The 2022 J2 League, also known as the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (Japanese: 2022 明治安田生命J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2022 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 24th season of the J2 League, the second-tier Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999.

J2 League
Season2022
Dates19 February – 23 October
ChampionsAlbirex Niigata
2nd J2 title
2nd D2 title
PromotedAlbirex Niigata
Yokohama FC
RelegatedFC Ryukyu
Iwate Grulla Morioka
Champions LeagueVentforet Kofu
Matches played462
Goals scored1,136 (2.46 per match)
Top goalscorerKoki Ogawa (26 goals)
Biggest home winTokushima Vortis 5–0 Iwate Grulla Morioka
(20 April 2022)
Biggest away winThespakusatsu Gunma 1–6 Renofa Yamaguchi
(24 September 2022)
Highest scoringFC Ryukyu 2–5 Tokyo Verdy
(30 March 2022)
Albirex Niigata 4−3 Tokyo Verdy
(8 May 2022)
Ventforet Kofu 5–2 FC Ryukyu
(6 August 2022)
Roasso Kumamoto 3–4 Yokohama FC
(23 October 2022)
Longest winning run6 matches
Tokyo Verdy
Longest unbeaten run19 matches
Tokushima Vortis
Longest winless run12 matches
Blaublitz Akita
Longest losing run7 matches
Iwate Grulla Morioka
Ventforet Kofu
Highest attendance32,979
Albirex Niigata 3–0 Vegalta Sendai
(8 October 2022)
Lowest attendance608
FC Ryukyu 0–1 Blaublitz Akita
(3 September 2022)
Total attendance2,318,829
Average attendance5,019
2021
2023

Clubs

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Club name Hometown Stadium Capacity Previous season rank License
Albirex Niigata Niigata & Seiro, Niigata Denka Big Swan Stadium 42,300 J2 (6th) J1
Blaublitz Akita Akita Soyu Stadium 20,125 J2 (13th) J1
Fagiano Okayama All cities/towns in Okayama[a] City Light Stadium 20,000 J2 (11th) J1
Iwate Grulla Morioka All cities/towns in Iwate Iwagin Stadium & Kitakami Stadium 4,946   J3 (2nd) J1
JEF United Chiba Chiba & Ichihara, Chiba Fukuda Denshi Arena 18,500 J2 (8th) J1
Machida Zelvia Machida, Tokyo Machida Athletic Stadium 10,600 J2 (5th) J1
Mito HollyHock Cities/towns in Ibaraki[b] K's denki Stadium Mito 12,000 J2 (10th) J1
Montedio Yamagata All cities/towns in Yamagata[c] ND Soft Stadium 20,315 J2 (7th) J1
Oita Trinita Ōita Prefecture Showa Denko Dome Oita 40,000   J1 (18th) J1
Omiya Ardija Saitama, Saitama NACK5 Stadium Omiya 15,500 J2 (16th) J1
Renofa Yamaguchi All cities/towns in Yamaguchi Yamaguchi Ishin Park Stadium 20,000 J2 (15th) J1
Roasso Kumamoto Kumamoto, Kumamoto Egao Kenko Stadium 32,000   J3 (1st) J1
FC Ryukyu All cities/towns in Okinawa[d] Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium 25,000 J2 (9th) J1
Thespakusatsu Gunma All cities/towns in Gunma[e] Shoda Shoyu Stadium Gunma 15,253 J2 (18th) J1
Tochigi SC Utsunomiya, Tochigi Kanseki Stadium Tochigi 25,244 J2 (14th) J1
Tokushima Vortis Tokushima Prefecture Pocarisweat Stadium 20,441   J1 (17th) J1
Tokyo Verdy All cities/towns in Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium 49,970 J2 (12th) J1
V-Varen Nagasaki All cities/towns in Nagasaki Prefecture[f] Nagasaki Athletic Stadium 20,246 J2 (4th) J1
Vegalta Sendai Miyagi Prefecture Yurtec Stadium Sendai 19,694   J1 (19th) J1
Ventforet Kofu All cities/towns in Yamanashi Prefecture[g] Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium 17,000 J2 (3rd) J1
Yokohama FC Kanagawa Prefecture Mitsuzawa Stadium 15,046   J1 (20th) J1
Zweigen Kanazawa All cities/towns in Ishikawa[h] Ishikawa Kanazawa Stadium 20,000 J2 (17th) J1
  1. ^ centering on Okayama, Kurashiki, Tsuyama
  2. ^ Mito, Hitachinaka, Kasama, Naka, Omitama, Ibaraki, Shirosato, Oarai, Tokai
  3. ^ centering on Yamagata, Tendo, Tsuruoka
  4. ^ centering on Okinawa
  5. ^ centering on Kusatsu and Maebashi
  6. ^ centering on Nagasaki and Isahaya
  7. ^ centering on Kofu and Nirasaki
  8. ^ centering on Kanazawa, Nonoichi, Kahoku, Tsubata, Tsubata

