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Japanese Regional Leagues
Japanese Regional Leagues 2014.svg
Founded 1966; 58 years ago (1966) (Kansai and Tokai)
1967; 57 years ago (1967) (Kanto)
1973; 51 years ago (1973) (Chugoku and Kyushu)
1975; 49 years ago (1975) (Hokushin'etsu)
1977; 47 years ago (1977) (Shikoku and Tohoku)
1978; 46 years ago (1978) (Hokkaido)
Country Japan
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Divisions 5 (first level)
6 (second level)
Number of teams 134
Level on pyramid 5–6
Promotion to Japan Soccer League (1966–1991)
Japan Football League (1992–1998)
Japan Football League (1999–present)
Relegation to Japanese Prefectural Leagues [ja]
Domestic cup(s) Emperor's Cup
Shakaijin Cup

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.

Overview

Japanese football regions colored
Football regions in Japan:
      Hokkaido       Tōhoku       Kantō       Hokushinetsu       Tōkai       Kansai       Chūgoku       Shikoku       Kyushu
Hokkaido subdivision boundaries are by Block League.

Japan is divided regionally in a variety of ways, some of them administrative and some more historical. For 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

League Teams 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 [ja] Iwamizawa, Hokkaido
Kyokusyuukai FC [ja] Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Norbritz Hokkaido Ebetsu, Hokkaido
Sapporo University Goal Plunderers (ja) Sapporo, Hokkaido
ASC Hokkaido [ja] Promoted from 2023 Hokkaido Block Finals Tomakomai, Hokkaido
Canale Otaru [ja] Promoted from 2023 Hokkaido Block Finals Otaru City, Hokkaido

Tohoku Member-of-Society Soccer League

League Division Teams 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 [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 2 Tsugaru, Aomori
Fuji Club 2003 (ja) Hanamaki, Iwate
Ganju Iwate Morioka, Iwate
Morioka Zebra [ja] Morioka, Iwate
Cobaltore Onagawa Onagawa, Miyagi
Hitome Senbonzakura SUFT (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
FC LA U. de Sendai (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
Michinoku Sendai FC [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 2 Iwanuma, Miyagi
Shichigahama SC [ja] Shichigahama, Miyagi
Division 2 North Akita FC Cambiare Akita, Akita
Shichinohe SC [ja] Shichinohe, Aomori
Saruta Kogyo Akita, Akita
TDK Shinwakai Nikaho, Akita
Kuzumaki Club [ja] Kuzumaki, Iwate
Nippon Steel Corp. Kamaishi (ja) Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Kamaishi, Iwate
Omiya SC [ja] Morioka, Iwate
Oshu United FC [ja] Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Ōshū, Iwate
Tono Club [ja] Promoted from 2023 Iwate Prefectural League Tono, Iwate
Division 2 South FC La U. de Sendai Second (ja) Sendai, Miyagi
Nakaniida SC [ja] Promoted from 2023 Iwate Prefectural League Kami, Miyagi
RICOH Industry Tohoku [ja] Shibata, Miyagi
Sendai Sasuke FC [ja] Sendai, Miyagi
Oyama SC Tsuruoka, Yamagata
Chaneaule Koriyama [ja] Promoted from 2023 Iwate Prefectural League Kōriyama, Fukushima
Iwaki Furukawa FC [ja] Iwaki, Fukushima
Merry FC [ja] Fukushima, Fukushima
FC Primeiro Fukushima [ja] Kōriyama, Fukushima

Kantō Soccer League

League Division Teams Hometown
Kanto Soccer League
関東サッカーリーグ
Division 1 Tsukuba FC Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Vertfee Yaita Promoted from 2023 Division 2 Yaita, Tochigi
Tokyo International University FC (ja) Sakado, Saitama
Vonds Ichihara Ichihara, Chiba
Aries Tokyo FC [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 2 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 Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki
Sakai Trinitas [ja] Sakai, Ibaraki
Tonan Maebashi Maebashi, Gunma
Aventura Kawaguchi [ja] Kawaguchi, Saitama
Coedo Kawagoe [ja] Promoted from 2023 Saitama Prefectural League Kawagoe, Saitama
Hitachi Building System SC [ja] Chiyoda, Tokyo
Nihon University N. (ja) Promoted from 2023 Tokyo Metropolitan League Inagi, Tokyo
Atsugi Hayabusa FC [ja] Atsugi, Kanagawa
Esperanza SC [ja] Yokohama, Kanagawa
Yokohama Takeru [ja] Yokohama, Kanagawa

