2025 J2 League
| Season | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 15 February – 29 November 2025 |
| Champions | Mito HollyHock (1st title) |
| Promoted | Mito HollyHock V-Varen Nagasaki |
| Relegated | Renofa Yamaguchi Roasso Kumamoto Ehime FC |
| Matches | 370 |
| Goals | 905 (2.45 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Matheus Jesus (19 goals) |
| Biggest home win | JEF United Chiba 5–1 Ehime FC (16 March) Iwaki FC 5–1 Roasso Kumamoto (1 June) Júbilo Iwata 5–1 Consadole Sapporo (12 July) |
| Biggest away win | Roasso Kumamoto 0–4 RB Omiya Ardija (2 March) Montedio Yamagata 0–4 Ventforet Kofu |
| Highest scoring | V-Varen Nagasaki 3–4 Iwaki FC (25 April) Montedio Yamagata 3–4 Vegalta Sendai (15 June) |
| Highest attendance | 49,991 JEF United Chiba 1–2 RB Omiya Ardija (6 May 2025) |
| Lowest attendance | 2,610 Mito HollyHock 2–1 Roasso Kumamoto (17 May 2025) |
| Total attendance | 2,097,306[1] |
| Average attendance | 8,423 |
← 2024 2026–27 →
All statistics correct as of 23 November 2025. | |
The 2025 J2 League, also known as the 2025 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (Japanese: 2025 明治安田J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2025 Meiji Yasuda J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is the 27th season of the J2 League, the second-tier Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. This will also be the eleventh season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 2.
Overview
[edit]This is the last J.League season played in a whole calendar year from late winter to early winter, with the following season onwards played from summer to spring.
Schedule
[edit]The league and match format were announced on 25 November 2024, with the season starts on 15 February 2025 and will conclude on 29 November 2025.
Promotion play-off has been scheduled from 7 and 13 December 2025.
Changes from the previous season
[edit]Tochigi SC, Kagoshima United and Thespa Gunma were relegated to the 2025 J3 League, finishing the previous season as 18th, 19th and 20th placed, respectively, ended seven, one and five years stays in the second-tier, respectively.
Júbilo Iwata, Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo and Sagan Tosu were relegated from the 2024 J1 League, after one, eight and thirteen season in the top flight, respectively.
Both Shimizu S-Pulse and Yokohama FC are promoted to the 2025 J1 League as champions and runners-up, respectively, of the previous J2 League season. Shizuoka-based Shimizu will return in the top flight of Japanese football after two years absence, while Yokohama FC will make their immediate comeback to the J1. Joining them are Fagiano Okayama, who finished 5th in 2024 and earned promotion after winning the promotion play-offs, thus making their first top flight appearance from next season.
2024 J3 League winners Omiya Ardija, runners-up FC Imabari, and promotion play-off winners Kataller Toyama were both promoted from the J3 League. Omiya are returning to the second-tier after one-year absence, Imabari makes their debut in the second-tier for this season and Kataller, who finished 3rd, earned promotion after winning the promotion play-offs, thus returning after 11 years absence.
From this season, Omiya Ardija changed their name to RB Omiya Ardija after they were acquired by Red Bull since 2025.
Clubs
[edit]
Locations of the 2025 J2 League teams
Personnel and kits
[edit]| Club | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Kit sponsors | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main | Other(s) | ||||
| Blaublitz Akita |  Ken Yoshida
|
Hiroto Morooka
|
 Athleta
|
TDK | List
|
| Ehime FC | Shinya Aono (Interim)
|
Fuma Shirasaka
|
Jogarbola
|
Ningineer Network | List
|
| Fujieda MYFC | Daisuke Sudo
|
Masahiko Sugita
|
Gol.
