# 2015 J1 League

The 2015 Meiji Yasuda J1 League (2015 明治安田生命J1リーグ) season was the 50th season of top-flight football in Japan and the 23rd since the establishment of the J.League in 1992. This was first season of J1 League as renamed from J. League Division 1.
For a five-year period starting in 2015, the J.League changed to a newly conceived multistage system, with the year split into two halves and a third and final championship stage. The winners of the first and second stages and the highest ranking club of the aggregate table (other than the first or second stage winners) will qualify for the Championship Stage. Sanfrecce Hiroshima won the Championship Stage and advanced to the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup as the host nation's entrant.

## Clubs

* FC Tokyo
* Kashiwa Reysol
* Kawasaki Frontale
* Shonan Bellmare
* Urawa Red Diamonds
* Yokohama F. Marinos
* Gamba Osaka
* Vissel Kobe
| Club name | Home town(s) | Stadium | Capacity | Note(s) |
| Albirex Niigata | Niigata & Seirō, Niigata | Denka Big Swan Stadium | 42,300 | |
| FC Tokyo | Tokyo | Ajinomoto Stadium | 49,970 | |
| Gamba Osaka | Suita, Osaka | Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium | 21,000 | 2015 AFC Champions League participant (as 2014 J.League Division 1 winners) |
| Kashima Antlers | Kashima, Ibaraki | Kashima Soccer Stadium | 40,728 | 2015 AFC Champions League participant (as 2014 J.League Division 1 third-placed team) |
| Kashiwa Reysol | Kashiwa, Chiba | Kashiwa Soccer Stadium | 15,900 | 2015 AFC Champions League play-off participant (as 2014 J.League Division 1 fourth-placed team) |
| Kawasaki Frontale | Kawasaki, Kanagawa | Todoroki Athletics Stadium | 26,232 | |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | Matsumoto, Nagano | Matsumotodaira Football Stadium | 20,000 | Promoted from J.League Division 2 in 2014 (as runners-up) |
| Montedio Yamagata | All cities/towns in Yamagata | ND Soft Stadium | 20,315 | Promoted from J.League Division 2 in 2014 (through a play-off system) |
| Nagoya Grampus | Nagoya, Aichi | Paloma Mizuho Stadium | 27,000 | |
| Sagan Tosu | Tosu, Saga | Tosu Stadium | 24,490 | |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Hiroshima | Hiroshima Big Arch | 50,000 | |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Shizuoka | IAI Stadium Nihondaira | 20,339 | |
| Shonan Bellmare | Hiratsuka, Kanagawa | Shonan Stadium Hiratsuka | 18,500 | Promoted from J.League Division 2 in 2014 (as winners) |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Saitama | Saitama Stadium | 63,700 | 2015 AFC Champions League participant (as 2014 J.League Division 1 runners-up) |
| Vegalta Sendai | Sendai, Miyagi | Yurtec Stadium | 19,694 | |
| Ventforet Kofu | Kōfu, Yamanashi | Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium | 17,000 | |
| Vissel Kobe | Kobe, Hyōgo | Misaki Park Stadium | 30,132 | |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | Yokohama & Yokosuka | Nissan Stadium | 72,327 | |

