2012 in Japanese football
# 2012 in Japanese football

Japanese football in 2012

## Domestic leagues

### Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated from J.League Division 1

* Avispa Fukuoka
* Montedio Yamagata
* Ventforet Kofu

Teams promoted to J.League Division 1

* Sagan Tosu
* F.C. Tokyo
* Consadole Sapporo

Teams relegated from J.League Division 2

    No relegation to the Japan Football League

Teams promoted to J.League Division 2

* Matsumoto Yamaga F.C.
* F.C. Machida Zelvia

### J.League Division 1

Sanfrecce Hiroshima won the J. League title, their first in 42 years and first in the J. League era, marking their sixth time overall atop the Japanese football league system. Vegalta Sendai, which led the table riding on the wave of their fourth-place finish the previous year, ended up in second place after Albirex Niigata defeated them in the round before last. Urawa Red Diamonds was able to pass four other teams, including newly promoted Sagan Tosu, who surprisingly was in third place in the penultimate round.

Consadole Sapporo was relegated on September 30, the earliest a team has been relegated in the modern-day era. Niigata's victory enabled them to climb to safety while Vissel Kobe was relegated after six seasons. Gamba Osaka, despite scoring more goals than anyone else, had a poor defense and allowed many goals in, causing them to be relegated after 26 seasons in the top division.

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Sanfrecce Hiroshima (C) | 34 | 19 | 7 | 8 | 63 | 34 | +29 | 64 | Qualification to 2012 Club World Cup and 2013 Champions League |
| 2 | Vegalta Sendai | 34 | 15 | 12 | 7 | 59 | 43 | +16 | 57 | Qualification to 2013 Champions League |
| 3 | Urawa Red Diamonds | 34 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 47 | 42 | +5 | 55 | Qualification to 2013 Champions League |
| 4 | Yokohama F. Marinos | 34 | 13 | 14 | 7 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 53 | |
| 5 | Sagan Tosu | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 48 | 39 | +9 | 53 | |
| 6 | Kashiwa Reysol | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 57 | 52 | +5 | 52 | Qualification to 2013 Champions League |
| 7 | Nagoya Grampus | 34 | 15 | 7 | 12 | 46 | 47 | −1 | 52 | |
| 8 | Kawasaki Frontale | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 51 | 50 | +1 | 50 | |
| 9 | Shimizu S-Pulse | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 39 | 40 | −1 | 49 | |
| 10 | FC Tokyo | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 47 | 44 | +3 | 48 | |
| 11 | Kashima Antlers | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 50 | 43 | +7 | 46 | |
| 12 | Júbilo Iwata | 34 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 57 | 53 | +4 | 46 | |
| 13 | Omiya Ardija | 34 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 38 | 45 | −7 | 44 | |
| 14 | Cerezo Osaka | 34 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 47 | 53 | −6 | 42 | |
| 15 | Albirex Niigata | 34 | 10 | 10 | 14 | 29 | 34 | −5 | 40 | |
| 16 | Vissel Kobe (R) | 34 | 11 | 6 | 17 | 41 | 50 | −9 | 39 | Relegation to 2013 J.League Division 2 |
| 17 | Gamba Osaka (R) | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 67 | 65 | +2 | 38 | Relegation to 2013 J.League Division 2 |
| 18 | Consadole Sapporo (R) | 34 | 4 | 2 | 28 | 25 | 88 | −63 | 14 | Relegation to 2013 J.League Division 2 |

* 1 2 The winners of the 2012 Emperor's Cup qualified for the group stage of the 2013 AFC Champions League.

### J.League Division 2

Ventforet Kofu returned to the top flight at the first attempt, but this time they did so as champions. Shonan Bellmare returned to the top division as well, after two seasons. Oita Trinita, despite overwhelming odds due to its position and the playoff rules which favored the three higher-ranked teams, won the playoff and returned to the top flight after three seasons.

Newly promoted Machida Zelvia, despite hiring Osvaldo Ardiles as their manager, could not cope with professionalism and finished in bottom place, being relegated as V-Varen Nagasaki won the JFL championship.

