Japanese Regional Leagues

Japanese Regional Leagues (Japanese: 地域リーグ, Hepburn: Chiiki Rīgu) are a group of parallel association football leagues in Japan that are organized on the regional basis. They form the fifth and sixth tier of the Japanese association football league system below the nationwide Japan Football League.

Japanese Regional Leagues
Founded1966 (1966) (Kansai and Tokai)
1967 (1967) (Kanto)
1973 (1973) (Chugoku and Kyushu)
1975 (1975) (Hokushin'etsu)
1977 (1977) (Shikoku and Tohoku)
1978 (1978) (Hokkaido)
CountryJapan
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Divisions5 (first level)
6 (second level)
Number of teams134
Level on pyramid5–6
Promotion toJapan Soccer League (1966–1991)
Japan Football League (1992–1998)
Japan Football League (1999–present)
Relegation toJapanese Prefectural Leagues
Domestic cup(s)Emperor's Cup
Shakaijin Cup
Current: 2024 Japanese Regional Leagues

Overview

Japan is divided regionally in a variety of ways, some of them administrative and some more historical. For the 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 renamed Japan Regional Football Champions League) at the end of the year. Runners-up may also qualify according to criteria set by the Japan Football Association.

Regional league clubs also compete in the All Japan Senior Football Championship, a cup 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 the Emperor'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:

Additionally, the forerunners to Tosu Futures, Kashima Antlers, Avispa Fukuoka and Vissel Kobe were originally based in different regions (and won or were promoted from those regions) from where they, or their successors, are based today:

  • Kashima Antlers was originally based in Kansai but moved to Kantō in 1975 after reaching the JSL;
  • Tosu Futures was 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, 2024

Hokkaido Soccer League
LeagueTeams [1]Hometown
Hokkaido Soccer League
北海道サッカーリーグ		 BTOP Hokkaido Kuriyama, Hokkaido
Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth Obihiro, Hokkaido
Hokushukai Iwamizawa Iwamizawa, Hokkaido
Kyokusyuukai FC Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Norbritz Hokkaido Ebetsu, Hokkaido
Sapporo University Goal Plunderers (ja) Sapporo, Hokkaido
ASC Hokkaido Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Canale Otaru Otaru City, Hokkaido

Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League
LeagueDivisionTeams[2]Hometown
Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League
東北社会人サッカーリーグ		 Division 1 Blancdieu Hirosaki FC Hirosaki, Aomori
Bogolle D. Tsugaru FC Tsugaru, Aomori
Fuji Club 2003 (ja) Hanamaki, Iwate
Ganju Iwate Morioka, Iwate
Morioka Zebra Morioka, Iwate
Cobaltore Onagawa Onagawa, Miyagi
Hitome Senbonzakura SUFT (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
FC LA U. de Sendai (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
Michinoku Sendai FC Iwanuma, Miyagi
Shichigahama SC Shichigahama, Miyagi
Division 2 North [3] Akita FC Cambiare Akita, Akita
Shichinohe SC Shichinohe, Aomori
Saruta Kogyo Akita, Akita
TDK Shinwakai Nikaho, Akita
Kuzumaki Club Kuzumaki, Iwate
Nippon Steel Corp. Kamaishi (ja) Kamaishi, Iwate
Omiya SC Morioka, Iwate
Oshu United FC Ōshū, Iwate
Tono Club Tono, Iwate
Division 2 South[4] FC La U. de Sendai Second (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
Nakaniida SC Kami, Miyagi
RICOH Industry Tohoku Shibata, Miyagi
Sendai Sasuke FC Sendai, Miyagi
Oyama SC Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Chaneaule Koriyama Kōriyama, Fukushima
Iwaki Furukawa FC Iwaki, Fukushima
Merry FC Fukushima, Fukushima
FC Primeiro Fukushima Kōriyama, Fukushima

Kantō Soccer League
LeagueDivisionTeams[5]Hometown
Kanto Soccer League
関東サッカーリーグ		 Division 1 Tsukuba FC Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Vertfee Yaita Yaita, Tochigi
Tokyo International University FC (ja) Sakado, Saitama
Vonds Ichihara Ichihara, Chiba
Aries Tokyo FC Nerima, Tokyo
Nankatsu SC Katsushika, Tokyo
Tokyo 23 FC Special wards of Tokyo
Tokyo United FC Bunkyō, Tokyo
Toho Titanium SC Chigasaki, Kanagawa
Toin University of Yokohama FC (ja) Yokohama, Kanagawa
Division 2 [6] Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki
Sakai Trinitas Sakai, Ibaraki
Tonan Maebashi Maebashi, Gunma
Aventura Kawaguchi Kawaguchi, Saitama
Coedo Kawagoe Kawagoe, Saitama
Hitachi Building System SC Chiyoda, Tokyo
Nihon University N. (ja) Inagi, Tokyo
Atsugi Hayabusa FC Atsugi, Kanagawa
Esperanza SC Yokohama, Kanagawa
Yokohama Takeru Yokohama, Kanagawa

Hokushinetsu Football League
League[7]DivisionTeamsHometown
Hokushinetsu Football League
北信越フットボールリーグ		 Division 1 Niigata University of Management FC (ja) Kamo, Niigata
Japan Soccer College Seiro, Niigata
Niigata University of Health and Welfare FC (ja) Niigata, Niigata
Artista Asama Tōmi, Nagano
Toyama Shinjo Club Toyama, Toyama
SR Komatsu Komatsu, Ishikawa
Fukui United FC Fukui, Fukui
Sakai Phoenix FC Sakai, Fukui
Division 2[8] CUPS Seiro Seiro, Niigata
NUHW FC (ja) Niigata, Niigata
FC Antelope Shiojiri Shiojiri, Nagano
Libertas Chikuma FC Chikuma, Nagano
FC Matsucelona (ja) Matsumoto, Nagano
N-Style Toyama, Toyama
FC Hokuriku (ja) Kanazawa, Ishikawa
LionPower Komatsu Komatsu, Ishikawa

