Nadeshiko League

The , commonly known as the , 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: the Nadeshiko League Division 1, the Nadeshiko League Division 2, and the Nadeshiko . 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. Before 2021, the Nadeshiko League was 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 , a fast food company based in Fukuoka.

 History 
Japan Women's Football League began in 1989. 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.

Players from the 8 Japan Women's Football League teams would host an annual training camp to build skills and relationships between the L.League and women's international football clubs, including U.S.- and Australia-based teams.

In 2004 the L.League was renamed to Nadeshiko League, with the nickname "Nadeshiko Japan". Nadeshiko is the name of the dianthus flower and was chosen from suggestions by fans, signifying an ideal of a dutiful Japanese woman.Alisa Freedman, Laura Miller, Christine R. Yano. . Stanford University Press, 2013.Gregory G. Reck, Bruce Allen Dick.  McFarland, 2015.

Starting in the 2004 season, the L.League had 2 divisions – Division 1, with 8 clubs, and Division 2, with 8 clubs in the 2006 season. Until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men, the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner.

Starting with the 2010 season, the second division is divided into an east and west group of six teams each. The winners of each group are promoted. In 2015 this became Division 3, with the Nadeshiko League becoming two divisions of 10 teams each.

After Japan's World Cup win in 2011 the L.League saw an upsurge in popularity.

On 3 June 2020, the Japan Football Association announced that the newly established WE League will become the top level for women's football in Japan when it begins play in 2021. The Nadeshiko League will then become the second to fourth levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid.

Club
 2020 season 
The Nadeshiko League Divisions 1 and 2 consist of 10 teams each. The Nadeshiko Challenge League is divided into two groups (East and West) of six teams each.

 Division 1 

ClubHometown(s)First Season in Top FlightCurrent Spell in Top FlightNippon TV Tokyo Verdy BelezaInagi, Tokyo19891989–INAC Kobe LeonessaKobe, Hyogo20052005–Mynavi Vegalta SendaiSendai, Miyagi20132013–Albirex NiigataNiigata Prefecture20072007–Cerezo Osaka SakaiOsaka20182020–Ehime FCMatsuyama20202020–JEF United ChibaChiba, Chiba20002009–Urawa RedsSaitama, Saitama19991999–Nojima Stella Kanagawa SagamiharaSagamihara, Kanagawa20172017–Iga FC Kunoichi MieIga, Mie19892019–

 Division 2 
ClubsHometown(s)Bunnys Kyoto SCKyoto. (Kyoto)Chifure AS Elfen Saitamakawagoe, SaitamaAS Harima AlbionHimeji, (Hyogo)FC Jumonji VentusNiza, Saitama, Orca Kamogawa FCKamogawaNippon Sport Science University Fields YokohamaYokohamaAC Nagano ParceiroNaganoSfida Setagaya FCMusashinoYamato SylphidYokohamaNippatsu Yokohama FC SeagullsYokohama

 Challenge League 
Clubs (East)Hometown(s)Tokiwagi Gakuen High SchoolSendai, MiyagiNorddea HokkaidoSapporo, HokkaidoTsukuba FCTsukuba, IbarakiNiigata University of Health and WelfareNiigata, NiigataJFA Academy FukushimaSusono, ShizuokaDue to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the team has relocated from Naraha, Fukushima to sport facilities in Shizuoka Prefecture. http://www.jfa.jp/youth_development/jfa_academy/fukushima/operation.htmlClubs (West)Hometown(s)Speranza Osaka-TakatsukiTakatsuki, OsakaKibi International University Charme Okayama TakahashiTakahashi, OkayamaOkayama Yunogo BelleMimasaka, OkayamaAngeviolet HiroshimaHiroshimaNGU Nagoya FC LadiesNagoya, Aichi

 Previous clubs 
The following clubs are not competing in the Nadeshiko League during the 2020 season, but have previously competed in the Nadeshiko League for at least one season.

 Relegated to regional leagues 
Je Vrille Kagoshima: relegated to Kyushu League from 2014
Shimizudaihachi Pleiades: relegated to Tokai League from 2015
Kumamoto Renaissance FC: relegated to Kyushu League from 2016

 Defunct 
Fujita SC Mercury (affiliated with Shonan Bellmare)
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
Nissan FC Ladies (affiliated with Yokohama F. Marinos)
OKI FC Winds
Shiroki FC Serena
Suzuyo Shimizu FC Lovely Ladies (affiliated with Shimizu S-Pulse)
Tasaki Perule FC
Tokyo Shidax LSC (formerly Shinko Seiko FC Clair)
Urawa Motobuto Ladies FC
TEPCO Mareeze (dissolved after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; many of the players moved to Vegalta Sendai Ladies)
Aguilas Kobe
Hoyo Sukarabu FC

 Champions 
 Division 1 

YearClub1989Shimizu FC Ladies1990Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza1991Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza 1992Yomiuri Nippon SC Ladies Beleza1993Yomiuri Nippon SC Ladies Beleza1994Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina1995Prima Ham FC Kunoichi1996Nikko Securities Dream Ladies1997Nikko Securities Dream Ladies1998Nikko Securities Dream Ladies 1999Prima Ham FC Kunoichi2000Nippon TV Beleza2001Nippon TV Beleza2002Nippon TV Beleza 2003Tasaki Perule FC2004Saitama Reinas FC