Personnel and kits

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Club Manager Captain Kit manufacturer
Albirex Niigata   Rikizo Matsuhashi   Yuto Horigome   Adidas
Blaublitz Akita   Ken Yoshida[1]   Shuto Inaba   ATHLETA
Fagiano Okayama   Takashi Kiyama   Junki Kanayama   Penalty
Iwate Grulla Morioka   Yutaka Akita   Yusuke Muta   Kelme
JEF United Chiba   Yoon Jong-hwan   Daisuke Suzuki   Hummel
Machida Zelvia   Ranko Popović   Taiki Hirato   SVOLME
Mito HollyHock   Tadahiro Akiba[2]   Ryo Niizato   soccer junky
Montedio Yamagata   Peter Cklamovski   Shuto Minami   Penalty
Oita Trinita   Takahiro Shimotaira   Hokuto Shimoda   Puma
Omiya Ardija   Naoki Soma   Yuta Mikado   Under Armour
Renofa Yamaguchi   Yoshihiro Natsuka   Joji Ikegami   Finta
Roasso Kumamoto   Takeshi Oki   So Kawahara   Puma
FC Ryukyu   Nacho Fernández   Ryohei Okazaki   sfida
Thespakusatsu Gunma   Tsuyoshi Otsuki   Hajime Hosogai   Kelme
Tochigi SC   Yu Tokisaki   Yuki Nishiya   ATHLETA
Tokushima Vortis   Dani Poyatos   Hidenori Ishii   Mizuno
Tokyo Verdy   Hiroshi Jofuku   Tomohiro Taira   ATHLETA
V-Varen Nagasaki   Fábio Carille   Caio César   Umbro
Vegalta Sendai   Akira Ito   Ryang Yong-gi   Adidas
Ventforet Kofu   Tatsuma Yoshida   Sho Araki   Mizuno
Yokohama FC   Shuhei Yomoda   Tatsuya Hasegawa   Soccer Junky
Zweigen Kanazawa   Masaaki Yanagishita   Tomonobu Hiroi   Hummel

Managerial changes

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Team Outgoing Manner Exit date Position in table Incoming Incoming date Ref.
Announced on Departed on Announced on Arrived on
Omiya Ardija Masahiro Shimoda Sacked 26 May 2022 26 May 2022 20th Naoki Soma 26 May 2022 28 May 2022 [3]
FC Ryukyu Tetsuhiro Kina Sacked 8 June 2022 8 June 2022 22nd Kazuki Kuranuki (caretaker) 9 June 2022 9 June 2022 [4]
V-Varen Nagasaki Hiroshi Matsuda Sacked 12 June 2022 12 June 2022 5th Takeo Harada (caretaker) 12 June 2022 12 June 2022 [5]
Takeo Harada End of caretaker spell 12 June 2022 1 July 2022 TBD Fábio Carille 12 June 2022 2 July 2022
FC Ryukyu Kazuki Kuranuki End of caretaker spell 13 June 2022 13 June 2022 22nd Nacho Fernández 13 June 2022 14 June 2022 [6]
Tokyo Verdy Takafumi Hori Sacked 13 June 2022 13 June 2022 14th Hiroshi Jofuku 13 June 2022 14 June 2022 [7][8]
Vegalta Sendai Masato Harasaki Sacked 6 September 2022 6 September 2022 4th Akira Ito 6 September 2022 6 September 2022 [9][10]

Foreign players

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As of 2022 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad.[11] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.

  • Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the midseason transfer window.
  • Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from school in the country.[12]
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Player 4 Player 5 Player 6 Player 7 Player 8 Left midseason
Albirex Niigata   Thomas Deng   Kazuyoshi Shimabuku   Alexandre Guedes   Ippei Shinozuka
Blaublitz Akita
Fagiano Okayama   Tiago Alves   Han Eui-kwon   Mitchell Duke   Stefan Mauk   Jordy Buijs   Yu Yong-hyeon
Iwate Grulla Morioka   Brenner   Cristiano   Lucas Morelatto   Kim Jong-min   Jang Hyun-soo   Paul Tabinas   Han Yong-thae   Kenneth Otabor
JEF United Chiba   Daniel   Ricardo Lopes   Tiago Leonço   Jang Min-gyu   Saldanha
Machida Zelvia   Dudu   Vinícius Araújo   Jong Tae-se
Mito HollyHock   Leonard Brodersen   Jefferson Tabinas
Montedio Yamagata   Dellatorre   Tiago Alves
Oita Trinita   Eduardo Neto   Matheus Pereira   Samuel
Omiya Ardija
Renofa Yamaguchi   Renan
Roasso Kumamoto   Leo Kenta   Thales
FC Ryukyu   Kelvin   Álex Barrera   Danny Carvajal   Ri Yong-jik   Sittichok Paso   Phạm Văn Luân   Vũ Hồng Quân   Sadam Sulley   Vinícius Faria
Thespakusatsu Gunma
Tochigi SC   Juninho   Carlos Gutiérrez   Ömer Tokaç
Tokushima Vortis   Cacá   Elsinho   Rio Hyon   Oriola Sunday   Mushaga Bakenga   José Aurelio Suárez
Tokyo Verdy   Matheus Vidotto   Pratama Arhan   Byron Vásquez
V-Varen Nagasaki   Caio César   Cristiano   Edigar Junio   Kaique   Clayson   Víctor Ibarbo
Vegalta Sendai   Felippe Cardoso   Foguinho   Kim Tae-hyeon   Ryang Yong-gi   Leandro Desábato   Nedeljko Stojišić
Ventforet Kofu   Renato   Willian Lira   Eduardo Mancha   Foguete   Getúlio   Igor Sartori   Bruno Paraíba
Yokohama FC   Gabriel   Kléber   Rhayner   Saulo Mineiro   Marcelo Ryan   Mateus Moraes   Svend Brodersen   Felipe Vizeu
Zweigen Kanazawa   Taiga Son

League table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or relegation
1 Albirex Niigata (C, P) 42 25 9 8 73 35 +38 84 Promotion to the J1 League
2 Yokohama FC (P) 42 23 11 8 66 49 +17 80
3 Fagiano Okayama 42 20 12 10 61 42 +19 72 Qualification for the promotion play-offs
4 Roasso Kumamoto 42 18 13 11 58 48 +10 67
5 Oita Trinita 42 17 15 10 62 52 +10 66
6 Montedio Yamagata 42 17 13 12 62 40 +22 64
7 Vegalta Sendai 42 18 9 15 67 59 +8 63
8 Tokushima Vortis 42 13 23 6 48 35 +13 62
9 Tokyo Verdy 42 16 13 13 62 55 +7 61
10 JEF United Chiba 42 17 10 15 44 42 +2 61
11 V-Varen Nagasaki 42 15 11 16 50 54 −4 56
12 Blaublitz Akita 42 15 11 16 39 46 −7 56
13 Mito HollyHock 42 14 12 16 47 46 +1 54
14 Zweigen Kanazawa 42 13 13 16 56 69 −13 52
15 Machida Zelvia 42 14 9 19 51 50 +1 51
16 Renofa Yamaguchi 42 13 11 18 51 54 −3 50
17 Tochigi SC 42 11 16 15 32 40 −8 49
18 Ventforet Kofu (X) 42 11 15 16 47 54 −7 48 Qualification for the AFC Champions League group stage[a]
19 Omiya Ardija 42 10 13 19 48 64 −16 43
20 Thespakusatsu Gunma 42 11 9 22 36 57 −21 42
21 FC Ryukyu (R) 42 8 13 21 41 65 −24 37 Relegation to J3 League
22 Iwate Grulla Morioka (R) 42 9 7 26 35 80 −45 34
Source: Meiji Yasuda J2 League, J.League Data Site
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Head-to-head goal scored; 7) Fair-play points.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated; (X) Qualified for the AFC Champions League.
Notes:
  1. ^ Qualified as the 2022 Emperor's Cup winners.

Promotion–relegation playoffs

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First round
30 October
Second round
6 November
Final
13 November
J2 (3)Fagiano Okayama0
J1 (16)Kyoto Sanga1
J2 (6)Montedio Yamagata3
J2 (6)Montedio Yamagata2J2 (4)Roasso Kumamoto1
J2 (4)Roasso Kumamoto2
J2 (4)Roasso Kumamoto2
J2 (5)Oita Trinita2

Results table

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Season statistics

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As of 31 October 2022

Goal contributions

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Top scorers

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Rank Player Club Goals[13]
1   Koki Ogawa Yokohama FC 26
2   Tiago Alves Fagiano Okayama 16
3   Masato Nakayama Vegalta Sendai 14
  Toshiki Takahashi Roasso Kumamoto
5   Masamichi Hayashi Zweigen Kanazawa 13
  Ryoga Sato Tokyo Verdy

Clean sheets

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Rank Player Club Clean sheets[14]
1   Ryosuke Kojima Albirex Niigata 18
2   Masaaki Goto Montedio Yamagata 17
3   Shota Arai JEF United Chiba 14
4   José Aurelio Suárez Tokushima Vortis 13
  Shuhei Kawata Tochigi SC
  Yudai Tanaka Blaublitz Akita

Discipline

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Player

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Club

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  • Most yellow cards: 67 [17] (Iwate Grulla Morioka)
  • Most red cards: 4[18] (Mito HollyHock)

