Japanese football league system
| Country | Japan |
|---|---|
| Sport | Association football |
| Promotion and relegation | Yes |
| National system | |
| Federation | Japan Football Association |
| Confederation | AFC |
| Top division | |
| Second division |
|
| Cup competition |
|
| Association football in Japan | |
The Japanese football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for men's association football clubs in Japan. It is organized in a pyramidal shape similar to football league systems in many other countries around the world. The leagues are bound by the principle of promotion and relegation; however, there are stringent criteria for promotion from the JFL to J3, which demands a club being backed by the town itself including the local government, a community of fans and corporate sponsors rather than a parent company or a corporation.