2023 Japan Football League

The 2023 Japan Football League (Japanese: 第25回日本フットボールリーグ[第25回 JFL 2023], Hepburn: Dai Nijūgokai Nihon Futtobōru Rīgu [Dai Nijūgokai JFL 2023]) is the tenth season having a fourth-tier status in Japanese football and the 25th season since the establishment of the Japan Football League. The matches are mostly broadcast/streamed live at Japan Football League's channel.[2]

Japan Football League
Season2023
Dates12 March – 26 November
Matches played175
Goals scored426 (2.43 per match)
Top goalscorerTomoki Hino
(18 goals)
Biggest home winSony Sendai 5–0 Tiamo Hirakata
(25 June)
Biggest away winOkinawa SV 0–5 Honda FC
(16 July)
Highest scoringVerspah Oita 5–5 Minebea Mitsumi
(11 June)
Highest attendance11,150
Criacao Shinjuku 2–1 Briobecca Urayasu
(9 April)
Lowest attendance121
Minebea Mitsumi 1–1 Sony Sendai
(16 September)
← 2022
2024 →
All statistics correct as of 22 October 2023[1].

Overview

In the previous JFL edition, Nara Club were promoted to the J3 League as league champions, while FC Osaka were promoted to the J3 as runners-up. Coincidentally, both clubs are from the Kansai region, and were promoted from the Kansai Soccer League in the same 2014 season, and then debuted in the JFL in 2015. Now both clubs were again promoted together, this time to the J3 League.

Okinawa SV and Briobecca Urayasu were respectively, winners and runners-up of the 2022 Regional Champions League, which gives non-league teams the opportunity to be promoted to the JFL. A meeting between the JFL Board of Directors, which was held on 6 December 2022, determined whether the mentioned teams would have its membership accepted. The results were published on the same day at 13:00 (JST).[3]

In case one or both teams failed to meet the requirements needed to play in the JFL, the next team in the order of priority would have joined the JFL, which goes in order from the first-placed team to the last-placed team in the Regional Champions League. In other words, the two best teams amongst those whom the JFL have approved membership could be promoted. Tochigi City FC, the 3rd-placed, and FC Kariya, the 4th-placed of the competition, could still have been promoted under this hypothetical situation. Nevertheless, it didn't needed to be applied, as both Okinawa and Briobecca won promotion and membership approval from the JFL.[4]

Promotion and relegation between J3 and JFL

This season is the first to feature promotion/relegation between the J3 League and the Japan Football League, enabling the possibility for teams to be relegated from the J3.[5] The system of promotion/relegation between the leagues can be determined by the eligibility (Promotion to J3 requires a J.League license) of the JFL's champions and runners-up for the season.

  • If only the JFL champion holds a license, there will be automatic promotion/relegation with the J3's 20th-placed team.
  • If only the JFL runner-up holds a license, there will be promotion/relegation play-offs with the J3's 20th-placed team.
  • If both the JFL champion and runner-up hold a license, there will be automatic promotion/relegation between the JFL champions and the J3's 20th-placed team, and promotion/relegation play-offs with the J3's 19th-placed team.
  • If neither the JFL champion nor the runner-up holds a license, no promotion/relegation between J3 and JFL will take place.

The dates and the host teams of the promotion/relegation play-off were pre-determined by the J.League. In case it happens: It will be played in two legs on 9 and 16 December, with the J3 team hosting the second leg; away-goals rule will not be applied; should the match be tied, it will require extra-time, and if the draw persists, penalty shoot-outs.[6]

Promotion and relegation between JFL and Regional Leagues

For another season, the league decided to change the promotion/relegation system. The league was "forced" to it due to the withdrawal of FC Kagura Shimane from the JFL. As the club decided to withdraw from the JFL only after the league's schedule was already released, the league season needed to be played with 15 teams. On 23 January 2023, the JFL confirmed the following:

  • The winner of the 2023 Regional Champions League (JFL promotion series) will be automatically promoted for the 2024 JFL.
  • The 15th-placed team from the JFL will play a play-off match against the runners-up of the promotion series, with the winner earning a spot at the 2024 JFL.

Further details about the subject, as well as the league schedule, was released by the league on 10 February.[7] The league officially scheduled the 2023 season on that day.[8]

Withdrawal

On 21 September 2022, via their Twitter account, Kagura Shimane announced it was pending payment of about two and a half months' worth of wages for players and staff.[9] Many discussions were made between the JFL Board of Directors and Kagura Shimane's staff and executives. Only on 23 January 2023, after many postponements regarding the final decision over the subject, it was confirmed that Shimane withdrew from the JFL, just a few days after the league schedule was released.[10][11]

Club name changes

On 27 January 2023, Honda Lock SC and MIO Biwako Shiga officially changed their names to Minebea Mitsumi FC and Reilac Shiga respectively.

