# 2020 in Japanese football

This article summarize the Japanese football in the 2020 season.

## Men's football

For this season, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no relegation in place for the professional J1, J2 and J3 League, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season. The Japan Football League curtailed its season to play only the second half and had no relegation, thus expanding to maximum 18 clubs for the 2021 season.

### Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated from J1 League
* Jubilo Iwata
* Matsumoto Yamaga
Teams promoted to J1 League
* Kashiwa Reysol
* Yokohama FC
Teams relegated from J2 League
* Kagoshima United FC
* FC Gifu
Teams promoted to J2 League
* Giravanz Kitakyushu
* Thespakusatsu Gunma
Teams relegated from J3 League
    No relegation to the Japan Football League
Teams promoted to J3 League
* FC Imabari
Teams relegated from Japan Football League
* Ryutsu Keizai Dragons
Teams promoted to Japan Football League
* Iwaki FC
* Kochi United SC

### J1 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Kawasaki Frontale (C) | 34 | 26 | 5 | 3 | 88 | 31 | +57 | 83 | Qualification for AFC Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Gamba Osaka | 34 | 20 | 5 | 9 | 46 | 42 | +4 | 65 | Qualification for AFC Champions League group stage |
| 3 | Nagoya Grampus | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 45 | 28 | +17 | 63 | Qualification for AFC Champions League group stage |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 60 | Qualification for AFC Champions League play-off round |
| 5 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 18 | 5 | 11 | 55 | 44 | +11 | 59 | |
| 6 | FC Tokyo | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 57 | |
| 7 | Kashiwa Reysol | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 60 | 46 | +14 | 52 | |
| 8 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 46 | 37 | +9 | 48 | |
| 9 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 34 | 14 | 5 | 15 | 69 | 59 | +10 | 47 | |
| 10 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 43 | 56 | −13 | 46 | |
| 11 | Oita Trinita | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 36 | 45 | −9 | 43 | |
| 12 | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | 34 | 10 | 9 | 15 | 47 | 58 | −11 | 39 | |
| 13 | Sagan Tosu | 34 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 37 | 43 | −6 | 36 | |
| 14 | Vissel Kobe | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 50 | 59 | −9 | 36 | |
| 15 | Yokohama FC | 34 | 9 | 6 | 19 | 38 | 60 | −22 | 33 | |
| 16 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 34 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 48 | 70 | −22 | 28 | |
| 17 | Vegalta Sendai | 34 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 36 | 61 | −25 | 28 | |
| 18 | Shonan Bellmare | 34 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 29 | 48 | −19 | 27 | |
* 1 2 Since the winners of the 2020 Emperor's Cup, Kawasaki Frontale, qualified for the Champions League group stage, the spot given to the Emperor's Cup winners (Champions League group stage) was passed to the third-placed team and the spot given to the third-place team (Champions League play-off round) was passed to the fourth-placed team.

### J2 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Tokushima Vortis (C, P) | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 67 | 33 | +34 | 84 | Promotion to 2021 J1 League 2020 Emperor's Cup quarter-finals |
| 2 | Avispa Fukuoka (P) | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 51 | 29 | +22 | 84 | Promotion to 2021 J1 League |
| 3 | V-Varen Nagasaki | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 66 | 39 | +27 | 80 | |
| 4 | Ventforet Kofu | 42 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 50 | 41 | +9 | 65 | |
| 5 | Giravanz Kitakyushu | 42 | 19 | 8 | 15 | 59 | 51 | +8 | 65 | |
| 6 | Júbilo Iwata | 42 | 16 | 15 | 11 | 58 | 47 | +11 | 63 | |
| 7 | Montedio Yamagata | 42 | 17 | 11 | 14 | 59 | 42 | +17 | 62 | |
| 8 | Kyoto Sanga | 42 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 47 | 45 | +2 | 59 | |
| 9 | Mito HollyHock | 42 | 16 | 10 | 16 | 68 | 62 | +6 | 58 | |
| 10 | Tochigi SC | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 41 | 39 | +2 | 58 | |
| 11 | Albirex Niigata | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 55 | 55 | 0 | 57 | |
| 12 | Tokyo Verdy | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 54 | |
| 13 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 44 | 52 | −8 | 54 | |
| 14 | JEF United Chiba | 42 | 15 | 8 | 19 | 47 | 51 | −4 | 53 | |
| 15 | Omiya Ardija | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 53 | |
| 16 | FC Ryukyu | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 58 | 61 | −3 | 50 | |
| 17 | Fagiano Okayama | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 39 | 49 | −10 | 50 | |
| 18 | Zweigen Kanazawa | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 57 | 67 | −10 | 49 | |
| 19 | Machida Zelvia | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 41 | 52 | −11 | 49 | |
| 20 | Thespakusatsu Gunma | 42 | 15 | 4 | 23 | 40 | 62 | −22 | 49 | |
| 21 | Ehime FC | 42 | 8 | 10 | 24 | 38 | 68 | −30 | 34 | |
| 22 | Renofa Yamaguchi | 42 | 9 | 6 | 27 | 43 | 74 | −31 | 33 | |

