The J1 teams play each other twice each for a total of 34 games, whereas the J2 teams play each other 3 times to decide the champion. The league runs from March until December. The bottom two teams from the J1 are automatically switched with the top two teams of the J2, and a play off match is held between the 16th placed J1 team and the third placed J2 team after the regular season has been completed (in December).
In order to raise the popularity of football when the league first started, the league employed the first golden goal system in the world (sudden death in extra time). They attempted to excite the fans by giving every match having a definite conclusion. However with Japan’s national team participating in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and with football culture becoming more entrenched, the above system was abolished in 2002. From 2003 if the match was tied after 90 minutes, it was ruled a draw and each team received one point in line with the standard tournament system.
In the league, the leading teams would switch positions often. In the kleague’s early years it was Verdy Kawasaki (now Tokyo Verdy) who often won, after that Kawashima Antlers, Jubilo Iwata, Yokohama F Marinos (ex-Yokohama Marinos) etc. all fought for leadership of the league. In recent times the battle continues, centered around 2005 champions, Gamba Osaka, 2006 champions Urawa Red Diamonds and dramatic come-from –behind 2007 champions Kashima Antlers.
as of 1st March 2008
| CONSADOLE SAPPORO http://www.consadole-sapporo.jp/ |
| KASHIMA ANTLERS FC http://www.so-net.ne.jp/antlers/ |
| URAWA RED DIAMONDS http://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/ |
| OMIYA ARDIJA http://www.ardija.co.jp/ |
| JEF UNITED CHIBA http://www.so-net.ne.jp/JEFUNITED/ |
| KASHIWA REYSOL http://www.reysol.co.jp/index.htm |
| FC TOKYO http://www.fctokyo.co.jp/ |
| TOKYO VERDY http://www.verdy.co.jp/ |
| KAWASAKI FRONTALE http://www.frontale.co.jp/ |
| YOKOHAMA F MARINOS http://www.so-net.ne.jp/f-marinos/ |
| ALBIREX NIIGATA http://www.albirex.co.jp/ |
| SHIMIZ S PULSE http://www.s-pulse.co.jp/ |
| JUBILO IWATA http://www.jubilo-iwata.co.jp/ |
| NAGOYA GRAMPUS http://www.so-net.ne.jp/grampus/ |
| KYOTO SANGA F.C. http://www.sanga-fc.jp/ |
| GAMBA OSAKA http://www.gamba-osaka.net/ |
| VISSEL KOBE http://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/ |
| OITA TRINITA http://www.oita-trinita.co.jp/index.php |