Nadeshiko League
| File:Nadeshiko League.png | |
| Founded | 1989 |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Divisions | 1:Nadeshiko League Div.1 2:Nadeshiko League Div.2 3:Challenge League |
| Number of teams | 32 |
| Level on pyramid | 1-3 |
| Relegation to | Japanese Regional Leagues |
| Domestic cup(s) | Empress's Cup League Cup |
| International cup(s) | none |
| Current champions | Div.1:NTV Beleza Div.2:Nojima Stella Div.3:Orca Kamogawa FC |
| Most championships | NTV Beleza (14 titles) |
| TV partners | Fox Sports and Entertainment |
| Sponsor(s) | Plenus |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2018 L. League | |
The L. League (Japanese: L・リーグ, officially 日本女子サッカーリーグ, Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu) is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. The league consists of three divisions: Divisions 1 and 2 have the nickname Nadeshiko League (なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu) and Division 3 the Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ, Charenji Rīgu). Since 2008 it has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fast food company based in Fukuoka, and are thus billed as Plenus Nadeshiko League and Plenus Challenge League.[1]
History
Japan Women's Football League began in 1989. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of that era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back.
Players from the 8 Japan Women's Football League teams would host an annual training camp to build skills and relationships between the L. League and women's international football clubs, including U.S.- and Australia-based teams.
Starting in the 2004 season, the L. League had 2 divisions - Division 1, with 8 clubs, and Division 2, with 8 clubs in the 2006 season. Until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men, the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner.
Starting with the 2010 season, the second division is divided into an east and west group of six teams each. The winners of each group are promoted. In 2015 this became Division 3, with the Nadeshiko League becoming two divisions of 10 teams each.
After Japan's World Cup win in 2011 the L. League saw an upsurge in popularity.[2]
League structure
Since 2015, the L-League consists of three levels.
| Level | League(s) / Division(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nadeshiko League Div.1
(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1) ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot | |
| 2 | Nadeshiko League Div.2
(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2) ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot | |
| 3 | Challenge League
(Plenus Challenge League) ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 2 promotion/relegation series spots | |
Champions
First Division Champions
Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.[3]
- Total titles won by club
| Club | Champions | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Nippon TV Beleza | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 | |
| Nikko Securities Dream Ladies | 1996, 1997, 1998 | |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 2011, 2012, 2013 | |
| Urawa Reds Ladies | 2004, 2009, 2014 | |
| Iga FC Kunoichi | 1995, 1999 | |
| Shimizu FC Ladies | 1989 | |
| Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina | 1994 | |
| Tasaki Perule FC | 2003 |
- Yomiuri Beleza was renamed to Nippon TV Beleza in 1999 and to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2011, when the Yomiuri Group sold its stake.
- Saitama Reinas were absorbed by Urawa Red Diamonds in 2005.
- Matsushita LSC Bambina was renamed to Speranza FC Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki in 2012.
- Prima Ham FC Kunoichi was renamed to Iga FC Kunoichi in 2000.
- Nikko Securities Dream Ladies and Tasaki Perule no longer exist.
- Total titles won by region
| Region | Total | Clubs |
|---|---|---|
| Kantō | 21 | Nippon TV Beleza (15), Nikko Securities Dream Ladies (3), Urawa Reds Ladies (3) |
| Kansai | 5 | INAC Kobe Leonessa (3), Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina (1), Tasaki Perule FC (1) |
| Tōkai | 3 | Iga FC Kunoichi (2), Shimizu FC Ladies (1) |
Second Division Champions
| Year | Club | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Okayama Yunogo Belle | |
| 2005 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | |
| 2006 | Albirex Niigata Ladies | |
| 2007 | TEPCO Mareeze | |
| 2008 | JEF United Chiba Ladies | |
| 2009 | AS Elfen Sayama FC | |
| Year | East | West |
| 2010 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | Speranza FC Takatsuki |
| 2011 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | FC Kibi International University Charme|Kibi International University |
| Year | Club | |
| 2012 | Vegalta Sendai Ladies | |
| 2013 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | |
| 2014 | Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki | |
| 2015 | AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies | |
| 2016 | Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara | |
| 2017 | Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama | |
Third Division Champions
| Year | Club | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | |
| 2016 | Orca Kamogawa FC | |
| 2017 | Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita | |
L. League Clubs (2018)
The L-League consists of 3 levels.