YearClub2005Nippon TV Beleza2006Nippon TV Beleza2007Nippon TV Beleza2008Nippon TV Beleza2009Urawa Reds Ladies 2010Nippon TV Beleza2011INAC Kobe Leonessa2012INAC Kobe Leonessa2013INAC Kobe Leonessa2014Urawa Reds Ladies2015Nippon TV Beleza2016Nippon TV Beleza2017Nippon TV Beleza2018Nippon TV Beleza2019Nippon TV Beleza2020Urawa Reds Ladies

 Wins by club 
Clubs in bold are those competing in Division 1 as of the 2020 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.

 Club  Champions  YearNippon TV Tokyo Verdy BelezaYomiuri Beleza was renamed to Nippon TV Beleza in 1999 and to Tokyo Verdy Beleza in 2011, when the Yomiuri Group sold its stake. 17 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019Urawa Reds LadiesSaitama Reinas were absorbed by Urawa Red Diamonds in 2005. 4 2004, 2009, 2014, 2020Nikko Securities Dream Ladies 3 1996, 1997, 1998INAC Kobe Leonessa 3 2011, 2012, 2013Iga FC Kunoichi MiePrima Ham FC Kunoichi was renamed to Iga FC Kunoichi in 2000. 2 1995, 1999Shimizu FC Ladies 1 1989Matsushita Electric LSC BambinaMatsushita LSC Bambina was renamed to Speranza FC Takatsuki in 2000. Then, renamed to Speranza Osaka-Takatsuki in 2012. 1 1994Tasaki Perule FC 12003

Notes

 Division 2 
YearClub2004Okayama Yunogo Belle2005INAC Kobe Leonessa2006Albirex Niigata Ladies2007TEPCO Mareeze2008JEF United Chiba Ladies2009AS Elfen Sayama FCYearEastWest2010Tokiwagi Gakuen HSSperanza FC Takatsuki2011Tokiwagi Gakuen HSFC Takahashi Kibi International University CharmeYearClub2012Vegalta Sendai Ladies2013Tokiwagi Gakuen HS2014Speranza FC Osaka-Takatsuki2015AC Nagano Parceiro Ladies2016Nojima Stella Kanagawa Sagamihara2017Nippon Sport Science University Fields Yokohama2018Iga FC Kunoichi

 Challenge League 
YearClub2015Tokiwagi Gakuen HS2016Orca Kamogawa FC2017Shizuoka Sangyo University Iwata Bonita

 Division 1 awards 

 Best Player 
YearPlayerClub2002Tomoe SakaiNippon TV Beleza2003Mio OtaniTasaki Perule FC2004Kozue AndoSaitama Reinas FC2005Shinobu OhnoNippon TV Beleza2006Homare Sawa2007Shinobu Ohno2008Homare Sawa2009Kozue AndoUrawa Reds Ladies2010Shinobu OhnoNippon TV Beleza2011Nahomi KawasumiINAC Kobe Leonessa2012Megumi Takase2013Nahomi Kawasumi2014Michi GotoUrawa Reds Ladies2015Mizuho SakaguchiNippon TV Beleza201620172018Mina Tanaka

 Top Goalscorers 
YearPlayerGoalsClub2002Mio Otani5Tasaki Perule FC2003332004Kozue Ando12Saitama Reinas FC2005Mio Otani25Tasaki Perule FC2006Yuki Nagasato18Nippon TV Beleza2007Shinobu Ohno232008202009Kozue Ando18Urawa Reds Ladies2010Shinobu Ohno13Nippon TV Beleza2011Nahomi Kawasumi12INAC Kobe LeonessaShinobu Ohno2012Megumi Takase202013Goebel-Yanez152014Yuika Sugasawa20JEF United Chiba Ladies2015152016Mina Tanaka18Nippon TV Beleza201715201815

 Best Young Player 
YearPlayerClub2002Kozue AndoSaitama Reinas FC2003Yukari KingaNippon TV Beleza2004Natsuki MuraokaIga FC Kunoichi2005Karina MaruyamaTEPCO Mareeze2006Noriko MatsudaUrawa Reds Ladies2007Kyoko Yano2008Mana IwabuchiNippon TV Beleza2009Megumi TakaseINAC Kobe Leonessa2010Nozomi FujitaUrawa Reds Ladies2011Chinatsu Kira2012Shiho Kohata2013Saki UenoJEF United Chiba Ladies2014Ruka NorimatsuUrawa Reds Ladies2015Kiko Seike2016Hina SugitaINAC Kobe Leonessa2017Yui Fukuta2018Hinata MiyazawaNippon TV Beleza

 References 

 Other websites 
 Official website 
 NADESHIKO LEAGUE 1 at women.soccerway.com 

Category:1989 establishments in Japan
Category:Football leagues in Japan