, commonly known as Tochigi City (栃木シティ, Tochigi Shitî Efushi) is a Japanese professional football club based in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture. The club is set to play in the J2 League from 2026–27, the second tier of the Japanese football league system, after promotion from the J3 League in 2025.
Origin name In 2006, Tochigi was adopted the moniker Uva (meaning "grape" in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish). Grapes are a specialty in the area of Ohira Town.
History The club was formed in 1947 as Hitachi Tochigi Soccer Club, the works team of the local Hitachi, Ltd. affiliate. After finishing as a runners-up in the local Kanto Soccer League in 2009 season, they were promoted to the 2010 Japan Football League through the All Japan Regional Football Promotion League Series. Prior to their first season in the JFL, the club has dropped Hitachi prefix in its name and changed the reference to sport from "soccer" to "football". From the 2019 season, the club has adopted the new name as Tochigi City.mainichi.jpsankei.com
Promotion to Japan Football League In 2023, Tochigi City secured promotion to the Japan Football League after defeating Tsukuba by 4–0 in final day of the 2023 Japanese Regional Football Champions League. They became the champions of the Japanese Regional Football Champions League for the first time, due to finishing second in Kanto Soccer League.
Promotion to J. League On 24 September 2024, Tochigi City announced that it was officially granted a J3 League club license. On 17 November 2024, Tochigi City secured the 2024 Japan Football League championship and promotion to the J3 League for the first time in history after defeating Atletico Suzuka by 6–0, returning to the third tier after 11 years. Tochigi City would also compete in the Tochigi Derby against Tochigi SC. On 25 September 2025, Tochigi City announced a J2 League club license. On 23 November 2025, Tochigi City secured promotion to the J2 League for the first time in their history after defeating Nagano Parceiro by 3–0.
League and cup record ChampionsRunners-upThird placePromotedRelegated League Emperor'sCupJ. League Cup Shakaijin CupSeason Div. Tier Teams Pos. P W D L F A GD PtsHitachi Tochigi Soccer Club2003Kanto Division 2 5 8 6th 14 4 0 10 25 55 -30 12 Did not qualify Not eligible -20044th 14 6 3 5 24 19 5 21 Did not qualify20053rd 14 7 4 3 28 18 10 25 1st roundHitachi Tochigi Uva SC2006Kanto Division 2 5 8 2nd 14 9 3 2 35 18 17 30 Did not qualify Not eligible –2007Kanto Division 1 4 8 2nd 14 9 0 5 33 17 16 27 Did not qualify20082nd 14 8 2 4 24 19 5 26 3rd round20092nd 14 10 1 3 30 16 14 31 Did not qualifyTochigi Uva 2010Japan Football League 3 18 15th 34 7 10 17 41 75 -34 31 1st round – Ineligible2011 17 10th 33 12 9 12 40 43 -3 45 2nd round201217 17th 32 4 10 18 36 70 -34 22 Did not qualify201318 17th 34 9 3 22 34 64 -32 30 2nd round2014414 13th 26 4 7 15 16 37 -21 19 1st round201516 16th 30 5 4 21 29 61 -32 19 1st round201616 15th 30 5 1 24 34 77 -43 16 1st round201716 16th 30 5 9 16 22 56 -34 24 2nd round2018Kantō Soccer League Division 1 5 10 1st 18 17 1 0 55 14 36 52 Did not qualify Tochigi City FC 2019Kantō Soccer League Division 1510 3rd 18 9 5 4 30 15 15 32 1st round – 2nd round2020 †10 1st 9 7 2 0 25 6 19 23 1st round Competition cancelled202112 4th 22 14 2 6 45 26 19 46 2nd round202210 1st 18 11 4 3 33 14 19 37 Did not qualify Quarter final202310 2nd 18 11 3 4 54 24 30 36 2nd round 1st round2024Japan Football League 416 1st 30 19 7 4 66 35 31 64 2nd round Ineligible2025J3 League 3 20 1st 38 23 8 7 69 37 32 77 Did not qualify 1st round2026J2 League 2 10 TBD 18 N/A2026–2720 TBD 38 TBD TBD Key
Honours Honour No. YearsTochigi Prefecture Division 1101967, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002Tochigi Prefecture 2nd Division A21989, 1990Tochigi Prefecture Division 211991Tochigi Prefectural Football Championship Emperor's Cup Tochigi Prefectural Qualifiers112005, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2021Kantō Soccer League32018, 2020, 2022Japanese Regional Football Champions League12023Japan Football League12024J3 League12025
Current squad
Out on loan
Club staff
Position StaffManager Naoki ImayaAssistant manager Takuma TsudaAssistant manager Atsushi IzawaGoalkeeper coach Yuki TakitaStrengthening coach Nobuaki SekimuraAnalyst Eishiro Hashiya Kazuki Yokoyama Kentaro YoshiharaKitman Masateru HataDoctor Hideyuki Sanuma Masataka Hasue Akinori Kimura Tsuneari Takahashi Takahiro Higashi Yasuhiro Higai Yuya Ogawa Taisuke Sato
Kit evolution Home kits 1st Away kits 2nd
References
External links
Tochigi Uva FC U-15 U-12 Football School (archived)