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | Ventforet Kofu (C, P) | 42 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 63 | 35 | +28 | 86 | Promotion to 2013 J.League Division 1 |
| 2 | Shonan Bellmare (P) | 42 | 20 | 15 | 7 | 66 | 43 | +23 | 75 | Promotion to 2013 J.League Division 1 |
| 3 | Kyoto Sanga | 42 | 23 | 5 | 14 | 61 | 45 | +16 | 74 | Qualification for promotion playoffs |
| 4 | Yokohama FC | 42 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 62 | 45 | +17 | 73 | Qualification for promotion playoffs |
| 5 | JEF United Chiba | 42 | 21 | 9 | 12 | 61 | 33 | +28 | 72 | Qualification for promotion playoffs |
| 6 | Oita Trinita (O, P) | 42 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 59 | 40 | +19 | 71 | Qualification for promotion playoffs |
| 7 | Tokyo Verdy | 42 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 65 | 46 | +19 | 66 | |
| 8 | Fagiano Okayama | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 41 | 34 | +7 | 65 | |
| 9 | Giravanz Kitakyushu | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 53 | 47 | +6 | 64 | |
| 10 | Montedio Yamagata | 42 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 51 | 49 | +2 | 61 | |
| 11 | Tochigi SC | 42 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 50 | 49 | +1 | 60 | |
| 12 | Matsumoto Yamaga | 42 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 46 | 43 | +3 | 59 | |
| 13 | Mito HollyHock | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 47 | 49 | −2 | 56 | |
| 14 | Roasso Kumamoto | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 40 | 48 | −8 | 55 | |
| 15 | Tokushima Vortis | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 45 | 49 | −4 | 51 | |
| 16 | Ehime FC | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 47 | 46 | +1 | 50 | |
| 17 | Thespa Kusatsu | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 31 | 45 | −14 | 47 | |
| 18 | Avispa Fukuoka | 42 | 9 | 14 | 19 | 53 | 68 | −15 | 41 | |
| 19 | Kataller Toyama | 42 | 9 | 11 | 22 | 38 | 59 | −21 | 38 | |
| 20 | Gainare Tottori | 42 | 11 | 5 | 26 | 33 | 78 | −45 | 38 | |
| 21 | FC Gifu | 42 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 27 | 55 | −28 | 35 | |
| 22 | Machida Zelvia (R) | 42 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 34 | 67 | −33 | 32 | Relegation to 2013 Japan Football League |

* ↑ The promotion and relegation between J2 and JFL will take place only if more than one promotion-eligible (i.e. having a J.League Associate Membership) JFL team finished above second place and playoff will be played only if a eligible JFL team finished in second place(See the corresponding section for further details). As only 2012 Japan Football League Champion V-Varen Nagasaki has the Associate Membership among the top 2 teams. Machida Zelvia was relegated immediately but no relegation/playoff was taken place for FC Gifu which finished 21st.

### Japan Football League

Although Arte Takasaki withdrew from the league due to economic problems, the JFL decided to go with a 17-team format. V-Varen Nagasaki won the tournament, joining the professional ranks automatically.

Sagawa Shiga withdrew after the league following parent company Sagawa Express's decision to close the team, leaving Tochigi Uva to playout against the Regional League promotion series third place.

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | V-Varen Nagasaki (C, P) | 32 | 20 | 7 | 5 | 57 | 24 | +33 | 67 | Promotion to 2013 J.League Division 2 |
| 2 | Nagano Parceiro | 32 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 57 | 34 | +23 | 58 | |
| 3 | Sagawa Shiga (R) | 32 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 61 | 37 | +24 | 57 | Withdrawn |
| 4 | Kamatamare Sanuki | 32 | 15 | 8 | 9 | 49 | 29 | +20 | 53 | |
| 5 | Honda FC | 32 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 55 | 39 | +16 | 53 | |
| 6 | YSCC Yokohama | 32 | 15 | 4 | 13 | 58 | 50 | +8 | 49 | |
| 7 | SP Kyoto | 32 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 43 | 43 | 0 | 45 | |
| 8 | MIO Biwako Shiga | 32 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 53 | 52 | +1 | 43 | |
| 9 | FC Ryukyu | 32 | 12 | 7 | 13 | 58 | 62 | −4 | 43 | |
| 10 | Yokogawa Musashino | 32 | 11 | 8 | 13 | 35 | 50 | −15 | 41 | |
| 11 | Fujieda MYFC | 32 | 11 | 7 | 14 | 39 | 48 | −9 | 40 | |
| 12 | Sony Sendai | 32 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 27 | 29 | −2 | 39 | |
| 13 | Blaublitz Akita | 32 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 37 | |
| 14 | Zweigen Kanazawa | 32 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 33 | 41 | −8 | 36 | |
| 15 | Hoyo Oita | 32 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 40 | 57 | −17 | 35 | |
| 16 | Honda Lock | 32 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 28 | 56 | −28 | 28 | |
| 17 | Tochigi Uva | 32 | 4 | 10 | 18 | 36 | 70 | −34 | 22 | Qualification for pro/rel playoffs |

* ↑ V-Varen Nagasaki topped the table at the end of the 17th round and thus were awarded JFL seed for 2012 Emperor's Cup.
* ↑ On 21 October Sagawa Express Co., the owner and operator of Sagawa Shiga FC, have announced that after the season the club will withdraw from JFL and cease its operations.

