Japan Football(Soccer) Guide Blog

Tag: Kawasaki Frontale

  • J.League All-Stars Return After 17 Years: Everything You Need to Know About the J.LEAGUE ALL-STAR DAZN CUP

    Why Now? — A Historic Turning Point

    J.League is entering a major new era in 2026.

    For over 30 years, the J.League season ran from February to December. Starting from the 2026/27 season, J.League will switch to an autumn-to-spring calendar — beginning in August and ending in May the following year. This is the same structure used by most top European leagues.

    Because of this change, the first half of 2026 (February to June) has been designated a “Special Season.” J.League does not want this period to feel like a quiet off-season. Instead, it has planned a series of events to say thank you to everyone who has supported the league throughout its 33-year history.

    The grand finale of this Special Season is the J.LEAGUE ALL-STAR DAZN CUP.

    Basic Information

    ItemDetails
    Event NameJ.LEAGUE ALL-STAR DAZN CUP
    DateSaturday, June 13, 2026
    VenueMUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium), Tokyo
    Title PartnerDAZN
    BroadcastDAZN (all matches live)
    Number of Matches7 matches in total
    Match Length30 minutes per match (no extra time) ※ The third-place and fifth-place playoff matches are 20 minutes

    What Does “17 Years” Mean?

    J.League held an All-Star Game every year from 1993 to 2007. The format was an East vs. West match between selected players from across the league. In 2008 and 2009, the format changed: a J.League All-Star XI faced an All-Star XI from South Korea’s K League.

    After 2009, the All-Star Game was discontinued. This year’s event marks its return — the first time in 17 years.

    There is another important point. In the past, only players from J1 — the top division — could participate in the All-Star Game. This time, players from all 60 clubs across J1, J2 (second division), and J3 (third division) are eligible. This has never happened before in the event’s history.

    A New Format — Regional All-Star Teams

    The biggest change in this tournament is how the teams are put together.

    There is no East vs. West format this time. Instead, six regional All-Star teams will compete in a knockout tournament. The six regions follow the same geographic groupings used in the Meiji Yasuda J.League Hyakunen Koso League — a special pre-season league competition held during the Special Season.

    The Six Teams

    J1 Division (Top Flight)

    • J1 EAST All-Stars Kashima Antlers, Mito HollyHock, Urawa Red Diamonds, Chiba, Kashiwa Reysol, FC Tokyo, Tokyo Verdy, Machida Zelvia, Kawasaki Frontale, Yokohama F·Marinos
    • J1 WEST All-Stars Shimizu S-Pulse, Nagoya Grampus, Kyoto Sanga, Gamba Osaka, Cerezo Osaka, Vissel Kobe, Fagiano Okayama, Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Avispa Fukuoka, V-Varen Nagasaki

    J2/J3 Division (Second and Third Divisions)

    • J2/J3 EAST-A All-Stars
    • J2/J3 EAST-B All-Stars
    • J2/J3 WEST-A All-Stars
    • J2/J3 WEST-B All-Stars

    How the Tournament Works

    1. Preliminary Round: The four J2/J3 teams play two matches. The two winners advance.
    2. Semi-finals: J1 EAST All-Stars vs. J2/J3 Winner A. J1 WEST All-Stars vs. J2/J3 Winner B.
    3. Final: The two semi-final winners play for the title.
    4. A third-place match and a fifth-place match are also held.

    The J1 sides are the top-flight teams, but the path to the title is open to J2 and J3 players too. And honestly, that alone makes this tournament worth watching — the chance of a real upset is built right into the format.

    How Are Players Selected? — The Power of Fan Voting

    Players are chosen through three methods.

    ① Fan Vote

    This is the most important selection method. Voting runs every week from February to May 2026. Fans can vote in three ways:

    • At the stadium on match days (in-stadium voting)
    • Through DAZN while watching matches (viewer voting via DAZN)
    • By registering for a J.League ID (the official J.League fan account)

    Fans from all over the world can vote through DAZN. This is what makes the event truly global.

    ② Regional Best XI

    The top-performing players from each regional group are selected.

    • J1 division: 11 players per group × 2 groups
    • J2/J3 division: 11 players per group × 4 groups

    ③ League Nominations

    J.League can add extra players to balance positions and squad numbers.

    Important note: Players selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (held in North America) will not be available for this event. Some of Japan’s biggest international stars may be absent. But that also gives other talented J.League players a chance to step into the spotlight.

