# 2022 in Japanese football

This article summarizes Japanese football in the 2022 season.

## National teams

Source: JFA

### Men's
#### Senior

* Fixtures & Results (2022), JFA.jp

#### U-23

* Fixtures & Results (U-23), JFA.jp

#### U-21

* Fixtures & Results (U-21), JFA.jp

#### U-17

* Fixtures & Results (U-17 2022), JFA.jp

#### U-16

* Fixtures & Results (U-16 2022), JFA.jp

#### U-15

* Fixtures & Results (U-15 2022), JFA.jp

#### Futsal

* Fixtures & Results (futsal 2022), JFA.jp

#### U-19 futsal

* Fixtures & Results (U-19 futsal 2022), JFA.jp

#### Beach soccer

* Fixtures & Results (Beach soccer 2022), JFA.jp

#### Esports football

* Fixtures & Results (2022), JFA.jp

### Women's
#### Senior

* Fixtures & Results (2022), JFA.jp

#### U-20

* Fixtures & Results (WU-20), JFA.jp

#### U-17

* Fixtures & Results (2022), JFA.jp

#### Futsal

* Fixtures & Results (W futsal), JFA.jp

## League competitions
### Men
#### Promotion and relegation

| League | Promoted to league | Relegated from league |
| J1 League | Júbilo Iwata Kyoto Sanga | Tokushima Vortis Oita Trinita Vegalta Sendai Yokohama FC |
| J2 League | Roasso Kumamoto Iwate Grulla Morioka | SC Sagamihara Ehime FC Giravanz Kitakyushu Matsumoto Yamaga |
| J3 League | Iwaki FC | No relegation |
| Japan Football League | Criacao Shinjuku | FC Kariya |

#### J1 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Yokohama F. Marinos (C) | 34 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 70 | 35 | +35 | 68 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Kawasaki Frontale | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 65 | 42 | +23 | 66 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 52 | 41 | +11 | 55 | |
| 4 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 52 | |
| 5 | Cerezo Osaka | 34 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 46 | 40 | +6 | 51 | |
| 6 | FC Tokyo | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 49 | |
| 7 | Kashiwa Reysol | 34 | 13 | 8 | 13 | 43 | 44 | −1 | 47 | |
| 8 | Nagoya Grampus | 34 | 11 | 13 | 10 | 30 | 35 | −5 | 46 | |
| 9 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 34 | 10 | 15 | 9 | 48 | 39 | +9 | 45 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League play-off round |
| 10 | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 45 | 55 | −10 | 45 | |
| 11 | Sagan Tosu | 34 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 45 | 44 | +1 | 42 | |
| 12 | Shonan Bellmare | 34 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 31 | 39 | −8 | 41 | |
| 13 | Vissel Kobe | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 35 | 41 | −6 | 40 | |
| 14 | Avispa Fukuoka | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 29 | 38 | −9 | 38 | |
| 15 | Gamba Osaka | 34 | 9 | 10 | 15 | 33 | 44 | −11 | 37 | |
| 16 | Kyoto Sanga (O) | 34 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 30 | 38 | −8 | 36 | Qualification for relegation playoffs |
| 17 | Shimizu S-Pulse (R) | 34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 44 | 54 | −10 | 33 | Relegation to the J2 League |
| 18 | Júbilo Iwata (R) | 34 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 32 | 57 | −25 | 30 | Relegation to the J2 League |
* ↑ Urawa Red Diamonds won the Champions League but did not qualify for the Champions League via league position. As a result, the last spot distributed to the third-placed team was transferred to Urawa Red Diamonds pursuant to the rules that Champions League winners would guaranteed a Champions League spot.

#### J2 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Albirex Niigata (C, P) | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 73 | 35 | +38 | 84 | Promotion to the J1 League |
| 2 | Yokohama FC (P) | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 66 | 49 | +17 | 80 | Promotion to the J1 League |
| 3 | Fagiano Okayama | 42 | 20 | 12 | 10 | 61 | 42 | +19 | 72 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Roasso Kumamoto | 42 | 18 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 48 | +10 | 67 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 5 | Oita Trinita | 42 | 17 | 15 | 10 | 62 | 52 | +10 | 66 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 6 | Montedio Yamagata | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 62 | 40 | +22 | 64 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 7 | Vegalta Sendai | 42 | 18 | 9 | 15 | 67 | 59 | +8 | 63 | |
| 8 | Tokushima Vortis | 42 | 13 | 23 | 6 | 48 | 35 | +13 | 62 | |
| 9 | Tokyo Verdy | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 62 | 55 | +7 | 61 | |
| 10 | JEF United Chiba | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 61 | |
| 11 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 50 | 54 | −4 | 56 | |
| 12 | Blaublitz Akita | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 56 | |
| 13 | Mito HollyHock | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 54 | |
| 14 | Zweigen Kanazawa | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 56 | 69 | −13 | 52 | |
| 15 | Machida Zelvia | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 51 | |
| 16 | Renofa Yamaguchi | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 51 | 54 | −3 | 50 | |
| 17 | Tochigi SC | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 32 | 40 | −8 | 49 | |
| 18 | Ventforet Kofu (X) | 42 | 11 | 15 | 16 | 47 | 54 | −7 | 48 | Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage |
| 19 | Omiya Ardija | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 48 | 64 | −16 | 43 | |
| 20 | Thespakusatsu Gunma | 42 | 11 | 9 | 22 | 36 | 57 | −21 | 42 | |
| 21 | FC Ryukyu (R) | 42 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 41 | 65 | −24 | 37 | Relegation to J3 League |
| 22 | Iwate Grulla Morioka (R) | 42 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 35 | 80 | −45 | 34 | Relegation to J3 League |
* ↑ Qualified as the 2022 Emperor's Cup winners.