|
Seikan Kensa Center | List
|
| Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | Shingo Shibata
|
Takuma Arano
|
Mizuno
|
Ishiya | List
|
| FC Imabari | Keiji Kuraishi
|
Yuta Mikado
|
Asics
|
Unicharm | List
|
| Iwaki FC | Yuzo Tamura
|
Ryo Endo
|
 Under Armour
|
BHC | List
|
| JEF United Chiba | Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
|
Daisuke Suzuki
|
 Hummel
|
Fuji Electric | List
|
| Júbilo Iwata | Takayoshi Amma
|
Hiroki Yamada
|
 Admiral
|
Yamaha | List
|
| Kataller Toyama | Ryo Adachi
|
Riki Matsuda
|
Goldwin
|
YKK AP | List
|
| Mito HollyHock | Naoki Mori
|
|
soccer junky
|
K's Holdings | List
|
| Montedio Yamagata | Akinobu Yokouchi
|
Shuto Minami
|
Penalty
|
ABeam | List
|
| Oita Trinita | Minoru Takenaka
|
Arata Watanabe
|
 Puma
|
Daihatsu Kyushu | List
|
| RB Omiya Ardija | Yuki Miyazawa
|
Under Armour
|
Red Bull | ||
| Renofa Yamaguchi | Genki Nakayama
|
Finta
|
upr | List
| |
| Roasso Kumamoto | Takeshi Oki
|
Rei Hirakawa
|
Admiral
|
Hirata | List
|
| Sagan Tosu | Akio Kogiku
|
Naoyuki Fujita
|
New Balance
|
Kimura Information Technology | |
| Tokushima Vortis | Kosaku Masuda
|
Yoichiro Kakitani
|
Mizuno
|
Pocari Sweat | List
|
| V-Varen Nagasaki | Takuya Takagi
|
Hiroki Akino
|
Fanatics
|
Japanet | List
|
| Vegalta Sendai | Yoshiro Moriyama
|
Yasushi Endo
|
Adidas
|
Iris Ohyama | List
|
| Ventforet Kofu | Shinji Otsuka
|
Masahiro Sekiguchi
|
Mizuno
|
Hakubaku | List
|
Managerial changes
[edit]| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in the table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo |  Mihailo Petrović[2]
|
End of contract | 4 December 2024 | Pre-season | Daiki Iwamasa[3]
|
12 December 2024 |
| Júbilo Iwata | Akinobu Yokouchi[4]
|
11 December 2024 |  John Hutchinson[5]
|
19 December 2024 | ||
| Ehime FC | Kiyotaka Ishimaru |
Sacked | 21 May 2025 | 20th | Shinya Aono (Interim) |
21 May 2025 [6] |
| Kataller Toyama | Michiharu Otagiri |
Resigned | 27 May 2025 | 17th | Ryo Adachi |
27 May 2025 [7] |
| V-Varen Nagasaki | Takahiro Shimotaira
|
Sacked | 17 June 2025 [8] | 8th | Takuya Takagi
|
22 June 2025 |
| Montedio Yamagata | Susumu Watanabe
|
18 June 2025 [9] | 17th | Jin Sato (interim)
|
18 June 2025 | |
| Renofa Yamaguchi | Ryo Shigaki
|
24 June 2025 [10] | 18th | Genki Nakayama
|
24 June 2025 | |
| Montedio Yamagata | Jin Sato (interim)
|
End of Interim | 25 June 2025 | 15th | Akinobu Yokouchi
|
25 June 2025 [11] |
| Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | Daiki Iwamasa
|
Sacked | 10 August 2025 | 11th | Shingo Shibata
|
11 August 2025 |
| Oita Trinita | Tomohiro Katanosaka
|
18 August 2025 [12] | 16th | Minoru Takenaka
|
18 August 2025 [13] | |
| RB Omiya Ardija | Tetsu Nagasawa
|
24 September 2025[14] | 8th | Yuki Miyazawa
|
24 September 2025[15] | |
| Júbilo Iwata | John Hutchinson
|
29 September 2025 [16] | 8th | Takayoshi Amma
|
29 September 2025 [17] |
Foreign players
[edit]As of the 2024 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[18] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt 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 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 school in the country.[19]
League table
[edit]| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mito HollyHock (C, P) | 38 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 55 | 34 | +21 | 70 | Promotion to the J1 League |
| 2 | V-Varen Nagasaki (P) | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 63 | 44 | +19 | 70 | |
| 3 | JEF United Chiba | 38 | 20 | 9 | 9 | 56 | 34 | +22 | 69 | Qualification for the promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Tokushima Vortis | 38 | 18 | 11 | 9 | 45 | 24 | +21 | 65 | |
| 5 | Júbilo Iwata | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 59 | 51 | +8 | 64 | |
| 6 | RB Omiya Ardija | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 60 | 39 | +21 | 63 | |
| 7 | Vegalta Sendai | 38 | 16 | 14 | 8 | 47 | 36 | +11 | 62 | |
| 8 | Sagan Tosu | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 58 | |
| 9 | Iwaki FC | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 55 | 44 | +11 | 56 | |
