Japan Women's Football League

Nadeshiko League

Country	Japan
Confederation	AFC (Asia)
Founded	1989 (1989)
Divisions	Nadeshiko League Div.1 Nadeshiko League Div.2 Challenge League / Div.3
Number of teams	32
Level on pyramid	1-3
Relegation to	Japanese Regional Leagues
Domestic cup(s)	Empress's Cup League Cup
International cup(s)	none
Current champions	NTV Beleza (Div.1) AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies (Div.2) Tokiwagi Gakuen High School (Div.3)
Most championships	NTV Beleza (13 titles)
TV partners	Fox Sports and Entertainment BS FUJI
Website	http://www.nadeshikoleague.jp/
2016 L. League

The Japan Women's Football League (in Japanese: "L・リーグ", Officially "日本女子サッカーリーグ",Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu) is the top flight of women's association football in Japan. The league consists of three divisions: Divisions 1 and 2 have the nickname Nadeshiko League (なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu) and Division 3 the Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ, Charenji Rīgu). Since 2008 it has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fastfood company based in Fukuoka, and are thus billed as Plenus Nadeshiko League and Plenus Challenge League.^[1]

History

Japan Women's Football League began in 1989. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J.League system of the 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.

Players from the 8 Japan Women's Football League teams would host an annual training camp to build skills and relationships between L-League and international women's football clubs, including US and Australian teams.

Starting in the 2004 season, the L. League had 2 divisions - Division 1, with 8 clubs, and Division 2, with 8 clubs in the 2006 season. Until 2009 the league operated on the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men, the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner.

Starting with the 2010 season, the second division is divided into an east and west group of six teams each. The winners of each group are promoted. In 2015 this became Division 3, with the Nadeshiko League becoming two divisions of 10 teams each.

After Japan's World Cup win in 2011 the L-League saw an upsurge in popularity.^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]^[6]

League structure

Since 2015, the L-League consists of three levels.

Level	League(s) / Division(s)
1	Nadeshiko League Div.1 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1) 10 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot
2	Nadeshiko League Div.2 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2) 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot
3	Challenge League (Plenus Challenge League) 12 (EAST 6 / WEST 6) clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 2 promotion/relegation series spots

Champions

First Division Champions

Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.^[7]

Year	Club
1989	Shimizu F.C. Ladies
1990	Yomiuri S.C. Ladies Beleza
1991	Yomiuri S.C. Ladies Beleza
1992	Yomiuri Nippon S.C. Ladies Beleza
1993	Yomiuri Nippon S.C. Ladies Beleza
1994	Matsushita Denki L.S.C. Bambina
1995	Prima Ham F.C. Kunoichi
1996	Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
1997	Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
1998	Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
1999	Prima Ham F.C. Kunoichi
2000	NTV Beleza
2001	NTV Beleza
2002	NTV Beleza
2003	Tasaki Perule F.C.

Year	Club
2004	Saitama Reinas F.C.
2005	NTV Beleza
2006	NTV Beleza
2007	NTV Beleza
2008	NTV Beleza
2009	Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
2010	NTV Beleza
2011	INAC Kobe Leonessa^[8]
2012	INAC Kobe Leonessa
2013	INAC Kobe Leonessa
2014	Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies
2015	NTV Beleza
2016	NTV Beleza

Total titles won by club

Club	Champions	Year
NTV Beleza	14	1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies	3	1996, 1997, 1998
INAC Kobe Leonessa	3	2011, 2012, 2013
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies	3	2004, 2009, 2014
Iga F.C. Kunoichi	2	1995, 1999
Shimizu F.C. Ladies	1	1989
Speranza F.C. Osaka-Takatsuki	1	1994
Tasaki Perule F.C.	1	2003

Yomiuri Beleza was renamed to NTV Beleza in 1999 and to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2011, when the Yomiuri Group sold its stake.
Saitama Reinas were absorbed by Urawa Red Diamonds in 2005.
Matsushita L.S.C. Bambina was renamed to Speranza F.C. Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza F.C. Osaka-Takatsuki in 2012.
Prima Ham F.C. Kunoichi was renamed to Iga F.C. Kunoichi in 2000.
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies and Tasaki Perule no longer exist.

Total titles won by region

Region	Total	Clubs
Kantō	19	NTV Beleza (13), Nikko Securities Dream Ladies (3), Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies (3)
Kansai	5	INAC Kobe Leonessa (3), Speranza F.C. Osaka-Takatsuki (1), Tasaki Perule F.C. (1)
Tōkai	3	Iga Football Club Kunoichi (2), Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies (1)

Second Division Champions

Year	Club
2004	Okayama Yunogo Belle
2005	INAC Kobe Leonessa
2006	Albirex Niigata Ladies
2007	TEPCO Mareeze
2008	JEF United Ichihara Chiba Ladies
2009	AS Elfen Sayama F.C.
Year	East	West
2010	Tokiwagi Gakuen H.S	Speranza Takatsuki
2011	Tokiwagi Gakuen H.S	Kibi International University
Year	Club
2012	Vegalta Sendai Ladies
2013	Tokiwagi Gakuen H.S
2014	Speranza F.C. Osaka-Takatsuki
2015	AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies
2016	Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara

Third Division Champions

Year	Club
2015	Tokiwagi Gakuen H.S
2016	Orca Kamogawa F.C.

