The , commonly known as the , is a women's association football league in Japan.
The Nadeshiko League consists of three divisions that correspond to the top three levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid respectively: the Nadeshiko League Division 1, the Nadeshiko League Division 2, and the Nadeshiko . Teams are promoted and relegated among the three divisions, and between the Nadeshiko Challenge League and the fourth-level Japanese regional leagues, based on performance in the previous season.
Since 2008, the Nadeshiko League has been sponsored by , a fast food company based in Fukuoka.
History
Japan Women's Football League began in 1989. From 1993 to 1999 it adopted an Apertura and Clausura system, similar to the J.League system of that era. From 2000 to 2003 the clubs were divided into East and West groups and then the top clubs of each would go into a championship group, with the bottom clubs in a relegation group. In 2004 the single-table format was brought back.
Players from the 8 Japan Women's Football League teams would host an annual training camp to build skills and relationships between the L.League and women's international football clubs, including U.S.- and Australia-based teams.
In 2004 the L.League was renamed to Nadeshiko League, with the nickname "Nadeshiko Japan". Nadeshiko is the name of the dianthus flower and was chosen from suggestions by fans, signifying an ideal of a dutiful Japanese woman.
Starting in the 2004 season, the L.League had 2 divisions – Division 1, with 8 clubs, and Division 2, with 8 clubs in the 2006 season. Until 2009 the league operated in the same way as the old Japan Soccer League for men, the bottom club in the second division playing off against a regional league playoff winner.
Starting with the 2010 season, the second division is divided into an east and west group of six teams each. The winners of each group are promoted. In 2015 this became Division 3, with the Nadeshiko League becoming two divisions of 10 teams each.
After Japan's World Cup win in 2011 the L.League saw an upsurge in popularity.
On 3 June 2020, the Japan Football Association announced that the newly established WE League will become the top level for women's football in Japan when it begins play in 2021. The Nadeshiko League will then become the second to fourth levels of the Japanese women's football pyramid.
Club
2020 season
The Nadeshiko League Divisions 1 and 2 consist of 10 teams each. The Nadeshiko Challenge League is divided into two groups (East and West) of six teams each.
Division 1
Division 2
Challenge League
Previous clubs
The following clubs are not competing in the Nadeshiko League during the 2020 season, but have previously competed in the Nadeshiko League for at least one season.
Relegated to regional leagues
Je Vrille Kagoshima: relegated to Kyushu League from 2014
Shimizudaihachi Pleiades: relegated to Tokai League from 2015
Kumamoto Renaissance FC: relegated to Kyushu League from 2016
Defunct
Fujita SC Mercury (affiliated with Shonan Bellmare) Nikko Securities Dream Ladies Nissan FC Ladies (affiliated with Yokohama F. Marinos) OKI FC Winds Shiroki FC Serena Suzuyo Shimizu FC Lovely Ladies (affiliated with Shimizu S-Pulse) Tasaki Perule FC Tokyo Shidax LSC (formerly Shinko Seiko FC Clair) Urawa Motobuto Ladies FC TEPCO Mareeze (dissolved after Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster; many of the players moved to Vegalta Sendai Ladies) Aguilas Kobe Hoyo Sukarabu FC
Champions
Division 1
Wins by club
Clubs in bold are those competing in Division 1 as of the 2020 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.