# Nadeshiko League

The Japan Women's Football League (Japanese: 日本女子サッカーリーグ, Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu), commonly known as the Nadeshiko League (Japanese: なでしこリーグ, Nadeshiko Rīgu), is a women's association football league in Japan.
The Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions that correspond to the second and third levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid respectively. Teams are promoted and relegated between the divisions, and between the Nadeshiko League Division 2 and the fourth-level Japanese regional leagues, based on performance in the previous season. Prior to 2021, the Nadeshiko League occupied the top level of the Japanese women's football pyramid as well; that level is now represented by the fully professional WE League.
Since 2008, the Nadeshiko League has been sponsored by Plenus (株式会社プレナス), a fast food (bento) company based in Fukuoka.

## History

The Japan Women's Football League, or the L. League, was founded in 1989. The founding six clubs were Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza, Shinko Seiko FC Clair, Nissan FC Ladies, Shimizu FC Ladies, Prima Ham FC Kunoichi, and Tasaki-Shinju Kobe Ladies. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of that 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. Teams from this early era would host annual training camps to build skills and relationships with international women's football clubs, such as those in the United States and Australia.
In 2004 the L. League acquired the nickname the Nadeshiko League. Nadeshiko is the name of the dianthus flower and was chosen from suggestions by fans, signifying an ideal of a dutiful Japanese woman.
In the 2004 season, the L. League added a second division, and until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men where the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner. In 2010, the second division was divided into east and west groups of six teams each; the winners of each group were promoted to the first division.
After Japan's World Cup win in 2011, the L. League saw an upsurge in popularity. In 2015, the league added a third division called the Nadeshiko Challenge League (チャレンジリーグ, Charenji Rīgu) was added, and the first and second divisions now had 10 teams each.
In 2020, the Japan Football Association announced that the newly established WE League will become the top level for women's football in Japan in 2021. The Nadeshiko League would then become the second to fourth levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid. After many top teams left for the WE League, the Nadeshiko League abolished the third division in 2021.

## Structure

Since 2021, the Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions:
| Level on the pyramid | Division | Division |
| II | Nadeshiko League Division 1 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1) 12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot | Nadeshiko League Division 1 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1) 12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot |
| III | Nadeshiko League Division 2 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2) 12 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot ↓ 2 promotion/relegation series spot | Nadeshiko League Division 2 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2) 12 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot ↓ 2 promotion/relegation series spot |

## Clubs
### Champions
#### Division 1

Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.
| Year | Club |
| 1989 | Shimizu FC Ladies |
| 1990 | Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza |
| 1991 | Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza |
| 1992 | Yomiuri Nippon SC Ladies Beleza |
| 1993 | Yomiuri Nippon SC Ladies Beleza |
| 1994 | Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina |
| 1995 | Prima Ham FC Kunoichi |
| 1996 | Nikko Securities Dream Ladies |
| 1997 | Nikko Securities Dream Ladies |
| 1998 | Nikko Securities Dream Ladies |
| 1999 | Prima Ham FC Kunoichi |
| 2000 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2001 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2002 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2003 | Tasaki Perule FC |
| 2004 | Saitama Reinas FC |
| 2005 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2006 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| Year | Club |
| 2007 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2008 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2009 | Urawa Reds Ladies |
| 2010 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2011 | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| 2012 | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| 2013 | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| 2014 | Urawa Reds Ladies |
| 2015 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2016 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2017 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2018 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2019 | Nippon TV Beleza |
| 2020 | Urawa Reds Ladies |
| 2021 | Iga FC Kunoichi Mie |
| 2022 | Sfida Setagaya FC |
| 2023 | Orca Kamogawa FC |
| 2024 | Viamaterras Miyazaki |

##### Wins by club

Clubs in bold are those competing in Division 1 as of the 2023 season. Clubs in italics no longer exist.
| Club | Championships | Years |
| Nippon TV Beleza | 17 | 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 |
| Urawa Reds Ladies | 4 | 2004, 2009, 2014, 2020 |
| Nikko Securities Dream Ladies | 3 | 1996, 1997, 1998 |
| Iga FC Kunoichi | 3 | 1995, 1999, 2021 |
| INAC Kobe Leonessa | 3 | 2011, 2012, 2013 |
| Shimizu FC Ladies | 1 | 1989 |
| Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina | 1 | 1994 |
| Tasaki Perule FC | 1 | 2003 |
| Sfida Setagaya FC | 1 | 2022 |
| Orca Kamogawa FC | 1 | 2023 |
| Viamaterras Miyazaki | 1 | 2024 |
Notes
* ↑ Yomiuri Beleza was renamed to Nippon TV 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.
* ↑ Prima Ham FC Kunoichi was renamed to Iga FC Kunoichi in 2000.
* ↑ Matsushita LSC Bambina was renamed to Speranza FC Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza Osaka-Takatsuki in 2012.

