2018 J1 League

{{Short description|26th season of J1 League}} {{Infobox football league season | competition = Meiji Yasuda J1 League | winners = {{nowrap|[[Kawasaki Frontale]] (2nd title)}} | relegated = [[Kashiwa Reysol]] [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] | continentalcup1 = [[2019 AFC Champions League|AFC Champions League]] | continentalcup1 qualifiers = [[Kawasaki Frontale]] [[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]] [[Kashima Antlers]] [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] | matches = 306 | total goals = 813 | league topscorer = [[Jô]] ([[Nagoya Grampus]]) (24 goals) | biggest home win = [[Kawasaki Frontale|Frontale]] v [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo|Consadole]] 7–0 (15 September) | biggest away win = [[Vegalta Sendai|Vegalta]] v [[Yokohama F. Marinos|Marinos]] 2–8 (16 July) | highest scoring = [[Vegalta Sendai|Vegalta]] v [[Yokohama F. Marinos|Marinos]] 2–8 (16 July) | longest wins = 9 – [[Gamba Osaka]] (Matchday 25–33) | longest unbeaten = 12 – [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo|Consadole Sapporo]] (Matchday 25–34) | longest winless = 15 – [[Nagoya Grampus]] (Matchday 3–17) | longest losses = 8 – [[Nagoya Grampus]] (Matchday 4–11) | highest attendance = 55,689 – [[Urawa Red Diamonds|Reds]] v [[Vissel Kobe|Vissel]] (23 September, Matchday 27) | lowest attendance = 6,189 – [[Shimizu S-Pulse|S-Pulse]] v [[V-Varen Nagasaki|V-Varen]] (11 April, Matchday 7) | attendance = 5,833,538 | average attendance = 19,064 | prevseason = [[2017 J1 League|2017]] | nextseason = [[2019 J1 League|2019]] | updated = | season = 2018 | dates = 23 February – 1 December }}

The '''2018 J1 League''', also known as the {{nihongo|'''2018 [[Meiji Yasuda Life|Meiji Yasuda]] J1 League'''|2018 明治安田生命Ｊ１リーグ|2018 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J1 Rīgu}} for sponsorship reasons, was the 26th season of [[J1 League]], the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. This was fourth season of J1 League as renamed from J. League Division 1.

[[Kawasaki Frontale]] were the defending champions.

==Clubs== A total of 18 clubs contested the league. The [[2017 J2 League]] champion [[Shonan Bellmare]] and the winner of the promotion play-offs [[Nagoya Grampus]] returned to the top flight a year after being relegated from J1 in the [[2016 J1 League|2016 season]]. [[V-Varen Nagasaki]], J2 runner-up in 2017, played in the [[J1 League]] for the first time. {|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Club !Location !Stadium !Last season |- | [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]] | [[Hokkaido]] | [[Sapporo Dome]] | J1 (11th) |- | [[Vegalta Sendai]] | [[Miyagi Prefecture]] | [[Yurtec Stadium Sendai]] | J1 (12th) |- | [[Kashima Antlers]] | [[Ibaraki Prefecture]] | [[Kashima Soccer Stadium]] | J1 (2nd) |- | [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] | [[Saitama Prefecture]] | [[Saitama Stadium 2002]] | J1 (7th) |- | [[Kashiwa Reysol]] | [[Chiba Prefecture]] | [[Sankyo Frontier Kashiwa Stadium]] | J1 (4th) |- | [[FC Tokyo]] | [[Tokyo]] | [[Ajinomoto Stadium]] | J1 (13th) |- | [[Kawasaki Frontale]] | rowspan="3" | [[Kanagawa Prefecture]] | [[Uvance Todoroki Stadium by Fujitsu|Todoroki Athletics Stadium]] | J1 (champions) |- | [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] | [[Nissan Stadium (Yokohama)|Nissan Stadium]] [[NHK Spring Mitsuzawa Football Stadium|Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium]] | J1 (5th) |- | [[Shonan Bellmare]] | [[Lemon Gas Stadium Hiratsuka|Shonan BMW Stadium Hiratsuka]] | J2 (champions) |- | [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] | rowspan="2" | [[Shizuoka Prefecture]] | [[IAI Stadium Nihondaira]] | J1 (14th) |- | [[Júbilo Iwata]] | [[Yamaha Stadium]] | J1 (6th) |- | [[Nagoya Grampus]] | [[Aichi Prefecture]] | [[Paloma Mizuho Stadium]] [[Toyota Stadium (Japan)|Toyota Stadium]] | J2 (3rd) |- | [[Gamba Osaka]] | rowspan="2" | [[Osaka Prefecture]] | [[Suita City Football Stadium|Panasonic Stadium Suita]] | J1 (10th) |- | [[Cerezo Osaka]] | [[Nagai Stadium|Yanmar Stadium]] [[Yodoko Sakura Stadium|Kincho Stadium]] | J1 (3rd) |- | [[Vissel Kobe]] | [[Hyōgo Prefecture]] | [[Noevir Stadium Kobe]] | J1 (9th) |- | [[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]] | [[Hiroshima Prefecture]] | [[Hiroshima Big Arch|Edition Stadium Hiroshima]] | J1 (15th) |- | [[Sagan Tosu]] | [[Saga Prefecture]] | [[Ekimae Real Estate Stadium|Best Amenity Stadium]] | J1 (8th) |- | [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] | [[Nagasaki Prefecture]] | [[Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki]] | J2 (2nd) |} *

