshū, Japan's main island. Chūbu has a population estimate of 21,886,324 as of 2008.Chūbu, which means "central region", encompasses nine prefectures : Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, Yamanashi, and often Mie.It is located directly...

 into Hokushin'etsu and Tōkai. See Japanese 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...

 for further detail.
Region Number of titles Clubs
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....

30 (7), (7), (5), (5), (3), (2), (1)
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 :...

5 (5)
Kansai 5 (4), (1)
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...

5 (4), (1)

See also

  • J. League Division 1
  • Japan Soccer League
    Japan 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...

  • Japanese Super Cup
    Japanese Super Cup
    The Japanese Super Cup or is an annual one-match football competition in Japan organised by J. League and the Japan Football Association . This competition serves as the season opener and is played between the J. League Champions and the Emperor's Cup Winners of the previous season...

  • List of winners of J. League Division 2 and predecessors
  • List of winners of Japanese third-tier football leagues
  • Football in Japan
    Football in Japan
    Association football is one of the most popular sports in Japan. Its nationwide organization, Japan Football Association, administers the professional football league, J...

  • Japanese football league system
    Japanese football league system
    The Japanese association football league system is organized in a pyramidal shape similar to football league systems in many other countries around the world...

  • L. League
    L. League
    The L. League is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. It is the women's equivalent of the J. League, but not professional. However, some individual players are professional.The league conssists of two divisions: division 1 has the nickname and division 2...

     (women's
    Women's football (soccer)
    Women's association football has been played for many decades, but was associated with charity games and physical exercise in the past before the breakthrough of organized women's association football came in the 1970s. Before the 1970s, football was basically seen as a men's game...

    title)

Sources

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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