The 88th Emperor's Cup began on September 13, 2008 and ended on January 1, 2009 with the final which took place at National Stadium in Tokyo. As the champion, Gamba Osaka participated in 2009 AFC Champions League.
Calendar Round Date Matches Clubs New entries this round First Round 13 September 200814 September 2008 24 48 → 24 47 Prefectural Qualifying Cup Winners1 University Qualifying Cup Winner Second Round 20 September 200821 September 2008 12 24 → 12 – Third Round 12 October 2008 14 12+15+1 → 14 15 J2 Clubs 1 JFL Seeded Club Fourth Round 2 November 20083 November 20085 November 2008 16 14+18 → 16 18 J1 Clubs Fifth Round 15 November 2008 8 16 → 8 none Quarter-finals 20 December 2008 4 8 → 4 none Semi-finals 29 December 2008 2 4 → 2 none Final 1 January 2009 1 2 → 1 none
Participants J.League Division 1 Consadole Sapporo Kashima Antlers Omiya Ardija Urawa Red Diamonds Kashiwa Reysol JEF United Ichihara Chiba FC Tokyo Tokyo Verdy Kawasaki Frontale Yokohama F. Marinos Shimizu S-Pulse Júbilo Iwata Nagoya Grampus Albirex Niigata Kyoto Sanga FC Gamba Osaka Vissel Kobe Oita Trinita
J.League Division 2 Vegalta Sendai Montedio Yamagata Mito HollyHock Thespa Kusatsu Yokohama FC Shonan Bellmare FC Gifu Ventforet Kofu Cerezo Osaka Sanfrecce Hiroshima Tokushima Vortis Ehime FC Avispa Fukuoka Sagan Tosu Roasso Kumamoto
Japan Football League Tochigi SC
Prime Minister Cup University football tournament Winner Osaka Taiiku University
Prefectures Hokkaidō – Dohto University Aomori – Aomori Yamada High School Iwate – Grulla Morioka Miyagi – Sony Sendai FC Akita – TDK S.C. Yamagata – Yamagata University Fukushima – Fukushima United FC Ibaraki – Ryutsu Keizai University Tochigi – Hitachi Tochigi Uva SC Gunma – Arte Takasaki Saitama – Shobi University Chiba – JEF United Ichihara Chiba Reserves Tokyo – Kokushikan University Kanagawa – YSCC Yokohama Niigata – Niigata University of Management Toyama – Kataller Toyama Ishikawa – Zweigen Kanazawa Fukui – Saurcos Fukui Yamanashi – Tamaho FC Nagano – Matsumoto Yamaga FC Gifu – FC Gifu Second Shizuoka – Honda FC Aichi – Aichi Gakuin University Mie – Yokkaichi University Shiga – Sagawa Shiga FC Kyoto – Sagawa Printing SC Osaka – Hannan University Hyōgo – Banditonce Kakogawa FC Nara – Nara Sangyo University Wakayama – Kainan FC Tottori – Gainare Tottori Shimane – Dezzolla Shimane Okayama – Fagiano Okayama Hiroshima – Fukuyama University Yamaguchi – Hitachi Kasado FC Tokushima – Tokushima Vortis Second Kagawa – Kamatamare Sanuki Ehime – Ehime University Kochi – Kochi University Fukuoka – New Wave Kitakyushu Saga – Kyushu Inax SC Nagasaki – Mitsubishi Nagasaki SC Kumamoto – Kumamoto Ohzu High School Ōita – Nippon Bunri University Miyazaki – Honda Lock SC Kagoshima – Volca Kagoshima Okinawa – Okinawa Kariyushi FC
Matches All matches are Japan Standard Time (UTC+9)
First round
Second round
Third round The 15 J2 teams plus one JFL representative (Tochigi SC) entered at this round.
Fourth round The 18 J1 teams entered at this round.
Fifth round
Quarter finals
Semi finals
Final
External links Official site of the 88th Emperor's Cup