##### Wins by region

| Region | Total | Clubs |
| Kantō | 26 | Nippon TV Beleza (17), Nikko Securities Dream Ladies (3), Urawa Reds Ladies (4), Sfida Setagaya FC (1), Orca Kamogawa FC (1) |
| Kansai | 5 | INAC Kobe Leonessa (3), Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina (1), Tasaki Perule FC (1) |
| Tōkai | 4 | Iga FC Kunoichi (3), Shimizu FC Ladies (1) |

#### Division 2

| Year | Club | Club |
| 2004 | Okayama Yunogo Belle | Okayama Yunogo Belle |
| 2005 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| 2006 | Albirex Niigata Ladies | Albirex Niigata Ladies |
| 2007 | TEPCO Mareeze | TEPCO Mareeze |
| 2008 | JEF United Chiba Ladies | JEF United Chiba Ladies |
| 2009 | AS Elfen Sayama FC | AS Elfen Sayama FC |
| Year | East | West |
| 2010 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | Speranza FC Takatsuki |
| 2011 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | FC Kibi International University Charme |
| Year | Club | Club |
| 2012 | Vegalta Sendai Ladies | Vegalta Sendai Ladies |
| 2013 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS |
| 2014 | Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki | Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki |
| 2015 | AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies | AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies |
| 2016 | Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara | Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara |
| 2017 | Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama | Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama |
| 2018 | Iga FC Kunoichi | Iga FC Kunoichi |
| 2019 | Ehime FC Ladies | Ehime FC Ladies |
| 2020 | Sfida Setagaya FC | Sfida Setagaya FC |
| 2021 | JFA Academy Fukushima | JFA Academy Fukushima |
| 2022 | Shizuoka SSU Bonita | Shizuoka SSU Bonita |
| 2023 | Viamaterras Miyazaki | Viamaterras Miyazaki |
| 2024 | Okayama Yunogo Belle | Okayama Yunogo Belle |

#### Challenge League

| Year | Club | Club |
| 2015 | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS | Tokiwagi Gakuen HS |
| 2016 | Orca Kamogawa FC | Orca Kamogawa FC |
| 2017 | Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita | Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita |
| 2018 | Yamato Sylphid | Yamato Sylphid |
| 2019 | FC Jumonji Ventus | FC Jumonji Ventus |
| 2020 | JFA Academy Fukushima | JFA Academy Fukushima |

### 2024 season
#### Division 1

| Club | Hometown | Current spell in D1 |
| Bunnys Gunma FC White Star | Maebashi | 2022– |
| Orca Kamogawa FC | Kamogawa | 2021– |
| Sfida Setagaya FC | Setagaya | 2021– |
| Nittaidai SMG Yokohama | Yokohama | 2021– |
| Yokohama FC Seagulls | Yokohama | 2021– |
| Shizuoka SSU Bonita | Iwata | 2023– |
| NGU Loveledge Nagoya | Nagoya | 2021– |
| Iga FC Kunoichi | Iga | 2019– |
| Speranza Osaka | Takatsuki | 2021– |
| AS Harima Albion | Himeji | 2021– |
| Ehime FC Ladies | Matsuyama | 2020– |
| Viamaterras Miyazaki | Shintomi | 2024– |

#### Division 2

| Clubs | Hometown |
| JFA Academy Fukushima LSC | Susono |
| Tsukuba FC Ladies | Tsukuba |
| Yamato Sylphid | Yamato |
| SEISA OSA Rhea Shonan FC | Ōiso |
| FC Fujizakura Yamanashi | Narusawa |
| Veertien Mie Ladies | Kuwana |
| Diosa Izumo FC | Izumo |
| Okayama Yunogo Belle | Mimasaka |
| KIU Charme | Takahashi |
| Diavorosso Hiroshima | Kumano |
| FC Imabari Ladies | Imabari |
| Fukuoka J. Anclas | Fukuoka |

### Previous clubs

The following clubs have previously competed in the Nadeshiko League for at least one season.

#### Joined WE League in 2021

* Mynavi Sendai
* Urawa Reds
* Omiya Ardija Ventus (formerly FC Jumonji Ventus)
* Elfen Saitama
* JEF United Chiba
* NTV Tokyo Verdy Beleza
* Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara
* AC Nagano Parceiro
* Albirex Niigata
* INAC Kobe Leonessa

#### Joined WE League in 2023

* Cerezo Osaka Yanmar Ladies

#### 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

#### Defunct

* 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.