Nadeshiko League Div.1 (Division 1)
| Club | Hometown(s) | First Season in Top Flight |
Current Spell in Top Flight |
|---|---|---|---|
| NTV Beleza | Inagi, Tokyo | 1989 | 1989- |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | Kobe, Hyogo | 2005 | 2005- |
| Nagano Parceiro | Nagano, Nagano | 2015 | 2015- |
| Mynavi Vegalta Sendai | Sendai, Miyagi | 2013 | 2013- |
| Albirex Niigata | Niigata Prefecture | 2007 | 2007- |
| Nippon Sport Science Univ | Yokohama | 2018 | 2018- |
| JEF United Chiba | Chiba, Chiba | 2000 | 2009- |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Saitama, Saitama | 1999 | 1999- |
| Nojima Stella | Sagamihara, Kanagawa | 2017 | 2017- |
| Cerezo Osaka | Osaka, Osaka | 2018 | 2018- |
Nadeshiko League Div.2 (Division 2)
| Clubs | Hometown(s) |
|---|---|
| Iga Kunoichi | Iga, |
| Yunogo Belle | Mimasaka, Okayama |
| Elfen Saitama | kawagoe, Saitama |
| Ehime | Matsuyama, Ehime |
| Sfida Setagaya | Setagaya, Tokyo |
| Nippatsu Yokohama FC Seagulls | Yokohama, |
| Harima | Himeji, Hyogo |
| Shizuoka Sagyo Univ. | Iwata, Shizuoka |
| Bunnys Kyoto | Kyoto, (Kyoto) |
| Orca Kamogawa F.C. | Kamogawa, Chiba |
Challenge League (Division 3)
| Clubs (East) | Hometown(s) |
|---|---|
| FC Jumonji Ventus | Tokyo |
| Tokiwagi Gakuen High School LSC | Sendai, Miyagi |
| Yamato Sylphid | Yamato, Kanagawa |
| Norddea Hokkaido | Sapporo, Hokkaido |
| Tsukuba FC Ladies | Tsukuba, Ibaraki |
| Niigata University of Health and Welfare LSC | Niigata, Niigata |
| Clubs (West) | Hometown(s) |
| Fukuoka J. Anclas | Kasuga, Fukuoka |
| JFA Academy Fukushima LSC | Gotenba, Shizuoka[5] |
| Angeviolet Hiroshima | Hiroshima |
| NGU Nagoya F.C. Ladies | Nagoya, Aichi |
Previous clubs
Relegated to regional leagues
- Je Vrille Kagoshima - Relegated to Kyushu League from 2014
- Shimizudaihachi Pleiades - Relegated to Tokai League from 2015
- Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto F.C. - Relegated to Kyushu League from 2016
Dissolved
- Fujita Soccer Club Mercury (affiliated with Shonan Bellmare)
- Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
- Nissan F.C. Ladies (affiliated with Yokohama Marinos)
- OKI F.C. Winds
- Shiroki F.C. Serena
- Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies (affiliated with Shimizu S-Pulse)
- Tasaki Perule F.C.
- Tokyo Shidax L.S.C. (formerly Shinko Seiko F.C. Clair)
- Urawa Ladies F.C.
- TEPCO Mareeze (dissolved after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; many of the players moved to Vegalta Sendai Ladies)
- Aguilas Kobe
- Hoyo Sukarabu F.C.
Award
Best Player
|
Top Goalscorers
|
Best Young Player
|
See also
- Empress's Cup
- Japan and South Korea Women's League Championship
- International Women's Club Championship
- List of women's football clubs in Japan
References
- ^ "Plenus Co. Ltd. Supports Nadeshiko League". Plenus Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- ^
- "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise | The Japan Times Online". Japantimes.co.jp. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- "Toyota to sponsor Nadeshiko League soccer " Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- "Sky Perfect TV to Show Japan Women's Soccer League Live Following World Cup Win". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
- "Women's football is booming in Japan as the game tries to capitalise on Nadeshiko's World Cup and Olympic success". Goal.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise". The Japan Times. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
- ^ "Japan - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
- ^ "Goals galore on three continents". FIFA. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 4 March 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ It has transferred more temporarily than Naraha for an 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
External links
- Women's Football League in Japan (Plenus Nadeshiko League) Official Site Template:Jp icon
- Japan Leagues at women.soccerway.com
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