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Japan Football Association

Japan Football Association
AFC
Founded10 September 1921; 103 years ago (10 September 1921)
HeadquartersBunkyō, Tokyo
FIFA affiliation17 May 1929; 95 years ago (17 May 1929)
AFC affiliation8 May 1954; 70 years ago (8 May 1954)
EAFF affiliation28 May 2002; 22 years ago (28 May 2002)
PresidentTsuneyasu Miyamoto
Vice-President
Websitejfa.jp

The Japan Football Association (JFA, Japanese: 日本サッカー協会, romanized: Nihon Sakkā Kyōkai)[1] is the governing body responsible for the administration of football, futsal, beach soccer and efootball in Japan. It is responsible for the national team, as well as club competitions.[2]

History

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See also: Football in Japan § History

The organization was founded in 1921 as the Greater Japan Football Association (大日本蹴球協会, Dai-Nippon Shūkyū Kyōkai), and became affiliated with FIFA in 1929.[1] In 1945, the name of the organization was changed to the Japan Football Association (日本蹴球協会, Nihon Shūkyū Kyōkai); its Japanese name was changed to the current title in 1975. The association generally translates its name to "Japan Football Association" in English,[3] though "Japan Soccer Association" is also used.

Identity

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Flag

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Yatagarasu

The symbol of the JFA is the Yatagarasu, a mythical three-legged raven that guided Emperor Jimmu to Mount Kumano. Yatagarasu is also the messenger of the supreme Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu.[1]

Anthem

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In 1994, the JFA asked Ryuichi Sakamoto to compose the instrumental song - "Japanese Soccer Anthem".[4] There is an arrangement version by Yasuhide Ito. This anthem is played at the beginning of JFA-sponsored events, such as the Emperor's Cup matches and as a prelude to kickoff at stadiums.

Members

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The following is a list of presidents of Japan Football Association (JFA). The Honorary President is Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.[5]

Last updated: 6 March 2022

Name Role Ref.
Japan Tsuneyasu Miyamoto President [1][6][7]
Japan Mitsuru Murai Vice President [6][7]
Japan Kazumichi Iwagami 2nd Vice President [6][7]
Japan Yoshinori Hayashi 3rd Vice President [7]
Japan Kiyotaka Suhara General Secretary [6][7]
Japan Masashi Fukuda Treasurer [6]
Japan Tsuyoshi Nishimoto 2nd Treasurer [6]
Japan Yasuharu Sorimachi Technical Director [6][7]
Japan Hajime Moriyasu Team Coach (Men's) [6][7]
Japan Futoshi Ikeda Team Coach (Women's) [6][7]
Japan Hideki Kato Media/Communications Manager [6]
Japan Tsuyoshi Kitazawa Futsal Coordinator [6]
Japan Miiko Kaneko Referee Coordinator

Presidents

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Presidency President Took office Left office
1 Japan Jikichi Imamura 1921 1933
2 Japan Ryutaro Fukao 1935 1945
Japan - 1945 1947
3 Japan Ryutaro Takahashi 1947 1954
4 Japan Yuzuru Nozu 1955 1976
5 Japan Tomisaburo Hirai 1976 1987
6 Japan Shizuo Fujita 1987 1992
7 Japan Hideo Shimada 1992 1994
8 Japan Ken Naganuma 1994 1998
9 Japan Shunichiro Okano 1998 2002
10 Japan Saburo Kawabuchi 2002 2008
11 Japan Motoaki Inukai 2008 2010
12 Japan Junji Ogura 2010 2012
13 Japan Kuniya Daini 2012 2016
14 Japan Kozo Tashima 2016 2024
15 Japan Tsuneyasu Miyamoto 2024 Present

Management

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Sponsorship

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Last updated: 15 August 2024