    What to Expect on Match Day — The Stadium Experience

    The matches are just one part of the event. On June 13 at the Japan National Stadium, fans can also enjoy:

    • Player events and fan interaction activities
    • Live music performances by artists
    • A special stadium food festival

    J.League’s stadium food culture is one of its most loved features. At most J.League home grounds, you can eat local specialties from that club’s city or region — and the quality and variety are some of the best you will find at any football stadium in the world. A special all-star version, bringing together the best stadium food from clubs across Japan, is something to look forward to.

    Why 2026 Is Special — Two Football Celebrations at Once

    June 13, 2026 falls right in the middle of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. DAZN plans to broadcast all 104 World Cup matches. Football excitement in Japan — and around the world — will be at its highest point.

    The J.League All-Star Game takes place right in the middle of all that energy. For football fans everywhere, this is a rare chance to enjoy both the world’s biggest tournament and one of Asia’s most exciting leagues at the same time.

    What This Means — J.League’s Next Chapter

    The J.LEAGUE ALL-STAR DAZN CUP is more than a celebration event.

    In a historic year when J.League moves to an autumn-to-spring calendar — matching the structure of major European leagues — the best players from all 60 clubs across all three divisions will come together in one place. Fans around the world can vote for the players they want to see. Anyone with DAZN can watch it live.

    This is the moment J.League takes a clear step from being “a Japanese league” to being “a league open to the world.”

  • What is stadium food(Sta-Guru) in Japan?

    You Haven’t Experienced J-League Until You’ve Tried the Stadium Food!

    The Complete Guide to Staguru — Japan’s Unique Matchday Food Culture

    What Is Staguru?

    When you watch a J-League match, there is something almost as exciting as the football on the pitch. It is called staguru.

    “Staguru” is a shortened Japanese word for stadium gourmet. In English, the closest terms are “stadium food” or “matchday food” — but J-League staguru goes far beyond that. In many European football stadiums, hot dogs and popcorn are the standard options. J-League stadiums are completely different. Each matchday, you will find local regional dishes, popular local restaurants, special menus created in collaboration with players, and seasonal limited items — all inside the stadium. The atmosphere feels more like a small food festival than a typical sports venue.

    More than 60 clubs across Japan bring local ingredients and traditional dishes into their stadiums. Fans often arrive several hours before kick-off just to enjoy the food. Some supporters — passionate fans — even travel to away matches specifically for the staguru experience.

    Why Is J-League Staguru So Special?

    The J-League was founded in 1993. From the beginning, clubs have followed a philosophy of being “rooted in the local community.” Sharing local food culture is part of that idea. Each club works with local restaurants and food producers to create exclusive stadium menu items.

    In previous seasons, an event called Staguru Fes (Stadium Food Festival) was held every February, bringing clubs from all over Japan together to showcase their regional specialties. It was held alongside the season-opening ceremonial match — a one-off game between the previous season’s J1 League champion and the Emperor’s Cup winner. The Emperor’s Cup (officially the JFA Cup) is a nationwide knockout cup competition open to clubs from all levels of Japanese football, similar to the FA Cup in England. When it took place, the Staguru Fes was a great opportunity to try dishes from many different regions in one place, on one day.

    ⚠️ Please note: 2026 is a year of major structural changes for the J-League. As of the time of writing, the scheduling of the Super Cup and the holding of Staguru Fes in 2026 have not been officially confirmed. Please check the J-League’s official website and social media channels for the latest updates before making any plans.

    3 Reasons We Recommend Staguru to International Visitors

    Reason 1: Taste local flavours inside the stadium. Japan’s food culture varies greatly from region to region. In Sendai, you can try grilled beef tongue. In Osaka, there is takoyaki (octopus dumplings). In Tochigi, you will find gyoza dumplings from Utsunomiya City. In Shizuoka, Fujinomiya yakisoba noodles are a must. Just by going to the stadium, you can discover the food culture of that region.

    Reason 2: Food culture and supporter culture go hand in hand. Buying staguru before a match, having a beer or soft drink, and talking with friends — this is a central part of Japanese football culture. Win or lose, the memory of “that dish at that stadium” always stays with you.

    Reason 3: Easy to enjoy, even for first-time visitors. You do not need to speak Japanese. Most stalls use picture menus, and the open-counter format makes ordering simple. Some popular stalls attract long queues, but that is all part of the matchday experience in Japan.

