The 2022 J3 League, referred to as the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J3 League (Japanese: 2022 明治安田生命J3リーグ, Hepburn: 2022 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J3 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 9th season of J3 League under its current name.

Meiji Yasuda J3 League
Season2022
Dates12 March – 20 November
ChampionsIwaki FC
(1st title)
PromotedIwaki FC
Fujieda MYFC
RelegatedNo relegation
Matches played306
Goals scored797 (2.6 per match)
Top goalscorerRyo Arita
(17 goals)
Biggest home winGainare Tottori 6–0 Kagoshima United
(24 September)
Biggest away winYSCC Yokohama 0–6 Iwaki FC
(4 June)
Fukushima United 0–6 Fujieda MYFC
(5 June)
Highest scoringEhime FC 7–2 Gainare Tottori
(14 August)
Longest winning runFujieda MYFC
Kataller Toyama
(6 matches)
Longest unbeaten runIwaki FC
Fujieda MYFC
FC Imabari
(10 matches)
Longest losing runYSCC Yokohama
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
(7 matches)
Highest attendance15,912
Matsumoto Yamaga 2–1 Nagano Parceiro
(30 October)
Lowest attendance458
Vanraure Hachinohe 2–1 SC Sagamihara
(15 June)
Total attendance833,042
Average attendance2,722
2021
2023

Iwaki FC won the J3 title for the first time in their history, in their debut campaign at the J3 League, just a year after being promoted from the JFL. They were promoted to the 2023 J2 League alongside Fujieda MYFC, who narrowly promoted with one point off the 3rd-placed team. Both teams won promotion for the J2 League for the first time.

Overview

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After no relegations from the J2 League in 2020, in 2021 there were four relegations and the number of teams in the 2022 J3 League increased from 15 to 18.[1]

This is first and last season as 18 teams for 2022.

This is last season to not feature relegation in 2022. From 2023, relegation from the J3 League to the JFL will be made possible.

Changes from the previous season

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Promoted from 2021 JFL Promoted to 2022 J2 League Relegated from 2021 J2 League
Iwaki FC Roasso Kumamoto
Iwate Grulla Morioka
SC Sagamihara
Ehime FC
Giravanz Kitakyushu
Matsumoto Yamaga

The 4 teams relegated from J2 League in 2021 were: SC Sagamihara, Ehime FC, Giravanz Kitakyushu and Matsumoto Yamaga.

Roasso Kumamoto and Iwate Grulla Morioka were promoted to J2 League.

Iwaki FC was promoted from 2021 JFL as champions of that division. Fukushima team are making their debut in the J3 League after obtaining a J.League License, to enable their promotion from the JFL.

Participating clubs

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Club name Home town Stadium Capacity Last season Licence
Azul Claro Numazu Numazu Ashitaka Stadium 5,104 J3 (14th) J3
Ehime FC All cities/towns in Ehime[a] Ningineer Stadium 21,401   J2 (20th) Relegated J1
Fujieda MYFC Cities/towns in Shizuoka Prefecture[b] Fujieda Soccer Field 13,000 J3 (10th) J2
Fukushima United Fukushima Toho Stadium 21,000 J3 (5th) J1
Gainare Tottori All cities/towns in Tottori[c] Axis Bird Stadium 16,033 J3 (12th) J2
FC Gifu All cities/towns in Gifu[d] Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium 26,109 J3 (6th) J1
Giravanz Kitakyushu Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu 15,066   J2 (21st) Relegated J1
FC Imabari Imabari Arigato Service Dream Stadium 5,241 J3 (11th) J2
Iwaki FC Iwaki and Futaba District, Fukushima Arigato Service Dream Stadium 5,000   Promoted from JFL (champions) J2
Kagoshima United Kagoshima Shiranami Stadium 19,934 J3 (7th) J1
Kamatamare Sanuki All cities/towns in Kagawa[e] Pikara Stadium 30,099 J3 (15th) J2
Kataller Toyama All cities/towns in Toyama[f] Toyama Athletic Stadium 28,494 J3 (5th) J1
Matsumoto Yamaga Cities/towns in Nagano[g] Sunpro Alwin 20,396   J2 (22nd) Relegated J1
Nagano Parceiro Nagano Nagano U Stadium 15,491 J3 (9th) J2
SC Sagamihara Sagamihara Gion Stadium 15,300   J2 (19th) Relegated J2
Tegevajaro Miyazaki Miyazaki & Shintomi, Miyazaki Unilever Stadium Shintomi 5,357 J3 (3rd) J3
Vanraure Hachinohe Eastern cities/towns in Aomori[h] Prifoods Stadium 5,200 J3 (13th) J2
YSCC Yokohama Yokohama Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium 15,454 J3 (8th) J2