### J3 League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Blaublitz Akita (C, P) | 34 | 21 | 10 | 3 | 55 | 18 | +37 | 73 | Promotion to 2021 J2 League 2020 Emperor's Cup quarter-finals |
| 2 | SC Sagamihara (P) | 34 | 16 | 13 | 5 | 43 | 35 | +8 | 61 | Promotion to 2021 J2 League |
| 3 | Nagano Parceiro | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 45 | 26 | +19 | 59 | |
| 4 | Kagoshima United | 34 | 18 | 4 | 12 | 55 | 43 | +12 | 58 | |
| 5 | Gainare Tottori | 34 | 17 | 6 | 11 | 47 | 37 | +10 | 57 | |
| 6 | FC Gifu | 34 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 50 | 39 | +11 | 56 | |
| 7 | FC Imabari | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 39 | 27 | +12 | 55 | |
| 8 | Roasso Kumamoto | 34 | 16 | 6 | 12 | 56 | 47 | +9 | 54 | |
| 9 | Kataller Toyama | 34 | 15 | 5 | 14 | 52 | 43 | +9 | 50 | |
| 10 | Fujieda MYFC | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 48 | 44 | +4 | 49 | |
| 11 | Iwate Grulla Morioka | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 42 | |
| 12 | Azul Claro Numazu | 34 | 12 | 5 | 17 | 36 | 40 | −4 | 41 | |
| 13 | Fukushima United | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 46 | 55 | −9 | 39 | |
| 14 | Gamba Osaka U-23 | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 43 | 55 | −12 | 35 | Folded |
| 15 | Vanraure Hachinohe | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 42 | 56 | −14 | 33 | |
| 16 | Kamatamare Sanuki | 34 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 33 | 52 | −19 | 31 | |
| 17 | YSCC Yokohama | 34 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 37 | 66 | −29 | 27 | |
| 18 | Cerezo Osaka U-23 | 34 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 28 | 61 | −33 | 25 | Folded |
| 19 | FC Tokyo U-23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Withdrew due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan |
* ↑ Only teams that hold a J2 licence are eligible for promotion.

### Japan Football League

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion |
| 1 | Verspah Oita (C) | 15 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 27 | 16 | +11 | 32 | |
| 2 | Tegevajaro Miyazaki (P) | 15 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 15 | +11 | 28 | Promotion to 2021 J3 League |
| 3 | Sony Sendai | 15 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 26 | |
| 4 | Honda FC | 15 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 22 | |
| 5 | Suzuka Point Getters | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 23 | 19 | +4 | 21 | |
| 6 | Veertien Mie | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 17 | 16 | +1 | 21 | |
| 7 | Iwaki FC | 15 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 21 | |
| 8 | FC Osaka | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 24 | 0 | 20 | |
| 9 | MIO Biwako Shiga | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 23 | 27 | −4 | 20 | |
| 10 | Matsue City FC | 15 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 18 | 24 | −6 | 20 | |
| 11 | Tokyo Musashino City | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 15 | 17 | −2 | 19 | |
| 12 | Honda Lock | 15 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 25 | −6 | 19 | |
| 13 | Nara Club | 15 | 5 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 18 | |
| 14 | Kochi United SC | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 20 | −3 | 16 | |
| 15 | ReinMeer Aomori | 15 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 26 | −9 | 16 | |
| 16 | Maruyasu Okazaki | 15 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 22 | −8 | 15 | |
* ↑ To qualify for promotion, a club must hold a 100 Year Plan status, obtain J3 license (marked in bold in the table), and finish both in the top 4 of the JFL, and either 1st or 2nd among the promotion-eligible clubs.

### National team
#### Results
## Women's football
### Promotion and relegation

Team(s) relegated from Nadeshiko Division 1
* Ehime
Teams at the Division 1 play-offs
* Iga Kunoichi
* Elfen Saitama
Team(s) promoted to Nadeshiko Division 1
* Sfida Setagaya
Team(s) relegated from Nadeshiko Division 2
* Bunnys Kyoto
Team(s) at the Division 2 play-offs
* Nittaidai

### Nadeshiko League (Division 1)

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Urawa Reds Ladies | 18 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 37 | 17 | +20 | 44 | Champions, form WE League |
| 2 | INAC Kobe Leonessa | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 33 | 19 | +14 | 35 | Form WE League |
| 3 | NTV Beleza | 18 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 45 | 22 | +23 | 31 | Form WE League |
| 4 | Cerezo Osaka | 18 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 32 | 36 | −4 | 30 | |
| 5 | Albirex Niigata | 18 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 19 | 17 | +2 | 27 | Form WE League |
| 6 | JEF United Chiba | 18 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 30 | 29 | +1 | 23 | Form WE League |
| 7 | Mynavi Vegalta Sendai | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 26 | 24 | +2 | 22 | Form WE League |
| 8 | Nojima Stella | 18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 18 | 30 | −12 | 15 | Form WE League |
| 9 | Iga Kunoichi | 18 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 17 | 33 | −16 | 14 | |
| 10 | Ehime | 18 | 3 | 3 | 12 | 16 | 46 | −30 | 12 | |

### Nadeshiko League (Division 2)

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Sfida Setagaya | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 34 | 18 | +16 | 37 | |
| 2 | Elfen Saitama | 18 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 33 | 13 | +20 | 36 | Promoted to WE League |
| 3 | Kamogawa | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 37 | 18 | +19 | 34 | |
| 4 | Yokohama | 18 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 29 | 8 | +21 | 32 | |
| 5 | Nagano Parceiro | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 22 | 13 | +9 | 28 | Promoted to WE League |
| 6 | Harima | 18 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 25 | 22 | +3 | 26 | |
| 7 | Yamato Sylphid | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 15 | 16 | −1 | 26 | |
| 8 | Jumonji Ventus | 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 40 | −25 | 13 | Promoted to WE League |
| 9 | Nittaidai | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 7 | 46 | −39 | 9 | |
| 10 | Bunnys Kyoto | 18 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 8 | 31 | −23 | 8 | |