JFA Official Top Partner
Company Period
Kirin 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2030[8]
JFA Official Supplier
Company Period
Adidas Japan 20xx–present
JFA Major Partner
Company Period
ANA 27 February 2023 – 31 December 2026
Saison 5 November 2001 – 31 December 2030
au 25 August 2016 – 31 December 2026
Mitsui Fudosan 1 October 2023 – 31 March 2027
Mizuho 1 April 2013 – 31 December 2026
MS&AD 2 May 2008 – 31 December 2026
Toyo Tires 1 May 2021 – 31 December 2026
JFA National Team Partner
Company Period
APA Hotel 1 March 2023 – 31 December 2026
Toyota 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027
Yomiuri Shimbun 21 March 2023 – 31 December 2026

National teams

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Men

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Team[9][10] Head coach Appointed Time as Manager
Japan national football team Japan Hajime Moriyasu[11][12][13][14]
26 July 2018
6 years, 184 days
Japan national under-23 football team Japan Go Oiwa[15][16]
16 December 2021
3 years, 41 days
Japan national under-19 football team Japan Yuzo Funakoshi[17]
14 July 2023
1 year, 196 days
Japan national under-18 football team Japan Yuzo Funakoshi[18]
14 July 2023
1 year, 196 days
Japan national under-17 football team Japan Kazunori Jo
18 December 2023
1 year, 39 days
Japan national under-16 football team Japan Shingi Ono[19]
12 December 2024
45 days
Japan national under-15 football team Japan Reiji Hirata
18 December 2023
1 year, 39 days
Japan national futsal team Japan Kenichiro Kogure[20][21]
23 November 2021
3 years, 64 days
Japan national under-23 futsal team Japan Kenichiro Kogure[22][23]
—
—
Japan national under-20 futsal team Japan Kenichiro Kogure
23 November 2021
3 years, 64 days
Japan national beach soccer team Japan Ozu Moreira[24]
18 June 2020
4 years, 222 days
Japan eNational football team
—
—
—

Women

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Team[9][10] Head coach Appointed Time as Manager
Japan women's national football team Denmark Nils Nielsen[25]
12 December 2024
45 days
Japan women's national under-23 football team
—
—
—
Japan women's national under-19 football team Japan Akira Ijiri (ja)
12 December 2024
45 days
Japan women's national under-17 football team Japan Sadayoshi Shirai (ja)[26]
12 December 2024
45 days
Japan women's national under-16 football team Japan Sadayoshi Shirai[27]
12 December 2024
45 days
Japan women's national under-15 football team Japan Hiroshi Nakano
Japan women's national futsal team Japan Takehiro Suga (ja)[20]
23 November 2021
3 years, 64 days
Japan women's national under-20 futsal team
—
—
—

League system

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Main article: Japanese association football league system
See also: List of football stadiums in Japan

Japanese clubs' placements at each league may determine the JFA-organized competition the club will participate in, or if they will be qualified to one at all.

Men

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See also: List of football clubs in Japan

As of the 2025 season, all clubs in the top two tiers (J1 and J2) enter the Emperor's Cup directly, with the clubs below it having to qualify through prefectural tournaments.

Level on pyramid League(s)/Division(s)
1 J1 League (J.League)
20 clubs – 3 relegations
Current: 2025 J1 League
Dates: 14 February – 6 December 2025
2 J2 League (J.League)
20 clubs – 2 promotions + 4 playoffs, 3 relegations
Current: 2025 J2 League
Dates: 15 February – 29 November 2025
3 J3 League (J.League)
20 clubs – 2 promotions + 4 playoffs, 0–2 relegations
Current: 2025 J3 League
Dates: 15 February – 6 December 2025
4 Japan Football League (JFL)
16 clubs – 0–2 promotions, 0–2 relegations
Current: 2025 Japan Football League
Dates: 8 or 9 March – 23 November 2025

5–6

Japanese Regional Leagues
135 clubs (80 in Division 1 and 55 in Division 2; As of 2025) – promotions and relegations vary according to each regional association.

