The Japanese Super Cup (Japanese: スーパーカップ, Hepburn: Sūpā Kappu), a.k.a was the Fujifilm Super Cup (Japanese: 富士フイルム スーパーカップ, Hepburn: Fuji Fuirumu Sūpā Kappu)[1] for sponsorship reasons, is an annual one-match association football competition in Japan organised by J.League and the Japan Football Association. This competition serves as the season opener and is played between the reigning J1 League champions and the Emperor's Cup winners. Fuji Xerox has sponsored the competition since its inception in 1994 (rebranded as Fujifilm Business Innovation from April 2021). The match is usually played annually every February.
| Founded | 1977 (original) 1994 (reestablishment) |
|---|---|
| Region | Japan |
| Number of teams | 2 |
| Current champions | Kawasaki Frontale (3rd title) |
| Most successful club(s) | Kashima Antlers (6 titles) |
| Television broadcasters | Nippon TV |
| Website | Official website |
 2024 Japanese Super Cup | |
Participating clubs
editUnder the normal circumstances, the following clubs participate:
- Defending J1 League champions
- Defending Emperor's Cup winners
However, if the same club wins both the J1 League and the Emperor's Cup, the J1 League runners-up will participate. Up to 2009, the Emperor's Cup runners-up would take the honor.
Competition format
edit- Two halves of 45-minute match.
- In case of a tie at the end of regulation time, penalties would decide the winners. No extra time would be played.
Venues
edit- Tokyo National Stadium (1994–2004, 2006–2010, 2012–2014)
- International Stadium Yokohama (2005, 2011, 2015–2017, 2022)
- Saitama Stadium 2002 (2018–2021)
- Japan National Stadium (2023–present)
Results
edit* Since the 1998 Emperor's Cup winners Yokohama Flügels had been disbanded before the match, Shimizu S-Pulse as the runners-up qualified for the competition.
† The same club won both the league and the cup; the cup's runners-up qualified for the competition.
‡ The same club won both the league and the cup; the league's runners-up qualified for the competition.
Super Cup in JSL era
editThe Japanese Super Cup was also played during the Japan Soccer League (JSL) era from 1977 to 1984. However, it was never established as an independent competition as the second competition in 1978 was already served as a mere opening league match of the JSL. This previous Super Cup competition was taken less seriously than the current competition and made dormant after 8 years. All matches were held in the National Stadium in Tokyo except for the 1978 and 1980 matches, both held in Osaka.
| Year | Date | JSL Division 1 champions | Score | Emperor's Cup winners | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 10 April 1977 | Furukawa Electric | 3–2
|
Yanmar Diesel† | National Stadium, Tokyo |
| 1978 | 2 April 1978 | Fujita Industries | 5–1
|
Yanmar Diesel† | Nagai Stadium, Osaka |
| 1979 | 8 April 1979 | Mitsubishi Motors | 0–0 (3–1 p)
|
Toyo Industries† | National Stadium, Tokyo |
| 1980 | 6 April 1980 | Fujita Industries | 1–2
|
Mitsubishi Motors† | Nagai Stadium, Osaka |
| 1981 | 5 April 1981 | Yanmar Diesel | 0–0 (3–2 p)
|
Mitsubishi Motors | National Stadium, Tokyo |
| 1982 | 28 March 1982 | Fujita Industries | 2–0
|
Nippon Kokan | |
| 1983 | 27 March 1983 | Mitsubishi Motors | 3–0
|
Yamaha Motors | |
| 1984 | 25 March 1984 | Yomiuri FC | 2–0
|
Nissan Motors |
† The same club had won both the JSL and the Emperor's Cup in the previous year; therefore, the runners-up of the Cup qualified for the competition.
Performances
editAll-time
editYears in italic indicate Japan Soccer League seasons.
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kashima Antlers | 6
|
4
|
1997, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2017 | 2001, 2002, 2008, 2011 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 5
|
5
|
1979, 1980, 1983, 2006, 2022 | 1981, 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Tokyo Verdy | 4
|
1
|
1984, 1994, 1995, 2005 | 1997 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 4
|
1
|
2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 | 1979 |
| Júbilo Iwata | 3
|
2
|
2000, 2003, 2004 | 1983, 1998 |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 3
|
2
|
2019, 2021, 2024 | 2018, 2022 |
| Gamba Osaka | 2
|
5
|
2007, 2015 | 2006, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2021 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 2
|
2
|
1978, 1982 | 1980, 1995 |
| Cerezo Osaka | 2
|
2
|
1981, 2018 | 1977, 1978 |
| Nagoya Grampus | 2
|
1
|
1996, 2011 | 2000 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 2
|
1
|
2001, 2002 | 1999 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 1
|
6
|
2023 | 1984, 1996, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2020 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 1
|
1
|
2012 | 2013 |
| Vissel Kobe | 1
|
1
|
2020 | 2024 |
| JEF United Chiba | 1
|
0
|
1977 | |
| NKK SC | 0
|
1
|
1982 | |
| Yokohama Flügels | 0
|
1
|
1994 | |
| Kyoto Sanga | 0
|
1
|
2003 | |
| FC Tokyo | 0
|
1
|
2012 | |
| Ventforet Kofu | 0
|
1
|
2023 |
J.League era (1994–present)
edit| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning years | Runners-up years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kashima Antlers | 6
|
4
|
1997, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2017 | 2001, 2002, 2008, 2011 |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 4
|
0
|
2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 | |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 3
|
2
|
2019, 2021, 2024 | 2018, 2022 |
| Tokyo Verdy | 3
|
1
|
1994, 1995, 2005 | 1997 |
| Júbilo Iwata | 3
|
1
|
2000, 2003, 2004 | 1998 |
| Gamba Osaka | 2
|
5
|
2007, 2015 | 2006, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2021 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 2
|
4
|
2006, 2022 | 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Nagoya Grampus | 2
|
1
|
1996, 2011 | 2000 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 2
|
1
|
2001, 2002 | 1999 |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 1
|
5
|
2023 | 1996, 2004, 2005, 2014, 2020 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 1
|
1
|
2012 | 2013 |
| Vissel Kobe | 1
|
1
|
2020 | 2024 |
| Cerezo Osaka | 1
|
0
|
2018 | |
| Yokohama Flügels | 0
|
1
|
1994 | |
| Shonan Bellmare | 0
|
1
|
1995 | |
| Kyoto Sanga | 0
|
1
|
2003 | |
| FC Tokyo | 0
|
1
|
2012 | |
| Ventforet Kofu | 0
|
1
|
2023 |
See also
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- Football in Japan
- Japan Football Association (JFA)
- Japanese association football league system
- League system
- J.League
- Japan Football League (JFL) (IV)
- Japan Regional Football Champions League (promotion play-offs to JFL)
- Japanese Regional Leagues (V/VI)
- Emperor's Cup (national cup)
- J.League Cup (league cup)
References
edit- ^ "スーパーカップパートナーが決定 スーパーカップ大会名称は2022シーズンから「FUJIFILM SUPER CUP」に変更". J.League.jp. Retrieved 18 December 2021.