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In Japan's football history, there are two different leagues that have the same English name "Japan Football League" although their Japanese names are different. One (日本フットボールリーグ, Nihon futtobōru Līgu^?) still exists and is the subject of this page while the other (ジャパンフットボールリーグ, Japan futtobōru Līgu^?) ceased to exist in 1998. In this page, the ceased Japan Football League is referred to as "the former JFL".

Japan Football League
Sport	Football
Founded	1999
No. of teams	18
Country	Japan
Current champions	Honda F.C.

The Japan Football League (日本フットボールリーグ, Nihon futtobōru Līgu^?) is the 3rd tier of the Japanese football heararchy following J. League division 1 and 2. Also known as the JFL, it is generally considered as the top amateur league in Japan although many full-time footballers play in the league. The JFL is directly governed by the Japan Football Association, as opposed to J. League whose governing body is the independent Japan Professional Football League.

Contents 1 Foundation 2 Promotion from JFL 3 Relegation from JFL 4 Current format 5 External links

The Japan Football League started from the 1999 season when the second division of J. League (J2) was also born. Until then, J. League consisted of only one division and the former JFL was the second highest division. Out of 16 teams who played the last season of the former JFL, 9 decided and were accepted to play in J2 and the other 7 teams as well as Yokogawa Denki, the winners of the resional league play-off, formed the new Japan Football League. These 8 teams together with Yokohama FC that was allowed to participate as a special case after the merger of Yokohama Flügels and Yokohama Marinos competed in the inaugural 1999 season.

The 9 teams that competed in the first season were as follows: Denso F.C., Honda Giken F.C., Jatco F.C., Kokushikan University F.C., Mito HollyHock, Otsuka Pharmaceutical F.C., Sony Sendai F.C., Yokohama FC and Yokogawa Denki F.C..

In principal, a team that satisfies the following criteria will be promoted to J. League Div. 2.

• Has an intention to be promoted to J. League
• Finishes 1st or 2nd in JFL
• Satisfies the J. League requirements such as stadiums, practice grounds, supports from the local community (teams backed by corporations are not eligible) and financials
• is approved by the J. League Committee

Therefore, the number of the teams promoted varies each year from 0 to 2.

Two teams at the bottom of the league may face a relegation/promotion play-off against the teams finished at the top of the Regional League play-offs. The number of the teams who need to compete in the play-off varies depending on the number of the teams that are promoted to J2 or withdraw from the JFL.

18 clubs compete in the 2007 season.

The participants are: (@ denotes the teams that expressed their intention to be promoted to J. League)

• ALO's Hokuriku
• Arte Takasaki @
• Gainare Tottori @
• F.C. Gifu @
• Honda F.C.
• JEF United Ichihara Chiba Reserves
• F.C. Kariya
• Mitsubishi Motors Mizushima F.C.
• Rosso Kumamoto @
• F.C. Ryūkyū @
• Ryutsu Keizai University F.C.
• Sagawa Express S.C.
• Sagawa Printing S.C.
• Sony Sendai F.C.
• TDK S.C.
• Tochigi S.C. @
• YKK AP F.C.
• Yokogawa Musashino F.C.

Each club plays the other clubs twice, home and away.

Sagawa Express Tokyo S.C. and Sagawa Express Osaka S.C. have announced the merger and they will play as Sagawa Express S.C. from the 2007 season.

• (Japanese) Official Site