Japan Football Association

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Japan Football Association
AFC
Founded03 January 1921; 103 years ago (03 January 1921)
HeadquartersBunkyō, Tokyo
FIFA affiliation21 May 1929; 94 years ago (21 May 1929)
AFC affiliation07 June 1954; 69 years ago (07 June 1954)
EAFF affiliation28 May 2002; 21 years ago (28 May 2002)
PresidentTsuneyasu Miyamoto
Vice-President
Websitejfa.jp

The Japan Football Association (JFA, Japanese: 日本サッカー協会, romanizedNihon Sakkā Kyōkai)[1] is the governing body responsible for the administration of football, futsal, beach soccer and efootball in Japan. It is responsible for the national team, as well as club competitions.[2]

History[edit]

The organization was founded in 1921 as the Greater Japan Football Association (大日本蹴球協会, Dai-Nippon Shūkyū Kyōkai), and became affiliated with FIFA in 1929.[1] In 1945, the name of the organization was changed to the Japan Football Association (日本蹴球協会, Nihon Shūkyū Kyōkai); its Japanese name was changed to the current title in 1975. The association generally translates its name to "Japan Football Association" in English,[3] though "Japan Soccer Association" is also used.

Identity[edit]

Flag[edit]

Yatagarasu

The symbol of the JFA is the Yatagarasu, a mythical three-legged raven that guided Emperor Jimmu to Mount Kumano. Yatagarasu is also the messenger of the supreme Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu.[1]

Anthem[edit]

In 1994, the JFA asked Ryuichi Sakamoto to compose the instrumental song - "Japanese Soccer Anthem".[4] There is an arrangement version by Yasuhide Ito. This anthem is played at the beginning of JFA-sponsored events, such as the Emperor's Cup matches and as a prelude to kickoff at stadiums.

Members[edit]

The following is a list of presidents of Japan Football Association (JFA). The Honorary President is Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.[5]

Last updated: 6 March 2022

Name Role Ref.
Japan Tsuneyasu Miyamoto President [1][6][7]
Japan Mitsuru Murai Vice President [6][7]
Japan Kazumichi Iwagami 2nd Vice President [6][7]
Japan Yoshinori Hayashi 3rd Vice President [7]
Japan Kiyotaka Suhara General Secretary [6][7]
Japan Masashi Fukuda Treasurer [6]
Japan Tsuyoshi Nishimoto 2nd Treasurer [6]
Japan Yasuharu Sorimachi Technical Director [6][7]
Japan Hajime Moriyasu Team Coach (Men's) [6][7]
Japan Futoshi Ikeda Team Coach (Women's) [6][7]
Japan Hideki Kato Media/Communications Manager [6]
Japan Tsuyoshi Kitazawa Futsal Coordinator [6]
Japan Miiko Kaneko Referee Coordinator

Presidents[edit]

Presidency President Took office Left office
1 Japan Jikichi Imamura 1921 1933
2 Japan Ryutaro Fukao 1935 1945
Japan - 1945 1947
3 Japan Ryutaro Takahashi 1947 1954
4 Japan Yuzuru Nozu 1955 1976
5 Japan Tomisaburo Hirai 1976 1987
6 Japan Shizuo Fujita 1987 1992
7 Japan Hideo Shimada 1992 1994
8 Japan Ken Naganuma 1994 1998
9 Japan Shunichiro Okano 1998 2002
10 Japan Saburo Kawabuchi 2002 2008
11 Japan Motoaki Inukai 2008 2010
12 Japan Junji Ogura 2010 2012
13 Japan Kuniya Daini 2012 2016
14 Japan Kozo Tashima 2016 2024
15 Japan Tsuneyasu Miyamoto 2024 Present

Management[edit]

  • JFA Academy Fukushima
  • JFA Academy Sakai
  • JFA Academy Imabari
  • JFA Academy Kumamoto Uki

Sponsorship[edit]

