J.League 100 Year Plan club status, is a status given to Japanese non-league football clubs. The applicant must have an intention to become a professional club and in the top three levels of the Japanese football pyramid. Usually clubs from the fourth level, Japan Football League, apply for the status; however, it is open for all clubs down to prefectural leagues. From the 2014 to 2022 seasons, the associate membership was the main criteria for J3 promotion.
Former associate membership systems 1993–1998 Originally, when the professional league was formed in 1993 with ten clubs, the league's intention was to keep the number of clubs to 10 for at least two to three years, and then gradually increase the roster to 16 by adding a club or two in year-to-year basis. However, the league had underestimated the demands; there were far more clubs seeking top-flight football then the league have anticipated. Thus, the league adopted associate membership system for the clubs in then the second-tier Japan Football League. Just like the current system, associate clubs finishing in the top two were allowed to be promoted to the league, given that they have passed the final inspection by the league. Associate members also had the right to participate in Yamazaki Nabisco Cup games and reserve league games.
This system was abolished in 1998 with the establishment of J.League Division 2 and the dissolution of the old JFL. Three remaining associate members were admitted to the J2 and Honda FC decided to maintain amateur status and joined the newly created JFL.
Year appliedClub nameYear admittedto J.LeagueNotes1993Bellmare Hiratsuka1994Promoted to J.League. Former JSL Division 1 champion.Júbilo Iwata1994Promoted to J.League. Former JSL Division 1 champion.Kashiwa Reysol1995Promoted to J.League. Former JSL Division 1 champion.1994Cerezo Osaka1995Promoted to J.League. Former JSL Division 1 champion.Kyoto Purple Sanga1996Promoted to J.LeagueTosu Futures1999 (J2)Taken over by Sagan Tosu. Admitted to J2. Promoted to J1 in 20121995Avispa Fukuoka1996Promoted to J.LeagueVissel Kobe1997Promoted to J.League1996Consadole Sapporo1998Promoted to J.League. Competed in JSL Division 1 between 1989 and 1992.Brummell Sendai1999 (J2)Admitted to J2 as Vegalta Sendai. Promoted to Division 1 in 20021997Kawasaki Frontale1999 (J2)Admitted to J2. Promoted to Division 1 in 2000. Competed in JSL Division 1 between 1977 and 1978.Honda Motors–Withdrew membership due to lack of support from company and community. Competed in JSL Division 1 between 1981 and 1992.
2006–2013 After its establishment in 1999, J.League Division 2 became the frontier of J.League expansion, feeding from the simultaneously established Japan Football League. In their first seven years of co-existence, every club that applied for promotion was individually examined by the league. Five teams were promoted this way, but as the number of applicants increased over time, in October 2005 the JFA initiated the establishment of the new association membership system in order to provide an incentive for amateur clubs to obtain a sound economical and business basis necessary to J.League membership.
The criteria for such membership were developed by joint JFA–J.League committee in early 2006. They covered various aspects of the club development, with the particular stress on organizational stability, adequate infrastructure, and support from the local government, sponsors, and community. Unlike the previous system, this membership has been targeted not only to JFL clubs, but to all amateurs club in the football pyramid, including regional and prefectural leagues.
Below is a list of criteria for associate membership in their last edition of September 1, 2012.
Club organization Must be organized as a public corporation or NPO solely devoted to football. Company and university clubs do not qualify At least half of the shares of stock must be Japanese ownership Must hire at least three administrative employees, one of which must be in a managerial position. Must have a proper payroll system in accordance with Japanese law. Must complete an annual tax audit. Must be financially feasible. (Note: The league recommends ¥1.5 million of capital by promotion to J2 and 5 million by the end of the third year in J2.) Must secure sponsorship of at least ¥1 million.
Home town Must be approved by respective prefectural football association. Must be approved by the home town's government in writing.
Home stadium/training facility It must have a capacity of at least 10,000 and a natural grass pitch (in lieu of this, the club must have plans to build a stadium with these minimum requirements). It must be located in the proposed hometown. It must have a press box and a conference room for pre- and post-match news conferences. The club must secure training facilities within the proposed hometown.
Others The club must currently play in JFL, a regional league, or a prefectural league. The club must aim for admission to J.League. The club must have plans for a youth system.
The new associate membership system lasted for eight years and came to its logical finish after the number of J2 clubs reached 22 (the original target) in 2012 season. The next year saw the establishment of J3 League which incorporated most of the remaining associate members.