| 10 | Montedio Yamagata | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 58 | 54 | +4 | 53 | |
| 11 | FC Imabari | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 53 | |
| 12 | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo | 38 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 50 | 63 | −13 | 53 | |
| 13 | Ventforet Kofu | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 37 | 45 | −8 | 44 | |
| 14 | Blaublitz Akita | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 43 | 59 | −16 | 43 | |
| 15 | Fujieda MYFC | 38 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 39 | |
| 16 | Oita Trinita | 38 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 27 | 44 | −17 | 38 | |
| 17 | Kataller Toyama | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 34 | 49 | −15 | 37 | |
| 18 | Roasso Kumamoto (R) | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 41 | 57 | −16 | 37 | Relegation to the J3 League |
| 19 | Renofa Yamaguchi (R) | 38 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 36 | 47 | −11 | 36 | |
| 20 | Ehime FC (R) | 38 | 3 | 13 | 22 | 35 | 71 | −36 | 22 |
Source: Meiji Yasuda J2 League, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated
Play-offs
[edit]The usual format was applied in the 2025 season. Promotion play-offs, officially called the Meiji Yasuda Road To J1 Play-offs 2025[A] (Japanese: 明治安田J1昇格プレーオフ2025), was held from the semi-finals, where the match-ups were previously semi-determined. Based on the J2 placements at the end of the regular season, the third-placed team played against the sixth-placed, while the fourth-placed team played against the fifth-placed. The winners of the semi-finals played the final, with the winners promoted to the J1.
If a match was tied in the play-offs, the team with the higher rank won. The rank order was: J2's third, fourth, fifth, and sixth-placed teams.[20]
| Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
| 3 | JEF United Chiba | ||||||||
| 6 | RB Omiya Ardija | ||||||||
| 4 | Tokushima Vortis | ||||||||
| 5 | Júbilo Iwata | ||||||||
Semi-finals
[edit]Final
[edit]| – | ||
|---|---|---|
Season statistics
[edit]- As of 28 September 2025
Top scorers
[edit]| Rank | Player | Club | Goals[21][22] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matheus Jesus
|
V-Varen Nagasaki | 15 |
| 2 | Arata Watanabe
|
Mito HollyHock | 13 |
| Marcus Índio
|
FC Imabari | ||
| 4 | Ren Komatsu
|
Blaublitz Akita | 10 |
| Lucas Barcellos
|
Tokushima Vortis | ||
| Ryo Shiohama
|
Roasso Kumamoto | ||
| 7 | Akira Silvano Disaro
|
Montedio Yamagata | 8 |
| Kaina Tanimura
|
Iwaki FC | ||
| Matheus Peixoto
|
Júbilo Iwata | ||
| 10 | Daichi Ishikawa
|
JEF United Chiba | 7 |
| Yuta Goke
|
Vegalta Sendai | ||
 Juanma
|
V-Varen Nagasaki | ||
 Amadou Bakayoko
|
Consadole Sapporo |
Awards
[edit]Monthly awards
[edit]| Month | Manager of the Month | Monthly MVP | Goal of the Month | Young Player of the Month | Save of the Month | References | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manager | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | Player | Club | ||
| February/March | Yoshiyuki Kobayashi
|
JEF United Chiba | Ren Komatsu
|
Blaublitz Akita | Akira Silvano Disaro
|
Montedio Yamagata | Rion Ichihara
|
RB Omiya Ardija | Tomoki Tagawa
|
Kataller Toyama | [23] |
| April | Yoshiro Moriyama
|
Vegalta Sendai | Arata Watanabe
|
Mito HollyHock | Issei Takahashi
|
JEF United Chiba | Ota Yamamoto
|
Renofa Yamaguchi | Taro Hamada
|
Oita Trinia | [24] |
| May | Naoki Mori
|
Mito HollyHock | Arata Watanabe
|
Mito HollyHock | Shunsuke Saito
|
Mito HollyHock | Taisei Abe
|
V-Varen Nagasaki | Takashi Kasahara
|
RB Omiya Ardija | [25] |
| June | Yoshiro Moriyama
|
Vegalta Sendai | Tomoki Takamine
|
Consadole Sapporo | Naoki Kumata
|
Iwaki FC | Keito Kumashiro
|
Roasso Kumamoto | Akihiro Hayashi
|
Vegalta Sendai | [26] |
See also
[edit]- 2025 Japanese Super Cup
- 2025 Emperor's Cup
- 2025 J.League Cup
- 2025 J1 League
- 2025 J3 League
- 2025 Japan Football League
- 2025 Japanese Regional Leagues
Notes
[edit]- ^ On the official J.League English website, it is listed as J1 Promotion Play-Offs
References
