The began on 4 September 2010 and ended on 1 January 2011 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. Gamba Osaka were the two-time defending champions, having won two previous tournaments.
Kashima Antlers won the tournament and was awarded a 2011 AFC Champions League berth.
Calendar Round Date Matches Clubs New entries this round First round September 3 24 48 → 24 47 Prefectural Qualifying Cup winners 1 University Qualifying Cup winning club Second round September 5 32 24+18+19+3 → 32 18 J1 clubs 19 J2 clubs 3 JFL seeded clubs Third round October 9, 11, 13 16 32 → 16 Fourth Round November 17 8 16 → 8 Quarterfinals December 25 4 8 → 4 Semifinals December 29 2 4 → 2 Final January 1, 2011 1 2 → 1
Participants
Starting in the first round Prefectural finals winners – 47 teams
Hokkaidō – Sapporo University Aomori – Vanraure Hachinohe Iwate – Grulla Morioka Miyagi – Sony Sendai Akita – Blaublitz Akita Yamagata – Yamagata University Fukushima – Fukushima United Ibaraki – Ryutsu Keizai University Tochigi – Tochigi Uva Gunma – Arte Takasaki Saitama – Tokyo International University Chiba – Juntendo University Tokyo – Tokyo Verdy U-18 Kanagawa – YSCC Yokohama Niigata – Japan Soccer College Toyama – Toyama Shinjo Club Ishikawa – Zweigen Kanazawa Fukui – Saurcos Fukui Yamanashi – Tamaho FC Nagano – Matsumoto Yamaga Gifu – FC Gifu Second Shizuoka – Honda FC Aichi – Chukyo University Mie – Yokkaichi University Shiga – MIO Biwako Shiga Kyoto – SP Kyoto Osaka – Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences Hyōgo – Kwansei Gakuin University Nara – Nara Club Wakayama – Arterivo Wakayama Tottori – Yonago Kita High School Shimane – Dezzolla Shimane Okayama – International Pacific University Hiroshima – Sagawa Express Chugoku Yamaguchi – Renofa Yamaguchi Tokushima – Tokushima Vortis Second Kagawa – Kamatamare Sanuki Ehime – Ehime FC Shimanami Kochi – Kochi University Fukuoka – Fukuoka University of Education Saga – Saga University Nagasaki – V-Varen Nagasaki Kumamoto – Kumamoto Gakuen University High School Ōita – HOYO Atletico ELAN Miyazaki – Honda Lock Kagoshima – NIFS Kanoya Okinawa – FC Ryukyu
Prime Minister Cup University football tournament winners – 1 team Komazawa University
Starting in the second round J.League Division 1 – 18 teams
Vegalta Sendai Montedio Yamagata Kashima Antlers Omiya Ardija Urawa Red Diamonds FC Tokyo Kawasaki Frontale Yokohama F. Marinos Shonan Bellmare Shimizu S-Pulse Júbilo Iwata Nagoya Grampus Albirex Niigata Kyoto Sanga Cerezo Osaka Gamba Osaka Vissel Kobe Sanfrecce Hiroshima
J.League Division 2 – 19 teams
Consadole Sapporo Mito HollyHock Tochigi SC Thespa Kusatsu Kashiwa Reysol JEF United Chiba Tokyo Verdy Yokohama FC Ventforet Kofu Kataller Toyama FC Gifu Fagiano Okayama Tokushima Vortis Ehime FC Giravanz Kitakyushu Avispa Fukuoka Sagan Tosu Roasso Kumamoto Oita Trinita
Japan Football League – 3 teams
Gainare Tottori Sagawa Shiga Machida Zelvia
※Clubs ranked from first to third at the end of the 17th week of 2010 Japan Football League.
Times All times are Japan Standard Time (UTC+09:00)
First round
Second round
Third round
Fourth round
Quarter-finals
Semi-finals
Final
External links Official site of the 90th Emperor's Cup