#### J3 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Iwaki FC (C, P) | 34 | 23 | 7 | 4 | 72 | 23 | +49 | 76 | Promotion to the J2 League |
| 2 | Fujieda MYFC (P) | 34 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 58 | 29 | +29 | 67 | Promotion to the J2 League |
| 3 | Kagoshima United | 34 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 55 | 39 | +16 | 66 | |
| 4 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 34 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 66 | |
| 5 | FC Imabari | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 55 | 40 | +15 | 60 | |
| 6 | Kataller Toyama | 34 | 19 | 3 | 12 | 55 | 48 | +7 | 60 | |
| 7 | Ehime FC | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 51 | 41 | +10 | 52 | |
| 8 | Nagano Parceiro | 34 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 52 | |
| 9 | Tegevajaro Miyazaki | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 45 | 47 | −2 | 46 | |
| 10 | Vanraure Hachinohe | 34 | 14 | 1 | 19 | 32 | 46 | −14 | 43 | |
| 11 | Fukushima United | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 42 | |
| 12 | Gainare Tottori | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 41 | |
| 13 | Giravanz Kitakyushu | 34 | 11 | 7 | 16 | 41 | 45 | −4 | 40 | |
| 14 | FC Gifu | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 43 | 53 | −10 | 37 | |
| 15 | Azul Claro Numazu | 34 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 27 | 46 | −19 | 31 | |
| 16 | YSCC Yokohama | 34 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 25 | 66 | −41 | 28 | |
| 17 | Kamatamare Sanuki | 34 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 27 | 49 | −22 | 27 | |
| 18 | SC Sagamihara | 34 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 31 | 50 | −19 | 25 | |
* ↑ Only teams that hold a J2 license are eligible for promotion.
* 1 2 The team hold neither a J1 nor J2 license, and so are ineligible for promotion to the J2 League.

#### Japan Football League (JFL)

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
| 1 | Nara Club (C, P) | 30 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 48 | 25 | +23 | 59 | Promotion to 2023 J3 League |
| 2 | FC Osaka (P) | 30 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 47 | 34 | +13 | 59 | Promotion to 2023 J3 League |
| 3 | Honda FC | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 47 | 23 | +24 | 56 | |
| 4 | ReinMeer Aomori | 30 | 14 | 9 | 7 | 35 | 23 | +12 | 51 | |
| 5 | Maruyasu Okazaki | 30 | 14 | 7 | 9 | 48 | 34 | +14 | 49 | |
| 6 | Tokyo Musashino United | 30 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 49 | 33 | +16 | 48 | |
| 7 | Veertien Mie | 30 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 43 | 29 | +14 | 45 | |
| 8 | Verspah Oita | 30 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 40 | 44 | −4 | 43 | |
| 9 | Suzuka Point Getters | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 31 | 40 | −9 | 41 | |
| 10 | Honda Lock | 30 | 10 | 6 | 14 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 36 | |
| 11 | Kochi United | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 30 | 39 | −9 | 34 | |
| 12 | Kagura Shimane | 30 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 32 | 42 | −10 | 34 | Folded |
| 13 | Tiamo Hirakata | 30 | 9 | 5 | 16 | 40 | 50 | −10 | 32 | |
| 14 | Sony Sendai | 30 | 5 | 13 | 12 | 23 | 39 | −16 | 28 | |
| 15 | Criacao Shinjuku | 30 | 6 | 6 | 18 | 30 | 52 | −22 | 24 | |
| 16 | MIO Biwako Shiga | 30 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 21 | 57 | −36 | 21 | |
* 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 J.League 100 Year Plan clubs
* ↑ Promotion is conditional on holding a valid J3 license (marked in bold in the table), finishing the season in the top 4 of the JFL, and finishing in the top 2 out of the J.League 100 Year Plan clubs. Average home attendance of at least 2,000 is also required.
* ↑ Withdrew after the end of the season.

