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.
Club | Location | Venue | Capacity |
Azul Claro Numazu | Numazu | Ashitaka Stadium | 10,000 |
Blaublitz Akita | Akita | Akigin Stadium | 4,992 |
Fukushima United FC | Fukushima | Toho Stadium | 21,000 |
Gainare Tottori | Tottori | Bird Stadium | 16,033 |
Giravanz Kitakyushu | Kitakyushu | Kitakyushu Stadium | 15,066 |
Grulla Morioka | Morioka | Iwagin Stadium | 4,946 |
Kagoshima United FC | Kagoshima | Kamoike Stadium | 19,934 |
Kataller Toyama | Toyama | Toyama Athletic Stadium | 25,251 |
Fujieda MYFC | Fujieda | Fujieda Soccer Field | 13,000 |
Nagano Parceiro | Nagano | Nagano U Stadium | 15,491 |
FC Ryukyu | Okinawa | Okinawa Athletic Stadium | 25,000 |
SC Sagamihara | Sagamihara | Gion Stadium | 15,300 |
Thespakusatsu Gunma | All cities/towns in Gunma | Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma | 15,253 |
FC Tokyo U-23 | Tokyo | Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka | 7,137 |
YSCC Yokohama | Yokohama | Mitsuzawa Stadium | 15,454 |
Cerezo Osaka U-23 | Osaka & Sakai, Osaka | Kincho Stadium | 19,904 |
Gamba Osaka U-23 | North cities in Osaka | Panasonic Stadium Suita Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium | 39,694 21,000 |
Personnel and kits
Managerial changes
Team | Outgoing manager | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date 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
Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
Leonardo | Gainare Tottori | ||
João Gabriel | SC Sagamihara | ||
Kazaki Nakagawa | FC Ryukyu | ||
Yuta Togashi | FC Ryukyu | ||
Kaito Taniguchi | Grulla Morioka | ||
Rei Yonezawa | Cerezo Osaka U-23 | ||
Koki Oshima | Thespakusatsu Gunma | ||
Yu Tomidokoro | FC Ryukyu | ||
Fernandinho | Gainare Tottori | ||
Kiichi Yajima | FC Tokyo U-23 | ||
Hayate Take | Fukushima United FC | ||
Junki Hata | Azul Claro Numazu | ||
Kazunari Ichimi | Gamba Osaka U-23 |