### Personnel and kits

| Club name | Head coach | Kit manufacturer | Front shirt sponsor |
| Albirex Niigata | Masaaki Yanagishita | Adidas | Kameda Seika |
| FC Tokyo | Massimo Ficcadenti | Umbro | Lifeval |
| Gamba Osaka | Kenta Hasegawa | Umbro | Panasonic |
| Kashima Antlers | Masatada Ishii | Nike | Lixil |
| Kashiwa Reysol | Tatsuma Yoshida | Yonex | Hitachi |
| Kawasaki Frontale | Yahiro Kazama | Puma | Fujitsu (home) Arrows (away) |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | Yasuharu Sorimachi | Adidas | Epson |
| Montedio Yamagata | Nobuhiro Ishizaki | New Balance | ABeam Consulting |
| Nagoya Grampus | Akira Nishino | Le Coq Sportif | Toyota |
| Sagan Tosu | Hitoshi Morishita | New Balance | DHC |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Hajime Moriyasu | Nike | EDION |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Kazuaki Tasaka | Puma | Suzuyo |
| Shonan Bellmare | Cho Kwi-jae | Penalty | ENERES |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Mihailo Petrović | Nike | Polus |
| Vegalta Sendai | Susumu Watanabe | Adidas | Iris Ohyama |
| Ventforet Kofu | Satoru Sakuma | Mizuno | Hakubaku |
| Vissel Kobe | Nelsinho Baptista | Asics | Rakuten |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | Erick Mombaerts | Adidas | Nissan |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Date of separation | Manner of departure | Incoming manager | Date of announcement |
| Ventforet Kofu | Yasuhiro Higuchi | 13 May | Mutual consent | Satoru Sakuma | 13 May |
| Kashima Antlers | Toninho Cerezo | 21 July | Sacked | Masatada Ishii | 21 July |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Katsumi Oenoki | 1 August | Resigned | Kazuaki Tasaka | 11 August |

### Foreign players

| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | AFC player | Non-visa foreign | Type-C contract | Former players |
| Albirex Niigata | Bruno Cortez | Léo Silva | Rafael Silva | Lim You-hwan | | | Rafael Ratão |
| FC Tokyo | Vlada Avramov | Francisco Sandaza | | Nathan Burns | | | Michele Canini Lassad Nouioui |
| Gamba Osaka | Lins | Patric | | Oh Jae-suk | Kim Jung-ya | | |
| Kashima Antlers | Davi | Dinei | | Hwang Seok-ho | Caio | | |
| Kashiwa Reysol | Cristiano | Dudu | Éderson | Kim Chang-soo | | | Leandro |
| Kawasaki Frontale | Arthur Maia | Elsinho | | | | | Renatinho An Byong-jun |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | Eric | Obina | Willians | Kim Bo-kyung | | | Doriva |
| Montedio Yamagata | Alceu | Diego Souza | | Kim Byeom-yong | Frank Romero | | |
| Nagoya Grampus | Leandro Domingues | Danilson Córdoba | Milivoje Novaković | | | Gustavo | |
| Sagan Tosu | Baek Sung-dong | Choi Sung-keun | Kim Min-hyeok | Kim Min-woo | | | |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Douglas | Mihael Mikić | | Byeon Jun-byum | | | |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | Dejan Jaković | Calvin Jong-a-Pin | Peter Utaka | Mitch Duke | Jong Tae-se | | |
| Shonan Bellmare | André Bahia | Thiago Quirino | Kim Jong-pil | Lee Ho-seung | | Alison | Bruno Correa Fábio Amorim Guima |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | Zlatan Ljubijankić | | | | | | |
| Vegalta Sendai | Felipe | Ramon Lopes | Wilson | Kim Min-tae | Ryang Yong-gi | | Daniel Schmidt |
| Ventforet Kofu | Baré | Maranhão | Marquinhos Paraná | | | | Adriano Bruno Dybal William Henrique |
| Vissel Kobe | Leandro | Marquinhos | Pedro Júnior | Jung Woo-young | Bueno | | Ferrugem |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | Ademilson | Fábio | Rafinha | | | | |

## Format changes

Teams play a single round-robin in the first stage and a single round-robin in the second stage. After that an overall table is calculated and a championship stage is played. The winners of the first and second stages and any team that finishes in the top 3 of the overall rankings advance to the championship stage. The team that finishes atop the overall table automatically qualifies for the final, while the remaining teams play-off for the other spot in the final.

