Japan Football Association

The Japan Football Association (JFA, ) is the governing body responsible for the administration of football, futsal, beach soccer, and efootball in Japan. It is responsible for the national team, as well as club competitions.

History

The organization was founded in 1921 as the , and became affiliated with FIFA in 1929. In 1945, the name of the organization was changed to the ; its Japanese name was changed to the current title in 1975. The association generally translates its name to "Japan Football Association" in English, though "Japan Soccer Association" is also used.

Identity Symbol

The symbol of the JFA is the Yatagarasu, a mythical three-legged raven that guided Emperor Jimmu to Mount Kumano. Yatagarasu is also the messenger of the supreme Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu. JFA first adopted the Yatagarasu as a symbol in 1931, however it wasn't used on the uniform until 1988.

Colors The Japan national football team has historically been identified with the colors blue and white, as opposed to the white and red of the Flag of Japan. Prior to 1930, the best ranked university team of the year would represent Japan, and wear their school's own uniform. In 1930, JFA first formed an independent national squad, selecting the best players from across the country, and the players chose Imperial University's color of light blue for their first uniform. They did attempt to switch to a red and white colorway in 1989, failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and switched back to blue in 1992.

The reasoning has since been retconned into the historical association of indigo dye with ancient samurai warriors in their clothing for battle, however the primary reason is that it was simply convenient to use the existing uniform early players already had when they were first getting started, and a superstitious explanation for their poor performance when they switched once it was established resulted in a return to the original colorway.

Anthem In 1994, the JFA asked Ryuichi Sakamoto to compose the instrumental song - "Japanese Soccer Anthem". There is an arrangement version by Yasuhide Ito. This anthem is played at the beginning of JFA-sponsored events, such as the Emperor's Cup matches and as a prelude to kickoff at stadiums.

Members The following is a list of presidents of Japan Football Association (JFA). The Honorary President is Her Imperial Highness Princess Takamado.

Last updated: 6 March 2022 NameRoleRef. Tsuneyasu MiyamotoPresident Mitsuru MuraiVice President Kazumichi Iwagami2nd Vice President Yoshinori Hayashi3rd Vice President Kiyotaka SuharaGeneral Secretary Masashi FukudaTreasurer Tsuyoshi Nishimoto2nd Treasurer Yasuharu SorimachiTechnical Director Hajime MoriyasuTeam Coach (Men's) Futoshi IkedaTeam Coach (Women's) Hideki KatoMedia/Communications Manager Tsuyoshi KitazawaFutsal Coordinator Miiko KanekoReferee Coordinator

Presidents PresidencyPresidentTook officeLeft office1 Jikichi Imamura192119332 Ryutaro Fukao19351945 -194519473 Ryutaro Takahashi194719544 Yuzuru Nozu195519765 Tomisaburo Hirai197619876 Shizuo Fujita198719927 Hideo Shimada199219948 Ken Naganuma199419989 Shunichiro Okano1998200210 Saburo Kawabuchi2002200811 Motoaki Inukai2008201012 Junji Ogura2010201213 Kuniya Daini2012201614 Kozo Tashima2016202415 Tsuneyasu Miyamoto2024Present

Management JFA Academy Fukushima JFA Academy Sakai JFA Academy Imabari JFA Academy Kumamoto Uki

Sponsorship Last updated: 15 August 2024

+JFA Official Top PartnerCompanyPeriodKirin1 January 2023 – 31 December 2030

+JFA Official SupplierCompanyPeriodAdidas Japan20xx–present

+JFA Major PartnerCompanyPeriodANA27 February 2023 – 31 December 2026Saison5 November 2001 – 31 December 2030au25 August 2016 – 31 December 2026Mitsui Fudosan1 October 2023 – 31 March 2027Mizuho1 April 2013 – 31 December 2026MS&AD2 May 2008 – 31 December 2026Toyo Tires1 May 2021 – 31 December 2026

+JFA National Team PartnerCompanyPeriodAPA Hotel1 March 2023 – 31 December 2026Toyota1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027Yomiuri Shimbun21 March 2023 – 31 December 2026

National teams

List of international matches

Men

TeamHead coachAppointedTime as ManagerJapan national football team Japan national under-23 football team Japan national under-19 football team Japan national under-18 football team Japan national under-17 football team Japan national under-16 football team Japan national under-15 football team Japan national futsal team Japan national under-23 futsal team Japan national under-20 futsal team Japan national beach soccer team Japan eNational football team

Women

TeamHead coachAppointedTime as ManagerJapan women's national football team Japan women's national under-23 football teamJapan women's national under-19 football team Akira Ijiri (ja)Japan women's national under-17 football team Sadayoshi Shirai (ja)Japan women's national under-16 football team Sadayoshi ShiraiJapan women's national under-15 football team Hiroshi NakanoJapan women's national futsal team Takehiro Suga (ja)Japan women's national under-20 futsal team

League system

Japanese clubs' placements at each league may determine the JFA-organized competition the club will participate in, or if they will be qualified to one at all.

