J1 League

J1 League
Country	Japan
Confederation	AFC
Founded	1992
Number of teams	20
Relegation to	J2 League
Level on pyramid	1
Domestic cup(s)	Emperor's Cup Japanese Super Cup
AFC cup(s)	AFC Champions League AFC Champions League Two
Current champions	Vissel Kobe (1st title) (2023)
Most successful club	Kashima Antlers (8 titles)
TV	DAZN (Japan only) NHK
Website	Official website
2024

The J1 League or simply J1 is the top division of the |Japan Professional Football League and the top professional Soccer J.League in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football. Currently, the J1 League is the first level of the Japanese association football league system. The second tier is represented by the J2 League. It is currently sponsored by Meiji Yasuda Life and thus officially known as the Meiji Yasuda J1 League. Until the 2014 season it was named the J.League Division 1.

2024 season

League format

Main article: 2024 J1 League

Twenty clubs play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 38 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tiebreakers are, in the following order:

• Goal differential
• Goals scored
• Head-to-head results
• Disciplinary points

A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied for first place, both clubs will be declared as co-champions. The top two clubs will qualify to the following season's AFC Champions League Elite, the third-placers qualify to the following season's AFC Champions League Two, while the bottom three clubs will be relegated to J2.

Prize money (2020 figures)

• Champions: 300,000,000 yen
• Second place: 120,000,000 yen
• Third place: 60,000,000 yen

In addition to the prize, the top 4 clubs are awarded with the following funds.

J league funds distributed to top 4 clubs (from 2017)

• Champions: 1,550,000,000 yen
• Second place: 700,000,000 yen
• Third place: 350,000,000 yen
• Fourth place: 180,000,000 yen

Participating clubs

Club	Year joined	Seasons in J1	Based in	First season in top flight	Seasons in top flight	Current spell in top flight	Last title
Albirex Niigata	1999 (J2)	15	Niigata, Niigata	2004	15	2023–	–
Avispa Fukuoka	1996	11	Fukuoka, Fukuoka	1996	11	2021–	–
Cerezo Osaka	1995	21	Osaka & Sakai, Osaka	1965	47	2017–	1980
Gamba Osaka	1993	29	North cities in Osaka	1986/87	36	2014–	2014
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo	1998	11	All cities/towns in Hokkaidō	1989/90	14	2017–	–
Júbilo Iwata	1994	25	Iwata, Shizuoka	1979	34	2024–	2002
Antlers !Kashima Antlers	1993	30	Southwestern cities/towns of Ibaraki	1985/86	33	1993–	2016
Reysol !Kashiwa Reysol	1995	25	Kashiwa, Chiba	1965	49	2020–	2011
Frontale !Kawasaki Frontale	1999 (J2)	19	Kawasaki, Kanagawa	1977	21	2005–	2021
Sanga !Kyoto Sanga	1996	12	Southwestern cities/towns in Kyoto	1996	12	2022–	–
Zelvia !Machida Zelvia	2012 (J2)	0	Machida, Tokyo	2024	0	2024–	–
Nagoya Grampus	1993	29	All cities/towns in Aichi	1973	37	2018–	2010
Sagan Tosu	1999 (J2)	11	Tosu, Saga	2012	11	2012–	–
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	1993	27	Hiroshima, Hiroshima	1965	50	2009–	2015
Bellmare !Shonan Bellmare	1994	14	South and central cities/town in Kanagawa	1972	32	2018–	1981
!FC Tokyo	1999 (J2)	22	Chōfu	2000	22	2012–	–
Verdy !Tokyo Verdy	1993	14	Tokyo	1978	28	2024–	1994
Red Diamonds !Urawa Red Diamonds	1993	29	Saitama	1965	55	2001–	2006
Vissel Kobe	1997	24	Kobe, Hyōgo	1997	24	2014–	2023
F. Marinos !Yokohama F. Marinos	1993	30	Yokohama, Yokosuka & Yamato	1979	42	1982–	2022

• Pink background denotes club was most recently promoted from J2 League.
• "Year joined" is the year the club joined the J.League (Division 1 unless otherwise indicated).
• "First season in top flight", "Seasons in top flight", "Current spell in top flight", and "Last title" include seasons in the old Japan Soccer League First Division.

