Soccer - Yokohama Sports Teams Special

Soccer has become a national sport in Japan since the J-League began in 1993. Soccer is played with a team of 11 players competing to score points by inserting a ball into the opponent's goal.
The number of soccer players in Japan is over 4 million. It is popular all over the world because of its simple rules and the fact that it can be played with just a ball and a certain amount of space. In addition to the FIFA World Cup, which is played between countries, clubs also compete against each other in tournaments that attract a great deal of attention, especially in Europe and South America.
Japan's oldest soccer match, held in 1888, was between a team from Yokohama and a team from Kobe.
The 2002 FIFA World Cup final match between Germany and Brazil, co-hosted by Japan and Korea, was played at Nissan Stadium in Kohoku-ku, Yokohama.

Tips for a better sports experience!
Spectator's Guide

POINT1

Japan is now a regular participant in the FIFA World Cup Final Tournament. Japan's J-League is one of the highest level soccer leagues in Asia, so you can watch world-class players play here.

POINT2

One of the most fascinating aspects of soccer is the goal scenes. Since it is a sport where dozens of goals are never scored in a single game, each goal scene is very valuable and exciting. Don’t miss it!

POINT3

Compared to other sports, the soccer rules are said to be easier to understand. Basically, as long as you understand that "you don’t use your hands" and "you score when you shoot into the opponent's goal," you can enjoy watching the game even if you are not familiar with the sport.

POINT4

Among sports leagues, the J-League's slogan is to be community-based. This is why, if you go to a game, the chances are infinitely high that the people cheering next to you are from the team's hometown. If you visit the stadium, you might make new friends!

Index / Soccer Team Information
*Information of teams, players, uniforms and uniform numbers are as of March 2023.

Yokohama F. Marinos

Yokohama F. Marinos originated from the Nissan Motor Company Soccer Club, which was founded in 1972, and its Home Stadium is Nissan Stadium. It is an original member of the J-League, which began in 1993. In 1999, the club merged with Yokohama Flugels and took on its current name, Yokohama F. Marinos. It is one of the most prestigious teams in Japan, having won the J-League championship five times.
The team's most famous players include Masami Ihara, who led Japan's national team to its first World Cup appearance as captain, and Shunsuke Nakamura, who participated in the World Cup as a free kick specialist and also played overseas. Takeshi Okada, who twice coached the Japanese national team in the World Cup as a manager, also coached Yokohama F. Marinos from 2003 to 2006. The characters Marinos-kun, Marinosuke, and Marin, all based on Yokohama's city bird, the seagull, are also important supporters of the team.
Image: ©︎1992Y.MARINOS
Team Information
Home Stadium Nissan Stadium
Address 3300 Kozuki-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number 045-285-0677(Tricolor Members Office)
Official website (Game information) https://www.f-marinos.com/
Access to the Stadium
  • About 8 minutes from the Kohoku Interchange exit on the Daisan Keihin Expressway
  • About 15-min. walk from JR Shin-Yokohama Station
  • About 7 minutes from JR Kozukue Station

Yokohama FC (Men)

A J1 soccer club with a home stadium at the 15,454-seat Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Ball Stadium. The club was founded in 1999 by local citizens, won the JFL championship in its first year of foundation, and joined the J League (J2) in 2001. In 2006, the team won the J2 championship and was promoted to the J1 league. The club's former players include "King Kazu" Kazuyoshi Miura, Shoji Jo, and Motohiro Yamaguchi, both former members of the Japanese national team who played in the World Cup in France.
The club's official mascot is "Furimaru”. The alien-like character associates the progressive image of Yokohama, the club's hometown, and a vast “universe” that is the image of Yokohama FC's future potential. It was created as a phoenix messenger who bears the wishes of all those involved in the launch of the club and continues to protect their passionate wishes.
Image: ©️YOKOHAMA FC
Emblem: ©️1999Y.F.SPORTS C.
Team Information
Home Stadium Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Ball Stadium
Address 3-1 Mitsuzawa-Nishi-machi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Official HP (match information) https://www.yokohamafc.com/
Access to the stadium
  • From the West Exit of JR Yokohama Station From “Mitsuzawa Sogo Ground Iriguchi" or "Shimin Hospital" bus stop on municipal bus/Sotetsu bus (platform 6-10) (2-minute walk)
  • 15-min. walk from Mitsuzawa Kamimachi Station on the municipal subway line

Y.S.C.C.