L. League Clubs (2016)

The L-League consists of 3 levels.

Nadeshiko League Div.1 (Division 1)

Club	Hometown(s)	First Season in Top Flight	Current Spell in Top Flight
NTV Beleza	Inagi, Tokyo	1989	1989-
Vegalta Sendai Ladies	Sendai, Miyagi	2013	2013-
INAC Kobe Leonessa	Kobe, Hyogo	2005	2005-
Albirex Niigata Ladies	Niigata Prefecture	2007	2007-
JEF United Chiba Ladies	Chiba, Chiba	2000	2009-
Urawa Red Diamonds Ladies	Saitama, Saitama	1999	1999-
Iga Football Club Kunoichi	Iga, Mie	1989	2010-
Okayama Yunogo Belle	Mimasaka, Okayama	2003	2005-
Konomiya Speranza Osaka-Takatsuki	Takatsuki, Osaka	1991	2015-
AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies	Nagano, Nagano	2015	2015-

Nadeshiko League Div.2 (Division 2)

Clubs	Hometown(s)
Chifure AS Elfen Sayama	Sayama, Saitama
Nojima Stella Kanagawa	Sagamihara, Kanagawa
Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama	Yokohama, Kanagawa
Sfida Setagaya F.C.	Setagaya, Tokyo
Angeviolet Hiroshima	Hiroshima, Hiroshima
Ehime F.C. Ladies	Matsuyama, Ehime
AS Harima ALBION	Himeji, Hyogo
F.C. Kibi International University Charme	Takahashi, Okayama
Cerezo Osaka Sakai Ladies	Osaka, Osaka
Nippatsu Yokohama F.C. Seagulls	Yokohama, Kanagawa

Challenge League (Division 3)

Clubs (East)	Hometown(s)
Japan Soccer College Ladies	Seirō, Niigata
Tokiwagi Gakuen High School	Sendai, Miyagi
Yamato Sylphid	Yamato, Kanagawa
Norddea Hokkaido	Sapporo, Hokkaido
Tsukuba F.C. Ladies	Tsukuba, Ibaraki
Orca Kamogawa F.C.	Kamogawa, Chiba
Clubs (West)	Hometown(s)
Fukuoka J. Anclas	Kasuga, Fukuoka
Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita	Iwata, Shizuoka
JFA Academy Fukushima	Gotenba, Shizuoka^[9]
Bunnys Kyoto S.C.	Kyoto, Kyoto
Niigata University of Health and Welfare L.S.C.	Niigata, Niigata
NGU Nagoya F.C. Ladies	Nagoya, Aichi

Previous clubs

Relegated to regional leagues

Je Vrille Kagoshima - Relegated to Kyushu League from 2014
Shimizudaihachi Pleiades - Relegated to Tokai League from 2015
Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto F.C. - Relegated to Kyushu League from 2016

Dissolved

Fujita Soccer Club Mercury (affiliated with Shonan Bellmare)
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
Nissan F.C. Ladies (affiliated with Yokohama Marinos)
OKI F.C. Winds
Shiroki F.C. Serena
Suzuyo Shimizu F.C. Lovely Ladies (affiliated with Shimizu S-Pulse)
Tasaki Perule F.C.
Tokyo Shidax L.S.C. (formerly Shinko Seiko F.C. Clair)
Urawa Ladies F.C.
TEPCO Mareeze (dissolved after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; many of the players moved to Vegalta Sendai Ladies)
Aguilas Kobe
Hoyo Sukarabu F.C.

Award

Best Player

Year	Player	Club
2002	Tomoe Sakai	NTV Beleza
2003	Mio Ohtani	Tasaki Perule F.C.
2004	Kozue Ando	Saitama Reinas F.C.
2005	Shinobu Ohno	NTV Beleza
2006	Homare Sawa
2007	Shinobu Ohno
2008	Homare Sawa
2009	Kozue Ando	Urawa Reds Ladies
2010	Shinobu Ohno	NTV Beleza
2011	Nahomi Kawasumi	INAC Kobe Leonessa
2012	Megumi Takase
2013	Nahomi Kawasumi
2014	Michi Gotō	Urawa Reds Ladies
2015	Mizuho Sakaguchi	NTV Beleza

