Last Updated: 11 march 2026
The J1 League is a professional football league for Japanese players. It runs from March to December and features 18 teams.
Until 1993, Japanese football was at an amateur level.
In 2026, the Japanese league will be held in a transitional format – the J1 100 Year Vision League, which runs from February 6 to June 7, 2026. The tournament serves as a preparatory stage for the transition to the new autumn-spring calendar system, which will be used starting in the 2026/27 season.
The league matches are held at club stadiums across the country, from Tokyo and Yokohama to Osaka and Kobe. After the completion of the transitional tournament in the summer of 2026, the Japanese league will begin a new season, which will be played according to the European calendar for the first time and will last until the spring of 2027.
The league features leading clubs in Japanese football, including Kashima Antlers, Urawa Red Diamonds, Kawasaki Frontale, Yokohama F. Marinos, FC Tokyo, Gamba Osaka, and Vissel Kobe. These teams regularly compete for top positions in the national championship and represent Japan at international tournaments in Asia.
Teams that have demonstrated consistent results in recent years are traditionally considered tournament favorites. Among the top contenders are usually Yokohama F. Marinos, Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Red Diamonds, and Vissel Kobe—teams with strong rosters and extensive title-winning experience.
The first national football league was the Japan Soccer League. It was organized in 1965. Members of this league were amateur players and dedicated their time to football in their spare time.
The start of the J1 League dates back to 1993 with 10 teams participating.
Until 2004, the championship was organized in 2 phases.
Since 2005, the championship has taken the form that it is today. The number of teams has been increased to 18. The championship is organized in 2 rounds. Every club that receives the most points is considered the champion. Each club is allowed to have a maximum of 5 legionnaires from other countries. Brazilian footballer Zico, Pierre Littbarski from Germany are famous guest players who have contributed to the popularity and development of J1 League and Japanese footballers.
| The year | Venue | Results/ Winning team |
| 2025 | Japan | Kashima Antlers |
| 2024 | Japan | Vissel Kobe |
| 2023 | Japan | Vissel Kobe |
Information on the dates and location of the next J. League season is being confirmed.
Keep an eye on the dates of football tournaments and other events in our Sports Events Calendar.
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