Y.S.C.C. (Yokohama Sports&Culture Club) is a J3 soccer club established in 1986. Y.S.C.C. entered the J3 League in 2014 and is aiming for promotion to J2. Its home stadium is the Nippatsu Mitsusawa Ball Stadium.
The club's development organization and school support children's activities from a long-term perspective, rather than just aiming to "win". In 2003, they started the "Hohoemi Class," where children can enjoy sports in a casual manner, as a foothold to become a regional comprehensive sports club.
Based on the philosophy of lifelong sports, which aims for anyone to be able to participate "anytime" and "anywhere," Y.S.C.C. holds tennis, basketball, badminton, and futsal classes as well as soccer classes. Many people work up a good sweat through their activities.
Team Information
Home Stadium Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Ball Stadium
Address 3-1 Mitsuzawa-Nishimachi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Phone number 045-621-8760(Representative)
Official website (match information) https://yscc1986.net/
Access to the stadium
  • “Mitsuzawa Sogo Ground Iriguchi" or "Shimin Hospital" bus stop on municipal bus/Sotetsu bus (platform 6-10) (2-minute walk)
  • 15 min. walk from Mitsuzawa Kamimachi Station on the Municipal Subway line
Parking Unavailable

Nippatsu Yokohama FC Seagulls

A women's soccer team in the first division of the Japan Women’s Football League. The team was established in February 2013 with the goals of "creating an environment where women can play soccer as a lifelong sport" and "promoting and strengthening women's soccer”. The team was created through a partnership between Yokohama FC Sports Club, a general incorporated association, and Yokosuka Seagulls Sports Club, a non-profit organization.
Starting from the 2016 season, the team signed a sponsorship agreement with NHK Spring Co. (Nippatsu) and changed its name to "Nippatsu Yokohama FC Seagulls". The team has the Yokosuka Seagulls as a subordinate organization.
Home stadiums are Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Ball Stadium and Kanagawa Prefectural Hodogaya Park Soccer Ground. Under coach Mihoko Ishida, a native of Yokohama, the team aims to win the league championship in the Plenus Nadeshiko League Division 1, in which 12 teams participate.
Team Information
Home Stadium Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium
Address 3-1 Mitsuzawa-Nishimachi, Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Access to the stadium
  • From the West Exit of JR Yokohama Station From “Mitsuzawa Sogo Ground Iriguchi" or "Shimin Hospital" bus stop on municipal bus/Sotetsu bus (platform 6-10) (2-minute walk)
  • 15 min. walk from Mitsuzawa Kamimachi Station on the Municipal Subway line
Parking Unavailable
Home Stadium Kanagawa Prefectural Hodogaya Park Soccer Ground
Address 4-2 Hanamidai, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Access to the stadium
  • 15 min.walk from Hoshikawa Station or Wadamachi Station on the Sotetsu Line
  • From Hodogaya Baseball Stadium bus stop on the Yokohama Municipal Transportation Bureau Route 25
Parking available
Phone number 045-828-0560(Representative)
Official website (match information) https://seagulls.yokohamafc-sc.com/

Nittaidai SMG Yokohama

This is a club team that includes the Nippon Sport Science University Women's Soccer Club (founded in 1985), which entered the Japan Women's Soccer League in 2010.
From 2022, the name of the club changed to "Nittaidai SMG Yokohama" and it has become a sports club with track and field athletes as members as well. The team is based in Aoba-ku, Yokohama, with the understanding and cooperation of "university" and "community," the empathy and support of "companies" and "organizations," and the acceptance of the boundaries of each while conceding, mingling and melting together, as a small bridge for world peace and happiness realized through sports.
Team Information
Home Stadium Nippon Sport Science University, Yokohama-Kenshidai Campus Soccer Field
Address 1221-1 Kamoshidacho, Aoba-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa
Phone number 050-1753-3547(Yokohama-Kenshidai Campus)
Official website (match information) nssusmg.com
Access to the stadium 15 min. by bus from Aobadai Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line
Parking Unavailable