Top Goalscorers

Year	Player	Goals	Club
2002	Mio Ohtani	5	Tasaki Perule F.C.
2003	Mio Ohtani	33	Tasaki Perule F.C.
2004	Kozue Ando	12	Saitama Reinas F.C.
2005	Mio Ohtani	25	Tasaki Perule F.C.
2006	Yūki Nagasato	18	NTV Beleza
2007	Shinobu Ohno	23
2008	Shinobu Ohno	20
2009	Kozue Ando	18	Urawa Reds Ladies
2010	Shinobu Ohno	13	NTV Beleza
2011	Nahomi Kawasumi	12	INAC Kobe Leonessa
2011	Shinobu Ohno	12
2012	Megumi Takase	20
2013	Goebel-Yanez	15
2014	Yuika Sugasawa	20	JEF Chiba Ladies
2015	Yuika Sugasawa	15	JEF Chiba Ladies

Best Young Player

Year	Player	Club
2002	Kozue Ando	Saitama Reinas F.C.
2003	Yukari Kinga	NTV Beleza
2004	Natsuki Muraoka	Iga FC Kunoichi
2005	Karina Maruyama	TEPCO Mareeze
2006	Noriko Matsuda	Urawa Reds Ladies
2007	Kyoko Yano	Urawa Reds Ladies
2008	Mana Iwabuchi	NTV Beleza
2009	Megumi Takase	INAC Kobe Leonessa
2010	Nozomi Fujita	Urawa Reds Ladies
2011	Chinatsu Kira
2012	Shiho Kohata
2013	Saki Ueno	JEF Chiba Ladies
2014	Ruka Norimatsu	Urawa Reds Ladies
2015	Kiko Seike	Urawa Reds Ladies

References

↑ "Plenus Co. Ltd. Supports Nadeshiko League". Plenus Co. Ltd. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
↑ "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise | The Japan Times Online". Japantimes.co.jp. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
↑ "Toyota to sponsor Nadeshiko League soccer " Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion". Japantoday.com. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
↑ "Sky Perfect TV to Show Japan Women's Soccer League Live Following World Cup Win". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
↑ "Women's football is booming in Japan as the game tries to capitalise on Nadeshiko's World Cup and Olympic success". Goal.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
↑ "Nadeshiko League attendance on rise". The Japan Times. 2011-08-07. Retrieved 2013-11-17.
↑ "Japan - List of Women Champions". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
↑ "Goals galore on three continents". FIFA. 22 November 2011. Retrieved 22 November 2011.
↑ It has transferred more temporarily than Naraha for an 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

External links

2015 L. League Clubs

Nadeshiko Div.1 (Division1, 10 clubs)	Vegalta Sendai AS Elfen Saitama Urawa Reds Ladies JEF United Chiba NTV Beleza Albirex Niigata Iga F.C. Kunoichi INAC Kobe Leonessa Okayama Yunogo Belle Speranza F.C. Osaka-Takatsuki

Nadeshiko Div.2 (Division2, 10 clubs)	F.C. Kibi International University Charme Sfida Setagaya F.C. Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama Nojima Stella Kanagawa Japan Soccer College AC Nagano Parceiro AS Harima ALBION Angeviolet Hiroshima Ehime F.C. Fukuoka J. Anclas

Challenge (Division3, 12 clubs)	Tokiwagi Gakuen Yokohama F.C. Seagulls Yamato Sylphid Norddea Hokkaido Niigata University of Health and Welfare Tsukuba F.C. JFA Academy Fukushima Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita Cerezo Osaka Sakai Bunnys Kyoto S.C. NGU Nagoya F.C. Mashiki Renaissance Kumamoto F.C.

L. League seasons

1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Football in Japan

Japan Football Association

National teams

League System

Men:	J.League J1 League J2 League J3 League Japan Football League Regional Leagues Hokkaido Tohoku Kantō Hokushinetsu Tōkai Kansai Chūgoku Shikoku (ja) Kyushu (ja)

Women:	L. League

Futsal:	F.League

Domestic cups

Reserve & Academy

Culture

Top level women's football leagues of Asia (AFC)

Australia China Chinese Taipei Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Japan Jordan Korea Republic Kyrgyzstan Pakistan Philippines Thailand Uzbekistan Vietnam

Top level women's association football leagues around the world

Africa (clubs)

Asia (clubs)

West Asia	Jordan Women's Football League (Jordan)

Central Asia	Kowsar Women Football League (Iran) Kyrgyzstan Women's Championship (Kyrgyzstan) Uzbek women's football championship (Uzbekistan)

South Asia	Indian Women's League (India) National Women Football Championship (Pakistan)

East Asia	Chinese Women's Super League (China PR) Chinese Taipei women's football championship (Chinese Taipei) Hong Kong Women League (Hong Kong) Nadeshiko League (Japan) WK League (Korea Republic)

Southeast Asia	W-League (Australia/New Zealand) Pertiwi Cup (Indonesia) PFF Women's League (Philippines) Thai Women's Premier League (Thailand) Vietnam women's football championship (Vietnam)

Europe (clubs)

North & Central America,
and the Caribbean (clubs)

North America	National Women's Soccer League (USA/Canada)

Caribbean	JFF/SDF Women’s League (Jamaica)

Oceania (clubs)

National Women's League (New Zealand)

South America (clubs)

Geography of women's association football

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/26/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.