Japanese association football league system

Japanese football league system
Country	Japan
Sport	Association football
Promotion and relegation	Yes
National system
Federation	Japan Football Association
Confederation	AFC
Top division	J1 League (men); WE League (women); ;
Second division	J2 League (men); Nadeshiko League (Div. 1) (women); ;
Cup competition	Men: Emperor's Cup; Super Cup; ; Women:; Empress' Cup; WE League Cup; ;
	Association football in Japan

The Japanese association football league system is organized in a pyramidal shape similar to football league systems in many other countries around the world. The leagues are bound by the principle of promotion and relegation; however, there are stringent criteria for promotion from the JFL to J3, which demands a club being backed by the town itself including the local government, a community of fans and corporate sponsors rather than a parent company or a corporation.