Hokushinetsu Football League

League Division Teams Hometown
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 [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 1 Komatsu, Ishikawa
Fukui United FC Fukui, Fukui
Sakai Phoenix FC [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 1 Sakai, Fukui
Division 2 CUPS Seiro Seiro, Niigata
NUHW FC (ja) Promoted from 2023 Niigata Prefectural League Niigata, Niigata
FC Antelope Shiojiri [ja] Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Shiojiri, Nagano
Libertas Chikuma FC [ja] Chikuma, Nagano
FC Matsucelona (ja) Matsumoto, Nagano
N-Style [ja] Toyama, Toyama
FC Hokuriku (ja) Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Kanazawa, Ishikawa
LionPower Komatsu [ja] Promoted from 2023 Ishikawa Prefectural League Komatsu, Ishikawa

Tōkai Adult Soccer League

League Division Teams 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 [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 2 Fuji, Shizuoka and Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
Sports & Society Izu [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 2 Izu, Shizuoka
Yazaki Valente [ja] Shimada, Shizuoka
Chukyo University FC (ja) Nagoya, Aichi
FC Kariya Kariya, Aichi
Wyvern FC Kariya, Aichi
FC Ise-Shima Shima, Mie
Division 2 Tokoha University FC (ja) Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
AS Kariya [ja] Kariya, Aichi
Chukyo Univ.FC (ja) Toyota, Aichi
Tokai Gakuen University FC (ja) Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Miyoshi, Aichi
Tokai FC [ja] Promoted from 2023 Aichi Prefectural League Yatomi, Aichi
FC Gifu SECOND (ja) Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Gifu, Gifu
Nagara Club [ja] Gifu, Gifu
Vencedor Mie [ja] Promoted from 2023 Mie Prefectural League Tsu, Mie

Kansai Soccer League

League Division Teams Hometown
Kansai Soccer League
関西サッカーリーグ
Division 1 Lagend Shiga FC Moriyama, Shiga
Moriyama Samurai 2000 [ja] Moriyama, Shiga
Hannan University Club (ja) Promoted from 2023 Division 2 Matsubara, Osaka
FC AWJ [ja] Promoted from 2023 Division 2 Awaji Island
FC Basara Hyogo [ja] Akashi, Hyōgo
Cento Cuore Harima Kakogawa, Hyogo
Asuka FC [ja] Kashihara, Nara
Arterivo Wakayama Wakayama, Wakayama
Division 2 AS Laranja Kyoto Kyoto, Kyoto
Kyoto Shiko Club [ja] Kyoto, Kyoto
Ococias Kyoto AC Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Kyoto, Kyoto
Kandai FC 2008 (ja) Relegated from 2023 Division 1 Suita, Osaka
Osaka Korean FC [ja] Promoted from 2023 Osaka Prefectural League Osaka, Osaka
AC Middlerange [ja] Promoted from 2023 Hyogo Prefectural League Osaka, Osaka
St.Andrew's FC (ja) Izumi, Osaka
Kobe FC 1970 [ja] Kobe, Hyogo

Chūgoku Soccer League

League Teams Hometown
Chūgoku Soccer League
中国サッカーリーグ
Banmel Tottori [ja] Promoted from 2023 Tottori Prefectural League Tottori, Tottori
Yonago Genki SC [ja] Yonago, Tottori
Belugarosso Iwami Iwami, Shimane
International Pacific University FC (ja) Okayama, Okayama
Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima FC Kurashiki, Okayama
NTN Okayama [ja] Bizen, Okayama
SRC Hiroshima Hiroshima, Hiroshima
Hatsukaichi FC [ja] Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima
Fukuyama City FC Fukuyama, Hiroshima
FC Baleine Shimonoseki Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi

Shikoku Soccer League

League Teams Hometown
Shikoku Soccer League
四国サッカーリーグ
R.Velho Takamatsu [ja] Takamatsu, Kagawa
Sonio Takamatsu [ja] Promoted from 2023 Kagawa Prefectural League Takamatsu, Kagawa
Tadotsu FC [ja] Tadotsu, Kagawa
FC Tokushima Tokushima, Tokushima
Lvnirosso NC [ja] Niihama, Ehime
KUFC Nankoku (ja) Nankoku, Kōchi
Llamas Kochi FC [ja] Kōchi, Kōchi
Nakamura Club [ja] Shimanto, Kōchi

Kyushu Soccer League

League Teams Hometown
Kyushu Soccer League
九州サッカーリーグ
Itazuke FC [ja] Promoted from 2023 Fukuoka Prefectural League Fukuoka, Fukuoka
KMG Holdings FC [ja] Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Brew Kashima Kashima, Saga
Kawasoe Club [ja] 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 [ja] Promoted from 2023 Okinawa Prefectural League Naha, Okinawa

See also

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