2022 J3 League


The 2022 J3 League, referred to as the '''2022 Meiji Yasuda Life for sponsorship reasons, was the 9th season of J3 League under its current name.
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

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.
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

Promoted from 2021 JFLPromoted to 2022 J2 LeagueRelegated from 2021 J2 League
Iwaki FCRoasso 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

Club nameHome townStadiumCapacityLast seasonLicence
Azul Claro NumazuNumazuAshitaka Stadium5,104J3 J3
Ehime FCAll cities/towns in EhimeNingineer Stadium21,401 J2 RelegatedJ1
Fujieda MYFCCities/towns in Shizuoka PrefectureFujieda Soccer Field13,000J3 J2
Fukushima UnitedFukushimaToho Stadium21,000J3 J1
Gainare TottoriAll cities/towns in TottoriAxis Bird Stadium16,033J3 J2
All cities/towns in GifuGifu Nagaragawa Stadium26,109J3 J1
Giravanz KitakyushuKitakyushu, FukuokaMikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu15,066 J2 RelegatedJ1
FC ImabariImabariArigato Service Dream Stadium5,241J3 J2
Iwaki FCIwaki and Futaba District, FukushimaArigato Service Dream Stadium5,000 Promoted from JFL J2
Kagoshima UnitedKagoshimaShiranami Stadium19,934J3 J1
Kamatamare SanukiAll cities/towns in KagawaPikara Stadium30,099J3 J2
Kataller ToyamaAll cities/towns in ToyamaToyama Athletic Stadium28,494J3 J1
Matsumoto YamagaCities/towns in NaganoSunpro Alwin20,396 J2 RelegatedJ1
Nagano ParceiroNaganoNagano U Stadium15,491J3 J2
SC SagamiharaSagamiharaGion Stadium15,300 J2 RelegatedJ2
Tegevajaro MiyazakiMiyazaki & Shintomi, MiyazakiUnilever Stadium Shintomi5,357J3 J3
Vanraure HachinohePrifoods Stadium5,200J3 J2
YSCC YokohamaYokohamaNippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium15,454J3 J2

Foreign players

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. Players from J.League partner nations 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.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Player 4Player 5Player 6
Azul Claro Numazu

Stadiums

Primary venues used in the 2022 J3 League season:

Season statistics

Discipline

Player

Club

  • Most yellow cards: 58
  • Most red cards: '''3'''