Personnel and kits

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Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer
Azul Claro Numazu   Kazuhito Mochizuki (caretaker)   Takuya Sugai   Penalty
Ehime FC   Kiyotaka Ishimaru   Takanori Maeno   Mizuno
Fujieda MYFC   Daisuke Sudo   Masahiko Sugita   Gol.
Fukushima United   Toshihiro Hattori   Hiroto Morooka   Hummel
Gainare Tottori   Kim Jong-song   Koki Ishii   Soccer Junky
FC Gifu   Yuji Yokoyama   Yōsuke Kashiwagi   Razzoli
Giravanz Kitakyushu   Kenichi Amano   Taiga Maekawa   Penalty
FC Imabari   Kazuaki Hashikawa   Keishi Kusumi   Asics
Iwaki FC   Hiromasa Suguri   Yuto Yamashita[2]   Under Armour
Kagoshima United   Naoto Otake   Kenta Hirose   Angua
Kamatamare Sanuki   Toshihiro Nishimura   Takaharu Nishino    Athleta
Kataller Toyama   Michiharu Otagiri   Yohei Nishibe   Goldwin
Matsumoto Yamaga   Hiroshi Nanami   Hayumu Tanaka   Adidas
Nagano Parceiro   Yuki Richard Stalph   Takuma Mizutani   Penalty
SC Sagamihara   Norihiro Satsukawa   Hiroki Mizumoto   Gol.
Tegevajaro Miyazaki   Yasushi Takasaki   Kenji Dai   Yonex
Vanraure Hachinohe   Ryo Shigaki   Naoyuki Yamada   Hummel
YSCC Yokohama   Kei Hoshikawa   Kento Dodate   Bonera

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing Manner Exit date Position Incoming Incoming date Ref.
Announced on Departed on Announced on Arrived on
FC Gifu Toshiya Miura Resigned 5 May 2022 5 May 2022 14th Yuji Yokoyama 5 May 2022 6 May 2022 [3]
SC Sagamihara Takuya Takagi Sacked 20 May 2022 20 May 2022 15th Norihiro Satsukawa 23 May 2022 24 May 2022 [4]
YSCC Yokohama Kenji Nakada Sacked 25 May 2022 25 May 2022 18th Kei Hoshikawa 26 May 2022 26 May 2022 [5]
Vanraure Hachinohe Masahiro Kuzuno Sacked 13 June 2022 13 June 2022 17th Ryo Shigaki 13 June 2022 13 June 2022 [6]
Azul Claro Numazu Masataka Imai Sacked 23 August 2022 23 August 2022 17th Kazuhito Mochizuki 23 August 2022 23 August 2022 [7]
Kataller Toyama Nobuhiro Ishizaki Sacked 19 September 2022 19 September 2022 5th Michiharu Otagiri 19 September 2022 19 September 2022 [8]

Foreign players

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From the 2021 season onwards, there is no limitations on signing foreign players, but clubs could only register up to five of them for a single matchday squad.[9] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Qatar) were exempted from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the midseason transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, holds the nationality of a J.League partner nation, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from an approved type of school in the country.[10]
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6
Azul Claro Numazu   Hadi Fayyadh   Bùi Ngọc Long   Nguyễn Văn Sơn   Nguyễn Ngọc Hậu
Ehime FC
Fujieda MYFC   Kauan   Pedro Henrique
Fukushima United
Gainare Tottori   Mun In-ju
FC Gifu   Freire   Henik   Ono Cholhwan
Giravanz Kitakyushu
FC Imabari   Marcus Índio   Mohamed Adam   Park Soo-bin   Lee Do-hyung   Ralf Seuntjens   Filip Piszczek
Iwaki FC
Kagoshima United   Weslley   Frank Romero
Kamatamare Sanuki   Ismael Dunga
Kataller Toyama   Arthur Silva   Gabriel Nascimento   Luís Henrique   Matheus Leiria   Chen Binbin
Matsumoto Yamaga   Lucão   Paulinho   Víctor Ibáñez
Nagano Parceiro   Ryu Nugraha   Kim Min-ho
SC Sagamihara   Eduardo Kunde   Agenor
Tegevajaro Miyazaki
Vanraure Hachinohe
YSCC Yokohama   Au Yeung Yiu Chung   Han Yong-gi   Shunkun Tani   Promise Ugochukwu   Loris Tinelli

