2018 J3 League


The 2018 J3 League was the 5th season of J3 League under its current name.

Clubs

2nd placed Tochigi SC gained promotion to J2 League after another runners-up season; this time, unlike 2016, it was enough to clinch direct promotion. Defending champions are Blaublitz Akita, which became the first club not to gain promotion after winning the championship since J3's inception. Thespakusatsu Gunma was the new entry for the league: it was their first third division season since 2004, when they were promoted to J2 from JFL.
No promotion from Japan Football League came this time. This was another first for the J3 League since its inception.
ClubLocationVenueCapacity
Azul Claro NumazuNumazuAshitaka Stadium10,000
Blaublitz AkitaAkitaAkigin Stadium4,992
Fukushima United FCFukushimaToho Stadium21,000
Gainare TottoriTottoriBird Stadium16,033
Giravanz KitakyushuKitakyushuKitakyushu Stadium15,066
Grulla MoriokaMoriokaIwagin Stadium4,946
Kagoshima United FCKagoshimaKamoike Stadium19,934
Kataller ToyamaToyamaToyama Athletic Stadium25,251
Fujieda MYFCFujiedaFujieda Soccer Field13,000
Nagano ParceiroNaganoNagano U Stadium15,491
FC RyukyuOkinawaOkinawa Athletic Stadium25,000
SC SagamiharaSagamiharaGion Stadium15,300
Thespakusatsu GunmaAll cities/towns in GunmaShoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma15,253
FC Tokyo U-23TokyoAjinomoto Field Nishigaoka7,137
YSCC YokohamaYokohamaMitsuzawa Stadium15,454
Cerezo Osaka U-23Osaka & Sakai, OsakaKincho Stadium19,904
Gamba Osaka U-23North cities in OsakaPanasonic Stadium Suita
Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium		39,694
21,000

Personnel and kits

Managerial changes

TeamOutgoing managerDate of vacancyIncoming managerDate of
appointment
Kataller Toyama 9 May 2018 9 May 2018
Gainare Tottori 4 June 2018 4 June 2018
Nagano Parceiro 12 June 2018 12 June 2018
Giravanz Kitakyushu 17 June 2018 20 June 2018
Blaublitz Akita 11 July 2018 11 July 2018
Gamba Osaka U-23 23 July 2018 23 July 2018
Fujieda MYFC 24 July 2018 27 July 2018

League table

Results table

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1
 LeonardoGainare Tottori
24
2
João GabrielSC Sagamihara
17
3
 Kazaki NakagawaFC Ryukyu
16
3
 Yuta TogashiFC Ryukyu
16
5
Kaito TaniguchiGrulla Morioka
15
6
Rei YonezawaCerezo Osaka U-23
12
7
Koki OshimaThespakusatsu Gunma
10
7
Yu TomidokoroFC Ryukyu
10
9
FernandinhoGainare Tottori
9
9
Kiichi YajimaFC Tokyo U-23
9
11
Hayate TakeFukushima United FC
8
11
Junki HataAzul Claro Numazu
8
11
Kazunari IchimiGamba Osaka U-23
8

Attendances