Drastic decision taken by Ryo Oliver Iwamoto. He decided to retire at the age of 21. I think he wasn't so bad last season for Gainare. If I remember well scored a really nice goal for Gainare in J3. He was on loan from Jubilo Iwata.
So what's the situation here, license-wise for the top teams? Last I remember Ryūkyū was going to be promoted. What about Kagoshima? And is Thespa promoted in their place, in case they don't have a license?
Both Ryukyu and Kagoshima have a J2 license. If a team with no license finish in a promotion-spot the team below then in the league standings will not be promoted. In this case one team from the upper league will either avoid relegation or play a play-off.
Little add, JFL-related: Vanraure Hachinohe will 99% go up to J3. They locked a Top 4-spot and now they just need their license.
... and if Sagan Tosu get relegated along with V-Varen Nagasaki, and both Oita and Fukuoka failed to gain promotion we will have to rename J2 to "All-Kyushu and Southern Japan league". Actually, administratively Okinawa (Ryuku) is part of Kyushu region. Sagan, Nagasaki, Oita, Fukuoka, Ryukyu, and either Kumamoto or Kagoshima (one of them will be in J2 on the expense of the other) all have the possibility to play in J2 next season, they are just missing the poor Kitakyushu.
http://www.jfl.or.jp/jfl-pc/view/s.php?a=1350 JFL will drop the "two stage" system from 2019, meaning the league will become a "classic" one.
Meaning Honda FC will erase the competition with 5-6 games to play? (just kiddin', but I'm fearing this might be 2019 season in a nutshell)
Meanwhile, Thespa and Roasso look on the run to go back to J2. Fujieda and Giravanz the clear rivals for the Top 2 spots. (I'd rename this thread "J3 + JFL Thread", in order to have constant news about these leagues. Just a suggestion)
Imabari will join J3 next year. Wonderful news. As for JFL, only one relegation and these teams will line up to conquer two spots: Fukui United FC Iwaki FC Ococias Kyoto SC Kochi United SC (as best 2nd) I'm rooting for Iwaki and Kochi.
FC Osaka on November 26th, 2019 and Veertien Mie on November 28th, 2019 have submitted the application for J.League 100 Year Plan club status. https://fc-osaka.com/news/2019/11/26/37698/ https://www.veertien.jp/fc/news_all/club/25250
Iwaki FC, yesterday also have submitted the application for J.League 100 Year club status: https://iwakifc.com/news/2019/1202_012580.php Who's next? Suzuka Unlimited, Matsue City, Kochi United, Verspah Oita?
Veertien Mie and Iwaki FC seem two good picks for promotion in 2020. Also Okinawa SV might be interesting to watch once they'll be able to get promoted.
Just a question. Do you know what will happen when J3 reaches 22 teams? J4 or relegation to JFL? Hello. I support Asian football and Japan has been my favorite team since 2013. I watched Japan vs Italy at the 2013 Confederations Cup and liked Japan’s passing skills, teamwork and team sprit.
Legendary and tragic match at the same time. Welcome. As for your question, as far as I remember there isn't a target of 22 teams specifically, but I could be wrong.
Sorry. I just thought 22 teams was a reasonable maximum because J2 has the same number of teams. I think splitting J3 into East/West isn't a bad idea to save travel costs. In Europe, only wealthy leagues or small countries have nationwide third tier leagues. J-League is getting richer but it isn't at the level of England and Germany yet.