Last updated: 8 April 2023

JFA Official Top Partner
Company Period
Kirin 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2030[8]
JFA Official Supplier
Company Period
Adidas Japan 20xx–present
JFA Major Partner
Company Period
ANA 27 February 2023 – 31 December 2026
Saison 5 November 2001 – 31 December 2030
au 25 August 2016 – 31 December 2026
Mizuho 1 April 2013 – 31 December 2026
MS&AD 2 May 2008 – 31 December 2026
Toyo Tires 1 May 2021 – 31 December 2026
Bushiroad 9 September 2023 – 31 December 2030
JFA National Team Partner
Company Period
APA Hotel 1 March 2023 – 31 December 2026
Yomiuri Shimbun 21 March 2023 – 31 December 2026
GTV Indonesia 2 November 2023 – 31 December 2026

National teams[edit]

Men[edit]

Team[9][10] Manager Appointed Time as Manager
Japan national football team Japan Hajime Moriyasu[11][12][13][14]
26 July 2018
5 years, 246 days
Japan national football B team (ja)
Japan national under-23 football team Japan Go Oiwa[15][16]
16 December 2021
2 years, 103 days
Japan national under-22 football B team Japan Go Oiwa
Japan national under-20 football team Japan Yuzo Funakoshi[17]
14 July 2023
258 days
Japan national under-17 football team Japan Yoshiro Moriyama[18][19]
16 December 2021
2 years, 103 days
Japan national futsal team Japan Kenichiro Kogure[20][21]
23 November 2021
2 years, 126 days
Japan national under-23 futsal team Japan Kenichiro Kogure[22][23]
Japan national under-20 futsal team Japan Kenichiro Kogure
23 November 2021
2 years, 126 days
Japan national beach soccer team Japan Ozu Moreira[24][25]
18 June 2020
3 years, 284 days
Japan eNational football team

Women[edit]

Team[9][10] Manager Appointed Time as Manager
Japan women's national football team Japan Futoshi Ikeda[26]
1 October 2021
2 years, 179 days
Japan women's national football B team Japan Michihisa Kano (ja)
29 August 2023
212 days
Japan women's national under-23 football team
Japan women's national under-20 football team Japan Michihisa Kano (ja)[27]
19 January 2023
1 year, 69 days
Japan women's national under-17 football team Japan Sadayoshi Shirai (ja)[28]
19 January 2023
1 year, 69 days
Japan women's national futsal team Japan Takehiro Suga (ja)[20]
23 November 2021
2 years, 126 days
Japan women's national under-20 futsal team

League system[edit]

Japanese clubs' placements at each league may determine the JFA-organized competition the club will participate in, or if they will be qualified to one at all.

Men[edit]

As of the 2024 season, all clubs in the top two tiers (J1 and J2) enter the Emperor's Cup directly, with the clubs below it having to qualify through prefectural tournaments.

Last updated: 5 December 2023

Level on pyramid League(s)/Division(s)
1 J1 League (J.League)
20 clubs – 3 relegations
Current: 2024 J1 League
Dates: TBD
2 J2 League (J.League)
20 clubs – 2 promotions + 4 playoffs, 3 relegations
Current: 2024 J2 League
Dates: TBD
3 J3 League (J.League)
20 clubs – 2 promotions + 4 playoffs, 0–2 relegations
Current: 2024 J3 League
Dates: TBD
4 Japan Football League (JFL)
16 clubs – 0–2 promotions, 0–2 relegations
Current: 2024 Japan Football League
Dates: TBD

5–6

Japanese Regional Leagues
135 clubs (80 in Division 1 and 55 in Division 2; As of 2023) – promotions and relegations vary according to each regional association.

Current: 2024 Japanese Regional Leagues

Hokkaido
Soccer League

8 clubs

Tohoku
Soccer League

30 clubs

Kantō
Soccer League

20 clubs

Hokushinetsu
Football League

16 clubs

Tōkai
Adult Soccer League

17 clubs

Kansai
Soccer League

16 clubs

Chūgoku
Soccer League

10 clubs

Shikoku
Soccer League

8 clubs

Kyushu
Soccer League

10 clubs

7+ 47 Prefectural Leagues (ja)[29] & 5 Block Leagues of Hokkaido
450+ clubs (D1) and 1200+ clubs (D2 and below) – promotions and relegations vary according to each regional and prefectural association.