    Regional Staguru Guide: What to Eat and Where

    🏔 Hokkaido

    Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (Home stadium: Sapporo Dome)

    Hokkaido is one of Japan’s most celebrated food-producing regions. At Consadole’s stadium, the “Victory Red Beef Kalbi Curry” draws a crowd at every match. The name reflects the club’s red and black team colours. It is a hearty curry filled with tender beef short ribs — the perfect warm dish for Hokkaido’s cold climate. Creating a dish around team colours is a distinctly J-League idea.

    ⚽ Kanto Region (Greater Tokyo Area)

    Kawasaki Frontale (Home stadium: Todoroki Athletics Stadium, Kawasaki City)

    One long-loved dish at Frontale’s stadium food area, known as “Fronte Park,” is the “Kawasaki Special Salt Chanko.” Chanko-nabe is a traditional Japanese hot pot originally eaten by sumo wrestlers. It is made with chicken, vegetables, and a light salt-based broth. Kawasaki City was once home to a sumo stable, and this recipe carries on that local tradition. Warming up with a bowl of chanko before kick-off is a classic Fronte Park sight on matchdays.

    Shonan Bellmare (Home stadium: Lemongas Stadium Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture)

    The waters of Sagami Bay, off the Shonan coast of Kanagawa, are famous for shirasu — tiny young fish (whitebait). Bellmare’s stadium serves a popular bento (lunch box) that combines slow-boiled shirasu with homemade roast beef. This dish has won the supporters’ vote five consecutive years running.

    Kashiwa Reysol (Home stadium: Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium, Chiba Prefecture)

    Locally called “Hitachidai,” this stadium is known for its “Reysol Curry Rice.” It is a well-spiced curry topped with an onsen tamago — a soft egg slowly cooked at low temperature in hot spring water. For many supporters, this dish signals the start of a new season.

    Kashima Antlers (Home stadium: Kashima Soccer Stadium, Ibaraki Prefecture)

    Kashima Antlers are the most successful club in J-League history. Their stadium is also well known for its food. “Harami Meshi” is a generous rice bowl topped with beef skirt steak — a flavourful cut from the diaphragm of the cow. Another classic here is “motsu-ni” — a rich Japanese stew made with pork offal, vegetables, and a miso-based broth. It is especially popular on cold winter matchdays.

    Tochigi SC (Home stadium: Kanseki Stadium Tochigi, Tochigi Prefecture)

    Utsunomiya City in Tochigi Prefecture is one of Japan’s most famous cities for gyoza dumplings. The stadium naturally features pan-fried gyoza — dumplings with a crispy bottom and juicy filling. Different local gyoza restaurants take turns at each match, giving fans a slightly new experience every time. It is a great example of combining football and local food tourism in one visit.

    🦑 Tohoku Region (Northern Japan)

    Montedio Yamagata (Home stadium: ND Soft Stadium Yamagata)

    Montedio Yamagata is one of the J-League’s standout clubs for stadium food. Their food area, called “Blue Kitchen,” has more than 30 stalls — one of the largest in the entire league. It opens four hours before kick-off, so supporters can take their time eating and exploring. The highlight is “motsu nikomi” — a slow-cooked pork offal stew using offal from the Shonai area of Yamagata Prefecture, prepared with three types of white miso and more than ten spices. This dish has won the J-League Stadium Food Grand Prix three years in a row.

    Vegalta Sendai (Home stadium: Yurtec Stadium Sendai)

    Sendai is famous across Japan for grilled beef tongue (gyutan). Thick slices of beef tongue are grilled over charcoal — a dish born right here in Sendai. It may sound unusual to some international fans, but it is tender with a slight chew, seasoned simply with salt, and completely delicious. Honest advice: just order it. You will not regret it.

    🐙 Kansai Region (Osaka Area)

    Gamba Osaka (Home stadium: Panasonic Stadium Suita, Osaka Prefecture)

    Osaka is the home of takoyaki. Takoyaki are small round dumplings of batter with octopus inside, cooked on a special iron griddle and topped with sauce, mayonnaise, bonito flakes, and dried seaweed powder. At Gamba’s stadium, the famous Dotonbori restaurant “Kukuru” serves its signature giant-octopus takoyaki. Kukuru’s octopus pieces are two to three times larger than usual. The outside is crispy; the inside is soft and creamy. This dish has earned official Hall of Fame status in the J-League Stadium Food Awards — and eating it, you will understand why.

