2018 Japan Football League


The 2018 Japan Football League was the fifth season of the fourth tier in Japanese football, and the 20th season since the establishment of Japan Football League. The season ran from 11 March to 18 November 2018.

Clubs

Sixteen clubs participated in this season of Japan Football League. The list was announced on 15 January 2018.
Club NameHome TownPositionNotes
Cobaltore OnagawaOnagawa, MiyagiRPS 1stPromoted from TSL after 1st place in 41st Regional Promotion Series
FC ImabariImabari, Ehime6thJ.League 100 Year Plan club status and J3 license holders
All cities/towns in Osaka4th
Honda FCHamamatsu, Shizuoka1stDefending champions of 2017
Miyazaki, Miyazaki8th
Maruyasu OkazakiOkazaki, Aichi9th
MIO Biwako ShigaKusatsu, Shiga13th
Nara ClubAll cities/towns in Nara7thJ.League 100 Year Plan club status and J3 license holders
Aomori, Aomori2nd
Ryūgasaki, Ibaraki10th
Sony SendaiTagajō, Miyagi3rd
Tegevajaro MiyazakiMiyazaki, Miyazaki, MiyazakiRPS 2ndPromoted from KSL after 2nd place in 41st Regional Promotion Series
Tokyo Musashino CityMusashino, Tokyo11thJ.League 100 Year Plan club status
Vanraure HachinoheEastern cities/towns in Aomori5thJ.League 100 Year Plan club status and J3 license holders
Veertien MieAll cities/towns in Mie12th
Verspah OitaYufu & Ōita, Ōita14th

Personnel and kits

Change in rules

This season was the last to use the two-stage format, similar to the one J.League had in its early years and used in 2015 and 2016. Two single round-robin stages were held, and winners of each stage determined the champion in the post-season home and away championship playoffs. After five seasons, the JFL reverted to a one-stage double round-robin starting in 2019.

League table

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1
 Shogo OmachiHonda FC
18
2
 Koji IshiharaTokyo Musashino City FC
17
3
 Shogo FujimakiVeertien Mie
16
3
 Motoki FujiwaraSony Sendai FC
16
5
 Kazuki SakamotoMIO Biwako Shiga
15
5
 Jun ArimaFC Imabari
15
7
 Shota SuzukiSony Sendai FC
14
7
 Ryōta KuwajimaFC Imabari
14
9
 Sachio HamadaReinMeer Aomori FC
13
10
 Shoma MizunagaTegevajaro Miyazaki
12

Attendances