JFL History: 2001

In 2001, the number of JFL teams was increased further, to 16 teams. This reflects the strong desire of Japan's football heirarchy to develop the JFL into a solid, semi-professional third division. Although corporate support was still important in keeping many of the JFL teams financially healthy, the JFA decided to provide local teams a boost by encouraging many of the nations taking part in WC2002 to set up their training camps at the home facilities of JFL clubs.

Perhaps an equally important point was the JFL's increasing emphasis on teams from local regions, rather than big-city clubs. Some of the most successful teams, it is true, hail from large cities, like Honda Giken in Nagoya and Sagawa Kyubin in Tokyo. However, the majority of the teams in the JFL make their homes in small towns, where they have little or no competition for local fan support. This not only helps to bring football fever to all parts of Japan, but it is laying the basis for a very solid and broad-based league structure in years to come.

JFL Standings - 2001

.	Team	GP	W	D	L	Pts	GF	GA	GDif.
(1)	Honda FC	30	22	5	3	71	74	19	+55
(2)	Otsuka Pharma.	30	21	5	4	68	78	35	+43
(3)	Jatco KK	30	20	5	5	65	65	36	+29
(4)	Sagawa Kyubin	30	19	5	6	62	60	23	+37
(5)	Denso	30	17	3	10	54	70	54	+16
(6)	YKK	30	15	5	10	50	53	39	+14
(7)	Yokogawa FC	30	12	5	13	41	37	54	-17
(8)	NTT Kumamoto	30	10	7	13	37	55	62	-7
(9)	Shizuoka Shogyo U.	30	11	4	15	37	41	59	-18
(10)	Kokushi U.	30	10	6	14	36	47	53	-6
(11)	KYOKEN	30	9	7	14	34	39	46	-7
(12)	Ehime FC	30	9	6	15	33	39	43	-4
(13)	Tochigi SC	30	9	5	16	32	28	46	-18
(14)	Sony Sendai	30	9	5	16	32	42	63	-21
(15)	Alo's Hokuriku	30	4	7	19	19	28	57	-29
(16)	SC Tottori	30	2	2	26	8	23	90	-67