Stadiums (2024)

Primary venues used in the J1 League:

Albirex Niigata	Avispa Fukuoka	Cerezo Osaka		Gamba Osaka	Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo		Jubilo Iwata
Denka Big Swan Stadium	Best Denki Stadium	Yanmar Stadium Nagai	Yodoko Sakura Stadium	Panasonic Stadium Suita	Sapporo Dome	Sapporo Atsubetsu Stadium	Yamaha Stadium
Capacity: 42,300	Capacity: 21,562	Capacity: 47,816	Capacity: 24,481	Capacity: 40,000	Capacity: 42,065	Capacity: 20,861	Capacity: 15,165
Kashima Antlers	Kashiwa Reysol	Kawasaki Frontale	Kyoto Sanga FC	Machida Zelvia	Nagoya Grampus		Sagan Tosu
Kashima Soccer Stadium	Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium	Kawasaki Todoroki Stadium	Sanga Stadium by Kyocera	Machida Gion Stadium	Paloma Mizuho Stadium	Toyota Stadium	Ekimae Real Estate Stadium
Capacity: 37,638	Capacity: 15,349	Capacity: 26,232	Capacity: 21,600	Capacity: 15,489	Capacity: 27,000	Capacity: 44,692	Capacity: 24,130
Sanfrecce Hiroshima	Shonan Bellmare	FC Tokyo	Tokyo Verdy	Urawa Red Diamonds	Vissel Kobe	Yokohama F. Marinos	All J1 Stadiums
Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima	Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka	Ajinomoto Stadium		Saitama Stadium 2002	Noevir Stadium Kobe	Nissan Stadium
Capacity: 28,520	Capacity: 15,380	Capacity: 49,970		Capacity: 63,700	Capacity: 30,132	Capacity: 72,327

Former clubs

Club	Year Joined	Seasons in J1	Based in	First season in top flight	Seasons in top flight	Last spell in top flight	Last title	Current league
JEF United Chiba	1993	17	Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba	1965	44	1965–2009	1985/86	J2
Yamaga !Matsumoto Yamaga	2012 (J2)	2	Central cities/village in Nagano	2015	2	2019	–	J3
Montedio Yamagata	1999 (J2)	4	All cities/towns in Yamagata	2009	4	2015	–	J2
Trinita !Oita Trinita	1999 (J2)	11	All cities/towns in Ōita	2003	11	2019–2021	–	J2
Omiya Ardija	1999 (J2)	12	Saitama	2005	12	2016–2017	–	J3
Shimizu S-Pulse	1993	28	Shizuoka	1993	28	2017–2022	–	J2
Vortis !Tokushima Vortis	2005 (J2)	2	All cities/towns in Tokushima	2014	2	2021	–	J2
V-Varen Nagasaki	2013 (J2)	1	All cities/towns in Nagasaki	2018	1	2018	–	J2
Vegalta Sendai	1999 (J2)	14	Sendai, Miyagi	2002	14	2010–2021	–	J2
Ventforet Kofu	1999 (J2)	8	All cities/towns in Yamanashi	2006	8	2013–2017	–	J2
Yokohama FC	1999 (J2)	4	Yokohama	2007	4	2023	–	J2
Flügels !Yokohama Flügels	1993	6	Yokohama, Kanagawa	1985/86	11	1988/89–1998	–	Defunct

• Grey background denotes club was most recently relegated to J2 League.
• "Year joined" is the year the club joined the J.League (Division 1 unless otherwise indicated).
• "First season in top flight", "Seasons in top flight", "Last spell in top flight", and "Last title" includes seasons in the old Japan Soccer League First Division.

External links

• Official Website
• Official YouTube Channel
• RSSSF.com - Japan - List of Champions

Football in Japan

League competitions The JFA Cup competitions J1 League Japan Emperor's Cup J2 League (U-23) (U-20) J. League Cup J3 League (U-17) Japanese Super Cup Japan Football League List of clubs J. League All-Star Soccer Japanese Regional Leagues List of stadiums Senior Football Championship List of leagues