The 2022 J3 League, referred to as the 2022 Meiji Yasuda J3 League (Japanese: 2022 明治安田生命J3リーグ, Hepburn: 2022 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J3 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 9th season of J3 League under its current name.
Iwaki FC won the J3 title for the first time in their history, in their debut campaign at the J3 League, just a year after being promoted from the JFL. They were promoted to the 2023 J2 League alongside Fujieda MYFC, who narrowly promoted with one point off the 3rd-placed team. Both teams won promotion for the J2 League for the first time.
Overview
After no relegations from the J2 League in 2020, in 2021 there were four relegations and the number of teams in the 2022 J3 League increased from 15 to 18.[1]
This is first and last season as 18 teams for 2022.
This is last season to not feature relegation in 2022. From 2023, relegation from the J3 League to the JFL will be made possible.
Iwaki FC was promoted from 2021 JFL as champions of that division. Fukushima team are making their debut in the J3 League after obtaining a J.League License, to enable their promotion from the JFL.
From the 2021 season onwards, there is no limitations on signing foreign players, but clubs could only register up to five of them for a single matchday squad.[9] Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Qatar) were exempted from these restrictions.
Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the midseason transfer window.
Player's name in italics indicates the player has Japanese nationality in addition to their FIFA nationality, holds the nationality of a J.League partner nation, or is exempt from being treated as a foreign player due to having been born in Japan and being enrolled in, or having graduated from an approved type of school in the country.[10]
^"石﨑監督の退任について". kataller.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 19 September 2022.
^"「ホームグロウン制度」の導入と「外国籍選手枠」の変更について" [About the introduction of the "homegrown system" and the change of the "foreign player quota"]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 20 November 2018. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018.
^"プロサッカー選手の契約、登録および移籍に関する規則" [Rules for contracting, registering and transferring professional soccer players] (PDF). JFA.jp (in Japanese). Japan Football Association. Retrieved 1 March 2022.
^"Goals". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
^"Assists". Japan Professional Football League. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
^"4月度「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」決定" [April "2022 Meiji Yasuda Life J League KONAMI Monthly Awards" decided]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
^"10・11月度「2022明治安田生命Jリーグ KONAMI月間MVP」を発表!「2022明治安田生命JリーグKONAMI月間ベストゴール」、「月間優秀監督賞」も決定!" [Announcing the "2022 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Monthly MVP" for October and November! ``2022 Meiji Yasuda J.League KONAMI Best Goal of the Month and ``Monthly Outstanding Director Award have also been decided!]. JLeague.jp (in Japanese). Japan Professional Football League. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.