Participating clubs

The teams which possess promotion-enabler licenses are highlighted in green in the following table. From 2023, the 100 Year Plan status seems to be no longer required to receive approval for a potential J3 promotion.

Club NameHome town Stadium CapacityPositionNotes
Briobecca UrayasuUrayasu, Chiba Kashiwanoha Stadium 20,000 JRCL (1st)
Criacao ShinjukuShinjuku-ku, Tokyo Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka 7,258JFL (15th)100 Year Plan status
J3 license holders[12]
Honda FCHamamatsu, Shizuoka Honda Miyakoda Soccer Stadium 2,506JFL (3rd)
Kochi UnitedKōchi, Kōchi Kōchi Haruno Athletic Stadium 25,000JFL (11th)J3 license issued[12]
Maruyasu OkazakiOkazaki, Aichi Maruyasu Okazaki Ryuhoku Stadium 5,000JFL (5th)
Minebea MitsumiMiyazaki, Miyazaki Hinata Athletic Stadium 20,000JFL (10th)
Okinawa SVAll cities/towns in Okinawa[lower-alpha 1] Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium 10,189[13] JRCL (2nd)
Reilac ShigaKusatsu, Shiga Higashiomi Nunobiki Green Stadium 5,060JFL (16th)100 Year Plan status applicants
J3 license issued
ReinMeer AomoriAomori, Aomori Kakuhiro Group Athletic Stadium 20,809JFL (4th)J3 license holders[12]
Sony SendaiTagajō, Miyagi Miyagi Seikyo Megumino Soccer Stadium 10,000JFL (14th)
Suzuka Point GettersSuzuka, Mie AGF Suzuka Athletic Stadium 1,450JFL (9th)J3 license suspended
Tiamo HirakataHirakata, Osaka Tamayura Athletic Stadium 2,500JFL (13th)
Tokyo Musashino UnitedMusashino, Tokyo Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium 5,188JFL (6th)
Veertien MieAll cities/towns in Mie[lower-alpha 2] La Pita Toin Stadium 5,077JFL (7th)J3 license holders[12]
Verspah OitaYufu, Beppu & Ōita,[14] Ōita Resonac Soccer/Rugby Field 4,700JFL (8th)J3 license holders[12]
  1. centering on Tomigusuku, Uruma, and Okinawa
  2. centering on Kuwana & Yokkaichi

Personnel and kits
ClubManagerKit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor
Briobecca Urayasu Japan Satoshi TsunamiJapan soccer junky Urata
Criacao Shinjuku Japan Hideaki KitajimaJapan gym master Assetlead
Honda FC Japan Hidekazu KobayashiEngland Umbro Honda
Kochi United Japan Takafumi YoshimotoBrazil Athleta None
Maruyasu Okazaki Japan Hiroyasu IbataBrazil Athleta Maruyasu
Minebea Mitsumi Japan Yosuke MiyajiEngland Umbro MinebeaMitsumi
Okinawa SV Japan Naohiro TakaharaJapan XF Nestle Japan
Reilac Shiga Japan Akira TeramineJapan Jogarbola Rei Beauty
Dermatology Clinic
ReinMeer Aomori Japan Kei ShibataEngland Umbro Towa
Sony Sendai Japan Jun SuzukiEngland Umbro Sony
Suzuka Point Getters Japan Yasutoshi MiuraBrazil Athleta Topia
Tiamo Hirakata Japan Takahiro FutagawaJapan Jogarbola Izawa Towel
Tokyo Musashino United Japan Hiroki YodaJapan Yonex Yokogawa Electric
Veertien Mie Japan Yasuhiro HiguchiJapan Sfida Cosmo Oil
Verspah Oita Japan Takashi YamahashiJapan Yasuda Hoyo

    Managerial changes
    TeamOutgoingManner Exit datePosition in tableIncomingIncoming date Ref.
    Announced onDeparted onAnnounced onArrived on
    Criacao Shinjuku Ichiro Naruyama Undisclosed Pre-season – Hideaki Kitajima Pre-season [15]
    Honda FC Hiroyuki Abe Undisclosed Pre-season – Hidekazu Kobayashi Pre-season [16]
    Reilac Shiga Hiroshi Otsuki Undisclosed Pre-season – Akira Teramine Pre-season [17]
    Tiamo Hirakata Hiroyuki Takeda Undisclosed Pre-season – Takahiro Futagawa Pre-season [18]

