Nadeshiko League


The Japan Women's Football League, commonly known as the Nadeshiko League, is a women's association football league in Japan.
The Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions that correspond to the second and third levels of the league system#Women's system|Japanese women's football pyramid] respectively. Teams are promoted and relegated between the divisions, and between the Nadeshiko League Division 2 and the fourth-level Japanese regional leagues, based on performance in the previous season. Prior to 2021, the Nadeshiko League occupied the top level of the Japanese women's football pyramid as well; that level is now represented by the fully professional WE League.
Since 2008, the Nadeshiko League has been sponsored by Plenus, a fast food company based in Fukuoka.
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History

The Japan Women's Football League, or the L. League, was founded in 1989. The founding six clubs were Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza, Shinko Seiko FC Clair, Nissan FC Ladies, Shimizu FC Ladies, Prima Ham FC Kunoichi, and Tasaki-Shinju Kobe Ladies. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J. League system of that era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back. Teams from this early era would host annual training camps to build skills and relationships with international women's football clubs, such as those in the United States and Australia.
In 2004 the L. League acquired the nickname the Nadeshiko League. Nadeshiko is the name of the dianthus flower and was chosen from suggestions by fans, signifying an ideal of a dutiful Japanese woman.
In the 2004 season, the L. League added a second division, and until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men where the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner. In 2010, the second division was divided into east and west groups of six teams each; the winners of each group were promoted to the first division.
After Japan's World Cup win in 2011, the L. League saw an upsurge in popularity. In 2015, the league added a third division called the Nadeshiko Challenge League was added, and the first and second divisions now had 10 teams each.
In 2020, the Japan Football Association announced that the newly established WE League will become the top level for women's football in Japan in 2021. The Nadeshiko League would then become the second to fourth levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid. After many top teams left for the WE League, the Nadeshiko League abolished the third division in 2021.

Structure

Since 2021, the Nadeshiko League consists of two divisions:

Clubs

Champions

Division 1

Bold indicate doubles with the Empress's Cup.
YearClub
1989Shimizu FC Ladies
1990Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza
1991Yomiuri SC Ladies Beleza
1992Yomiuri Nippon SC Ladies Beleza
1993Yomiuri Nippon SC Ladies Beleza
1994Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina
1995Prima Ham FC Kunoichi
1996Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
1997Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
1998Nikko Securities Dream Ladies
1999Prima Ham FC Kunoichi
2000Nippon TV Beleza
2001Nippon TV Beleza
2002Nippon TV Beleza
2003Tasaki Perule FC
2004Saitama Reinas FC
2005Nippon TV Beleza
2006Nippon TV Beleza
2007Nippon TV Beleza

YearClub
2008Nippon TV Beleza
2009Urawa Reds Ladies
2010Nippon TV Beleza
2011INAC Kobe Leonessa
2012INAC Kobe Leonessa
2013INAC Kobe Leonessa
2014Urawa Reds Ladies
2015Nippon TV Beleza
2016Nippon TV Beleza
2017Nippon TV Beleza
2018Nippon TV Beleza
2019Nippon TV Beleza
2020Urawa Reds Ladies
2021Iga FC Kunoichi Mie
2022Sfida Setagaya FC
2023Orca Kamogawa FC
2024Viamaterras Miyazaki
2025Asahi Intecc Loveledge Nagoya
Wins by club
Clubs in bold are those competing in Division 1 as of the 2023 season. Clubs in italics no longer exist.
ClubChampionshipsYears
Nippon TV Beleza 171990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Urawa Reds Ladies 42004, 2009, 2014, 2020
Nikko Securities Dream Ladies 31996, 1997, 1998
Iga FC Kunoichi 31995, 1999, 2021
INAC Kobe Leonessa 32011, 2012, 2013
Shimizu FC Ladies 11989
Matsushita Electric LSC Bambina 11994
Tasaki Perule FC 12003
Sfida Setagaya FC 12022
Orca Kamogawa FC 12023
Viamaterras Miyazaki 12024
Asahi Intecc Loveledge Nagoya12025

'''Notes'''
Wins by region

Previous clubs

The following clubs have previously competed in the Nadeshiko League for at least one season.

Joined WE League in 2021

Joined WE League in 2023

Relegated to regional leagues

Defunct