Hokkaido
Sapporo Block | Dōhoku (North) Block | Dōtō (East) Block | Dōō (Central) Block | Dōnan (South) Block
Tōhoku
Aomori | Iwate | Miyagi | Akita | Yamagata | Fukushima
Kantō
Ibaraki | Tochigi | Gunma | Saitama | Chiba | Tokyo | Kanagawa | Yamanashi
Hoku-shinetsu
Niigata | Toyama | Ishikawa | Fukui | Nagano
Tōkai
Gifu | Shizuoka | Aichi | Mie
Kansai
Shiga | Kyoto | Osaka | Hyogo | Nara | Wakayama
Chūgoku
Tottori | Shimane | Okayama | Hiroshima | Yamaguchi
Shikoku
Tokushima | Kagawa | Ehime | Kochi
Kyushu
Fukuoka | Saga | Nagasaki | Kumamoto | Ōita | Miyazaki | Kagoshima | Okinawa

Women[edit]

As of 2023–24 season, all clubs in the top two tiers enter the Empress's Cup directly, with the clubs below having to qualify through regional tournaments. The top-tier clubs also qualify to the WE League Cup.

Last updated: 28 October 2023

Level on pyramid League(s)/Division(s)
1 WE League
12 clubs – no relegation

Current: 2023–24 WE League season
Dates: 11 November 2023 – June 2024
2 Nadeshiko League Division 1
12 clubs – 1 relegation + 1 playoff

Current: 2024 Nadeshiko League
Dates: TBD
3 Nadeshiko League Division 2
10 clubs – 1 promotion + 1 playoff, 1 relegation + 1 playoff

Current: 2024 Nadeshiko League
Dates: TBD
4 9 Regional Leagues
many clubs – 2 playoffs, ?? relegations
5–6 47 Prefectural Leagues[29] & 2 Block Leagues of Hokkaido
many clubs – ?? promotions

Competitions[edit]

Only includes tournaments organized by the JFA.

International competitions[edit]

Senior[edit]

Competition[30][9][10] Edition Champions / Team(s) Next edition
National team
Kirin Cup Soccer 2022 (final)  Tunisia
(1st title)
TBD
Kirin Challenge Cup 2023  Uruguay (24 March)
 Colombia (28 March)
 El Salvador (15 June)
 Peru (20 June)
2024
Women's national team
MS&AD Cup 2023  Panama (14 July) 2024

Youth[edit]

Competition[30][9][10] Edition Champions / Teams Next edition
National teams
U-16 International Dream Cup 2023  Japan
 Netherlands
 Nigeria
 United States
2024

Domestic competitions[edit]

Senior[edit]

Competition[31][32] Current Champions Details Runners-up Next
League
Japanese Regional Football Champions League 2023 Tochigi City Final
round
Vonds Ichihara 2024
Cup
Japanese Super Cup 2023 Yokohama F. Marinos 2–1 Ventforet Kofu 2024
Emperor's Cup JFA Japan Football Championship 2023 Kawasaki Frontale Final Kashiwa Reysol 2024
All Japan Senior Football Championship 2023 FC Kariya Final Arterivo Wakayama 2024
All Japan Club Teams Football Tournament 2023 E-Wing Izumo Final FC MJO 2023
Futsal
JFA Japan Futsal Championship 2023 (ja) Fugador Sumida Final Shonan Bellmare 2024 (ja)
F.League Ocean Cup 2023 Nagoya Oceans Final Bardral Urayasu 2024
Beach soccer
JFA Japan Beach Soccer Tournament 2023 Tokyo Verdy BS Final Loewe Yokohama 2024
Competition[31][32] Season Champions Details Runners-up Next season
Women's cup
Empress's Cup JFA Japan Women's Football Championship 2023 INAC Kobe Leonessa Final Urawa Red Diamonds 2024
Women's futsal
JFA Japan Women's Futsal Championship (ja) 2023 Bardral Urayasu Las Bonitas Final Arco Kobe 2024

University[edit]

