MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE
1
Vissel Kobe
72
2
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
68
3
FC Machida Zelvia
66
4
Gamba Osaka
66
5
Kashima Antlers
65
6
Tokyo Verdy
56
7
FC Tokyo
54
8
Kawasaki Frontale
52
9
Yokohama F･Marinos
52
10
Cerezo Osaka
52
11
Nagoya Grampus
50
12
Avispa Fukuoka
50
13
Urawa Reds
48
14
Kyoto Sanga F.C.
47
15
Shonan Bellmare
45
16
Albirex Niigata
42
17
Kashiwa Reysol
41
18
Júbilo Iwata
38
19
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
37
20
Sagan Tosu
35
Vissel Kobe won back-to-back titles. Although FC Machida Zelvia and Sanfrecce Hiroshima were in the lead for long periods, in the closing stages of the season Vissel Kobe never relinquished the top spot from Matchweek 35 onwards. In the final Matchweek 38, with all three teams still in contention, Vissel Kobe won their match to finish four points clear of second-placed Hiroshima, and celebrated with their home fans and supporters. This season, the team continued to apply effective pressing strategy and to work hard. Led by players with national team and European club experience such as Yuya OSAKO and Yoshinori MUTO, each member of the squad brought their own unique strengths to the game. The team’s strengthened line-up boosted competitiveness within the team and, thanks to the skillful deployment of players by manager Takayuki YOSHIDA, the club successfully competed in both domestic and international tournaments.
VISSEL KOBE
YOSHINORI MUTO
MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE
1
Shimizu S-Pulse
82
2
Yokohama FC
76
3
V-Varen Nagasaki
75
4
Montedio Yamagata
66
5
Fagiano Okayama
65
6
Vegalta Sendai
64
7
JEF United Chiba
61
8
Tokushima Vortis
55
9
Iwaki FC
54
10
Blaublitz Akita
54
11
Renofa Yamaguchi FC
53
12
Roasso Kumamoto
46
13
Fujieda MYFC
46
14
Ventforet Kofu
45
15
Mito Hollyhock
44
16
Oita Trinita
43
17
Ehime FC
40
18
Tochigi SC
34
19
Kagoshima United FC
30
20
Thespa Gunma
18
Shimizu S-Pulse won the J2 League for the first time and will return to the J1 stage for the first time in three seasons after dropping out of the top flight in 2022. This season, under the guidance of manager Tadahiro AKIBA, continuing from last season, the team played attacking football, with one of the best squads in J2. From the Matchweek 9, the team ran off seven consecutive wins. They were particularly dominant at home, recording 15 wins, three draws and one defeat, and won the championship with a game to spare in front of a huge crowd of fans and supporters. Yokohama FC, renowned for their defensive prowess—they conceded the fewest goals in the league with 27 and have not lost in 20 matches since Matchweek 15—secured second place on the final matchweek of the season and will return to J1 after a one-year absence. Fagiano Okayama won the final of the J1 promotion play-offs and secured the last ticket to the J.LEAGUE’s top flight.
MEIJI YASUDA J3 LEAGUE
1
Omiya Ardija
85
2
FC Imabari
73
3
Kataller Toyama
64
4
Matsumoto Yamaga F.C.
60
5
Fukushima United FC
59
6
FC Osaka
58
7
Giravanz Kitakyushu
56
8
FC Gifu
53
9
S.C. Sagamihara
53
10
Azul Claro Numazu
52
11
Vanraure Hachinohe
52
12
Zweigen Kanazawa
50
13
Gainare Tottori
50
14
FC Ryukyu
47
15
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
46
16
Kamatamare Sanuki
43
17
Nara Club
39
18
AC Nagano Parceiro
37
19
Y.S.C.C. Yokohama
32
20
Iwate Grulla Morioka
22
Omiya Ardija made a successful return to the J2 league in a year’s time. The team, led by newly appointed manager Tetsu NAGASAWA , started the season in fine form, going unbeaten in their first 12 matches. From Matchweek 8, the team never relinquished their position and by Matchweek 32 had secured a top-two finish, the automatic promotion qualification. In the following Matchweek 33, the team won the championship with five games to spare. Omiya has been consistent in attack and defence, scoring the most goals and conceding the second fewest in the league. Runners-up FC Imabari were also promoted to the J2 division in their fifth year after joining the J3 division. Despite dropping to 11th place at one stage, the team maintained their second-place position from Matchweek 25 and achieved their long-held goal in Matchweek 36. Kataller Toyama won the final of the J2 promotion play-offs to secure their long-awaited promotion to the J2 division.
ＦＵＪＩＦＩＬＭ ＳＵＰＥＲ ＣＵＰ ２０２４
2023 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE championsVissel Kobe
103rd Emperor’s Cup winnersKawasaki Frontale
Last season’s Emperor’s Cup champions Kawasaki Frontale defeated fellow league champions Vissel Kobe 1-0 in the FUJIFILM SUPER CUP to claim their third title in the competition. In front of a crowd of 52,142, more than at the previous final, the first half was a back-and-forth affair, and the teams went into half-time scoreless, but the game broke open in the 48th minute, just after the start of the second half. Kawasaki Frontale won a free-kick on the right and Tatsuki SEKO crossed for the goal. Vissel Kobe goalkeeper Daiya MAEKAWA was unable to coral the ball, and when Hotaru YAMAGUCHI tried to clear it, the ball hit the right leg of the onrushing Sai VAN WERMESKERKEN and went straight into the net. Kawasaki Frontale held on to their one-goal lead to claim their first title of the season.
J.LEAGUE YBC Levain CUP
Nagoya Grampus
（PK 5-4）
Albirex Niigata
Nagoya Grampus was crowned champions for the second time in three years after a hard-fought final against Albirex Niigata that went to penalties. Despite the rain, 62,517 spectators packed the Japan National Stadium for the match, the largest crowd in League Cup history and the largest for an official J.LEAGUE match in the 2024 season. Nagoya took a two-goal lead in the first half through goals from Kensuke NAGAI in the 31st and 42nd minutes in quick succession. As the chasing team, Niigata made three substitutions in the 65th minute in an attempt to boost their attack, and Kaito TANIGUCHI scored in the 71st minute to spark a comeback. Immediately after that, in the 72nd minute two more substitutes were brought on to the pitch and one of them, Yota KOMI , won a penalty for Niigata in the stoppage time. He then slotted home to level the scores and send the game into extra time. Katsuhiro NAKAYAMA , who gave away the second-half penalty, put Nagoya back in front in the 93rd minute, but Komi equalised in the 111th minute to make it 3-3 after 120 minutes. Nagoya won on penalty kicks with all five players scoring. The MVP of the final was goalkeeper Langerak (Nagoya), who is leaving the club at the end of the season, while 21-year-old Riku YAMANE (Yokohama F･Marinos) won the J. LEAGUE YBC Levain Cup 2024 New Hero Award.
AFC Champions League (ACL) 2023/24
Four Japanese clubs—Yokohama F･Marinos, Ventforet Kofu, Kawasaki Frontale, and Urawa Reds—took part in the ACL 2023/24 to decide the Asian club champions, with Yokohama F･Marinos reaching the final. They lost the final to Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates by a total score of 3-6 in two games to finish runners-up. Ventforet Kofu became the first J2 club to make it out of the ACL group stage, finishing in the top 16.
