2002 J.League Division 1
The 2002 season was the tenth season since the establishment of the J.League. The league began on March 2, 2002 and ended on November 30, 2002. The Suntory Championship was not held, because Júbilo Iwata was winner of both stages. At the end Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Consadole Sapporo were relegated to J2.
General
Promotion and relegation
- At the end of the 2001 Season, Kyoto Purple Sanga and Vegalta Sendai were promoted to J1.
- At the end of the 2001 Season, Avispa Fukuoka and Cerezo Osaka were relegated to J2.
Changes in competition formats
- Extra time was scratched for J.League Division 2. After regulation time, clubs in J2 now receives 3pts for a win, 1pt for a tie, and 0pts for a loss.
Changes in clubs
Honours
| Competition | Champion | Runner-Up | 3rd Place |
| J.League Division 1 | Júbilo Iwata | Yokohama F. Marinos | Gamba Osaka |
| J.League Division 2 | Oita Trinita | Cerezo Osaka | Albirex Niigata |
| Emperor's Cup | Kyoto Purple Sanga | Kashima Antlers | JEF United Ichihara Sanfrecce Hiroshima |
| Nabisco Cup | Kashima Antlers | Urawa Red Diamonds | Gamba Osaka Shimizu S-Pulse |
| Xerox Super Cup | Shimizu S-Pulse | Kashima Antlers |
Clubs
Following sixteen clubs participated in J.League Division 1 during 2002 season. Of these clubs, Kyoto Purple Sanga and Vegalta Sendai were promoted from Division 2.- Kashima Antlers
- Urawa Red Diamonds
- JEF United Ichihara
- Kashiwa Reysol
- FC Tokyo
- Tokyo Verdy 1969
- Yokohama F. Marinos
- Shimizu S-Pulse
- Jublio Iwata
- Nagoya Grampus Eight
- Gamba Osaka
- Consadole Sapporo
- Vissel Kobe
- Sanfrecce Hiroshima
- Vegalta Sendai
- Kyoto Purple Sanga
First stage
Second stage
Overall table
Top scorers
Awards
Individual
Best Eleven
- The number in brackets denotes the number of times that the footballer has appeared in the Best 11.
Attendance