### League table
#### First stage

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Urawa Red Diamonds (Q) | 17 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 39 | 17 | +22 | 41 | Qualification to J.League Championship Stage |
| 2 | FC Tokyo | 17 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 35 | |
| 3 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 17 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 29 | 16 | +13 | 34 | |
| 4 | Gamba Osaka | 17 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 24 | 13 | +11 | 32 | |
| 5 | Kawasaki Frontale | 17 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 32 | 26 | +6 | 30 | |
| 6 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 21 | 17 | +4 | 26 | |
| 7 | Vegalta Sendai | 17 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 20 | +7 | 23 | |
| 8 | Kashima Antlers | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 25 | +2 | 22 | |
| 9 | Nagoya Grampus | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 18 | 18 | 0 | 22 | |
| 10 | Shonan Bellmare | 17 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 20 | 24 | −4 | 22 | |
| 11 | Sagan Tosu | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 32 | −10 | 20 | |
| 12 | Ventforet Kofu | 17 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 22 | −10 | 20 | |
| 13 | Vissel Kobe | 17 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 19 | −2 | 19 | |
| 14 | Kashiwa Reysol | 17 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 22 | 25 | −3 | 18 | |
| 15 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 17 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 17 | 26 | −9 | 15 | |
| 16 | Montedio Yamagata | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 24 | −10 | 14 | |
| 17 | Albirex Niigata | 17 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 33 | −13 | 14 | |
| 18 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 22 | 32 | −10 | 13 | |

#### Second stage

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Q) | 17 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 44 | 14 | +30 | 40 | Qualification to J.League Championship Stage |
| 2 | Kashima Antlers | 17 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 30 | 16 | +14 | 37 | |
| 3 | Gamba Osaka | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 32 | 24 | +8 | 31 | |
| 4 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 30 | 23 | +7 | 31 | |
| 5 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 15 | +9 | 29 | |
| 6 | FC Tokyo | 17 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 15 | +6 | 28 | |
| 7 | Kawasaki Frontale | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 30 | 22 | +8 | 27 | |
| 8 | Kashiwa Reysol | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 18 | +6 | 27 | |
| 9 | Shonan Bellmare | 17 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 26 | |
| 10 | Nagoya Grampus | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 26 | 30 | −4 | 24 | |
| 11 | Albirex Niigata | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 25 | −4 | 20 | |
| 12 | Sagan Tosu | 17 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 22 | −7 | 20 | |
| 13 | Vissel Kobe | 17 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 27 | 30 | −3 | 19 | |
| 14 | Ventforet Kofu | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 14 | 21 | −7 | 17 | |
| 15 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 17 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 13 | 28 | −15 | 13 | |
| 16 | Vegalta Sendai | 17 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 17 | 28 | −11 | 12 | |
| 17 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 17 | 2 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 33 | −18 | 12 | |
| 18 | Montedio Yamagata | 17 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 29 | −19 | 10 | |

#### Overall table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (C) | 34 | 23 | 5 | 6 | 73 | 30 | +43 | 74 | Club World Cup, Champions League group stage and J.League Championship Final |
| 2 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 34 | 21 | 9 | 4 | 69 | 40 | +29 | 72 | Champions League group stage and J.League Championship 1st Round |
| 3 | Gamba Osaka | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 56 | 37 | +19 | 63 | Champions League group stage and J.League Championship 1st Round |
| 4 | FC Tokyo | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 45 | 33 | +12 | 63 | Champions League qualifying play-off |
| 5 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 57 | 41 | +16 | 59 | |
| 6 | Kawasaki Frontale | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 62 | 48 | +14 | 57 | |
| 7 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 55 | |
| 8 | Shonan Bellmare | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 40 | 44 | −4 | 48 | |
| 9 | Nagoya Grampus | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 44 | 48 | −4 | 46 | |
| 10 | Kashiwa Reysol | 34 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 45 | |
| 11 | Sagan Tosu | 34 | 9 | 13 | 12 | 37 | 54 | −17 | 40 | |
| 12 | Vissel Kobe | 34 | 10 | 8 | 16 | 44 | 49 | −5 | 38 | |
| 13 | Ventforet Kofu | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | 26 | 43 | −17 | 37 | |
| 14 | Vegalta Sendai | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 44 | 48 | −4 | 35 | |
| 15 | Albirex Niigata | 34 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 41 | 58 | −17 | 34 | |
| 16 | Matsumoto Yamaga (R) | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 30 | 54 | −24 | 28 | Relegation to 2016 J2 League |
| 17 | Shimizu S-Pulse (R) | 34 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 37 | 65 | −28 | 25 | Relegation to 2016 J2 League |
| 18 | Montedio Yamagata (R) | 34 | 4 | 12 | 18 | 24 | 53 | −29 | 24 | Relegation to 2016 J2 League |
* ↑ The winner of the 2015 Emperor's Cup qualified for the group stage of the 2016 AFC Champions League. Since the Emperor's Cup winner was Gamba Osaka who were the third-placed team, the qualifying play-off spot was awarded to the fourth-placed team.

