Let’s get the new season under way with a fresh new thread and take a look at which teams are making up the three J.League divisions for 2024.
Firstly taking a look at J1 League, becoming a 20-team league for the first time. Back to usual, three teams will be relegated at the end of the season.
J1 League 2024:
Albirex Niigata
Avispa Fukuoka (J.League Cup winners last season)
Cerezo Osaka
FC Tokyo
Gamba Osaka
Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo
Jubilo Iwata (promoted to J1 after one season in J2)
Kashima Antlers
Kashiwa Reysol
Kawasaki Frontale (Emperor’s Cup winners last season)
Machida Zelvia (J2 Champions last season, promoted to J1 for the first time)
Nagoya Grampus
Sagan Tosu
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Kyoto Sanga
Shonan Bellmare
Tokyo Verdy (promoted to J1 after 15 seasons!)
Urawa Red Diamonds
Vissel Kobe (J1 League champions last season)
Yokohama F. Marinos
J2 League has decreased from 22 teams down to 20. Two teams will be promoted automatically, the third promotion will come from playoff of teams 3-6.
J2 League 2024:
Blaublitz Akita
Ehime FC (promoted to J2 after two seasons in J3)
Fagiano Okayama
Fujieda MYFC
Iwaki FC
JEF United Chiba
Kagoshima United (promoted to J2 after 5 seasons in J3)
Mito HollyHock
Montedio Yamagata
Oita Trinita
Renofa Yamaguchi
Roasso Kumamoto
Shimizu S-Pulse
Thespa Gunma (renamed from Thespakusatsu Gunma)
Tochigi SC
Tokushima Vortis
V-Varen Nagasaki
Vegalta Sendai
Ventforet Kofu
Yokohama FC (relegated after one season in J1)
J3 League will continue to be 20 teams. The top 2 teams will be promoted to J2 if they have the required license for promotion. This year a 3rd to 6th place playoff for potential 3rd promotion spot is being introduced.
J3 League 2024:
Azul Claro Numazu
FC Gifu
FC Imabari
FC Osaka
FC Ryukyu
Fukushima United
Gainare Tottori
Giravanz Kitakyushu
Iwate Grulla Morioka
Kamatamare Sanuki
Kataller Toyama
Matsumoto Yamaga
Nagano Parceiro
Nara Club
Omiya Ardija (relegated after 6 seasons in J2, first ever season in 3rd tier)
SC Sagamihara
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
Vanraure Hachinohe
YSCC Yokohama
Zweigen Kanazawa (relegated after 9 seasons in J2)
According the good old wikipedia, these are the Australians currently contracted at clubs through the J.Leagues:
Mitchell Duke (Machida Zelvia), Thomas Deng (Albirex Niigata), Mitch Langerak (Nagoya Grampus), Ben Duncan (Ehime FC)
From memory (happy to be corrected) Sumo is quite popular but relatively limited. Only a few professional events, relatively small venues (compared to baseball and football stadiums), and pretty expensive to go to.
I think there are enough going around and coming through to keep the ranks full, there is a limited number of sumo who can be in the top ranks at any given time also, which means there is always more people fighting for the places than the number of available places.
First silverware of the new season goes to Kawasaki Frontale, beating Vissel Kobe 1-0 to win the Super Cup. It’s their 3rd Super Cup win (after 2019 and 2021)
Frontale manager Toru Oniki is the most successful manager in J.League history after Frontale won the Fujifilm Super Cup 2024 for his record 10th trophy.
J.League starts this afternoon, Sanfrecce Hiroshima playing Urawa Reds in the first ever game at their new stadium, Hiroshima Peace Wing, on the centre of the city.
No more taking trains or buses out into the nearby mountains to get to the stadium for Sanfrecce fans.
