J.League awards


The J.League awards are represented by a ceremony, which is hosted every year in December, at the end of the season. This ceremony was inducted to award the best players of J.League. To win this award, the nominees had to play at least 17 matches of the season. All awards are updated to 2021.

Player of the Year

The J.League Player of the Year is awarded by the J.League to the most valuable player of the season.
YearPlayerClubRef
1993 Kazuyoshi MiuraVerdy Kawasaki
1994 PereiraVerdy Kawasaki
1995 Dragan StojkovićNagoya Grampus Eight
1996 JorginhoKashima Antlers
1997 DungaJúbilo Iwata
1998 Masashi NakayamaJúbilo Iwata
1999 AlexShimizu S-Pulse
2000 Shunsuke NakamuraYokohama F. Marinos
2001 Toshiya FujitaJúbilo Iwata
2002 Naohiro TakaharaJúbilo Iwata
2003 Emerson SheikUrawa Red Diamonds
2004 Yuji NakazawaYokohama F. Marinos
2005 AraújoGamba Osaka
2006 Marcus Tulio TanakaUrawa Red Diamonds
2007 Robson PonteUrawa Red Diamonds
2008 MarquinhosKashima Antlers
2009 Mitsuo OgasawaraKashima Antlers
2010 Seigo NarazakiNagoya Grampus
2011 Leandro DominguesKashiwa Reysol
2012 Hisato SatōSanfrecce Hiroshima
2013 Shunsuke NakamuraYokohama F. Marinos
2014 Yasuhito EndōGamba Osaka
2015 Toshihiro AoyamaSanfrecce Hiroshima
2016 Kengo NakamuraKawasaki Frontale
2017 Yū KobayashiKawasaki Frontale
2018 Akihiro IenagaKawasaki Frontale
2019 Teruhito NakagawaYokohama F. Marinos
2020 Michael OlungaKashiwa Reysol
2021 Leandro DamiãoKawasaki Frontale
2022 Tomoki IwataYokohama F. Marinos
2023 Yuya OsakoVissel Kobe
2024 Yoshinori MutoVissel Kobe
2025 Tomoki HayakawaKashima Antlers

Top scorer

The J.League Top Scorer is awarded by the J.League to the top scoring player of the season.
Only five players won this award twice: Masashi Nakayama, Ryoichi Maeda, Joshua Kennedy and Yoshito Okubo. Other four players won both the top-scorer award and the one for Most Valuable Player: Masashi Nakayama in 1998, Naohiro Takahara in 2002, Marquinhos in 2008, Hisato Sato in 2012 and Yu Kobayashi in 2017.
YearPlayerGoalsClubRef
1993 Ramón Díaz28Yokohama Marinos
1994 Frank Ordenewitz30JEF United Ichihara
1995 Masahiro Fukuda32Urawa Red Diamonds
1996 Kazuyoshi Miura23Verdy Kawasaki
1997 Patrick Mboma25Gamba Osaka
1998 Masashi Nakayama36Júbilo Iwata
1999 Hwang Sun-Hong24Cerezo Osaka
2000 Masashi Nakayama 20Júbilo Iwata
2001 Will24Consadole Sapporo
2002 Naohiro Takahara26Júbilo Iwata
2003 Ueslei22Nagoya Grampus Eight
2004 Emerson Sheik27Urawa Red Diamonds
2005 Araújo33Gamba Osaka
2006 Washington26Urawa Red Diamonds
2006 Magno Alves26Gamba Osaka
2007 Juninho22Kawasaki Frontale
2008 Marquinhos21Kashima Antlers
2009 Ryoichi Maeda20Júbilo Iwata
2010 Ryoichi Maeda17Júbilo Iwata
2010 Joshua Kennedy17Nagoya Grampus
2011 Joshua Kennedy 19Nagoya Grampus
2012 Hisato Satō22Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2013 Yoshito Ōkubo26Kawasaki Frontale
2014 Yoshito Ōkubo 18Kawasaki Frontale
2015 Yoshito Ōkubo 23Kawasaki Frontale
2016 Peter Utaka19Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2016 Leandro19Vissel Kobe
2017 Yū Kobayashi23Kawasaki Frontale
2018 24Nagoya Grampus
2019 Teruhito Nakagawa15Yokohama F. Marinos
2019 Marcos Júnior15Yokohama F. Marinos
2020 Michael Olunga28Kashiwa Reysol
2021 Leandro Damião23Kawasaki Frontale
2021 Daizen Maeda23Yokohama F. Marinos
2022 Thiago Santana14Shimizu S-Pulse
2023 Yuya Osako22Vissel Kobe-
2023 Anderson Lopes22Yokohama F. Marinos-
2024 Anderson Lopes 24Yokohama F. Marinos-
2025 Léo Ceará21Kashima Antlers-