## Positions by round
### First stage

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| FC Tokyo | 10 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Gamba Osaka | 10 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 14 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Vegalta Sendai | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 7 |
| Kashima Antlers | 14 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Nagoya Grampus | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 14 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Sagan Tosu | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| Ventforet Kofu | 17 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| Vissel Kobe | 13 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 7 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | 8 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
| Montedio Yamagata | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Albirex Niigata | 12 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
* Leader and qualification to 2015 J.League Championship

### Second stage

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kashima Antlers | 4 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Gamba Osaka | 6 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 6 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 9 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
| FC Tokyo | 17 | 10 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 12 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 6 | 5 | 11 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Nagoya Grampus | 14 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Albirex Niigata | 12 | 17 | 14 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| Sagan Tosu | 4 | 4 | 8 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 |
| Vissel Kobe | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 |
| Ventforet Kofu | 14 | 14 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | 14 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 |
| Vegalta Sendai | 11 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
| Montedio Yamagata | 9 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 |
* Leader and qualification to 2015 J.League Championship

### Overall

| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Gamba Osaka | 10 | 13 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| FC Tokyo | 10 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Kashima Antlers | 14 | 17 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 14 | 16 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 14 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Nagoya Grampus | 8 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 7 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 |
| Sagan Tosu | 6 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 11 |
| Vissel Kobe | 13 | 13 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| Ventforet Kofu | 17 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Vegalta Sendai | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
| Albirex Niigata | 12 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | 8 | 11 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 1 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| Montedio Yamagata | 17 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
* Leader, qualification to 2015 J.League Championship Final and 2016 AFC Champions League group stage
* Qualification to 2015 J.League Championship 1st Round and 2015 AFC Champions League group stage / qualifying play-off
* Relegation to 2016 J2 League

## Championship stage

Meiji Yasuda 2015 J.League Championship (明治安田生命 2015 Jリーグチャンピオンシップ) The Championship stage consisted of a knockout tournament involving the champions of the First and Second Stages, and any team that finishes in the top 3 of the overall table. The team with the best aggregate record earned a bye to the final. The remaining teams playoff for the other spot in the final.
| Semifinal | Semifinal | Semifinal | Final | Final | Final | Final | Final |
| | | | 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 2 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 1 | 3 | Gamba Osaka | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Gamba Osaka (a.e.t.) | 3 | | | | | |

