Japan Professional Football League
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| Founded | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
| Divisions |
J1 League J2 League J3 League |
| Number of teams | 54 + 3 under-23 teams |
| Domestic cup(s) |
Emperor's Cup YBC Levain Cup Fuji Xerox Super Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League |
| Current champions |
J1:Kawasaki Frontale J2:Shonan Bellmare J3:Blaublitz Akita |
| Most championships | Kashima Antlers (7 titles) |
| TV partners | Perform Group |
| Website | www.jleague.jp/en/ |
The J.League (Jリーグ J Rīgu) (Japan Professional Soccer League (日本プロサッカーリーグ Nippon Puro Sakkā Rīgu) is Japan's professional football league including the first division J1 League, second division J2 League and third division J3 League. J1 League is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football. It is currently sponsored by Meiji Yasuda Life and thus officially known as the Meiji Yasuda J.League.
Before the inception of the J.League, the highest level of club football was the Japan Soccer League (JSL), which consisted of amateur clubs. Despite being well-attended during the boom of the late 1960s and early 1970s (when Japan's national team won the bronze Olympic medal at the 1968 games in Mexico), the JSL went into decline in the 1980s, in general line with the deteriorating situation worldwide. Fans were few, the grounds were not of the highest quality, and the Japanese national team was not on a par with the Asian powerhouses. To raise the level of play domestically, to attempt to garner more fans, and to strengthen the national team, the Japan Football Association (JFA) decided to form a professional league.
The professional association football league, J.League was formed in 1992, with eight clubs drawn from the JSL First Division, one from the Second Division, and the newly formed Shimizu S-Pulse. At the same time, JSL changed its name and became the Japan Football League, a semi-professional league. Although the J.League did not officially launch until 1993, the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup competition was held between the ten clubs in 1992 to prepare for the inaugural season.
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