J3 League
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| Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Founded | 2013; 3 years ago |
| Number of teams | (2017 season) |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | J2 League |
| Relegation to | Japan Football League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Emperor's Cup |
| Current champions |
Oita Trinita (2016) |
| Most championships |
Zweigen Kanazawa Renofa Yamaguchi Oita Trinita (1 title each) |
| Website | Official Website |
 2017 J3 League
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J3 League (J3リーグ J3 Rīgu?) or simply J3 is the third division of Japan Professional Football League (日本プロサッカーリーグ Nippon Puro Sakkā Rīgu?) that has established a third-tier professional association football league in Japan starting in 2014.
The third-tier nationwide league is a relatively recent development in Japanese football with the first attempt dated 1992 (second division of the old JFL), though it only lasted for two seasons. In 1999, following the establishment of J2 League, a new Japan Football League was created, becoming the third tier onwards. After introduction of J3 the JFL has been moved down the pyramid and become a fourth-tier nationwide league, for the first time in history of Japanese football.
The league is known by their title sponsor, the Meiji Yasuda J3 League.
A national third tier of Japanese association football was first established along with its professionalization in 1992, when the newly created Japan Football League kicked off with two tiers below the professional J. League. But after a number of clubs were lost for various reasons – some were promoted to J.League and the others folded – the league contracted the second division in 1994 and continued with the single second-tier division.
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