Japan Football Association
| AFC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founded | 10 September 1921 |
| Headquarters | Bunkyō, Tokyo |
| FIFA affiliation | 17 May 1929 |
| AFC affiliation | 8 May 1954 |
| EAFF affiliation | 28 May 2002 |
| President | Tsuneyasu Miyamoto |
| Vice-President |
|
| Website | jfa.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
[edit]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
[edit]Flag
[edit]
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
[edit]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
[edit]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. |
|---|---|---|
 Tsuneyasu Miyamoto
|
President | [1][6][7] |
| Mitsuru Murai
|
Vice President | [6][7] |
| Kazumichi Iwagami
|
2nd Vice President | [6][7] |
| Yoshinori Hayashi
|
3rd Vice President | [7] |
| Kiyotaka Suhara
|
General Secretary | [6][7] |
| Masashi Fukuda
|
Treasurer | [6] |
| Tsuyoshi Nishimoto
|
2nd Treasurer | [6] |
| Yasuharu Sorimachi
|
Technical Director | [6][7] |
| Hajime Moriyasu
|
Team Coach (Men's) | [6][7] |
| Futoshi Ikeda
|
Team Coach (Women's) | [6][7] |
| Hideki Kato
|
Media/Communications Manager | [6] |
| Tsuyoshi Kitazawa
|
Futsal Coordinator | [6] |
| Miiko Kaneko
|
Referee Coordinator |
Presidents
[edit]| Presidency | President | Took office | Left office |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jikichi Imamura
|
1921 | 1933 |
| 2 | Ryutaro Fukao
|
1935 | 1945 |
| -
|
1945 | 1947 | |
| 3 | Ryutaro Takahashi
|
1947 | 1954 |
| 4 | Yuzuru Nozu
|
1955 | 1976 |
| 5 | Tomisaburo Hirai
|
1976 | 1987 |
| 6 | Shizuo Fujita
|
1987 | 1992 |
| 7 | Hideo Shimada
|
1992 | 1994 |
| 8 | Ken Naganuma
|
1994 | 1998 |
| 9 | Shunichiro Okano
|
1998 | 2002 |
| 10 | Saburo Kawabuchi
|
2002 | 2008 |
| 11 | Motoaki Inukai
|
2008 | 2010 |
| 12 | Junji Ogura
|
2010 | 2012 |
| 13 | Kuniya Daini
|
2012 | 2016 |
| 14 | Kozo Tashima
|
2016 | 2024 |
| 15 | Tsuneyasu Miyamoto
|
2024 | Present |
Management
[edit]- JFA Academy Fukushima
- JFA Academy Sakai
- JFA Academy Imabari
- JFA Academy Kumamoto Uki
Sponsorship
[edit]Last updated: 15 August 2024
| Company | Period |
|---|---|
| Kirin | 1 January 2023 – 31 December 2030[8] |
| Company | Period |
|---|---|
| Adidas Japan | 20xx–present |
| 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 |
| 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
[edit]Men
[edit]| Team[9][10] | Head coach | Appointed | Time as Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan national football team | Hajime Moriyasu[11][12][13][14] |
26 July 2018 |
6 years, 148 days
|
| Japan national under-23 football team | Go Oiwa[15][16] |
16 December 2021 |
3 years, 5 days
|
| Japan national under-19 football team | Yuzo Funakoshi[17] |
14 July 2023 |
1 year, 160 days
|
| Japan national under-18 football team | Yuzo Funakoshi[18] |
14 July 2023 |
1 year, 160 days
|
| Japan national under-17 football team | Kazunori Jo |
18 December 2023 |
1 year, 3 days
|
| Japan national under-16 football team | Shingi Ono[19] |
12 December 2024 |
9 days
|
| Japan national under-15 football team | Reiji Hirata |
18 December 2023 |
1 year, 3 days
|
| Japan national futsal team | Kenichiro Kogure[20][21] |
23 November 2021 |
3 years, 28 days
|
| Japan national under-23 futsal team | Kenichiro Kogure[22][23] |
— |
—
|
| Japan national under-20 futsal team | Kenichiro Kogure |
23 November 2021 |
3 years, 28 days
|
| Japan national beach soccer team | Ozu Moreira[24] |
18 June 2020 |
4 years, 186 days
|
| Japan eNational football team | — |
— |
—
|
Women
[edit]| Team[9][10] | Head coach | Appointed | Time as Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan women's national football team |  Nils Nielsen[25] |
12 December 2024 |
9 days
|
| Japan women's national under-23 football team | — |
— |
—
|
| Japan women's national under-19 football team | Akira Ijiri (ja) |
12 December 2024 |
9 days
|
| Japan women's national under-17 football team | Sadayoshi Shirai (ja)[26] |
12 December 2024 |
9 days
|
| Japan women's national under-16 football team | Sadayoshi Shirai[27] |
12 December 2024 |
9 days
|
| Japan women's national under-15 football team | Hiroshi Nakano |
||
| Japan women's national futsal team | Takehiro Suga (ja)[20] |
23 November 2021 |
3 years, 28 days
|
| Japan women's national under-20 futsal team | — |
— |
—
|
League system
[edit]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
[edit]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.
Last updated: 12 December 2024
| 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: TBA | ||||||||
|
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 |
Tohoku |
Kantō |
Hokushinetsu |
Tōkai |
Kansai |
Chūgoku |
Shikoku |
Kyushu | |
| 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 | ||||||||
Women
[edit]As of 2023–24 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.