Awards

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Monthly awards

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Month Manager of the Month Monthly MVP Goal of the Month References
Manager Club Player Club Player Club
February/March   Shuhei Yomoda Yokohama FC   Koki Ogawa Yokohama FC   Tiago Alves Fagiano Okayama [19][20][21]
April   Masato Harasaki Vegalta Sendai   Ryoma Kida Vegalta Sendai   Kota Yamada Montedio Yamagata [22][23][24]
May   Rikizo Matsuhashi Albirex Niigata   Shunsuke Mito Albirex Niigata   Kazuma Yamaguchi Machida Zelvia [25][26][27]
June   Takashi Kiyama Fagiano Okayama   Koki Ogawa Yokohama FC   Hiroki Noda Montedio Yamagata [28][29][30]
July   Takeshi Oki Roasso Kumamoto   Edigar Junio V-Varen Nagasaki   Naohiro Sugiyama Roasso Kumamoto [31][32][33]
August   Takashi Kiyama Fagiano Okayama   Jordy Buijs Fagiano Okayama   Wataru Tanaka Renofa Yamaguchi [34][35][36]
September   Takeshi Oki Roasso Kumamoto   Hiroya Matsumoto Zweigen Kanazawa   Kazuma Takai Renofa Yamaguchi [37]
October/November   Hiroshi Jofuku Tokyo Verdy   Koki Ogawa Yokohama FC   Ryotaro Ito Albirex Niigata [38]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "吉田謙監督 2021シーズン続投のお知らせ | ブラウブリッツ秋田". ブラウブリッツ秋田 公式ホームページ.
  2. ^ "秋葉忠宏監督 契約更新のお知らせ". December 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "相馬直樹 監督 就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 26 May 2022. Retrieved 26 May 2022.
  4. ^ "喜名哲裕監督 解任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 9 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  5. ^ "トップチーム監督交代のお知らせ" (in Japanese). 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  6. ^ "ナチョ フェルナンデス監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). FC Ryukyu. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  7. ^ "堀孝史監督退任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Tokyo Verdy. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  8. ^ "城福浩監督 就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Tokyo Verdy. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  9. ^ "原崎政人監督 解任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Vegalta Sendai. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  10. ^ "伊藤彰監督就任のお知らせ" (in Japanese). Vegalta Sendai. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  11. ^ "「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について". J.LEAGUE.jp. Archived from the original on 2022-01-30. Retrieved 2022-01-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ^ "プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" (PDF). jfa.jp.
  13. ^ "Goals". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  14. ^ "Clean Sheets (GK)". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  15. ^ "J2 2022 Yellow cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  16. ^ "J2 2022 Red Cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Club yellow cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Club red cards". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  19. ^ "Oniki wins Manager of the Month after guiding retooled Frontale to quick start". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  20. ^ "Ueda captures Konami Monthly MVP honors after sizzling start to the season". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Saneto wins Goal of the Month for 95th minute bicycle belter". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 12 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Sanfrecce's spring surge earns Skibbe Manager of the Month honors". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  23. ^ "Utaka wins Konami Monthly MVP after impressive April performances". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  24. ^ "4月度「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」決定" [April "2022 Meiji Yasuda Life J League KONAMI Monthly Awards" decided]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Muscat wins Manager of the Month after guiding Marinos to first place". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Cerezo's Maikuma awarded KONAMI Monthly MVP for May". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  27. ^ "Matheus Savio wins Goal of the Month for his terrific tally in Matchweek 16". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  28. ^ "Yamaguchi awarded Manager of the Month after Shonan resurgence". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  29. ^ "Mizunuma captures KONAMI Monthly MVP for captaining Marinos to perfect June". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  30. ^ "Notsuda blast wins KONAMI Goal of the Month for June". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 11 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  31. ^ "Muscat awarded Manager of the Month again". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  32. ^ "Léo Ceará's earns KONAMI Monthly MVP after fantastic July". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  33. ^ "Everaldo's spectacular bicycle kick nets Kashima man KONAMI Goal of the Month". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  34. ^ "Skibbe wins Manager of the Month after masterminding Sanfrecce's summer surge". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  35. ^ "Akihiro Ienaga named KONAMI Monthly MVP for August after leading Frontale title chase". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  36. ^ "Mateus rocket earns KONAMI Goal of the Month for August". JLeague.co. Japan Professional Football League. 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  37. ^ "9月度「2022明治安田生命Jリーグ KONAMI月間MVP」を発表!「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」も決定!". jleague.jp. Japan Professional Football League. 10 October 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  38. ^ "10・11月度「2022明治安田生命Jリーグ KONAMI月間MVP」を発表!「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」も決定!" [Announcing the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP for October and November! ``2022 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Best Goal of the Month and ``Monthly Outstanding Director Award have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
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