Current: 2025 Japanese Regional Leagues

Hokkaido
Soccer League
8 clubs

Tohoku
Soccer League
30 clubs

Kantō
Soccer League
20 clubs

Hokushinetsu
Football League
16 clubs

Tōkai
Adult Soccer League
17 clubs

Kansai
Soccer League
16 clubs

Chūgoku
Soccer League
10 clubs

Shikoku
Soccer League
8 clubs

Kyushu
Soccer League
10 clubs

7+ 47 Prefectural Leagues (ja)[28] & 5 Block Leagues of Hokkaido
450+ clubs (D1) and 1200+ clubs (D2 and below) – promotions and relegations vary according to each regional and prefectural association.

Hokkaido
Sapporo Block | Dōhoku (North) Block | Dōtō (East) Block | Dōō (Central) Block | Dōnan (South) Block
Tōhoku
Aomori | Iwate | Miyagi | Akita | Yamagata | Fukushima
Kantō
Ibaraki | Tochigi | Gunma | Saitama | Chiba | Tokyo | Kanagawa | Yamanashi
Hoku-shinetsu
Niigata | Toyama | Ishikawa | Fukui | Nagano
Tōkai
Gifu | Shizuoka | Aichi | Mie
Kansai
Shiga | Kyoto | Osaka | Hyogo | Nara | Wakayama
Chūgoku
Tottori | Shimane | Okayama | Hiroshima | Yamaguchi
Shikoku
Tokushima | Kagawa | Ehime | Kochi
Kyushu
Fukuoka | Saga | Nagasaki | Kumamoto | Ōita | Miyazaki | Kagoshima | Okinawa

Women

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See also: List of women's football clubs in Japan

As of 2024–25 season, all clubs in the top two tiers enter the Empress's Cup directly, with the clubs below having to qualify through regional tournaments. The top-tier clubs also qualify to the WE League Cup.

Level on pyramid League(s)/Division(s)
1 WE League
12 clubs – no relegation

Current: 2024–25 WE League season
Dates: 14 September 2024 – 17 May 2025
2 Nadeshiko League Division 1
12 clubs – 1 relegation + 1 playoff

Current: 2025 Nadeshiko League
Dates: 15 March – 12 October 2025
3 Nadeshiko League Division 2
10 clubs – 1 promotion + 1 playoff, 1 relegation + 1 playoff

Current: 2025 Nadeshiko League
Dates: 15 March – 18 October 2025
4 9 Regional Leagues
many clubs – 2 playoffs, ?? relegations
5–6 47 Prefectural Leagues[28] & 2 Block Leagues of Hokkaido
many clubs – ?? promotions

Competitions

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Further information: List of association football competitions § Japan

Only includes tournaments organized by the JFA.

International competitions

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See also: FIFA International Match Calendar

Senior

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Competition[29][9][10] Edition Champions / Team(s) Next edition
National team
Kirin Cup Soccer 2022 (final)  Tunisia
(1st title) 		TBD
Kirin Challenge Cup 2023  Uruguay (24 March)
 Colombia (28 March)
 El Salvador (15 June)
 Peru (20 June) 		2024
Women's national team
MS&AD Cup 2023  Panama (14 July) 2024

Youth

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Competition[29][9][10] Edition Champions / Teams Next edition
National teams
U-16 International Dream Cup 2024  Japan
 Venezuela
 Senegal
 Ukraine 		2025

Domestic competitions

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Senior

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See also: 2024–25 AFC Champions League Elite and 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two
Competition[30][31] Current Champions Details Runners-up Next
League
Japanese Regional Football Champions League 2024 Asuka FC Final
round 		Vonds Ichihara 2025
Cup
Japanese Super Cup 2024 Kawasaki Frontale 1–0 Vissel Kobe 2025
Emperor's Cup JFA Japan Football Championship 2024 Vissel Kobe
1–0
 Gamba Osaka 2025
All Japan Senior Football Championship 2024 Japan Soccer College
1–0
 FC Tokushima 2025
All Japan Club Teams Football Tournament 2024 Koga City FC 1–0 FC Nakatsu 2025
Futsal
JFA Japan Futsal Championship 2024 (ja) Nagoya Oceans 6–2 Tachikawa Athletic 2025 (ja)
F.League Ocean Cup 2024 Nagoya Oceans 4–3 Pescadola Machida 2025
Beach soccer
JFA Japan Beach Soccer Tournament 2024 Loewe Yokohama 7–4 Tokyo Verdy BS 2025
See also: 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League
Competition[30][31] Season Champions Details Runners-up Next season
Women's cup
Empress's Cup JFA Japan Women's Football Championship 2023 INAC Kobe Leonessa
1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–5 p)
Urawa Red Diamonds 2024
Women's futsal
JFA Japan Women's Futsal Championship (ja) 2024 SWH Ladies Nishinomiya
4–4 (a.e.t.)
(5–3 p)
Bardral Urayasu Las Bonitas 2025