#### Regional Leagues
### Women
#### Promotion and relegation

| League | Promoted to league | Relegated from league |
| WE League | No promotion | No relegation |
| Nadeshiko League Division 1 | | |
| Nadeshiko League Division 2 | | |

#### WE League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | 20 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 35 | 9 | +26 | 50 | League Winner |
| 2 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 40 | 24 | +16 | 42 | |
| 3 | Tokyo Verdy Beleza | 20 | 10 | 4 | 6 | 32 | 18 | +14 | 34 | |
| 4 | JEF United Chiba | 20 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 26 | 18 | +8 | 34 | |
| 5 | Mynavi Sendai | 20 | 9 | 4 | 7 | 25 | 16 | +9 | 31 | |
| 6 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima Regina | 20 | 7 | 4 | 9 | 24 | 26 | −2 | 25 | |
| 7 | AC Nagano Parceiro | 20 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 24 | −9 | 21 | |
| 8 | Albirex Niigata | 20 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 20 | 30 | −10 | 19 | |
| 9 | Omiya Ardija Ventus | 20 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 31 | −14 | 18 | |
| 10 | Nojima Stella Kanagawa | 20 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 31 | −18 | 13 | |
| 11 | AS Elfen Saitama | 20 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 33 | −20 | 13 | |

#### Nadeshiko League
##### Division 1

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Sfida Setagaya FC (C) | 22 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 45 | 16 | +29 | 50 | |
| 2 | Iga Kunoichi | 22 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 18 | +19 | 46 | |
| 3 | AS Harima Albion | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 46 | 23 | +23 | 43 | |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka (P) | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 46 | 25 | +21 | 38 | Promoted to 2023–24 WE League |
| 5 | Orca Kamogawa FC | 22 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 26 | 20 | +6 | 36 | |
| 6 | NGU Loveledge Nagoya | 22 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 27 | 24 | +3 | 36 | |
| 7 | Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama | 22 | 9 | 2 | 11 | 19 | 28 | −9 | 29 | |
| 8 | NHK Spring Yokohama FC Seagulls | 22 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 24 | 26 | −2 | 27 | |
| 9 | Bunnys Gunma FC White Star | 22 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 21 | 40 | −19 | 25 | |
| 10 | Speranza Osaka-Takatsuki | 22 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 13 | 34 | −21 | 16 | |
| 11 | Ehime FC Ladies | 22 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 18 | 32 | −14 | 13 | |
| 12 | Ange Violet Hiroshima | 22 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 10 | 46 | −36 | 11 | Disbanding after this season |

##### Division 2

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Shizuoka SSU Asregina (C, P) | 18 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 37 | 15 | +22 | 43 | Promotion to the 2023 Nadeshiko League Division 1 |
| 2 | JFA Academy Fukushima | 18 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 47 | 17 | +30 | 41 | |
| 3 | Yamato Sylphid (P) | 18 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 37 | 20 | +17 | 35 | Promotion to the 2023 Nadeshiko League Division 1 |
| 4 | Diavorosso Hiroshima | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 27 | |
| 5 | Kibi International University Charme Okayama Takahashi | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 22 | −9 | 18 | |
| 6 | Fukuoka J. Anclas | 18 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 29 | −15 | 18 | |
| 7 | Norddea Hokkaido | 18 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 16 | 28 | −12 | 16 | |
| 8 | Tsukuba FC Ladies | 18 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 28 | −16 | 14 | |
| 9 | Veertien Mie Ladies | 18 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 13 | |
| 10 | Okayama Yunogo Belle (O) | 18 | 1 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 30 | −16 | 13 | Qualification for the promotion relegation play-offs |
* 1 2 After two teams are leaving from Division 1, a promotion-relegation playoff between Divisions 1 and 2 has been cancelled, no team from Division 1 will be relegated, and top two teams from Division 2 will promote to Division 1. However, since the second-placed team (JFA Academy Fukushima) is not eligible for promoting to Division 1, the third-placed team (Yamato Sylphid) is to promote to Division 1 instead.

##### Division 2 promotion-relegation play-offs

The top three teams from regional league qualifiers (1st: FC Fujizakura Yamanashi, 2nd: Diosa Izumo FC, 3rd: Viamaterras Miyazaki) and the lowest-ranked team from Division 2 (Okayama Yunogo Belle) played a round-robin tournament. The top three teams of the round-robin were to join Division 2 next year.
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Viamaterras Miyazaki (P) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1 | +10 | 9 | Promotion to 2023 Nadeshiko League Division 2 |
| 2 | FC Fujizakura Yamanashi (P) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | Promotion to 2023 Nadeshiko League Division 2 |
| 3 | Okayama Yunogo Belle | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | −6 | 3 | Remained in Nadeshiko League Division 2 |
| 4 | Diosa Izumo FC | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | 0 | |

## Deaths

* 7 January 2022: Tadatoshi Komine, 76, who managed Shimabara Shogyo High School, Kunimi High School, Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science High School and Japan national under-17 football team.