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion
1 Iwaki FC (C, P) 34 23 7 4 72 23 +49 76 Promotion to the J2 League[a]
2 Fujieda MYFC (P) 34 20 7 7 58 29 +29 67
3 Kagoshima United 34 21 3 10 55 39 +16 66
4 Matsumoto Yamaga 34 20 6 8 46 33 +13 66
5 FC Imabari 34 18 6 10 55 40 +15 60
6 Kataller Toyama 34 19 3 12 55 48 +7 60
7 Ehime FC 34 14 10 10 51 41 +10 52
8 Nagano Parceiro 34 14 10 10 42 41 +1 52
9 Tegevajaro Miyazaki[b] 34 12 10 12 45 47 −2 46
10 Vanraure Hachinohe 34 14 1 19 32 46 −14 43
11 Fukushima United 34 11 9 14 37 45 −8 42
12 Gainare Tottori 34 12 5 17 55 56 −1 41
13 Giravanz Kitakyushu 34 11 7 16 41 45 −4 40
14 FC Gifu 34 10 7 17 43 53 −10 37
15 Azul Claro Numazu[b] 34 8 7 19 27 46 −19 31
16 YSCC Yokohama 34 8 4 22 25 66 −41 28
17 Kamatamare Sanuki 34 6 9 19 27 49 −22 27
18 SC Sagamihara 34 6 7 21 31 50 −19 25
Source: Meiji Yasuda J3 League, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Head-to-head points; 4) Head-to-head goal difference; 5) Head-to-head goal scored; 6) Number of wins; 7) Goals scored; 8) Fair-play points
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:
  1. ^ Only teams that hold a J2 license are eligible for promotion.
  2. ^ a b The team hold neither a J1 nor J2 license, and so are ineligible for promotion to the J2 League.

Stadiums

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Primary venues used in the 2022 J3 League season:

Azul Claro Numazu Ehime FC Fujieda MYFC Fukushima United Gainare Tottori FC Gifu
Ashitaka Park Stadium Ningineer Stadium Fujieda Soccer Stadium Toho Stadium Axis Bird Stadium Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium
Capacity: 5,104 Capacity: 21,401 Capacity: 5,056 Capacity: 6,464 Capacity: 16,310 Capacity: 11,999
           
Giravanz Kitakyushu FC Imabari Iwaki FC Kagoshima United Kamatamare Sanuki Kataller Toyama
Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu Arigato Service Dream Stadium J-Village Stadium Shiranami Stadium Pikara Stadium Toyama Stadium
Capacity: 15,300 Capacity: 5,063 Capacity: 5,063 Capacity: 12,606 Capacity: 22,338 Capacity: 18,588
           
Matsumoto Yamaga Nagano Parceiro SC Sagamihara Tegevajaro Miyazaki Vanraure Hachinohe YSCC Yokohama
Sunpro Alwin Nagano U Stadium Sagamihara Gion Stadium Unilever Stadium Shintomi Prifoods Stadium Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium
Capacity: 20,000 Capacity: 15,515 Capacity: 15,300 Capacity: 5,354 Capacity: 5,124 Capacity: 15,440
           

Season statistics

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Goal contributions

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[11]
1   Ryo Arita Iwaki FC 17
2   Kosuke Fujioka FC Gifu 16
3   Koki Arita Kagoshima United 15
  Daichi Ishikawa Gainare Tottori
5   Yuki Okada Tegevajaro Miyazaki 14

Top assists

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Rank Player Club Assists[12]
1   Yudai Tokunaga Tegevajaro Miyazaki 12
2   Riku Saga Iwaki FC 9
3   Akiyuki Yokoyama Fujieda MYFC 8
4   Ikki Kawasaki Kamatamare Sanuki 7
  Takashi Kondo Ehime FC
  Yuji Kimura Kagoshima United

Discipline

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Player

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Club

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  • Most yellow cards: 58[15] (YSCC Yokohama)
  • Most red cards: 3[16] (Kagoshima United)

