J.League Division 1
Season2013
ChampionsSanfrecce Hiroshima
2nd J. League title
7th Japanese title
RelegatedOita Trinita
Júbilo Iwata
Shonan Bellmare
Champions LeagueSanfrecce Hiroshima
Yokohama F. Marinos
Kawasaki Frontale
Cerezo Osaka
Matches played306
Goals scored879 (2.87 per match)
Top goalscorerYoshito Ōkubo
(26 goals)
Highest attendance62,632
F. Marinos vs Albirex
Lowest attendance5,698
Júbilo vs Albirex
Average attendance17,226
← 2012
2014 →

The 2013 J.League Division 1 season was the 48th season of Japanese top-flight football and the 21st since the establishment of the J.League in 1992. The season began on 2 March and finished on 7 December.[1]

Sanfrecce Hiroshima are the defending champions.

Clubs

Vissel Kobe, Gamba Osaka and Consadole Sapporo were relegated at the end of the 2012 season after finishing in the bottom three places of the table. Consadole Sapporo returned to J2 after only one season in the top flight, while Vissel Kobe was relegated after six seasons in the top flight. Gamba Osaka, instead, was relegated for the first time since the creation of J. League in 1993 and the first time since their forerunners, Matsushita Electric Soccer Club, were relegated to the second Division of the Japan Soccer League after the 1986–87 season.

The three relegated teams were replaced by 2012 J.League Division 2 champions Ventforet Kofu, runners-up Shonan Bellmare and sixth-placed and play-off winner team Oita Trinita. Kofu made an immediate return to the top division, while Shonan after a two-year absence. In the end, Oita beat JEF United Chiba in the playoff final and returned in J1 after three seasons in the second division. Due to Oita's promotion, it will be the first time to have 2 clubs in the top-flight league competitions from Kyushu since 2006, and Kansai region will have only one club competing in the top flight first time since 1994 season due to Kobe and Gamba's relegations.

2013 J.League Division 1 is located in Japan
Albirex Niigata
Cerezo Osaka
FC Tokyo
Kashima Antlers
Kashiwa Reysol
Kawasaki Frontale
Omiya Ardija
Shonan Bellmare
Urawa Red Diamonds
Ventforet Kofu
Yokohama F. Marinos
Júbilo Iwata
Nagoya Grampus
Oita Trinita
Sagan Tosu
Sanfrecce Hiroshima
Shimizu S-Pulse
Vegalta Sendai
Locations of the 2013 J.League 1 teams
Club Name Home Town(s) Stadium Capacity Note(s)
Albirex Niigata Niigata & Seirō, Niigata Big Swan Stadium 42,300
Kashima Antlers Kashima, Ibaraki Kashima Soccer Stadium 40,728
Omiya Ardija Omiya, Saitama NACK5 Stadium 15,500
Cerezo Osaka Osaka Nagai Stadium 47,816
Yokohama F. Marinos Yokohama & Yokosuka Nissan Stadium 72,327
Kawasaki Frontale Kawasaki, Kanagawa Todoroki Athletics Stadium 26,232
Nagoya Grampus Nagoya, Aichi Mizuho Athletic Stadium 27,000
Júbilo Iwata Iwata, Shizuoka Yamaha Stadium 15,165
Oita Trinita Ōita Ōita Stadium 40,000 Promoted from J2 League
(6th place/play-off winner in J2 2012)
Urawa Red Diamonds Urawa, Saitama Saitama Stadium 63,700 2013 ACL participant
(3rd place in J1 2012)
Kashiwa Reysol Kashiwa, Chiba Kashiwa Soccer Stadium 15,900 2013 ACL Participant
(2012 Emperor's Cup Winners)
Shimizu S-Pulse Shizuoka IAI Stadium Nihondaira 20,339
Sagan Tosu Tosu, Saga Tosu Stadium 24,490
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Hiroshima Hiroshima Big Arch 50,000 2013 ACL participant
(Champions in J1 2012)
Shonan Bellmare Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Shonan BMW Stadium 18,500 Promoted from J2 League
(Runners-up in J2 2012)
FC Tokyo Tokyo Ajinomoto Stadium 49,970
Vegalta Sendai Sendai, Miyagi Yurtec Stadium 19,694 2013 ACL participant
(Runners-up in J1 2012)
Ventforet Kofu Kofu, Yamanashi Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium 17,000 Promoted from J2 League
(Champions in J2 2012)