## Results
### First stage

| Home \ Away | ALB | ANT | BEL | FMA | FRO | GAM | GRA | MON | RED | REY | SAG | SFR | SSP | TOK | VEG | VEN | VIS | YAM |
| Albirex Niigata | | | | | | | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 3–2 | | | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | |
| Kashima Antlers | 1–1 | | 1–2 | | 2–3 | | | | | | 3–1 | 2–2 | | | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 1–3 | | | | | 0–2 | | | 1–3 | | 4–2 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–0 | | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | | | 1–0 | 1–2 | | | 1–1 | | | |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 4–1 | | 2–1 | | | | | | 1–1 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 0–1 | | | | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Gamba Osaka | 2–1 | 2–0 | | | 1–1 | | 3–1 | | | | | | | 2–2 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | 1–0 |
| Nagoya Grampus | | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 0–1 | | | 0–0 | | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | | | | | 3–3 |
| Montedio Yamagata | | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–3 | | | | 3–0 | | | | 0–1 | | | 0–1 | 0–0 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 5–2 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | | | | | 1–0 | 4–1 | | | | 1–0 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–2 | | 1–0 | | | 3–3 | | | 2–3 | 0–0 | | 1–1 | | | |
| Sagan Tosu | 2–1 | | | | | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 1–6 | 1–1 | | 2–2 | | 1–2 | | | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 4–2 | | | | | 0–1 | | 5–1 | 0–0 | | | | 2–0 | | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | | 3–1 | | 1–2 | 5–2 | 2–3 | | 3–3 | | | 2–2 | | | | | 0–2 | | 0–1 |
| FC Tokyo | | 0–1 | | 0–0 | 2–1 | | 0–1 | | | 2–1 | | 1–2 | 3–2 | | | 1–0 | | |
| Vegalta Sendai | | 1–2 | | | 2–3 | | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–4 | | 5–0 | | 2–1 | 2–3 | | 0–1 | | |
| Ventforet Kofu | | | 0–1 | 1–1 | | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–3 | | | | | | | |
| Vissel Kobe | | | | 1–1 | | | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | | | 1–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 4–1 | | |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | 1–2 | | 2–3 | 0–3 | | | | | | 3–0 | | 1–2 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |

### Second stage

| Home \ Away | ALB | ANT | BEL | FMA | FRO | GAM | GRA | MON | RED | REY | SAG | SFR | SSP | TOK | VEG | VEN | VIS | YAM |
| Albirex Niigata | | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | | | 1–2 | | 1–0 | 0–2 | | | | | | 2–0 |
| Kashima Antlers | | | | 2–0 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | | | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | | | |
| Shonan Bellmare | | 2–1 | | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 2–1 | 0–1 | | 3–0 | | | | | | 0–2 | | 1–1 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | | | | | | | | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | | | 1–2 | 1–0 | | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Kawasaki Frontale | | 1–3 | | 0–1 | | 5–3 | 6–1 | 0–0 | | | | | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | | | |
| Gamba Osaka | | | 1–0 | 2–2 | | | | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | | | 2–1 | | |
| Nagoya Grampus | 4–2 | | | 0–3 | | 3–2 | | | 2–1 | | | | | 0–0 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 2–0 | |
| Montedio Yamagata | 1–3 | | | | | | 0–3 | | 0–0 | | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–2 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | | |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | | | 1–0 | | 1–1 | | | | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | | | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 1–1 | | | | 1–0 | | 3–1 | 0–0 | | | 2–3 | | | 0–1 | | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Sagan Tosu | | 0–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | | 0–0 | | | | | | 0–0 | | 1–0 | 0–1 | | |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | | 0–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | | 5–2 | | | 0–3 | 0–0 | | | 0–1 | | | | 6–0 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 1–1 | | 1–2 | | | | 2–2 | | 1–4 | 0–3 | | 1–5 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | | 0–5 | |
| FC Tokyo | 3–1 | | 1–2 | | | 2–1 | | 0–0 | 3–4 | | 0–0 | | | | 3–1 | | 3–0 | 1–0 |
| Vegalta Sendai | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 1–3 | | 1–3 | | | | 0–1 | | 3–4 | | | | | 1–2 | 3–1 |
| Ventforet Kofu | 0–0 | 0–1 | | | 1–3 | | | | | | | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Vissel Kobe | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 3–1 | | | 7–1 | 0–4 | | | | | | 2–1 |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | | 2–0 | | | 1–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | | 1–0 | | | | | |

## Top scorers

| Rank | Scorer | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Yoshito Ōkubo | Kawasaki Frontale | 23 |
| 2 | Douglas | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 21 |
| 3 | Takashi Usami | Gamba Osaka | 19 |
| 4 | Yohei Toyoda | Sagan Tosu | 16 |
| 5 | Cristiano | Kashiwa Reysol | 14 |
| 6 | Yuki Muto | Urawa Red Diamonds | 13 |
| 7 | Patric | Gamba Osaka | 12 |
| 7 | Hisato Sato | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 12 |
| 7 | Shinzo Koroki | Urawa Red Diamonds | 12 |
| 10 | Genki Omae | Shimizu S-Pulse | 11 |
Updated to games played on 22 November 2015
Source: J.League Data

