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2023 Japan Football League

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Japan Football League
Season2023
Dates12 March – 26 November
ChampionsHonda FC
10th JFL title
6th D4 title
Matches played210
Goals scored517 (2.46 per match)
Top goalscorerTomoki Hino
(19 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

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.[1]

Overview

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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.

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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).[2]

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.[3]

Promotion and relegation between J3 and JFL

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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.[4] 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.[5]

Promotion and relegation between JFL and Regional Leagues

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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.[6] The league officially scheduled the 2023 season on that day.[7]

Withdrawal

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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.[8] 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.[9][10]

Club name changes

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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

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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 Name Home town Stadium Capacity Position Notes
Briobecca Urayasu Urayasu, Chiba Kashiwanoha Stadium 20,000 JRCL (1st)
Criacao Shinjuku Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka 7,258 JFL (15th) 100 Year Plan status
J3 license holders[11]
Honda FC Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Honda Miyakoda Soccer Stadium 2,506 JFL (3rd)
Kochi United Kōchi, Kōchi Kōchi Haruno Athletic Stadium 25,000 JFL (11th) J3 license withdrew[12]
Maruyasu Okazaki Okazaki, Aichi Maruyasu Okazaki Ryuhoku Stadium 5,000 JFL (5th)
Minebea Mitsumi Miyazaki, Miyazaki Hinata Athletic Stadium 20,000 JFL (10th)
Okinawa SV All cities/towns in Okinawa[a] Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium 10,189[13] JRCL (2nd)
Reilac Shiga Kusatsu, Shiga Higashiomi Nunobiki Green Stadium 5,060 JFL (16th) 100 Year Plan status applicants
J3 license issued[12]
ReinMeer Aomori Aomori, Aomori Kakuhiro Group Athletic Stadium 20,809 JFL (4th) J3 license holders[11]
Sony Sendai Tagajō, Miyagi Miyagi Seikyo Megumino Soccer Stadium 10,000 JFL (14th)
Suzuka Point Getters Suzuka, Mie AGF Suzuka Athletic Stadium 1,450 JFL (9th) J3 license deprived
Tiamo Hirakata Hirakata, Osaka Tamayura Athletic Stadium 2,500 JFL (13th)
Tokyo Musashino United Musashino, Tokyo Musashino Municipal Athletic Stadium 5,188 JFL (6th)
Veertien Mie All cities/towns in Mie[b] La Pita Toin Stadium 5,077 JFL (7th) J3 license holders[11]
Verspah Oita Yufu, Beppu & Ōita,[14] Ōita Resonac Soccer/Rugby Field 4,700 JFL (8th) J3 license holders[11]
  1. ^ centering on Tomigusuku, Uruma, and Okinawa
  2. ^ centering on Kuwana & Yokkaichi

Personnel and kits

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Club Manager Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor
Briobecca Urayasu Japan Satoshi Tsunami Japan soccer junky Urata
Criacao Shinjuku Japan Hideaki Kitajima Japan gym master Assetlead
Honda FC Japan Hidekazu Kobayashi England Umbro Honda
Kochi United Japan Takafumi Yoshimoto Brazil Athleta None
Maruyasu Okazaki Japan Hiroyasu Ibata Brazil Athleta Maruyasu
Minebea Mitsumi Japan Yosuke Miyaji England Umbro MinebeaMitsumi
Okinawa SV Japan Naohiro Takahara Japan XF Nestle Japan
Reilac Shiga Japan Toshimi Kikuchi Japan Jogarbola Rei Beauty
Dermatology Clinic
ReinMeer Aomori Japan Kei Shibata England Umbro Towa
Sony Sendai Japan Jun Suzuki England Umbro Sony
Suzuka Point Getters Japan Yasutoshi Miura Brazil Athleta Topia
Tiamo Hirakata Japan Takahiro Futagawa Japan Jogarbola Izawa Towel
Tokyo Musashino United Japan Hiroki Yoda Japan Yonex Yokogawa Electric
Veertien Mie Japan Yasuhiro Higuchi Japan Sfida Cosmo Oil
Verspah Oita Japan Takashi Yamahashi Japan Yasuda Hoyo

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing Manner Exit date Position in table Incoming Incoming date Ref.
Announced on Departed on Announced on Arrived on
Reilac Shiga Akira Teramine Sacked 4 September 2023 7th Toshimi Kikuchi 4 September 2023 [15]

Foreign players

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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

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 Honda FC (C) 28 15 8 5 51 26 +25 53
2 Briobecca Urayasu 28 12 9 7 42 35 +7 45
3 Reilac Shiga 28 11 11 6 47 37 +10 44
4 Sony Sendai 28 11 10 7 46 40 +6 43
5 ReinMeer Aomori 28 11 9 8 30 24 +6 42
6 Verspah Oita 28 10 10 8 28 29 −1 40
7 Kochi United 28 10 8 10 30 26 +4 38
8 Maruyasu Okazaki 28 9 10 9 34 34 0 37
9 Suzuka Point Getters 28 10 6 12 34 41 −7 36
10 Veertien Mie 28 9 8 11 35 32 +3 35
11 Criacao Shinjuku 28 10 4 14 25 33 −8 34
12 Tiamo Hirakata 28 8 10 10 32 42 −10 34
13 Tokyo Musashino United 28 9 5 14 30 36 −6 32
14 Minebea Mitsumi 28 8 7 13 35 44 −9 31
15 Okinawa SV (O) 28 7 5 16 18 38 −20 26 Qualification for relegation playoffs
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.
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners

JFL/Regional Leagues promotion/relegation playoff

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Okinawa SV
(2023 JFL 15th)
2–1 (a.e.t.)Vonds Ichihara
(2023 JRFCL runners-up)
  • Anzai 70'
  • Ijuin 105'
Report Tosa 78'
Attendance: 685
Referee: Toshihiro Nakai

Okinawa SV stayed in the JFL; Vonds Ichihara stayed in the Kantō Soccer League Division 1.

Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[16]
1 Japan Tomoki Hino Minebea Mitsumi 19
2 Japan Yosuke Ueno Sony Sendai 10
Japan Yuki Okazaki Honda FC
4 Japan Tsubasa Sano Criacao Shinjuku 9
Japan Keitaro Suzuki Sony Sendai

See also

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National association
League
Cup

References

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  1. ^ "Informations about 2022 JFL broadcasting system". Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  2. ^ "JFL Membership Submission 2022". jfl.or.jp (in Japanese). Japan Football League. 1 November 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ "Promotion and Relegation between J3 and JFL from 2023 season". jleague.co. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ "JFL退会のお知らせ". FC Kagura Shimane (in Japanese). 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  10. ^ "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.
  11. ^ a b c d "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.
  12. ^ a b "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). 28 November 2023. Retrieved 28 November 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/. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  15. ^ "菊池 利三 ヘッドコーチ トップチーム監督就任・トップチーム体制についてのお知らせ". reilac-shiga.co.jp (in Japanese). 4 September 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
  16. ^ "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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