    Foreign players
    Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3
    Briobecca Urayasu
    Criacao Shinjuku North Korea Hwang Song-su
    Honda FC
    Kochi United Australia Tando Velaphi
    Maruyasu Okazaki
    Minebea Mitsumi
    Okinawa SV
    Reilac Shiga South Korea Mun Jun-su Hong Kong Leung Yau Wai
    ReinMeer Aomori Brazil Vinícius Costa Rica Giovanni Clunie
    Sony Sendai
    Suzuka Point Getters South Korea Kim Tae-woo Hong Kong To Chun Kiu
    Tiamo Hirakata Nigeria Emeka Basil
    Tokyo Musashino United
    Veertien Mie Brazil Efrain Rintaro North Korea Kim Song-sun North Korea Ryang Hyon-ju
    Verspah Oita

    League table
    Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
    1 Honda FC 24 12 7 5 42 23 +19 43 Possible promotion to 2024 J3 League[lower-alpha 1]
    2 Sony Sendai 23 10 9 4 40 29 +11 39 Possible qualification for promotion playoffs[lower-alpha 1]
    3 ReinMeer Aomori 23 9 9 5 23 17 +6 36
    4 Reilac Shiga 24 9 9 6 38 33 +5 36
    5 Briobecca Urayasu 23 9 8 6 32 30 +2 35
    6 Kochi United 23 9 5 9 24 20 +4 32
    7 Suzuka Point Getters 23 9 5 9 29 33 −4 32
    8 Criacao Shinjuku 24 9 4 11 20 27 −7 31
    9 Veertien Mie 23 8 6 9 30 26 +4 30
    10 Maruyasu Okazaki 23 7 9 7 30 30 0 30
    11 Verspah Oita 23 7 8 8 23 27 −4 29
    12 Tiamo Hirakata 24 7 8 9 27 34 −7 29
    13 Minebea Mitsumi 24 7 6 11 31 35 −4 27
    14 Tokyo Musashino United 23 7 5 11 26 31 −5 26
    15 Okinawa SV 23 5 4 14 11 31 −20 19 Qualification for relegation playoffs
    Updated to match(es) played on 22 October 2023. Source: Japan Football League
    Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
    Notes:
    1. Promotion is conditional on holding a valid J3 license (marked in bold in the table). If the champions hold a license, the club will be automatically promoted. If the runners-up hold a license, the club will need to play promotion/relegation play-offs against J3's 19th or 20th-placed team for the season. The club(s) that does not hold a license can not be promoted.

    Top scorers
    As of 22 October 2023.
    RankPlayerClubGoals[19]
    1 Japan Tomoki Hino Minebea Mitsumi 18
    2 Japan Yosuke Ueno Sony Sendai 9
    3 Japan Reon Kodama Honda FC 8
    Japan Yuki Okazaki Honda FC
    Japan Tsubasa Sano Criacao Shinjuku

    See also
    National association
    League
    Cup

    References
    1. "第２５回 日本フットボールリーグ(2023)" (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 August 2023.
    2. "Informations about 2022 JFL broadcasting system". Retrieved 22 June 2022.
    3. "JFL Membership Submission 2022". jfl.or.jp (in Japanese). Japan Football League. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
    4. "お知らせ「第２５回日本フットボールリーグ新入会チームについて」". jfl.or.jp (in Japanese). Japan Football League. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
    5. "2023シーズン以降のＪ３クラブ・ＪＦＬクラブの入れ替えについて". jleague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
    6. "Promotion and Relegation between J3 and JFL from 2023 season". jleague.co. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
    7. "２０２２年度第８回ＪＦＬ理事会報告事項（しまね、入替について）". JFL (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
    8. "第25回日本フットボールリーグ 日程発表!" (Press release). 日本フットボールリーグ. 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
    9. FC Kagura Shimane [@fckagurashimane] (21 September 2022). "選手、スタッフ、社員に対する給与の未払いについて" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 November 2022 – via Twitter.
    10. "JFL退会のお知らせ". FC Kagura Shimane (in Japanese). 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
    11. "２０２２年度第８回ＪＦＬ理事会報告事項（しまね、入替について）". JFL (in Japanese). 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
    12. "２０２４シーズンＪ３クラブライセンス判定結果について （Ｊ３入会を希望するクラブ）". jleague.jp (in Japanese). 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
    13. "【タピスタ（沖縄県陸）】日本フットボールリーグオフィシャルWebサイト". www.jfl.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-03-19.
    14. "Addition of Oita City as Hometown". verspah.jp/. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
    15. "北嶋秀朗氏 トップチームのヘッドコーチ就任のお知らせ". Criacao Shinjuku (in Japanese). 28 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
    16. "2022年度　Honda FC 退団選手・退任スタッフのお知らせ". Honda FC (in Japanese). 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
    17. "寺峰 輝 氏 トップチーム監督就任のお知らせ". MIO Biwako Shiga (in Japanese). 12 January 2023. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
    18. "二川 孝広氏　FCティアモ枚方　監督就任のお知らせ". FC Tiamo Hirakata (in Japanese). 20 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
    19. "第２３回 日本フットボールリーグ(2023)". jfl.or.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 13 March 2023.
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