## Awards
### Individual

| Award | Recipient | Club |
| Most Valuable Player | Toshihiro Aoyama | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| Rookie of the Year | Takuma Asano | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| Manager of the Year | Hajime Moriyasu | Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| Top Scorer | Yoshito Ōkubo | Kawasaki Frontale |

### Best Eleven

| Position | Footballer | Club | Nationality |
| GK | Shusaku Nishikawa (4) | Urawa Red Diamonds | Japan |
| DF | Kosuke Ota (2) | FC Tokyo | Japan |
| DF | Masato Morishige (3) | FC Tokyo | Japan |
| DF | Tomoaki Makino (2) | Urawa Red Diamonds | Japan |
| DF | Tsukasa Shiotani (2) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Japan |
| MF | Mu Kanazaki (1) | Kashima Antlers | Japan |
| MF | Toshihiro Aoyama (3) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Japan |
| MF | Yasuhito Endō (12) | Gamba Osaka | Japan |
| FW | Douglas (1) | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | Brazil |
| FW | Takashi Usami (2) | Gamba Osaka | Japan |
| FW | Yoshito Ōkubo (3) | Kawasaki Frontale | Japan |
* The number in brackets denotes the number of times that the footballer has appeared in the Best 11.

## Attendances

| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
| 1 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 658,668 | 53,148 | 22,363 | 38,745 | +9.1%$^†$ |
| 2 | FC Tokyo | 489,336 | 42,604 | 12,727 | 28,784 | +14.3%$^†$ |
| 3 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 411,759 | 44,226 | 8,038 | 24,221 | +4.9%$^†$ |
| 4 | Albirex Niigata | 398,545 | 31,324 | 16,068 | 23,444 | +2.0%$^†$ |
| 5 | Kawasaki Frontale | 356,976 | 24,992 | 14,881 | 20,999 | +26.0%$^†$ |
| 6 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 285,992 | 18,906 | 11,743 | 16,823 | +32.1%$^†$ |
| 7 | Kashima Antlers | 279,185 | 29,030 | 6,923 | 16,423 | −7.0%$^†$ |
| 8 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 278,499 | 33,210 | 7,966 | 16,382 | +9.2%$^†$ |
| 9 | Vissel Kobe | 276,512 | 24,027 | 7,696 | 16,265 | +8.4%$^†$ |
| 10 | Nagoya Grampus | 276,082 | 33,558 | 9,986 | 16,240 | −2.9%$^†$ |
| 12 | Gamba Osaka | 271,984 | 18,842 | 10,702 | 15,999 | +8.5%$^†$ |
| 11 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 239,406 | 19,736 | 11,348 | 14,083 | −0.9%$^†$ |
| 13 | Vegalta Sendai | 234,442 | 19,375 | 12,488 | 13,791 | −9.1%$^†$ |
| 14 | Sagan Tosu | 228,644 | 20,792 | 7,524 | 13,450 | −4.9%$^†$ |
| 15 | Shonan Bellmare | 207,539 | 14,581 | 9,157 | 12,208 | +44.0%$^†$ |
| 16 | Ventforet Kofu | 192,042 | 14,176 | 7,015 | 11,297 | −7.2%$^†$ |
| 17 | Kashiwa Reysol | 185,609 | 14,055 | 6,701 | 10,918 | +1.9%$^†$ |
| 18 | Montedio Yamagata | 170,518 | 13,737 | 6,100 | 10,030 | +58.0%$^†$ |
| | League total | 5,447,602 | 53,148 | 6,100 | 17,803 | +3.3%$^†$ |
Updated to games played on 22 November 2015 Source: J. League Data Notes: $^†$ Team played previous season in J2.