    Cerezo Osaka (Home stadium: Yodoko Sakura Stadium, Osaka City)

    Cerezo, also based in Osaka, hosts another famous takoyaki shop: “Wanaka.” While Kukuru’s style features big, bold octopus pieces, Wanaka is known for a more traditional and straightforward taste. On Osaka Derby day — the match between Gamba and Cerezo, two clubs from the same city — supporters often spend as much time debating “Kukuru vs. Wanaka” as they do talking about the match itself.

    Cerezo also has a second beloved dish: “Hiden no Karaage” (Secret-Recipe Fried Chicken). Karaage is Japanese-style fried chicken marinated in soy sauce and ginger before frying. At Cerezo’s stall, you choose from 11 different sauces to top your chicken. This dish has received a Best Eleven award at the J-League Stadium Food Grand Prix.

    Vissel Kobe (Home stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe)

    Vissel Kobe, one of the leading clubs in J1 League — the top division of Japanese professional football — serves “sobameshi” as their signature Kobe dish. Sobameshi is a Kobe specialty: fried noodles and steamed rice stir-fried together on a hot iron griddle. It was born in the Nagata district of Kobe, a working-class neighbourhood with a proud local identity. You start eating and think, “Oh, it’s just noodles and rice” — and then somehow the plate is empty before you know it. Enjoying a dish born in Kobe at a Kobe club’s stadium: it does not get more fitting than that.

    🌊 Chugoku, Shikoku & Kyushu Regions

    Fagiano Okayama (Home stadium: City Light Stadium, Okayama Prefecture)

    The “Faji-kara Donburi” is a rice bowl piled high with “Faji-kara” — the club’s own original fried chicken — served over torimeshi, a seasoned rice dish with chicken that is a local Okayama specialty. This dish sells out at almost every match. The queue forms well before kick-off.

    Kamatamare Sanuki (Home stadium: Pikara Stadium, Kagawa Prefecture)

    Kagawa Prefecture is famous across Japan for udon noodles. The club’s own name comes from “kamatama udon” (a style of egg-topped udon noodles) plus “mare,” the Italian word for “sea.” At the stadium, the popular item is “Kama-coro” — a croquette filled with mashed potato and meat, made using locally grown Kagawa potatoes. It has won the J-League Stadium Food Grand Prix two years in a row.

    Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Home stadium: Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima)

    The signature stadium dish in Hiroshima is okonomiyaki. Hiroshima okonomiyaki is made in a completely different way from the Osaka version. It is a layered savoury pancake: thin batter, cabbage, pork, yakisoba noodles, and egg are cooked in separate layers on a griddle, then stacked together. People outside Hiroshima often call it “Hiroshima-style,” but for locals, this is simply the real okonomiyaki — full stop. That local pride is part of what makes it special. For international visitors, calling it Hiroshima okonomiyaki is the natural and respectful way to refer to it. The stadium has a dedicated food information page, and you can also find special menus produced by the players.

    Kagoshima United FC (Home stadium: Shiranami Stadium, Kagoshima City)

    Kagoshima, in the far south of Kyushu island, is famous for Kurobuta pork — a premium breed of black-haired pig known for its rich flavour and tender texture. At Kagoshima United’s stadium, popular items include the “Afro Sand” pork sandwich made with Kurobuta, and “Tenko-mori Gobo-ten Udon” — udon noodles topped with deep-fried burdock root, served in a broth made from dried bonito and kelp. You can also try “Keihan” — a traditional chicken and rice dish with clear broth, a local speciality from Amami Island, a southern island that belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture. This stadium has one of the most diverse and distinctive staguru cultures in the J-League.

    The Stadium Belongs to Everyone — J-League’s Spirit of Omotenashi

    Here is one feature of J-League that often surprises international football fans.

    In many European and South American football stadiums, away supporters are separated from home supporters, and tensions can run high. In the J-League, the atmosphere is completely different.

    At many J-League stadiums, away clubs are given a space to sell their own regional staguru inside the home stadium. This means home supporters can enjoy food from the away team’s region. On top of that, the away club’s official merchandise shop sometimes operates inside the same stadium, selling the opposing team’s shirts and goods. The sight of home supporters casually walking past an away team’s merchandise stall might be hard to picture in some other football cultures — but in Japan, it is a normal part of the matchday.