Competition[31][32] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Football
All Japan University Football Tournament 2023 Meiji University
(4th title)
2–0
Kyoto Sangyo University 2024
Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Football Tournament 2023 (ja) Fuji University
(1st title)
2–1
Kwansei Gakuin University 2024 (ja)
Denso Cup Challenge Soccer (ja) 2023 Kansai Selection
(5th title)
3–1
Tokai Selection 2024
All Japan University Football Rookie Championship 2023 Waseda University
(1st title)
4–0
Fukuoka University 2024
Women's football
All Japan Women's University Football Championship 2023 Yamanashi Gakuin University
(1st title)
3–2
Waseda University 2024
Futsal
University Futsal Championship (ja) 2023 Osaka Seikei University
(2nd title)
5–3
Tama University 2024

Youth[edit]

Competition[31][32] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
League
Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2023 Aomori Yamada High School 2–1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima U-18 2024
Cup
Club Youth U-18 Championship (ja) 2023 (ja) Gamba Osaka U-18
(4th title)
3–3 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
FC Tokyo U-18 2024 (ja)
J.Youth Cup (ja) 2019 (ja) Nagoya Grampus U-18
(2nd title)
4–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
Gamba Osaka U-18 2024
All Japan High School Soccer Tournament 2023 Aomori Yamada High School
(4th title)
3–1
Ohmi High School 2024
Inter High School Sports Festival 2023 Meishu Hitachi High School
(1st title)
2–2 (a.e.t.)
(7–6 p)
Toko Gakuen High School 2024
Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-15 Japan Football Championship (ja) 2023 (ja) Kashima Antlers
(2nd title)
3–2
Omiya Ardija 2024 (ja)
Club Youth U-15 Championship (ja) 2023 (ja) FC Tama
(1st title)
2–1
Sorriso Kumamoto 2024 (ja)
Junior High School Sports Festival (ja) 2023 (ja) Kamimura Gakuen Junior High School
(2nd title)
4–1
Nissho Gakuen Junior High School 2024 (ja)
JFA U-12 Japan Football Championship (ja) 2023 Sorriso Kumamoto
(2nd title)
1–0
FC Alonza 2024
Futsal
JFA U-18 Japan Futsal Championship (ja) 2023 Fugador Sumida Falcons (1st title)
1–0
Pescadola Machida 2024
JFA U-15 Japan Futsal Championship (ja) 2023 Fugador Sumida Wings
(1st title)
4–1
Kōchi Junior High School 2024
JFA Vermont Cup U-12 Japan Futsal Championship (ja) 2023 Violet FC
(3rd title)
8–7
Ginga FC 2024
Competition[31][32] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Women's cup
XF CUP Japan Club Youth (U-18) Women's Football Tournament (ja) 2023 Tokyo Verdy Menina
(1st title)
1–0
Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Girls 2024
All Japan High School Women's Football Championship 2023 Fujieda Junshin High School
(7th title)
3–0
Jumonji High School 2024
JFA U-18 Japan Women's Football Championship (ja) 2023 Cerezo Osaka Yanmar
(3rd title)
1–0 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p)
Tokyo Verdy Menina 2024
Princess Takamado Trophy JFA U-15 Women's Football Championship (ja) 2023 JFA Academy Fukushima
(4th title)
2–0
INAC Kobe Tesoro 2024
Women's futsal
JFA U-15 Japan Women's Futsal Tournament (ja) 2023 Asahi Intecc Loveledge Nagoya Statice
(1st title)
4–3
Jūmonji Junior High School 2024

Over-age[edit]

Competition[31][32] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Over-age
JFA O-40 Japan Football Tournament 2023 Aries Tokyo Senior 40
(1st title)
1–0
Hokkaido Ossandole Sapporo 2024
JFA O-50 Japan Football Tournament 2023 Yamanashi Masters
(1st title)
3–1
Nichols FC Senior 2024
JFA O-60 Japan Football Tournament 2023 Yokosuka Azul
(1st title)
1–0
Shizuoka Selection 2024
JFA O-70 Japan Football Tournament 2023 Hyogo Selection
(1st title)
0–0
(4–2 p)
Shizuoka Selection 2024
Competition[31][32] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Women's over-age
JFA O-30 Japan Women's Football Tournament (ja) 2023 Shupini Osaka
(1st title)
1–0
Yamato Sylphid '98 2024
JFA O-40 Japan Women's Football Open Tournament 2023 Banvert
(1st title)
1–0
FC.VIDA Feliz 2024

