2020 Japanese Regional Leagues


The 2020 Japanese Regional Leagues was the 55th edition of the Japanese Regional Leagues, the fifth tier of the Japanese association football league system.
A total of 120 teams competed, split into 9 groups, in the Japanese Regional Leagues. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, all matches in some of the regions were changed from double round-robin into single round-robin, except Chūgoku and Tōkai which used a cup style knockout competition.
All regional champions qualified for the 2020 Regional Champions League. Like the J.League, there was no relegation in this season to Prefectural Leagues.

Hokkaido

Due to the impact of the new coronavirus, the following measures were taken for the implementation of the league.
  • Each team played 7 games, which were the 2nd series in the round robin games.
  • There will be no relegation from the Hokkaido League based on this year's performances.
  • Promotion to the Hokkaido League will proceed as, with the top two teams in the Block League Finals getting promoted.
  • Expanding number teams to ten for the following 2021 season.
  • The second match, Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth vs Shintoku FC, which was scheduled to be held on August 30, was cancelled, and Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth received a bye
  • The third match between Nippon Express FC and Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth, which was scheduled to be played on 6 September. The match was cancelled, and Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth received a bye.
  • The match between Sapporo University Goal Plunderers and Nippon Express FC scheduled to be played on 20 September was cancelled, and Nippon Express FC received a bye.

Tohoku

Division 1

Due to the impact of the new coronavirus, the following measures have been taken regarding the implementation of the league.
  • Both the first and second divisions were changed from a round robin to a single round for each team.
  • There is no relegation from the first division to the second division and from the second division to the prefectural leagues.

Division 2

Division 2 North

  • Due to the influence of the new coronavirus, TDK Shinwakai, Maritime Self-Defence Force Hachinohe, Hokuto Bank declined to participate.
  • The Maritime Self-Defence Force Hachinohe withdrew from the league for the rest of the year.

Division 2 South

  • The match between Mikawa SC and Bandits Iwaki FC on Matchday 18, which was scheduled to be held on October 25, has been cancelled. The treatment of the results is unknown

Tōkai

Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the Tōkai region played a knockout tournament to decide the team qualifying for the 2020 Regional Promotion Series.
As a general rule, all teams participating in the Tokai League will participate. Regardless of the decline in participation or performance,
  • There was no promotion / relegation between the 1st and 2nd divisions.
  • There was no relegation to the prefectural league.
  • All matches were played in a knockout tournament format.
  • In addition to the final and third-place play-off, there will be a fifth-place play-off.
  • In Division 1, Yazaki Valente FC did not participate, so FC Kariya received a bye to the semi-finals.
  • On September 2, Fujieda City Hall withdrew from participating, so Chukyo University FC received a walkover.

Division 1 Bracket

  • FC Kariya, won the championship, and therefore qualified for the Regional CL 2020 where they finished as runners-up and were promoted to the JFL.
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  • In Division 2, Bombonera did not participate, so Toyota FC received a bye to the semi-finals.

Kansai

Division 1

Relegation / promotion Playoff

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  • According to the regulations, if teams draw their playoff match, the team in the higher division retains it place.

Division 2

This is the 16th edition of the Kansai Football League Division 2

Chūgoku

  • Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Chūgoku region played in a tournament known as the CSL Championship 2020, or C-1 Cup, with eight teams competing for a spot in the 2020 Regional Promotion Series.
  • Of the ten teams participating in the Chūgoku league, the teams that have obtained permission from the management body and parent company participated. Regardless of C-1's performance or non-participation, there will be no relegation to the prefectural league.
  • All participating teams were divided into two groups, each of which participated in a first-round preliminary round-robin.
  • The top two teams from each of the preliminary leagues competed in the final tournament.
  • The winning team qualified for the 2020 Regional Champions League.

Group stage

  • The dates were announced on July 14, NTN Okayama and Dezzolla Shimane did not participate in this season competition.

Group A

  • On August 24, Yonago Genki SC withdrew.
  • Group A was changed to a round-robin of three teams.

Shikoku

  • All matches in the first half were cancelled.
  • No team will be relegated, but the winner of the Shikoku League Challenge Team Finals will be promoted.
  • On February 17, 2021, a lottery was scheduled to be held to determine the promoted team, but Tokushima, Kagawa, and Ehime prefectures declined to participate in the lottery. In the subsequent discussions, it was decided to promote the Nakamura club representing Kochi Prefecture.

Kyushu

  • On August 11, the Kyushu League was abandoned, due to Kaiho Bank's withdrawal and the spread of coronavirus in Okinawa and Kumamoto. Okinawa SV, as the 2019 Kyushu League champions, are elected to play in the 2020 Regional Champions League.
  • All matches in the first half were cancelled.
  • Only the second half Matchdays 10-18, which commenced on 27 June 2020 were to be played.
  • Nippon Steel Oita declined to participate, therefore a total of thirty-six games were held.
  • No automatic relegation or relegation.
  • Kyushu qualified for the rotation replenishment slot, so in addition to Okinawa SV, J.FC MIYAZAKI, which ranked second last year, participated in the 2020 Regional Champions League.