    This reflects the J-League’s core philosophy: building a culture where local communities enjoy football together. The stadium is both a place of competition and a place of entertainment. Respect for opponents and a love of the matchday experience exist side by side. Away supporters who travel from far away are welcomed warmly at the home ground. This spirit of omotenashi — Japanese hospitality — is an essential part of Japanese football culture.

    Staguru Changes Every Match — That Is Part of the Fun

    One exciting thing about staguru is that it is never exactly the same. Depending on the match, clubs may offer menus inspired by the visiting team’s region, special event menus, player-produced menus, or seasonal limited items. Even if you visit the same stadium many times, you can always find something new to try. That is one of the reasons J-League fans keep coming back.

    Please note that menus and stall availability can change by match day. Check each club’s official website for the latest information before you visit.

    5 Tips to Enjoy Staguru to the Fullest

    1. Arrive early. Popular items can sell out two to three hours before kick-off. Try to arrive at the stadium one and a half to two hours before the match and take a walk around the food area first.

    2. Prepare for cashless payment. More and more J-League stadium stalls now accept credit cards and electronic payment (IC cards such as Suica or Pasmo). It is useful to have both options ready, though some smaller stalls are still cash only.

    3. Keep an eye on Staguru Fes. In previous seasons, the season-opening Super Cup match — a one-off game between the J1 League and Emperor’s Cup champions — was held every February alongside the Staguru Fes event, where clubs from all over Japan gathered in one place. When it happens, it is the best single opportunity to try dishes from multiple regions on the same day. However, as noted above, the 2026 schedule has not been officially confirmed due to structural changes in the J-League. Check the official J-League website for the latest information.

    4. Take a photo before you eat. J-League staguru often looks as impressive as it tastes. Many dishes are bold and visually striking. Take your photo first, then enjoy.

    5. Start with one dish that truly represents the local area. In Sendai, try grilled beef tongue. In Osaka, try takoyaki. In Tochigi, try gyoza. In Shizuoka, try Fujinomiya yakisoba. Choosing “food that means something in that specific place” turns your matchday into a genuine travel memory.

    Final Thoughts

    J-League staguru is not simply “stadium food.” It is a matchday culture unique to Japan — where local food traditions, club identity, and supporter habits come together as one. Whatever the result on the pitch, the staguru will not let you down.

    Next time you have the chance to visit a J-League match, head to the stadium three hours before kick-off. Come hungry. Come curious. That is all you need — the rest takes care of itself.

    ※ Prices, menus, and stall information are subject to change. Please check each club’s official website for the latest details before matchday.

  • What is the Emperor’s Cup?

    Introduction

    The Emperor’s Cup is the oldest football competition in Japan. Its full name is the Emperor’s Cup JFA Japan Football Championship. It is one of Japan’s three major domestic football titles, alongside the J1 League (Japan’s top professional football league) and the LEVAIN Cup (a domestic cup competition open only to J-League clubs).

    The Beginning: A Silver Cup from England

    The story of the Emperor’s Cup goes back to 1919. William Haigh, an assistant secretary at the British Embassy in Japan, put forward a special request. Thanks to his efforts, the Football Association (The FA) of England sent a solid silver cup to Japan. The idea was to create a national tournament in Japan, modelled on England’s FA Cup.

    This gift set things in motion. In 1921, the Dai-Nippon Football Association — now known as the Japan Football Association (JFA) — was founded. That same year, the first national tournament was held under the name “Association Football National Championship.” This was the birth of what we now call the Emperor’s Cup. The inaugural winners were Tokyo Football Club, and they received the trophy from the British Ambassador.

    In short, the Emperor’s Cup was born as Japan’s answer to England’s FA Cup. As of 2026, the competition is in its 106th edition — a record that speaks for itself.

    Why Is It Called the “Emperor’s Cup”?

    In 1947, Emperor Showa attended a football match between East and West Japan representative teams. This event led to a key decision. The Imperial Household Agency — the office that manages the Emperor’s affairs — agreed to present a cup to the JFA. From the 31st edition in 1951, the winning club officially received the Emperor’s Cup trophy, and the competition took on its current name.

    The name “Emperor’s Cup” also exists in other Japanese sports, such as rugby and judo. But the football Emperor’s Cup is the oldest, and it holds a special place in Japanese sport.