### Japanese Regional Leagues

Kantō champions SC Sagamihara and Tōhoku champions Fukushima United won first and second place in the Regional League promotion series, thus being promoted automatically, while Hokkaidō champions Norbritz Hokkaido battled in the playout against Tochigi Uva but lost.

## International club competitions

### FIFA Club World Cup

Will take place between 6 and 16 December 2012. Since the tournament is hosted in Japan the winners of the J. League will be invited to take part. If the AFC Champions League winner is from Japan, then the highest placed non-Japanese team of the AFC Champions League will be invited in place of the J. League winner.

## National team (Men)

### Players statistics

| Player | -2011 | 02.24 | 02.29 | 05.23 | 06.03 | 06.08 | 06.12 | 08.15 | 09.06 | 09.11 | 10.12 | 10.16 | 11.14 | 2012 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Yasuhito Endo | 113(9) | O | O | - | O | O | O | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O | 11(1) | 124(10) |
| Yuichi Komano | 67(1) | O | O | - | - | - | - | O | O | O | - | - | - | 5(0) | 72(1) |
| Kengo Nakamura | 56(6) | O | - | O | - | O | - | O | O | - | O | O | - | 7(0) | 63(6) |
| Yasuyuki Konno | 55(1) | O | O | - | O | O | O | - | - | - | O | O | O | 8(0) | 63(1) |
| Yoshito Okubo | 53(5) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 54(5) |
| Makoto Hasebe | 52(2) | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | 11(0) | 63(2) |
| Shinji Okazaki | 49(26) | - | O | O(1) | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O | - | - | O(1) | 9(3) | 58(29) |
| Atsuto Uchida | 45(1) | - | O | O | O | O | O | - | - | - | O | O | - | 7(0) | 52(1) |
| Yuto Nagatomo | 44(3) | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | - | O | O | O | O | 10(0) | 54(3) |
| Keisuke Honda | 31(8) | - | - | O | O(1) | O(3) | O | O | O | O | - | O | O | 9(4) | 40(12) |
| Shinji Kagawa | 28(9) | - | O | O(1) | O | O(1) | O | O | O | - | O(1) | O | - | 9(3) | 37(12) |
| Eiji Kawashima | 28(0) | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | 11(0) | 39(0) |
| Ryoichi Maeda | 16(6) | O(1) | - | O | O(1) | O(1) | O | O | - | O(1) | - | - | O | 8(4) | 24(10) |
| Maya Yoshida | 13(2) | - | O | - | O | O | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | 9(0) | 22(2) |
| Tadanari Lee | 10(2) | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 11(2) |
| Hajime Hosogai | 10(1) | - | - | O | O | - | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | 8(0) | 18(1) |
| Jungo Fujimoto | 10(0) | O(1) | O | - | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | 3(1) | 13(1) |
| Takayuki Morimoto | 9(3) | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 10(3) |
| Masahiko Inoha | 9(1) | O | - | O | - | O | O | O | O | O | - | - | - | 7(0) | 16(1) |
| Yuzo Kurihara | 8(0) | O | - | O | - | O(1) | O(1) | - | - | - | - | O | - | 5(2) | 13(2) |
| Tomoaki Makino | 8(0) | O(1) | - | O | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | 3(1) | 11(1) |
| Shusaku Nishikawa | 7(0) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 8(0) |
| Mike Havenaar | 5(2) | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | O(1) | O | O | - | - | 4(1) | 9(3) |
| Hiroshi Kiyotake | 5(0) | - | - | - | O | - | O | - | O | O | O | O | O(1) | 7(1) | 12(1) |
| Naohiro Ishikawa | 5(0) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 6(0) |
| Takashi Inui | 3(0) | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | O | - | 3(0) | 6(0) |
| Hiroki Mizumoto | 3(0) | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | O | - | - | - | - | 2(0) | 5(0) |
| Yosuke Kashiwagi | 3(0) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 4(0) |
| Ryota Moriwaki | 1(0) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 2(0) |
| Hiroki Sakai | 0(0) | - | - | O | O | - | O | - | O | - | O | O | O | 7(0) | 7(0) |
| Hideto Takahashi | 0(0) | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | O | - | O | - | O | 4(0) | 4(0) |
| Ryo Miyaichi | 0(0) | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | 2(0) | 2(0) |
| Gotoku Sakai | 0(0) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | O | 2(0) | 2(0) |
| Chikashi Masuda | 0(0) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 1(0) |
| Junya Tanaka | 0(0) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 1(0) |
| Naoya Kondo | 0(0) | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 1(0) |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Name | Friendlies | Kirin Cup | WC Qualifying | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | MF | Keisuke Honda | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 1 | FW | Ryoichi Maeda | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 3 | MF | Shinji Kagawa | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | DF | Yuzo Kurihara | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | FW | Shinji Okazaki | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | Jungo Fujimoto | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | Tomoaki Makino | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | Yasuhito Endō | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | | Own Goal | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | FW | Mike Havenaar | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | FW | Hiroshi Kiyotake | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | | TOTALS | 1 | 6 | 13 | 20 |

