2021.1.1

Chairman’s New Year Message

On behalf of the entire J.LEAGUE, I wish everyone a very Happy New Year.

2020 has been a year like no other. Beginning with a four-month-long hiatus and it was a season nobody could have experienced before.

Even when the J.LEAGUE resumed in July, we had to hold matches without spectators and from there we welcomed fans and supporters to the stadium at a limited capacity.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the players and everyone who have supported J.LEAGUE.
We do not know how 2021 would look like.
It may be in the distant future when all the fans and supporters could pack the stadiums like before.

However, the J.LEAGUE will keep moving forward.
With the aim of protecting the health of the people and culture of sport, and with the belief that football should be with the fans and supporters, J.LEAGUE will continue to bring football to you in 2021 believing that sport can give energy and courage to many people.

We have 57 clubs – including newly-added Tegevajaro Miyazaki – in 40 prefectures supported by many people. We sincerely wish the clubs to deliver exciting and fascinating football in 2021.
J.LEAGUE will continue to be with you.

On behalf of the J.LEAGUE, I wish all of you a delightful year in 2021.

Mitsuru Murai
Chairman
Japan Professional Football League