Foreign players

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian Player Non-Visa Foreign Type-C Contract Former Player(s)
Albirex Niigata Brazil Léo Silva Brazil Roger Gaúcho South Korea Kim Kun-hoan South Korea Kim Jin-su Brazil Bruno Lopes
Kashima Antlers Brazil Davi Brazil Juninho
Omiya Ardija Australia Lucas Neill Slovenia Milivoje Novaković Slovenia Zlatan Ljubijankić South Korea Cho Young-cheol Brazil Carlinhos Paraíba
Shonan Bellmare Brazil Alex Muralha Brazil Wellington North Macedonia Stevica Ristić South Korea Han Kook-young Bolivia Edivaldo
Brazil Thiago Quirino
Cerezo Osaka Brazil Branquinho Brazil Edno Brazil Fábio Simplício South Korea Kim Jin-hyeon South Korea Gu Sung-yun
Yokohama F. Marinos Brazil Dutra Brazil Fábio Aguiar Brazil Marquinhos South Korea Jeong Dong-ho
Kawasaki Frontale Brazil Alan Pinheiro Brazil Jeci Brazil Renatinho North Korea An Byong-jun Brazil Róbson Brazil Patric
Nagoya Grampus Brazil Daniel Colombia Danilson Córdoba North Macedonia Nikola Jakimovski Australia Joshua Kennedy Brazil Tiago
Júbilo Iwata Brazil Carlinhos Paraíba South Korea Cho Byung-kuk South Korea Jung Woo-young South Korea Baek Sung-dong
Urawa Red Diamonds Brazil Márcio Richardes
Kashiwa Reysol Brazil Cléo Brazil Jorge Wagner Brazil Leandro Domingues South Korea Kim Chang-soo Brazil Ricardo Lobo
Shimizu S-Pulse Netherlands Calvin Jong-a-Pin Montenegro Dženan Radončić South Korea Lee Min-soo South Korea Lee Ki-je Brazil Baré
Sagan Tosu Brazil Nilson South Korea Kim Min-woo South Korea Yeo Sung-hae South Korea Kim Jung-ya Colombia Jonathan Restrepo Brazil Roni
Sanfrecce Hiroshima Croatia Mihael Mikić South Korea Park Hyung-jin South Korea Lee Dae-heon South Korea Hwang Seok-ho South Korea Kim Jeong-seok
Oita Trinita Brazil Rodrigo Mancha South Korea Choi Jung-han South Korea Kim Jung-hyon South Korea Kim Yeong-gi
FC Tokyo Brazil Lucas Serbia Nemanja Vučićević South Korea Jang Hyun-soo
Ventforet Kofu Brazil Gilsinho Brazil Marquinhos Paraná Brazil Patric South Korea Choi Sung-keun Brazil Douglas
Brazil William Pottker
Brazil Hugo Almeida
Paraguay José Ortigoza
Vegalta Sendai Brazil Diogo Brazil Wilson Brazil Heberty North Korea Ryang Yong-gi

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Sanfrecce Hiroshima (C) 34 19 6 9 51 29 +22 63 Qualification for 2014 AFC Champions League group stage[a]
2 Yokohama F. Marinos 34 18 8 8 49 31 +18 62
3 Kawasaki Frontale 34 18 6 10 65 51 +14 60
4 Cerezo Osaka 34 16 11 7 53 32 +21 59
5 Kashima Antlers 34 18 5 11 60 52 +8 59
6 Urawa Red Diamonds 34 17 7 10 66 56 +10 58
7 Albirex Niigata 34 17 4 13 48 42 +6 55
8 FC Tokyo 34 16 6 12 61 47 +14 54
9 Shimizu S-Pulse 34 15 5 14 48 57 −9 50
10 Kashiwa Reysol 34 13 9 12 56 59 −3 48
11 Nagoya Grampus 34 13 8 13 47 48 −1 47
12 Sagan Tosu 34 13 7 14 54 63 −9 46
13 Vegalta Sendai 34 11 12 11 41 38 +3 45
14 Omiya Ardija 34 14 3 17 45 48 −3 45
15 Ventforet Kofu 34 8 13 13 30 41 −11 37
16 Shonan Bellmare (R) 34 6 7 21 34 62 −28 25 Relegation to 2014 J.League Division 2
17 Júbilo Iwata (R) 34 4 11 19 40 56 −16 23
18 Oita Trinita (R) 34 2 8 24 31 67 −36 14
Updated to match(es) played on 7 December 2013. Source: J.League Division 1
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ The winners of the 2013 Emperor's Cup qualify for the group stage of the 2014 AFC Champions League. As the Emperor's Cup winners were Yokohama F. Marinos, who had already qualified to ACL through the championship, the remaining spot was awarded to the fourth-placed team.