Since 2006, 29 clubs have applied for the J.League associate member status and 25 have received it, though for many clubs more than one application was necessary. Of those 25 that received the status, 11 were promoted to J2; 9 more were admitted to J3 League in 2013; and 5 remaining members (along with three pending applications) transitioned to the new 100 Year Plan status in 2014. The table below summarizes the history of associate membership applications and J.League promotions/admissions. Promotions listed were to J2, unless indicated otherwise. Grey – membership declined Light green – remaining members, transformed into a 100 Year Plan status in 2014
AppliedClub nameLeague†Home townApplicationresultsYear admittedto J.LeagueNotesAugust 2006Rosso KumamotoJFLKumamoto, KumamotoApproved2007Promoted to J2 as Roasso Kumamoto.Tochigi SCJFLUtsunomiya, TochigiDeclinedReapplied in January 2007January 2007FC GifuJFLGifu, GifuApproved2007Promoted to J2, approved conditionally at first (financial improvement required before promotion).Gainare TottoriJFLAll cities/towns in TottoriApproved2010Promoted to J2.Tochigi SCJFLUtsunomiya, TochigiApproved2008Promoted to J2.Perada FukushimaTohoku League D2Fukushima, FukushimaDeclinedRenamed as Fukushima United FC. Reapplied in June 2013July 2007Fagiano OkayamaChugoku LeagueAll cities/towns in OkayamaApproved2008Promoted to J2. First club to be approved while in regional league. Promoted to J1 in 2024.January 2008New Wave KitakyushuJFLKitakyushu, FukuokaApproved2009Promoted to J2 as Giravanz Kitakyushu.Kataller ToyamaJFLToyama, ToyamaApproved2008Promoted to J2.FC RyukyuJFLAll cities/towns in OkinawaDeclinedReapplied in January 2011January 2009Machida ZelviaJFLMachida, TokyoApproved2011Promoted to J2. Relegated to JFL in 2012 and re-admitted to J3 in 2013. Promoted to J1 in 2023.V-Varen NagasakiJFLAll cities/towns in NagasakiApproved2012Promoted to J2. Promoted to J1 in 2017.January 2010Matsumoto YamagaJFLMatsumoto, NaganoApproved2011Promoted to J2. Promoted to J1 in 2014, first club to reach J1 from 100 Year Plan system.SC SagamiharaKanagawa prefectural league D1Sagamihara, KanagawaApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3. Promoted to J2 in 2020, first club to be approved while in a prefectural league.April 2010Zweigen KanazawaJFLKanazawa, IshikawaNot acceptedIncomplete documentation. Reapplied in January 2011December 2010Kamatamare SanukiJFLAll cities/towns in KagawaApproved2013Promoted to J2.January 2011FC RyukyuJFLAll cities/towns in OkinawaDeclinedFurther improvement needed. Reapplied in June 2013Zweigen KanazawaJFLKanazawa, IshikawaDeclinedFurther improvement needed. Reapplied in November 2012November 2011Nagano ParceiroJFLNagano, NaganoApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3.November 2012Zweigen KanazawaJFLAll cities/towns in IshikawaApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3. Promoted to J2 in 2014Blaublitz AkitaJFLAll cities/towns in AkitaApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3. Promoted to J2 in 2020June 2013Veertien KuwanaMie prefectural league D2Kuwana, MieNot acceptedIncomplete documentation. Renamed as Veertien Mie, reapplied in December 2019 after introduction of 100 Year Plan status system; the status was granted in February 2020 and withdrawn in February 2023YSCC YokohamaJFLYokohama, KanagawaApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3. Relegated to the JFL in 2024.Grulla MoriokaTohoku League D1Morioka, IwateApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3; only associate member to be admitted directly from regional leagues without JFL participation. Promoted to J2 in 2022, relegated to the JFL in 2024.Renofa YamaguchiChūgoku LeagueAll cities/towns in YamaguchiApprovedPromoted to J3 in 2014 and to J2 in 2015Fukushima UnitedJFLFukushima, FukushimaApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3.FC RyukyuJFLAll cities/towns in OkinawaApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3. Promoted to J2 in 2018.Fujieda MYFCJFLFujieda, ShizuokaApproved2013 (J3)Admitted to J3. Promoted to J2 in 2022.Vanraure HachinoheTohoku League D1Hachinohe, AomoriApprovedPromoted to J3 in 2018Tonan MaebashiKantō LeagueMaebashi, GunmaApproved → WithdrawnOn 30 July 2019, the club gave up the J.League 100 Year Plan club status.Azul Claro NumazuTōkai LeagueNumazu, ShizuokaApprovedPromoted to J3 in 2016Nara ClubKansai League D1Nara, NaraApprovedPromoted to J3 in 2022MIO Biwako ShigaJFLKusatsu, ShigaFrozenApplication not followed up after introduction of 100 Year Plan status system. Renamed as Reilac Shiga in 2023Tochigi UvaJFLTochigi, TochigiPendingApplication transitioned to 100 Year Plan status; the status was granted in May 2014Suzuka RampoleTōkai LeagueSuzuka, MiePendingRenamed as Suzuka Point Getters, reapplied in December 2020 after introduction of 100 Year Plan status system; the status was granted in February 2021 and revoked in June 2022 † Listed is the league the club participated at the time of application, not necessary the league that the club currently belongs to.
100 Year Plan status (since 2014) For a short time after the establishment of J3 League in 2014, the league designated J3 clubs as "associate members", as opposed to "full members" of J1 and J2. In order to avoid confusion, it was decided to change the name of the latter to "100 Year Plan" status. The J.League later abolished the associate membership naming for J3 clubs, but the new name for future members remained.
Participation criteria The criteria for the 100 Year Plan status are largely similar to associate membership of the past, though they are generally more relaxed because of less strict regulations for J3 participation in comparison with J2. Below are the criteria for the 2014 season.
Club organization Must be organized as a public corporation or NPO solely devoted to football and exist in this status for no less than one year The majority of the shares or stock must be Japanese owned Must employ at least four administrative employees, one of whom must have managerial position Must have proper payroll system according to Japanese law Must have proper financial management and conduct annual tax audit Must hold intellectual rights for the club name, logo, and all associated trademarks
Home town and stadium/training facility Must be approved by respective Prefectural Football Association Must be approved by the hometown government in writing Home stadium must be located in the proposed hometown Must secure training facilities within the proposed hometown
Others Must currently play in JFL, regional league or prefectural league Must aim for eventual admission to J.League Must have a working soccer school/youth system that exists for no less than one year
Criteria for J3 promotion