University

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Competition[30][31] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Football
All Japan University Football Tournament 2024 Toyo University
(1st title)
1–0
 Niigata University HW 2024
Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Football Tournament 2024 (ja) Hannan University
(3rd title)
2–1
 Niigata University HW 2025
Denso Cup Challenge Soccer (ja) 2024 Kanto Selection B
(4th title)
8–1
 Shikoku Selection 2025
All Japan University Football Rookie Championship 2024 Kokushikan University
(1st title)
3–1
 Kindai University 2025
Women's football
All Japan Women's University Football Championship 2024 Nippon Sport Science University
(19th title)
2–1
 Yamanashi Gakuin University 2025
Futsal
University Futsal Championship (ja) 2024 Osaka Seikei University
(2nd title)
4–3
 Josai University 2025

Youth

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Competition[30][31] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
League
Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League 2024 Ohzu High School 3–0 Yokohama FC U-18 2025
Cup
Club Youth U-18 Championship (ja) 2024 (ja) Gamba Osaka U-18
(5th title)
3–2
Kawasaki Frontale U-18 2025
All Japan High School Soccer Tournament 2024 Maebashi Ikuei High School
(2nd title)
1–1 (a.e.t.)
(9–8 p)
RKU Kashiwa High School 2025
Football at the Inter High School Sports Festival 2024 Shohei High School
(1st title)
3–2
 Kamimura Gakuen High School 2025
Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-15 Japan Football Championship (ja) 2024 (ja) Urawa Red Diamonds
(3rd title)
3–2
 Gamba Osaka 2025(ja)
Club Youth U-15 Championship (ja) 2024 (ja) Kawasaki Frontale Ikuta
(1st title)
4–1
 FC Gifu 2025 (ja)
Junior High School Sports Festival (ja) 2024 (ja) Kamimura Gakuen Junior High School
(3rd title)
1–0
 Aomori Yamada Junior High School 2025 (ja)
JFA U-12 Japan Football Championship (ja) 2024 Tokyo Verdy
(3rd title)
3–2
 Buddy SC 2025
Futsal
JFA U-18 Japan Futsal Championship (ja) 2024 Fugador Sumida Falcons (2nd title)
1–0
 Bardral Urayasu Tercero 2025
JFA U-15 Japan Futsal Championship (ja) 2024 Nagaoka JYFC
(6th title)
7–0
 FC Craques Matsudo 2025
JFA Vermont Cup U-12 Japan Futsal Championship (ja) 2024 Tozuka FC Junior
(3rd title)
8–2
 Shizuoka Junior FC Pivo 2025
Competition[30][31] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Women's cup
Japan Club Youth (U-18) Women's Football Tournament (ja) 2024 Tokyo Verdy Menina
(2nd title)
1–0
 JFA Academy Fukushima 2025
All Japan High School Women's Football Championship 2024 Fujieda Junshin High School
(8th title)
5–0
 Kamimura Gakuen High School 2025
JFA U-18 Japan Women's Football Championship (ja) 2024 Tokyo Verdy Menina
(11th title)
1–0
 INAC Kobe Leoncina 2025
Football at the Inter High School Sports Festival 2024 Fujieda Junshin High School
(3rd title)
2–0
 Daisho Gakuen High School 2025
Princess Takamado Trophy JFA U-15 Women's Football Championship (ja) 2024 Cerezo Osaka
(2nd title)
3–2
 Urawa Red Diamonds 2025
Women's futsal
JFA U-15 Japan Women's Futsal Tournament (ja) 2024 Kyoto Seika Gakuen Jr. High School
(1st title)
5–1
 Linda 2025