[edit]- ^ "J. League Data Site". data.j-league.or.jp. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "ミハイロ ペトロヴィッチ監督 退任のお知らせ" [Notice of retirement of Coach Mihajlo Petrović]. Consadole-sapporo.jp/ (in Japanese). Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
- ^ "ランコ ポポヴィッチ氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of appointment of Daiki Iwamasa as manager] (in Japanese). Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. 12 December 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
- ^ "横内 昭展監督 辞任のお知らせ" [Announcement of Director Akinobu Yokouchi's resignation]. Jubilo-iwata.co.jp (in Japanese). Júbilo Iwata. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ "松橋力蔵氏 監督就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of new head coach John Hutchinson] (in Japanese). Júbilo Iwata. 19 December 2024. Retrieved 19 December 2024.
- ^ "Ehime manager change announcement, resignation old manager and appointment of new manager". ehimefc.com/. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "Kataller Toyama manager change announcement, resignation old manager and appointment of new manager". www.kataller.co.jp. Retrieved 3 June 2025.
- ^ "Notice of contract cancellation of Takahiro Shimodaira and appointment of Takuya Takagi". www.v-varen.com. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
- ^ "渡邉 晋 監督 契約解除のお知らせ".
- ^ "志垣 良監督 契約解除のお知らせ".
- ^ "横内 昭展 氏 監督就任のお知らせ".
- ^ "Katanosaka sacked". oita-trinita.co.jp. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ "Takenaka appointed". oita-trinita.co.jp. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
- ^ "長澤徹 監督 解任のお知らせ" [Announcement of the dimissal of the head coach Tetsu Nagasawa]. www.rbomiya.com.jp. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
- ^ "宮沢悠生 監督 就任のお知らせ" [Announcement of the contratation of Yuki Miyazawa]. www.rbomiyaardija/com.jp. 24 September 2025. Retrieved 28 September 2025.
- ^ "John Hutchinson Contract Termination Notice". jubilo-iwata.co.jp. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "Announcement of the inauguration of coach Takayoshi Yasuma". jubilo-iwata.co.jp. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
- ^ "「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". J.LEAGUE.jp. Archived from the original on 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2022-11-24.
- ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" (PDF). jfa.jp.
- ^ "明治安田Ｊ１昇格プレーオフ２０２５ 出場チーム決定" (in Japanese). 29 November 2025.
- ^ "All Positions | Goals | All clubs | MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE | 2025 Player Stats". J.LEAGUE. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "J. League Data Site". data.j-league.or.jp. Retrieved 24 February 2025.
- ^ "2・3月度「2025 明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表！「月間ベストゴール」「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」「月間ベストセーブ賞」の各賞も決定！" [The "2025 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for February and March has been announced! The awards for "Best Goal of the Month," "Excellent Manager of the Month," "Young Player of the Month," and "Best Save of the Month" have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
- ^ "4月度「2025 明治安田Ｊリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表！「月間ベストゴール」「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」「月間ベストセーブ賞」の各賞も決定！" [The "2025 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for April has been announced! The winners of the "Monthly Best Goal," "Monthly Outstanding Manager," "Monthly Young Player," and "Monthly Best Save" awards have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 20 May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ "明治安田Ｊリーグ 月間表彰：Ｊリーグ.jp". Ｊリーグ.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ "6月度「2025明治安田Jリーグ KONAMI 月間MVP」を発表！「月間ベストゴール」「月間優秀監督賞」「月間ヤングプレーヤー賞」「月間ベストセーブ賞」の各賞も決定！" [The "2025 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for June has been announced! The winners of the "Monthly Best Goal", "Monthly Outstanding Manager", "Monthly Young Player", and "Monthly Best Save" awards have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 16 July 2025.