Tōkai Adult Soccer League
League Division Teams[9] Hometown
Tōkai Adult Soccer League
東海社会人サッカーリーグ		 Division 1 Fujieda City Hall SC Fujieda, Shizuoka
Gakunan F. Mosuperio Fuji, Shizuoka and Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
Sports & Society Izu Izu, Shizuoka
Yazaki Valente Shimada, Shizuoka
Chukyo University FC (ja) Nagoya, Aichi
FC Kariya Kariya, Aichi
Wyvern FC Kariya, Aichi
FC Ise-Shima Shima, Mie
Division 2[10] Tokoha University FC (ja) Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
AS Kariya Kariya, Aichi
Chukyo Univ.FC (ja) Toyota, Aichi
Tokai Gakuen University FC (ja) Miyoshi, Aichi
Tokai FC Yatomi, Aichi
FC Gifu SECOND (ja) Gifu, Gifu
Nagara Club Gifu, Gifu
Vencedor Mie Tsu, Mie

Kansai Soccer League
League Division Teams[11] Hometown
Kansai Soccer League
関西サッカーリーグ		 Division 1 Lagend Shiga FC Moriyama, Shiga
Moriyama Samurai 2000 Moriyama, Shiga
Hannan University Club (ja) Matsubara, Osaka
FC AWJ Awaji Island
FC Basara Hyogo Akashi, Hyōgo
Cento Cuore Harima Kakogawa, Hyogo
Asuka FC Kashihara, Nara
Arterivo Wakayama Wakayama, Wakayama
Division 2[12] AS Laranja Kyoto Kyoto, Kyoto
Kyoto Shiko Club Kyoto, Kyoto
Ococias Kyoto AC Kyoto, Kyoto
Kandai FC 2008 (ja) Suita, Osaka
Osaka Korean FC Osaka, Osaka
AC Middlerange Osaka, Osaka
St.Andrew's FC (ja) Izumi, Osaka
Kobe FC 1970 Kobe, Hyogo

Chūgoku Soccer League
League Teams[13] Hometown
Chūgoku Soccer League
中国サッカーリーグ		 Banmel Tottori Tottori, Tottori
Yonago Genki SC Yonago, Tottori
Belugarosso Iwami Iwami, Shimane
International Pacific University FC (ja) Okayama, Okayama
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC Kurashiki, Okayama
NTN Okayama Bizen, Okayama
SRC Hiroshima Hiroshima, Hiroshima
Hatsukaichi FC Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
Fukuyama City FC Fukuyama, Hiroshima
FC Baleine Shimonoseki Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi

Shikoku Soccer League
League Teams[14] Hometown
Shikoku Soccer League
四国サッカーリーグ		 R.Velho Takamatsu Takamatsu, Kagawa
Sonio Takamatsu Takamatsu, Kagawa
Tadotsu FC Tadotsu, Kagawa
FC Tokushima Tokushima, Tokushima
Lvnirosso NC Niihama, Ehime
KUFC Nankoku (ja) Nankoku, Kōchi
Llamas Kochi FC Kōchi, Kōchi
Nakamura Club Shimanto, Kōchi

Kyushu Soccer League
LeagueTeams[15]Hometown
Kyushu Soccer League
九州サッカーリーグ
Itazuke FC Fukuoka, Fukuoka
KMG Holdings FC Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Brew Kashima Kashima, Saga
Kawasoe Club Kawasoe, Saga
J-Lease FC Oita, Oita
Nippon Steel Oita SC (ja) Ōita, Ōita
FC Nobeoka Agata Nobeoka, Miyazaki
Veroskronos Tsuno Tsuno, Miyazaki
NIFS Kanoya FC (ja) Kanoya, Kagoshima
Kaiho Bank SC Naha, Okinawa

See also

References
  1. "2024年度 第47回 北海道サッカーリーグ （前期日程）" (PDF). hfa-dream.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  2. "2024年度 東北社会人サッカーリーグ1部 | 試合日程／結果". tohoku-fa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  3. "2024年度 東北社会人サッカーリーグ2部北 | 試合日程／結果". tohoku-fa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  4. "2024年度 東北社会人サッカーリーグ2部南 | 試合日程／結果". tohoku-fa.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  5. "第58回関東サッカーリーグ1部". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  6. "第58回関東サッカーリーグ2部 | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  7. "第50回北信越フットボールリーグDivision1". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  8. "第50回北信越フットボールリーグDivision2 | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  9. "2024年 1部リーグの試合日程をご案内いたします". tokai-sl.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  10. "第59回アストエンジ関西サッカーリーグDivision１ | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  11. "第59回アストエンジ関西サッカーリーグDivision2 | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  12. "2024年度 第52回 中国サッカーリーグ | 試合日程／結果". csl-jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  13. "第48回四国サッカーリーグ | 日程・結果". goalnote.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  14. "KYFA第５２回九州サッカーリーグ | 試合日程／結果". football-system.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  15. "KYFA第５２回九州サッカーリーグ | 試合日程／結果". football-system.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 May 2024.
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