Men

As of the 2025 season, all clubs in the top two tiers (J1 and J2) enter the Emperor's Cup directly, with the clubs below it having to qualify through prefectural tournaments.

Women

As of 2024–25 season, all clubs in the top two tiers enter the Empress's Cup directly, with the clubs below having to qualify through regional tournaments. The top-tier clubs also qualify to the WE League Cup.

Level on pyramidLeague(s)/Division(s)1WE League 12 clubs – no relegationCurrent: 2024–25 WE League seasonDates: 14 September 2024 – 17 May 20252Nadeshiko League Division 1 12 clubs – 1 relegation + 1 playoffCurrent: 2025 Nadeshiko LeagueDates: 15 March – 12 October 20253Nadeshiko League Division 2 10 clubs – 1 promotion + 1 playoff, 1 relegation + 1 playoffCurrent: 2025 Nadeshiko LeagueDates: 15 March – 18 October 202549 Regional Leagues many clubs – 2 playoffs, ?? relegations5–647 Prefectural Leagues & 2 Block Leagues of Hokkaido many clubs – ?? promotions

Competitions

Only includes tournaments organized by the JFA.

International competitions

Senior CompetitionEditionChampions / Team(s)Next editionNational teamKirin Cup Soccer (1st title)TBDKirin Challenge Cup2023 2024Women's national teamMS&AD Cup2023 2024

Youth CompetitionEditionChampions / TeamsNext editionNational teamsU-16 International Dream Cup2024 2025

Domestic competitions Senior

CompetitionCurrentChampionsDetailsRunners-upNextLeagueJapanese Regional Football Champions League2024Asuka FCFinalroundVonds Ichihara2025CupJapanese Super Cup2024Kawasaki Frontale1–0Vissel Kobe2025Emperor's Cup JFA Japan Football Championship2024Vissel KobeGamba Osaka2025All Japan Senior Football Championship2024Japan Soccer CollegeFC Tokushima2025All Japan Club Teams Football Tournament2024Koga City FC1–0FC Nakatsu2025FutsalJFA Japan Futsal Championship2024 (ja)Nagoya Oceans6–2Tachikawa Athletic2025 (ja)F.League Ocean Cup2024Nagoya Oceans4–3Pescadola Machida2025Beach soccerJFA Japan Beach Soccer Tournament2024Loewe Yokohama7–4Tokyo Verdy BS2025

CompetitionSeasonChampionsDetailsRunners-upNext seasonWomen's cupEmpress's Cup JFA Japan Women's Football Championship2024Urawa Red DiamondsAlbirex Niigata2025Women's futsalJFA Japan Women's Futsal Championship (ja)2024SWH Ladies NishinomiyaBardral Urayasu Las Bonitas2025

University CompetitionSeasonChampionsScoreRunners-upNext seasonFootballAll Japan University Football Tournament2024Toyo University (1st title)Niigata University HW2024Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Football Tournament2024 (ja)Hannan University (3rd title)Niigata University HW2025Denso Cup Challenge Soccer (ja)2024Kanto Selection B (4th title)Shikoku Selection2025All Japan University Football Rookie Championship2024Kokushikan University (1st title)Kindai University2025Women's footballAll Japan Women's University Football Championship2024Nippon Sport Science University (19th title)Yamanashi Gakuin University2025FutsalUniversity Futsal Championship (ja)2024Osaka Seikei University (2nd title)Josai University2025

Youth CompetitionSeasonChampionsScoreRunners-upNext seasonLeaguePrince Takamado Trophy JFA U-18 Football Premier League2024Ohzu High School3–0Yokohama FC U-182025CupClub Youth U-18 Championship (ja)2025 (ja)Kashima Antlers U-18 (1st title)Vegalta Sendai U-182026J.Youth Cup (ja)2019 (ja)Nagoya Grampus U-18 (2nd title)Gamba Osaka U-182024 (ja)All Japan High School Soccer Tournament2024Maebashi Ikuei High School (2nd title)RKU Kashiwa High School2025Football at the Inter High School Sports Festival2025Kamimura Gakuen High School (1st title)Ohzu High School2026Prince Takamado Trophy JFA U-15 Japan Football Championship (ja)2024 (ja)Urawa Red Diamonds (3rd title)Gamba Osaka2025(ja)Club Youth U-15 Championship (ja)2024 (ja)Kawasaki Frontale Ikuta(1st title)FC Gifu2025 (ja)Junior High School Sports Festival (ja)2024 (ja)Kamimura Gakuen Junior High School (3rd title)Aomori Yamada Junior High School2025 (ja)JFA U-12 Japan Football Championship (ja)2024Tokyo Verdy (3rd title)Buddy SC2025FutsalJFA U-18 Japan Futsal Championship (ja)2024Fugador Sumida Falcons (2nd title)Bardral Urayasu Tercero2025JFA U-15 Japan Futsal Championship (ja)2024Nagaoka JYFC (6th title)FC Craques Matsudo2025JFA Vermont Cup U-12 Japan Futsal Championship (ja)2024Tozuka FC Junior (3rd title)Shizuoka Junior FC Pivo2025

Japan Football Association

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