Awards

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Monthly awards

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Month Manager of the Month Monthly MVP Goal of the Month References
Manager Club Player Club Player Club
February/March   Toshihiro Hattori Fukushima United   Hiroki Higuchi Fukushima United   Kazaki Nakagawa FC Imabari [17][18][19]
April   Hiroshi Nanami Matsumoto Yamaga   Ayumu Yokoyama Matsumoto Yamaga   Yuya Takazawa Giravanz Kitakyushu [20][21][22]
May   Naoto Otake Kagoshima United   Koki Arita Kagoshima United   Yuki Oshitani Fujieda MYFC [23][24][25]
June   Nobuhiro Ishizaki Kataller Toyama   Hiroto Iwabuchi Iwaki FC   Yohei Ono Kataller Toyama [26][27][28]
July   Daisuke Sudo Fujieda MYFC   Tojiro Kubo Fujieda MYFC   Daisuke Matsui YSCC Yokohama [29][30][31]
August   Hiromasa Suguri Iwaki FC   Ryo Arita Iwaki FC   Shota Suzuki Iwaki FC [32][33][34]
September   Daisuke Sudo Fujieda MYFC   Kei Uchiyama Fujieda MYFC   Loris Tinelli YSCC Yokohama [35]
October/November   Hiromasa Suguri Iwaki FC   Ryo Arita Iwaki FC   Marcus Índio FC Imabari [36]

References

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  1. ^ "Competition Format of the 2021 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE | News". J.LEAGUE. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Team captain announcement". iwakifc.com/ (in Japanese). Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Announcement Manager Change". www.fc-gifu.com. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  4. ^ "Notice of Norihiro Satsukawa's appointment as director". www.scsagamihara.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  5. ^ "星川 敬氏 監督就任のお知らせ". yscc1986.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  6. ^ "志垣 良監督就任のお知らせ". vanraure.net (in Japanese). Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  7. ^ "今井 雅隆 監督 解任のお知らせ". azul-claro.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  8. ^ "石﨑監督の退任について". kataller.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  9. ^ "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について" [About the introduction of the "homegrown system" and the change of the "foreign player quota"]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018.
  10. ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" [Rules for contracting, registering and transferring professional soccer players] (PDF). JFA.jp (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  11. ^ "Goals". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Assists". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  13. ^ "J3 2022 Yellow cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  14. ^ "J3 2022 Red Cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  15. ^ "J3 2022 Club Yellow cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Club red cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  17. ^ "Oniki wins Manager of the Month after guiding retooled Frontale to quick start". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  18. ^ "Ueda captures Konami Monthly MVP honors after sizzling start to the season". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  19. ^ "Saneto wins Goal of the Month for 95th minute bicycle belter". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Sanfrecce's spring surge earns Skibbe Manager of the Month honors". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  21. ^ "Utaka wins Konami Monthly MVP after impressive April performances". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  22. ^ "4月度「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」決定" [April "2022 Meiji Yasuda Life J League KONAMI Monthly Awards" decided]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Muscat wins Manager of the Month after guiding Marinos to first place". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  24. ^ "Cerezo's Maikuma awarded KONAMI Monthly MVP for May". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Matheus Savio wins Goal of the Month for his terrific tally in Matchweek 16". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Yamaguchi awarded Manager of the Month after Shonan resurgence". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Mizunuma captures KONAMI Monthly MVP for captaining Marinos to perfect June". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  28. ^ "Notsuda blast wins KONAMI Goal of the Month for June". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Muscat awarded Manager of the Month again". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  30. ^ "Léo Ceará's earns KONAMI Monthly MVP after fantastic July". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  31. ^ "Everaldo's spectacular bicycle kick nets Kashima man KONAMI Goal of the Month". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  32. ^ "Skibbe wins Manager of the Month after masterminding Sanfrecce's summer surge". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  33. ^ "Akihiro Ienaga named KONAMI Monthly MVP for August after leading Frontale title chase". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  34. ^ "Mateus rocket earns KONAMI Goal of the Month for August". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  35. ^ "9月度「2022明治安田生命Jリーグ KONAMI月間MVP」を発表!「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」も決定!". jleague.jp. Japan Professional Football League. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  36. ^ "10・11月度「2022明治安田生命Jリーグ KONAMI月間MVP」を発表!「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」も決定!" [Announcing the "2022 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for October and November! ``2022 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Best Goal of the Month and ``Monthly Outstanding Director Award have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
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