Last updated: 28 October 2023
| Level on pyramid | League(s)/Division(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WE League 12 clubs – no relegation Current: 2023–24 WE League season Dates: 11 November 2023 – June 2024 | |
| 2 | Nadeshiko League Division 1 12 clubs – 1 relegation + 1 playoff Current: 2024 Nadeshiko League Dates: 16 March – 20 October 2024 | |
| 3 | Nadeshiko League Division 2 10 clubs – 1 promotion + 1 playoff, 1 relegation + 1 playoff Current: 2024 Nadeshiko League Dates: 16 March – 26 October 2024 | |
| 4 | 9 Regional Leagues many clubs – 2 playoffs, ?? relegations | |
| 5–6 | 47 Prefectural Leagues[28] & 2 Block Leagues of Hokkaido many clubs – ?? promotions | |
Competitions
[edit]Only includes tournaments organized by the JFA.
International competitions
[edit]Senior
[edit]| 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
[edit]| Competition[29][9][10] | Edition | Champions / Teams | Next edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| National teams | |||
| U-16 International Dream Cup | 2024 | Japan  Venezuela  Senegal  Ukraine
|
2025 |
Domestic competitions
[edit]Senior
[edit]| 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 | 2023 | Tokyo Verdy BS | 3–2 | Loewe Yokohama | 2024 | |||||
| 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 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 2024 | ||||||
| Women's futsal | ||||||||||
| JFA Japan Women's Futsal Championship (ja) | 2024 | SWH Ladies Nishinomiya | Bardral Urayasu Las Bonitas | 2025 | ||||||
University
[edit]| Competition[30][31] | Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Next season | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | ||||||||
| All Japan University Football Tournament | 2023 | Meiji University (4th title) |
2–0
|
Kyoto Sangyo University | 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 | 2023 | Waseda University (1st title) |
4–0
|
Fukuoka University | 2024 | |||
| Women's football | ||||||||
| All Japan Women's University Football Championship | 2023 | Yamanashi Gakuin University (1st title) |
3–2
|
Waseda University | 2024 | |||
| Futsal | ||||||||
| University Futsal Championship (ja) | 2024 | Osaka Seikei University (2nd title) |
4–3
|
Josai University | 2025 | |||
Youth
[edit]| 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 | |||||
| J.Youth Cup (ja) | 2019 (ja) | Nagoya Grampus U-18 (2nd title) |
Gamba Osaka U-18 | 2024 (ja) | ||||||
| All Japan High School Soccer Tournament | 2023 | Aomori Yamada High School (4th title) |
3–1
|
Ohmi High School | 2024 | |||||
| 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) | 2023 (ja) | Kashima Antlers (2nd title) |
3–2
|
Omiya Ardija | 2024 (ja) | |||||
| Club Youth U-15 Championship (ja) | 2023 (ja) | FC Tama (1st title) |
2–1
|
Sorriso Kumamoto | 2024 (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) | 2023 | Sorriso Kumamoto (2nd title) |
1–0
|
FC Alonza | 2024 | |||||
| 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 | Tsubasa SC Rainbow Tarui (1st title) |
3–2
|
FC Brincar Anjo | 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 | 2023 | Fujieda Junshin High School (7th title) |
3–0
|
Jumonji High School | 2024 | |||||
| JFA U-18 Japan Women's Football Championship (ja) | 2023 | Cerezo Osaka Yanmar (4th title) |
1–0
|
Tokyo Verdy Menina | 2024 | |||||
| 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) | 2023 | JFA Academy Fukushima (4th title) |
2–0
|
INAC Kobe Tesoro | 2024 | |||||
| Women's futsal | ||||||||||
| JFA U-15 Japan Women's Futsal Tournament (ja) | 2023 | Jūmonji Junior High School (5th title) |
2–0
|
Asahi Intecc Loveledge Nagoya Statice | 2024 | |||||
Over-age
[edit]| Competition[30][31] | Season | Champions | Score | Runners-up | Next season | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over-age | ||||||||
| JFA O-40 Japan Football Tournament | 2023 | Aries Tokyo Senior 40 (1st title) |
1–0
|
Hokkaido Ossandole Sapporo | 2024 | |||
| 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
[edit].svg){kind=small}
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Organisation". JFA. 16 January 2021.
- ^ Byer, Tom (2 February 2011). "Asian Cup: Japan Is on the Up". The New York Times.
- ^ "Japan Football Association". JFA. 4 June 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Empress's Cup of Soccer". Imperial Family of Japan. 1 January 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Japan Football Association". FIFA. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Japan Football Association (JFA)". AFC. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "「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.
- ^ a b c d "Japan national team". JFA. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ a b c d "日本代表" [Japan national team] (in Japanese). JFA. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Moriyasu Hajime named as the head coach of Samurai Blue (Japan national team)". JFA. 26 July 2018.
- ^ "Samurai Blue（日本代表）監督 森保一氏と契約合意". JFA (in Japanese). 28 December 2022.
- ^ "SAMURAI BLUE（日本代表）監督に森保一氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 26 July 2018.
- ^ "Mr. OIWA Go appointed as Head Coach of U-21 Japan National Team". JFA. 16 December 2021.
- ^ "U-21日本代表監督に大岩剛氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 16 December 2021.
- ^ "U-18日本代表監督に船越優蔵氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 14 July 2023.
- ^ "U-18日本代表監督に船越優蔵氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 14 July 2023.
- ^ "U-16日本代表監督に小野信義氏が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 12 December 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "U-16日本女子代表 白井貞義監督が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 19 January 2023.
- ^ "U-16日本女子代表 白井貞義監督が就任". JFA (in Japanese). 19 January 2023.
- ^ a b "47 Prefectural Football Associations". JFA. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ a b "List of International matches". JFA. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Competitions". JFA. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g "大会・試合" [Competitions / Matches] (in Japanese). JFA. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- JFA on FIFA
- JFA on AFC
- List of the official SNSs on JFA
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