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The 2025 J2 League, also known as the 2025 Meiji YasudaJ2 League (Japanese: 2025 明治安田J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2025 Meiji Yasuda J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, is the 27th season of the J2 League, the second-tier Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1999. This will also be the eleventh season of the league since its rebrand from J.League Division 2.
Overview
This is the last J.League season played in a whole calendar year from late winter to early winter, with the following season onwards played from summer to spring.
This season is also the last with an annual format; for 2026 the league will adopt the European calendar for September to May.
Schedule
The tournament format and match format were announced on 25 November 2024, with the season started on 15 February 2025 and concluded on 29 November 2025.
Promotion play-off has been scheduled from 7 December and 13 December 2025.
Both Shimizu S-Pulse and Yokohama FC are promoted to the J1 League as champions and runners-up, respectively, of the previous J2 League season. Shizuoka-based Shimizu will return in the top flight of Japanese football after two years absence, while Yokohama FC will make their immediate comeback to the J1. Joining the Fagiano Okayama, who finished 5th in 2024 and earned promotion after winning the promotion play-offs, thus making their first top flight appearance from next season.
J3 winners Omiya Ardija and runners-up FC Imabari were both promoted from the J3 League. Omiya are returning to the second-tier after one year absence, while Imabari making their debut in second-tier for this season and Kataller Toyama who finished 3rd in J3 League from 2024 and earned promotion after winning the promotion play-offs, thus returning after 11 years absence.
From this season, Omiya Ardija changed their name to RB Omiya Ardija after acquire from Red Bull since 2025.
Clubs
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Blaublitz Akita