Over-age

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Competition[30][31] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Over-age
JFA O-40 Japan Football Tournament 2024 FC Seibudai
(1st title)
2–0
 FC Funabashi 2025
JFA O-50 Japan Football Tournament 2024 T Dreams 50
(2nd title)
1–0
 FC Musashi United 50 2025
JFA O-60 Japan Football Tournament 2024 T Dreams 60
(1st title)
1–0
 Hyogo Selection 2025
JFA O-70 Japan Football Tournament 2024 Hyogo Selection
(2nd title)
0–0
(3–0 p)
Super Infinito de Cero 2025
Competition[30][31] Season Champions Score Runners-up Next season
Women's over-age
JFA O-30 Japan Women's Football Tournament (ja) 2024 Shupini Osaka
(2nd title)
1–0
 Legame 2025
JFA O-40 Japan Women's Football Open Tournament 2024 Kodaira SC
(1st title)
1–0
 Tokyo Artemis SC 2025

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Organisation". JFA. 16 January 2021.
  2. ^ Byer, Tom (2 February 2011). "Asian Cup: Japan Is on the Up". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "Japan Football Association". JFA. 4 June 2013.
  4. ^ "財団法人日本サッカー協会 平成18年度第1回理事会 報告事項" (PDF). JFA. 13 April 2006. p. 6.
  5. ^ "Empress's Cup of Soccer". Imperial Family of Japan. 1 January 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Japan Football Association". FIFA. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "Japan Football Association (JFA)". AFC. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  8. ^ "「日本サッカー協会オフィシャルパートナー」契約に基本合意" (in Japanese). Kirin Company. 1 June 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d "Japan national team". JFA. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d "日本代表" [Japan national team] (in Japanese). JFA. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  11. ^ "Samurai Blue's head coach Moriyasu Hajime signs contract extension to 2026 "We want to see a new view at the next world cup"". JFA. 29 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Moriyasu Hajime named as the head coach of Samurai Blue (Japan national team)". JFA. 26 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Samurai Blue（日本代表）監督 森保一氏と契約合意". JFA (in Japanese). 28 December 2022.
  14. ^ "SAMURAI BLUE（日本代表）監督に森保一氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 26 July 2018.
  15. ^ "Mr. OIWA Go appointed as Head Coach of U-21 Japan National Team". JFA. 16 December 2021.
  16. ^ "U-21日本代表監督に大岩剛氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 16 December 2021.
  17. ^ "U-18日本代表監督に船越優蔵氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 14 July 2023.
  18. ^ "U-18日本代表監督に船越優蔵氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 14 July 2023.
  19. ^ "U-16日本代表監督に小野信義氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 12 December 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Japan futsal national team appoint Mr. Kogure Kenichiro as men's head coach and Mr. Suga Takehiro as women's head coach". JFA. 23 November 2021.
  21. ^ "フットサル日本代表 新監督が決定 男子は木暮賢一郎監督、女子は須賀雄大監督が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 23 November 2021.
  22. ^ "U-23 Japan futsal national team short-listed squad - Training camp (12/26-29＠JFA YUME Field)". JFA. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022.
  23. ^ "U-23フットサル日本代表候補トレーニングキャンプ（12.26-29＠高円宮記念JFA夢フィールド）メンバー". JFA. 20 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Mr. Moreira Ozu appointed as new coach of Japan beach soccer national team". JFA. 18 June 2020. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023.
  25. ^ "なでしこジャパン（日本女子代表）監督にニルス・ニールセン氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 12 December 2024.
  26. ^ "U-16日本女子代表 白井貞義監督が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 19 January 2023.
  27. ^ "U-16日本女子代表 白井貞義監督が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 19 January 2023.
  28. ^ a b "47 Prefectural Football Associations". JFA. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  29. ^ a b "List of International matches". JFA. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g "Competitions". JFA. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  31. ^ a b c d e f g "大会・試合" [Competitions / Matches] (in Japanese). JFA. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
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