The 2010 J. League Division 2 season was the 39th season of the second-tier club football in Japan and the 12th season since the establishment of J2 League. The season began on March 6 and ended on December 4.
In this season, the number of participating clubs was increased by one, making the total number, nineteen. As opposed to the last two seasons, clubs will play double-round robin, instead of triple-round robin. At the end of the season, the top three clubs were promoted to J. League Division 1 for the 2011 season. Furthermore, there was no relegation to the third-tier Japan Football League.
Clubs
The following nineteen clubs will play in J. League Division 2 during the 2010 season. Of these clubs, JEF United Chiba, Kashiwa Reysol, and Oita Trinita were relegated from J1 League last year. Also, Giravanz Kitakyushu (formerly known as New Wave Kitakyushu) newly joined from Japan Football League.
Club nameHome town(s)Note(s)Avispa FukuokaFukuoka, FukuokaConsadole SapporoSapporo, HokkaidōEhime FCAll cities/towns in EhimeFagiano OkayamaAll cities/towns in OkayamaFC GifuAll cities/towns in GifuGiravanz KitakyushuKitakyushu, FukuokaPromoted from JFL in 2009Renamed from New Wave KitakyushuJEF United ChibaChiba & Ichihara, ChibaRelegated from J1 League in 2009Kashiwa ReysolKashiwa, ChibaRelegated from J1 League in 2009Kataller ToyamaAll cities/towns in ToyamaMito HollyHockMito, IbarakiOita TrinitaAll cities/towns in OitaRelegated from J1 League in 2009Roasso KumamotoKumamoto, KumamotoSagan TosuTosu, SagaThespa KusatsuAll cities/towns in GunmaTochigi SCUtsunomiya, TochigiTokushima VortisAll cities/towns in TokushimaTokyo VerdyAll cities/towns in TokyoVentforet KofuAll cities/towns in YamanashiYokohama FCYokohama, Kanagawa
League format Nineteen clubs will play in double round-robin (home and away) format, a total of 36 games each. A club receives 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie, and 0 points for a loss. The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order: Goal differential Goals scored Head-to-head results Disciplinary points A draw would be conducted, if necessary. However, if two clubs are tied at the first place, both clubs will be declared as the champions. Three top clubs will be promoted to J1 (see below). Changes from Previous Year Nineteen participating clubs, increased by one, Giravanz Kitakyushu, from last year Due to abolishment of triple round-robin format, which has been applied for the past two seasons, and installation of double round-robin, the number of games per club decreased to 36, down from 51, the fewest games played in J2, as same as 1999 J2 season. Therefore, regular season schedule had a month break after June 13 games during 2010 FIFA World Cup, first World Cup break as J2 since the 2002 events held in Japan, then the season resumed from July 17. As in J1, J2 teams may now have 7 substitute players per match, up from 5.
League table
Results
Top scorers
RankScorerClubGoals 1 Mike HavenaarVentforet Kofu 20 2 Ricardo LoboTochigi SC 16 Tomohiro TsudaTokushima Vortis 16 4 Genki NagasatoAvispa Fukuoka 15 5 PaulinhoVentforet Kofu 14 6 Leandro DominguesKashiwa Reysol 13 Yohei ToyodaSagan Tosu 13 8 Masashi OguroMoved on loan to FC Tokyo after 17th week.Yokohama FC 12 9 Ryohei HayashiKashiwa Reysol 11 10 Kazuki HiramotoTokyo Verdy 10 Masato KudoKashiwa Reysol 10 Kosuke NakamachiAvispa Fukuoka 10 Neto BaianoJEF United Chiba 10 Notes:
Attendance
References