Best Young Player

The J.League Best Young Player is awarded by the J.League to the most outstanding rookie of the season. To be considered a rookie, there are some criteria to meet:
  • a player must be in his first professional year of football ;
  • a player must have played more than half of the season;
  • in date 2 April of the incumbent season, he has to be under 21 years old;
  • whoever has already won this award, he's excluded from running for it again.
The youngest-ever winner is Takayuki Morimoto: he won the award in 2004 at the age of 16.
Players names shown in bold were also named in the best eleven for that season.
YearPlayerClubPositionRef
1993 Masaaki SawanoboriShimizu S-PulseMF
1994 Kazuaki TasakaBellmare HiratsukaMF
1995 Yoshikatsu KawaguchiYokohama MarinosGK
1996 Toshihide SaitoShimizu S-PulseDF
1997 Atsushi YanagisawaKashima AntlersFW
1998 Shinji OnoUrawa Red DiamondsMF
1999 Yuji NakazawaVerdy KawasakiDF
2000 Kazuyuki MorisakiSanfrecce HiroshimaDF
2001 Koji YamaseConsadole SapporoMF
2002 Keisuke TsuboiUrawa Red DiamondsDF
2003 Daisuke NasuYokohama F. MarinosDF
2004 Takayuki MorimotoTokyo Verdy 1969FW
2005 Robert CullenJúbilo IwataFW
2006 Jungo FujimotoShimizu S-PulseMF
2007 Takanori SugenoYokohama FCGK
2008 Yoshizumi OgawaNagoya GrampusMF
2009 Kazuma WatanabeYokohama F. MarinosFW
2010 Takashi UsamiGamba OsakaMF
2011 Hiroki SakaiKashiwa ReysolDF
2012 Gaku ShibasakiKashima AntlersMF
2013 Takumi MinaminoCerezo OsakaFW
2014 Caio LucasKashima AntlersMF
2015 Takuma AsanoSanfrecce HiroshimaFW
2016 Yosuke IdeguchiGamba OsakaMF
2017 Yūta NakayamaKashiwa ReysolDF
2018 Hiroki AbeKashima AntlersMF
2019 Ao TanakaKawasaki FrontaleMF
2020 Ayumu SekoCerezo OsakaDF
2021 Ryōtarō ArakiKashima AntlersMF-
2022 Mao HosoyaKashiwa ReysolFW
2023 Shunsuke MitoAlbirex NiigataMF
2024 Kōta TakaiKawasaki FrontaleDF
2025 Ryūnosuke SatōFagiano OkayamaMF-

Manager of the Year

The J.League Manager of the Year is an annual award given to one manager by the J.League based on their performance during the season. In the past, the award usually went to the manager of the champions, though this has varied somewhat over the years. From 2017, the award was modified so that the Manager of the J.League champion wins the J.League Champion Manager of the Year, and a separate J.League Manager of the Year award is given to a Manager from each of the J.Leagues. The list below reflects the award for J1 League Manager of the Year award only.
YearManagerClubRef
1993 Yasutaro MatsukiVerdy Kawasaki
1994 Yasutaro Matsuki Verdy Kawasaki
1995 Arsène WengerNagoya Grampus Eight
1996 NicanorKashiwa Reysol
1997 João CarlosKashima Antlers
1998 Osvaldo ArdilesShimizu S-Pulse
1999 Steve PerrymanShimizu S-Pulse
2000 Akira NishinoKashiwa Reysol
2001 Masakazu SuzukiJúbilo Iwata
2002 Masakazu Suzuki Júbilo Iwata
2003 Takeshi OkadaYokohama F. Marinos
2004 Takeshi Okada Yokohama F. Marinos
2005 Akira Nishino Gamba Osaka
2006 Guido BuchwaldUrawa Red Diamonds
2007 Oswaldo de OliveiraKashima Antlers
2008 Oswaldo de Oliveira Kashima Antlers
2009 Oswaldo de Oliveira Kashima Antlers
2010 Dragan StojkovićNagoya Grampus
2011 Nelsinho BaptistaKashiwa Reysol
2012 Hajime MoriyasuSanfrecce Hiroshima
2013 Hajime Moriyasu Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2014 Kenta HasegawaGamba Osaka
2015 Hajime Moriyasu Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2016 Masatada IshiiKashima Antlers
2017 Yoon Jong-hwanCerezo Osaka
2018 Mihailo PetrovićHokkaido Consadole Sapporo
2019 Tomohiro KatanosakaOita Trinita
2020 Tsuneyasu MiyamotoGamba Osaka
2021 Ricardo RodríguezUrawa Red Diamonds-
2022 Michael SkibbeSanfrecce Hiroshima
2023 Shigetoshi HasebeAvispa Fukuoka
2024 Michael Skibbe Sanfrecce Hiroshima
2025 Ricardo RodríguezKashiwa Reysol