    How It Works: Why Upsets Happen So Often

    The Emperor’s Cup is a single-match knockout tournament. Lose once, and you are out. There are no draws — every game must produce a winner.

    This format is very different from a league competition, where teams play home and away matches across a full season, or from a two-legged tie such as those in the AFC Champions League Elite. In a one-game knockout, even a big gap in quality between two clubs does not guarantee the stronger side wins. Amateur teams and lower-league clubs can — and regularly do — beat big J1 clubs.

    A total of 88 teams take part. These include 20 clubs from the J1 League (Japan’s top flight), 20 clubs from the J2 League (the second division), 47 regional representatives — one from each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, selected through local qualifying rounds — and a number of university teams chosen as amateur seeds. The mix of professional and amateur clubs on the same stage is one of the things that makes the Emperor’s Cup unique.

    Past Winners: A Mirror of Japanese Football History

    The list of Emperor’s Cup winners tells the story of Japanese football itself.

    From the first edition through the early 1960s, university teams and amateur clubs dominated the competition. When the Japan Soccer League — the forerunner of the J-League — was founded in 1965, company-backed teams began to take over. Toyo Kogyo (now Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Furukawa Electric (now JEF United Ichihara Chiba), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (now Urawa Red Diamonds), and Nissan Motors (now Yokohama F. Marinos) all won the cup during this era.

    Since the J-League launched as Japan’s professional football league in 1993, every Emperor’s Cup has been won by a J-League club.

    The competition has also produced some unforgettable moments. In the 1998 edition (the 78th), Yokohama Flügels — a club that was set to be dissolved at the end of the season due to financial difficulties — won the title in their final match as a club. The scenes of joy and heartbreak that followed moved fans across the whole country. Then in the 2022 edition (the 102nd), Ventforet Kofu, who had just finished 18th in the J2 League, beat one top-flight J1 club after another and claimed the trophy — and it genuinely caught the whole country off guard.

    The New Year’s Day Final — And Its Return in 2027

    For many years, the Emperor’s Cup final was played on January 1st — New Year’s Day. Starting the new year by crowning Japan’s best club at the National Stadium was a tradition that football fans across the country looked forward to each year.

    Over time, however, the New Year’s Day final became harder to hold. In years when the AFC Asian Cup was scheduled in January, the timing clashed with the Japan national team’s schedule. There were also concerns about giving players enough rest, and the end of the J-League season had to be considered. As a result, the final was moved to late December. The most recent New Year’s Day final was the 100th edition in 2020, when Kawasaki Frontale beat Gamba Osaka 1–0. The winning goal was scored by midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, who would later go on to make his name in Europe.

    Now, the New Year’s Day final is coming back. The final of the 106th edition (which begins in 2026) is scheduled for January 1st, 2027, at MUFG Stadium (Japan National Stadium) in Tokyo — the first time in six editions.

    The reason for the return is clear. From the 2026/27 season, the J-League switched from a spring-to-autumn calendar to an autumn-to-spring calendar. This means the New Year period is no longer the off-season — it falls in the middle of the season instead. As a result, scheduling the final on New Year’s Day is possible again.

    What Winning Means: A Ticket to Asia

    The Emperor’s Cup winner earns a place in an Asian club competition.

    In the past, the winning club received a spot in the AFC Champions League (now called the AFC Champions League Elite, or ACLE) — Asia’s top club competition.

    However, the rules changed from the 2024 edition (the 104th). Now, the Emperor’s Cup winner enters the AFC Champions League Two (ACL2), not the ACLE. A place in the ACLE instead goes to the club that finishes third in the J1 League.

    The ACL2 follows in the tradition of the former AFC Cup Winners’ Cup — a competition for domestic cup winners across Asia, similar to the old UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in Europe. The spirit of that format lives on in the ACL2 today.

    As a recent example, FC Machida Zelvia, who won the 2025 Emperor’s Cup, earned a place in the ACL2 2026/27.

    Summary

    The Emperor’s Cup was born in 1921, inspired by England’s FA Cup. With more than 100 years of history, it remains one of Japanese football’s most important competitions — an open knockout tournament where professional and amateur clubs compete on the same stage. The New Year’s Day final tradition was on hold for several years, but it returns in 2027. And beyond the trophy itself, the prize is a place on the Asian stage. If you are new to Japanese football, this is a competition worth following.