## National team (Women)

### Players statistics

| Player | -2011 | 02.29 | 03.02 | 03.05 | 03.07 | 04.01 | 04.05 | 06.18 | 06.20 | 07.11 | 07.19 | 07.25 | 07.28 | 07.31 | 08.03 | 08.06 | 08.09 | 2012 | Total |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Homare Sawa | 177(80) | O | - | - | - | - | - | O | O | O(1) | O | O | O | - | O | O | O | 10(1) | 187(81) |
| Aya Miyama | 104(26) | O | O | O | O | O | O(1) | O | O | O(1) | O | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O | 16(3) | 120(29) |
| Shinobu Ono | 97(36) | O | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | - | O(1) | O | O | 15(2) | 112(38) |
| Kozue Ando | 97(17) | - | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | - | 13(0) | 110(17) |
| Yuki Ogimi | 75(32) | O(1) | O | O | O(1) | O | O(1) | O(1) | O(1) | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O(1) | O(1) | O(1) | 16(9) | 91(41) |
| Azusa Iwashimizu | 74(8) | - | O | O | O | - | - | - | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | 11(0) | 85(8) |
| Yukari Kinga | 72(4) | O | O | O | O | O(1) | O | O | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | 15(1) | 87(5) |
| Kyoko Yano | 69(1) | - | - | - | - | O | O | O | - | O | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | 5(0) | 74(1) |
| Karina Maruyama | 68(14) | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | O | O | - | - | - | O | - | - | O | 5(0) | 73(14) |
| Miho Fukumoto | 56(0) | - | O | O | - | - | O | - | O | O | O | O | O | - | O | O | O | 11(0) | 67(0) |
| Mizuho Sakaguchi | 47(16) | O | - | O | O | O | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O(1) | O | 14(1) | 61(17) |
| Rumi Utsugi | 47(5) | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7(0) | 54(5) |
| Aya Sameshima | 38(2) | O | - | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | - | O | O | O | 14(0) | 52(2) |
| Saki Kumagai | 33(0) | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | O | 16(0) | 49(0) |
| Ayumi Kaihori | 27(0) | O | - | - | O | O | - | O | - | O | O | - | - | O | - | - | - | 7(0) | 34(0) |
| Nahomi Kawasumi | 23(6) | O(1) | O | O | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O | O | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O | 16(3) | 39(9) |
| Megumi Takase | 19(4) | O | O | O(1) | O | - | O | O | O | O | - | - | - | O | O | - | - | 10(1) | 29(5) |
| Megumi Kamionobe | 17(2) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 18(2) |
| Mana Iwabuchi | 11(2) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | O | O | - | - | O | 4(0) | 15(2) |
| Kanako Ito | 10(3) | O | O | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 3(0) | 13(3) |
| Manami Nakano | 10(2) | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 11(2) |
| Asuna Tanaka | 6(2) | O | O | O | O(1) | O | O | O | O | O | - | - | O | O | - | O | O | 13(1) | 19(3) |
| Yuika Sugasawa | 6(0) | - | O(1) | O | - | O | O(1) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 4(2) | 10(2) |
| Nanase Kiryu | 3(0) | - | O | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2(0) | 5(0) |
| Kana Osafune | 3(0) | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 4(0) |
| Saori Ariyoshi | 0(0) | O | O | - | O | O | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5(0) | 5(0) |
| Mai Kyokawa | 0(0) | O | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2(0) | 2(0) |
| Yumi Uetsuji | 0(0) | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 1(0) |
| Ami Otaki | 0(0) | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | O | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1(0) | 1(0) |