Fair Play Award

The goal is to be under the 1 point-media to win the award. For J.League the limit is 34, while in J.League 2 and J3 League the limit is respectively 42 and 33.
In bold the winners of Prince Takamado Cup.
YearJ1-winning teamJ2-winning teamJ3-winning team
1993not assignedLeague non-existingLeague non-existing
1994not assignedLeague non-existingLeague non-existing
1995not assignedLeague non-existingLeague non-existing
1996not assignedLeague non-existingLeague non-existing
1997Vissel KobeLeague non-existingLeague non-existing
1998not assignedLeague non-existingLeague non-existing
1999not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2000not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2001not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2002not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2003not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2004not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2005not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2006not assignednot assignedLeague non-existing
2007Gamba Osakanot assignedLeague non-existing
2008Shimizu S-Pulse, Gamba OsakaVegalta SendaiLeague non-existing
2009Júbilo Iwata, Montedio YamagataVegalta SendaiLeague non-existing
2010Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Montedio Yamagata, Yokohama F. Marinosnot assignedLeague non-existing
2011Gamba Osaka, Montedio YamagataFC TokyoLeague non-existing
2012Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Kawasaki Frontalenot assignedLeague non-existing
2013Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Vegalta SendaiGamba Osaka, Vissel Kobe,
Matsumoto Yamaga, Fagiano Okayama
League non-existing
2014Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Vegalta Sendai, Urawa Red Diamonds,
Yokohama F. Marinos, Albirex Niigata, Tokushima Vortis
Montedio Yamagata, Thespakusatsu Gunma, Shonan Bellmare,
Matsumoto Yamaga, Júbilo Iwata, Kyoto Sanga,
Fagiano Okayama, Giravanz Kitakyushu
Fukushima United, Fujieda MYFC, Nagano Parceiro
2015Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Montedio Yamagata, Kawasaki Frontale,
Yokohama F. Marinos, Ventforet Kofu, Matsumoto Yamaga,
Gamba Osaka, Sagan Tosu
Zweigen Kanazawa, Fagiano Okayama, Tokushima Vortis, Ehime FC, Giravanz KitakyushuGrulla Morioka, Blaublitz Akita,
Nagano Parceiro
2016Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Urawa Red Diamonds, Sagan Tosu, Kashima Antlers, Kawasaki FrontaleShimizu S-Pulse, Giravanz Kitakyushu, Tokushima Vortis, Thespakusatsu Gunma, Fagiano OkayamaGrulla Morioka, YSCC Yokohama, Oita Trinita, Fujieda MYFC
2017Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Vegalta Sendai, Cerezo Osaka, FC Tokyo, Sagan Tosu, Kawasaki Frontale, Gamba Osaka, Júbilo IwataOita Trinita, Matsumoto Yamaga FC, Ehime FC, Tokyo Verdy, Fagiano Okayama, Montedio Yamagata, Zweigen KanazawaBlaublitz Akita, Azul Claro Numazu, YSCC Yokohama, Cerezo Osaka U-23, Grulla Morioka, Nagano Parceiro, Fukushima United FC
2018Cerezo Osaka, Urawa Red Diamonds, Sanfrecce HiroshimaOita TrinitaBlaublitz Akita
2019FC Tokyo, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Oita TrinitaFagiano OkayamaCerezo Osaka U-23
2020Oita Trinita, Kawasaki Frontale, Gamba OsakaGiravanz KitakyushuBlaublitz Akita
2021Kawasaki Frontale, Urawa Red Diamonds, Oita TrinitaMontedio YamagataGainare Tottori
2022Urawa Red Diamonds, Vissel Kobe, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Nagoya Grampus, Cerezo Osaka, Shonan Bellmare, FC TokyoAlbirex Niigata, Omiya Ardija, V-Varen Nagasaki, Thespakusatsu Gunma, Ventforet Kofu, Fagiano Okayama, JEF United Chiba, Roasso Kumamoto, Tokyo Verdy, Zweigen Kanazawa, Blaublitz Akita, Oita Trinita, Yokohama FC, Montedio YamagataKataller Toyama, Vanraure Hachinohe, Tegevajaro Miyazaki, Iwaki FC, Kamatamare Sanuki, Fukushima United, Azul Claro Numazu, Ehime FC, Gainare Tottori, Giravanz Kitakyushu

Individual Fair Play Award

This award was established since 1996.

Referees of the Year

YearRefereeAssistant RefereeRef
2013Yuichi NishimuraToru Sagara
2014Yuichi NishimuraToru Sagara
2015Yuichi NishimuraToru Sagara
2016Yuichi NishimuraToshiyuki Nagi
2017Yuichi NishimuraToru Sagara
2018Ryuji SatoHiroshi Yamauchi
2019Yuichi NishimuraShinji Ochi
2020Yuichi NishimuraYosuke Takebe
2021Jumpei IidaIsao Nishihashi
2022Ryuji SatoTakumi Takagi