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Organisation". Japan Football Association. 16 January 2021.
  2. ^ Byer, Tom (2 February 2011). "Asian Cup: Japan Is on the Up". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "Japan Football Association". Japan Football Association. 4 June 2013.
  4. ^ "財団法人日本サッカー協会 平成18年度第1回理事会 報告事項" [Japan Football Association 2006 1st Board Meeting Report Matters] (PDF). Japan Football Association. 13 April 2006. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Empress's Cup of Soccer". Imperial Family of Japan. 1 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Japan Football Association". FIFA. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Japan Football Association (JFA)". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. ^ "「日本サッカー協会オフィシャルパートナー」契約に基本合意" [Basic agreement on contract with Japan Football Association Official Partner] (in Japanese). Kirin Company. 1 June 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Japan national team". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d "日本代表" [Japan national team] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Samurai Blue's head coach Moriyasu Hajime signs contract extension to 2026 "We want to see a new view at the next world cup"". Japan Football Association. 29 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Moriyasu Hajime named as the head coach of Samurai Blue (Japan national team)". Japan Football Association. 26 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Samurai Blue(日本代表)監督 森保一氏と契約合意" [Contract agreement with Samurai Blue (Japan national team) manager Hajime Moriyasu]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 28 December 2022.
  14. ^ "SAMURAI BLUE(日本代表)監督に森保一氏が就任" [Contract agreement with Samurai Blue (Japan national team) manager Hajime Moriyasu]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 26 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Mr. OIWA Go appointed as Head Coach of U-21 Japan National Team". Japan Football Association. 16 December 2021.
  16. ^ "U-21日本代表監督に大岩剛氏が就任" [Mr. OIWA Go appointed Head Coach of U-21 Japan National Team]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 16 December 2021.
  17. ^ "U-18日本代表監督に船越優蔵氏が就任" [Yuzo Funakoshi appointed coach of U-18 Japan National Team]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 14 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Mr. Moriyama Yoshiro appointed as head coach of u-16 Japan national team". Japan Football Association. 16 December 2021.
  19. ^ "U-16日本代表監督に森山佳郎氏が就任" [Mr. Moriyama Yoshiro appointed head coach of u-16 Japan national team]. Japan Football Association. 16 December 2021.
  20. ^ a b "Japan futsal national team appoint Mr. Kogure Kenichiro as men's head coach and Mr. Suga Takehiro as women's head coach". Japan Football Association. 23 November 2021.
  21. ^ "フットサル日本代表 新監督が決定 男子は木暮賢一郎監督、女子は須賀雄大監督が就任" [Japan futsal national team appoint Mr. Kogure Kenichiro as men’s head coach and Mr. Suga Takehiro as women’s head coach]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 23 November 2021.
  22. ^ "U-23 Japan futsal national team short-listed squad - Training camp (12/26-29@JFA YUME Field)". Japan Football Association. 20 December 2022.
  23. ^ "U-23フットサル日本代表候補トレーニングキャンプ(12.26-29@高円宮記念JFA夢フィールド)メンバー" [U-23 Japan futsal national team short-listed squad - Training camp (12/26-29@JFA YUME Field)]. Japan Football Association. 20 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Mr. Moreira Ozu appointed as new coach of Japan beach soccer national team". Japan Football Association. 18 June 2020.
  25. ^ "ビーチサッカー日本代表 茂怜羅オズ氏が新監督に就任" [Mr. Moreira Ozu appointed new coach of Japan beach soccer national team]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 18 June 2020.
  26. ^ "Mr. Ikeda Futoshi appointed as head coach of Nadeshiko Japan (Japan women's national team)". Japan Football Association. 1 October 2021.
  27. ^ "U-19日本女子代表 狩野倫久監督が就任" [Mr. Michihisa Kano appointed head coach of Japan women’s national under-19 football team]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 19 January 2023.
  28. ^ "U-16日本女子代表 白井貞義監督が就任" [Mr. Sadayoshi Shirai appointed head coach of Japan women’s national under-16 football team]. Japan Football Association (in Japanese). 19 January 2023.
  29. ^ a b "47 Prefectural Football Associations". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  30. ^ a b "List of International matches". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g "Competitions". Japan Football Association. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g "大会・試合" [Competitions / Matches] (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 3 October 2022.

External links[edit]