Nadeshiko League

Nadeshiko League

Founded	1989; 35 years ago (1989), as L.League
Country	Japan
Confederation	AFC
Divisions	D1: Division 1 D2: Division 2
Number of teams	D1: 12 D2: 10
Level on pyramid	2–3
Relegation to	Regional leagues
Domestic cup(s)	Empress's Cup
League cup(s)	Nadeshiko League Cup
Current champions	D1: Orca Kamogawa FC (1st title) D2: Viamaterras Miyazaki (1st title) (2023)
Most championships	D1: NTV Beleza (17 titles) D2:
TV partners	YouTube Mycujoo SPOZONE Abema DAZN
Website	en.nadeshikoleague.jp (in English)
Current: 2023 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 semi-professional 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.^[1]

History

The Japan Women's Football League, or the L. League, was founded 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. 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.^[2][3]

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.^{[4][5][6][7][8]} 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.^[9] 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
II	Nadeshiko League Division 1 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1) 12 clubs ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot
III	Nadeshiko League Division 2 (Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 2) 10 clubs ↑ 1 promotion spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot ↓ 1 relegation spot + 1 promotion/relegation series spot

Clubs

Champions

Division 1

Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.^[10]

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[a]	17	1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Urawa Reds Ladies[b]	4	2004, 2009, 2014, 2020
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies	3	1996, 1997, 1998
Iga FC Kunoichi[c]	3	1995, 1999, 2021
INAC Kobe Leonessa	3	2011, 2012, 2013
Shimizu FC Ladies	1	1989
Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina[d]	1	1994
Tasaki Perule FC	1	2003
Sfida Setagaya FC	1	2022
Orca Kamogawa FC	1	2023

Notes

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

Challenge League

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

2023 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 Fields Yokohama	Yokohama	2021–
Yokohama FC Seagulls	Yokohama	2021–
Yamato Sylphid	Yamato	2023–
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–

Division 2

Clubs	Hometown
Norddea Hokkaido	Sapporo
Tsukuba FC Ladies	Tsukuba
FC Fujizakura Yamanashi	Narusawa
JFA Academy Fukushima LSC	Susono
Veertien Mie Ladies	Kuwana
Okayama Yunogo Belle	Mimasaka
KIU Charme	Takahashi
Diavorosso Hiroshima	Kumano
Fukuoka J. Anclas	Fukuoka
Viamaterras Miyazaki	Shintomi

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.

Division 1 awards

See also

• Football in Japan
• Women's football in Japan
• Japan Football Association (JFA)
• Japanese association football league system
• WE League (I)
• Japanese Regional Leagues (women) (IV)
• Empress's Cup (National Cup)
• Nadeshiko League Cup (League Cup)

References

External links

• Nadeshiko League Official website (in English)
• NADESHIKO LEAGUE 1 at women.soccerway.com (in English)
• NADESHIKO LEAGUE 2 at women.soccerway.com (in English)