Remove ads

The Japan Women's Football League (Japanese: 日本女子サッカーリーグ, Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu), commonly known as the Nadeshiko League (Japanese: なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu), is a women's association football league in Japan.

Quick Facts Founded, Country ...
Nadeshiko League
Thumb
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989), as L.League
CountryJapan
ConfederationAFC
DivisionsD1: Division 1
D2: Division 2
Number of clubsD1: 12
D2: 12
Level on pyramid2–3
Relegation toRegional leagues
Domestic cup(s)Empress's Cup
League cup(s)Nadeshiko League Cup
Current championsD1: Viamaterras Miyazaki (1st title)
D2: Okayama Yunogo Belle (1st title)
(2024)
Most championshipsD1: NTV Beleza (17 titles)
D2:
TV partnersYouTube
Websiteen.nadeshikoleague.jp
(in English)
Current: 2024 Nadeshiko League
Close

The Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions that correspond to the second and third levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid respectively. Teams are promoted and relegated between the divisions, and between the Nadeshiko League Division 2 and the fourth-level Japanese regional leagues, based on performance in the previous season. Prior to 2021, the Nadeshiko League occupied the top level of the Japanese women's football pyramid as well; that level is now represented by the fully professional WE League.

Since 2008, the Nadeshiko League has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fast food (bento) company based in Fukuoka.[1]

Remove ads

History

The Japan Women's Football League, or the L. League, was founded in 1989. The founding six clubs were Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza, Shinko Seiko FC Clair, Nissan FC Ladies, Shimizu FC Ladies, Prima Ham FC Kunoichi, and Tasaki-Shinju Kobe Ladies.[2] From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of that era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back. Teams from this early era would host annual training camps to build skills and relationships with international women's football clubs, such as those in the United States and Australia.

In 2004 the L. League acquired the nickname the Nadeshiko League. Nadeshiko is the name of the dianthus flower and was chosen from suggestions by fans, signifying an ideal of a dutiful Japanese woman.[3][4]

In the 2004 season, the L. League added a second division, and until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men where the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner. In 2010, the second division was divided into east and west groups of six teams each; the winners of each group were promoted to the first division.

After Japan's World Cup win in 2011, the L. League saw an upsurge in popularity.[5][6][7][8][9] In 2015, the league added a third division called the Nadeshiko Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ, Charenji Rīgu) was added, and the first and second divisions now had 10 teams each.

In 2020, the Japan Football Association announced that the newly established WE League will become the top level for women's football in Japan in 2021.[10] The Nadeshiko League would then become the second to fourth levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid. After many top teams left for the WE League, the Nadeshiko League abolished the third division in 2021.

Remove ads

Structure

Since 2021, the Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions:

More information Level on the pyramid, Division ...
Level on the pyramid Division
II  Nadeshiko League Division 1

(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1)
12 clubs
↓ 1 relegation spot

III Nadeshiko League Division 2

(Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2)
12 clubs
↑ 1 promotion spot
↓ 2 promotion/relegation series spot

Close

Clubs

Champions

Division 1

Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.[11]

Wins by club

Clubs in bold are those competing in Division 1 as of the 2023 season. Clubs in italics no longer exist.

More information Club, Championships ...
Club Championships Years
Nippon TV Beleza[a]
17
1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Urawa Reds Ladies[b]
4
2004, 2009, 2014, 2020
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
3
1996, 1997, 1998
Iga FC Kunoichi[c]
3
1995, 1999, 2021
INAC Kobe Leonessa
3
2011, 2012, 2013
Shimizu FC Ladies
1
1989
Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina[d]
1
1994
Tasaki Perule FC
1
2003
Sfida Setagaya FC
1
2022
Orca Kamogawa FC
1
2023
Viamaterras Miyazaki
1
2024
Close

Notes

  1. Yomiuri Beleza was renamed to Nippon TV Beleza in 1999 and to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2011, when the Yomiuri Group sold its stake.
  2. Saitama Reinas were absorbed by Urawa Red Diamonds in 2005.
  3. Prima Ham FC Kunoichi was renamed to Iga FC Kunoichi in 2000.
  4. Matsushita LSC Bambina was renamed to Speranza FC Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza Osaka-Takatsuki in 2012.
Wins by region

Division 2

Challenge League

More information Year, Club ...
Close

2024 season

Division 1

Division 2

More information Clubs, Hometown ...
Close

Previous clubs

The following clubs have previously competed in the Nadeshiko League for at least one season.

Joined WE League in 2021

Joined WE League in 2023

Relegated to regional leagues

Defunct

Remove ads

Division 1 awards

More information Year, Player ...
Close
Remove ads

See also

References

Remove ads

Wikiwand in your browser!

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.

Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.

Remove ads