Results

Home \ Away ALB ANT ARD BEL CER FMA FRO GRA JÚB RED REY SAG SFR SSP TOK TRI VEG VEN
Albirex Niigata 2–3 1–0 3–2 1–0 1–0 2–1 2–0 4–2 0–2 3–2 3–1 1–2 3–1 0–3 2–3 1–0 1–1
Kashima Antlers 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 4–1 3–1 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–2 0–2 3–1 3–2 3–1 3–2 0–0
Omiya Ardija 1–1 3–1 2–1 0–3 1–0 2–3 2–1 3–0 1–0 2–3 1–1 2–1 2–2 2–5 0–1 0–2 1–2
Shonan Bellmare 0–2 1–2 0–1 0–3 1–2 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 0–2 1–1 3–2 2–1 3–2 1–2
Cerezo Osaka 1–0 1–2 1–2 2–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–0 2–2 1–1 4–1 1–0 4–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–1
Yokohama F. Marinos 0–2 1–1 2–1 4–2 1–1 2–1 1–2 2–1 3–0 1–1 2–1 1–0 1–0 3–2 1–1 0–0 1–1
Kawasaki Frontale 2–1 4–2 2–1 1–2 2–2 1–0 2–1 2–1 4–0 3–1 0–1 2–0 2–0 2–2 1–1 4–2 1–1
Nagoya Grampus 2–0 3–1 2–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 1–2 1–1 2–0 3–2 3–2 1–1 2–1 0–2 2–1 0–2 0–0
Júbilo Iwata 2–1 2–3 0–1 4–0 2–2 0–1 2–4 2–3 1–2 0–1 3–3 0–2 0–1 0–0 3–1 1–1 1–1
Urawa Red Diamonds 1–0 3–1 4–0 2–0 2–5 2–3 1–3 1–0 2–1 2–1 6–2 3–1 0–1 2–2 4–3 1–1 1–1
Kashiwa Reysol 1–1 2–1 0–4 5–2 1–3 2–1 3–1 3–3 1–3 2–6 2–1 1–1 2–2 4–1 3–1 0–0 2–0
Sagan Tosu 1–3 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 5–4 1–1 1–0 4–1 0–3 0–2 0–1 2–3 3–2 1–0 2–1
Sanfrecce Hiroshima 2–0 0–0 3–1 1–0 1–0 1–3 4–2 1–1 2–1 1–2 0–0 2–0 3–1 1–2 1–0 1–0 5–1
Shimizu S-Pulse 1–2 4–3 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–5 1–2 2–1 1–0 0–2 1–2 6–4 0–4 0–0 3–1 2–0 2–1
FC Tokyo 2–0 1–4 0–1 2–1 1–2 0–2 2–0 3–1 2–2 3–2 3–0 2–3 0–1 2–0 2–0 2–0 4–1
Oita Trinita 1–3 2–3 0–2 1–2 0–2 0–1 0–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–4 1–1 2–3 1–2 0–1 0–1
Vegalta Sendai 0–1 2–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–1 2–1 1–1 3–3 2–1 1–1 0–2 1–2 2–1 6–0 1–1
Ventforet Kofu 1–1 3–0 0–3 0–1 1–2 0–0 1–3 0–1 2–1 0–1 3–1 0–0 2–0 0–2 1–1 0–0 0–1
Updated to match(es) played on 7 December 2013. Source: J. League Division 1
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers

Rank Scorer Club Goals
1 Japan Yoshito Ōkubo Kawasaki Frontale
26
2 Japan Kengo Kawamata Albirex Niigata
23
3 Japan Yoichiro Kakitani Cerezo Osaka
21
4 Japan Yohei Toyoda Sagan Tosu
20
5 Japan Masato Kudo Kashiwa Reysol
19
Japan Yuya Osako Kashima Antlers
19
7 Japan Hisato Satō Sanfrecce Hiroshima
17
Japan Kazuma Watanabe FC Tokyo
17
9 Brazil Marquinhos Yokohama F. Marinos
16
10 Japan Shinzo Koroki Urawa Red Diamonds
13
Brazil Wilson Vegalta Sendai
13

Updated to games played on 7 December 2013
Source: J. League

Awards

Player of the Month

Month Player Club
March Japan Shunsuke Nakamura[2] Yokohama F. Marinos
April Slovenia Zlatan Ljubijankič[2] Omiya Ardija
May Japan Yoichiro Kakitani Cerezo Osaka
June N/A[3]
July Japan Shusaku Nishikawa Sanfrecce Hiroshima
August Japan Yuya Osako Kashima Antlers
September Japan Aria Jasuru Hasegawa FC Tokyo
October Japan Tetsuya Enomoto Yokohama F. Marinos
November Japan Yoshito Ōkubo Kawasaki Frontale

Best XI

Position Player Club
GK Japan Shusaku Nishikawa Sanfrecce Hiroshima
DF Japan Daisuke Nasu Urawa Red Diamonds
DF Japan Masato Morishige FC Tokyo
DF Japan Yuji Nakazawa Yokohama F. Marinos
MF Japan Hotaru Yamaguchi Cerezo Osaka
MF Japan Toshihiro Aoyama Sanfrecce Hiroshima
MF Japan Shunsuke Nakamura Yokohama F. Marinos
MF Japan Yoichiro Kakitani Cerezo Osaka
FW Japan Yuya Osako Kashima Antlers
FW Japan Yoshito Ōkubo Kawasaki Frontale
FW Japan Kengo Kawamata Albirex Niigata

Attendances

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 Urawa Red Diamonds 630,701 54,905 23,295 37,100 +1.3%†
2 Yokohama F. Marinos 467,425 62,632 12,537 27,496 +19.8%†
3 Albirex Niigata 443,906 33,378 18,919 26,112 +4.4%†
4 FC Tokyo 426,246 40,371 12,905 25,073 +4.7%†
5 Cerezo Osaka 319,928 36,361 9,119 18,819 +11.3%†
6 Kawasaki Frontale 282,952 21,657 12,345 16,644 −6.5%†
7 Kashima Antlers 279,115 32,305 6,681 16,419 +6.7%†
8 Sanfrecce Hiroshima 275,556 27,911 10,045 16,209 −8.5%†
9 Nagoya Grampus 274,297 30,478 9,237 16,135 −5.9%†
10 Vegalta Sendai 252,725 17,892 11,755 14,866 −10.4%†
11 Shimizu S-Pulse 240,324 21,420 9,238 14,137 −6.5%†
12 Ventforet Kofu 214,441 28,906 7,754 12,614 +21.2%†
13 Kashiwa Reysol 213,406 34,021 7,013 12,553 −8.8%†
14 Sagan Tosu 184,242 22,530 6,292 11,515 −4.0%†
15 Oita Trinita 202,557 23,814 7,067 11,915 +22.6%†
16 Omiya Ardija 189,342 13,365 7,412 11,138 +4.7%†
17 Júbilo Iwata 185,207 20,049 5,698 10,895 −17.0%†
18 Shonan Bellmare 168,481 13,786 6,080 9,911 +44.6%†
League total 5,271,047 62,632 5,698 17,226 −1.9%†

Updated to games played on 7 December 2013
Source: J. League Division 1
Notes:
† Team played previous season in J2.

References

  1. ^ "J.League season dates (+others)". Japan Football Association. Archived from the original on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  2. ^ a b 「コカ・コーラ Ｊリーグ 月間ＭＶＰ」３月・４月の受賞選手決定！ Archived 2013-06-09 at the Wayback Machine. J-League. 16 May 2013.
  3. ^ No Division 1 league match scheduled due to 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
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