=== Personnel and kits === {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Club ! Manager ! Captain ! Kit manufacturer ! Front shirt sponsor |- | [[Cerezo Osaka]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yoon Jong-hwan]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cerezo.jp/news/2018-01-15/|title=2018シーズンチームスタッフ決定のお知らせ|website=セレッソ大阪オフィシャルウェブサイト {{!}} Cerezo OSAKA|language=ja|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hotaru Yamaguchi]] | [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] | [[Yanmar]] |- | [[FC Tokyo]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kenta Hasegawa]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fctokyo.co.jp/?p=276204|title=長谷川健太氏来季監督就任のお知らせ {{!}} F.C.TOKYO|work=F.C.TOKYO|access-date=10 December 2017|language=ja}}</ref> | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jang Hyun-soo]] | [[Umbro]] | [[Tokyo Gas|Lifeval]] |- | [[Gamba Osaka]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tsuneyasu Miyamoto]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamba-osaka.net/news/index/no/7026/|title=2018シーズンガンバ大阪レヴィー・クルピ監督就任のお知らせ|website=ガンバ大阪オフィシャルサイト|language=ja|access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yasuhito Endō]] | [[Umbro]] | [[Panasonic]] |- | [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]] | {{flagicon|SRB}} [[Mihailo Petrović (footballer)|Mihailo Petrović]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.consadole-sapporo.jp/news/20180136426/|title=ミハイロペトロヴィッチ氏監督就任のお知らせ {{!}} コンサドーレ札幌オフィシャルサイト|last=株式会社コンサドーレ|website=北海道コンサドーレ札幌オフィシャルサイト|language=ja|access-date=10 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110174720/http://www.consadole-sapporo.jp/news/20180136426/|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroki Miyazawa]] | [[Kappa (brand)|Kappa]] | [[Shiroi Koibito]] |- | [[Júbilo Iwata]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroshi Nanami]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jubilo-iwata.co.jp/newslist/detail/?nw_seq=5848|title=2018年シーズン新体制(スタッフ)|website=www.jubilo-iwata.co.jp|language=ja|access-date=15 January 2018}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Nagisa Sakurauchi]] | [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] | [[Yamaha Corporation|Yamaha]] |- | [[Kashima Antlers]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Go Oiwa]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.so-net.ne.jp/antlers/news/release/63079|title=鹿島アントラーズオフィシャルサイト|last=鹿島アントラーズFC|first=株式会社|website=www.so-net.ne.jp|access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Mitsuo Ogasawara]] | [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] | [[Lixil Group|Lixil]] |- | [[Kashiwa Reysol]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Nozomu Kato]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hidekazu Otani]] | [[Yonex]] | [[Hitachi]] |- | [[Kawasaki Frontale]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Toru Oniki]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.frontale.co.jp/f_spot/f_files/2018/180121_new_structure/index.html|title=2018年新体制発表会見［コメント全文］{{!}} KAWASAKI FRONTALE OFFICIAL WEBSITE|website=www.frontale.co.jp|access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yu Kobayashi (footballer)|Yu Kobayashi]] | [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] | [[Fujitsu]] |- | [[Nagoya Grampus]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yahiro Kazama]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nagoya-grampus.jp/news/pressrelease/2017/1210post-874.php|title=風間八宏監督、契約更新のお知らせ｜ニュース｜名古屋グランパス公式サイト|work=名古屋グランパス公式サイト|access-date=10 December 2017|language=ja}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hisato Satō]] | [[Mizuno]] | [[Toyota]] |- | [[Sagan Tosu]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Myung-hwi]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yutaka Yoshida]] | [[New Balance]] | [[DHC Corporation|DHC]] |- | [[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroshi Jofuku]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/news/release/?n=11302|title=城福浩監督就任のお知らせ|website=www.sanfrecce.co.jp|language=ja|access-date=10 December 2017|archive-date=5 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705062956/http://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/news/release/?n=11302|url-status=dead}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Toshihiro Aoyama]] | [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] | [[EDION Corporation|EDION]] |- | [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] | {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Jan Jönsson]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.s-pulse.co.jp/news/detail/38746/|title=ヤンヨンソン監督就任のお知らせ｜清水エスパルス – 公式WEBサイト|website=清水エスパルス公式WEBサイト|language=ja|access-date=20 December 2017}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Ryo Takeuchi]] | [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] | Suzuyo |- | [[Shonan Bellmare]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Cho Kwi-jae]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bellmare.co.jp/183077|title=曺貴裁監督 2018シーズン続投のお知らせ « 湘南ベルマーレ公式サイト|website=www.bellmare.co.jp|access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kaoru Takayama]] | [[Penalty (brand)|Penalty]] | Meldia |- | [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Oswaldo de Oliveira]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yōsuke Kashiwagi]] | [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]] | Polus |- | [[Vegalta Sendai]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Susumu Watanabe]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vegalta.co.jp/news/press_release/2017/11/post-5376.html|title=渡邉晋監督来シーズン続投のお知らせ {{!}} ベガルタ仙台オフィシャルサイト|website=www.vegalta.co.jp|language=ja|access-date=10 December 2017}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shingo Tomita]] | [[Adidas]] | [[Iris Ohyama]] |- | [[Vissel Kobe]] | {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Juan Manuel Lillo]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/news/article/14262.html|title=2018シーズントップチーム監督およびコーチングスタッフ新体制決定のお知らせ|work=ヴィッセル神戸オフィシャルサイト|access-date=10 January 2018|language=ja}}</ref> | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Lukas Podolski]] | [[Asics]] | [[Rakuten]] |- | [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takuya Takagi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.v-varen.com/news/58533.html|title=高木琢也監督契約更新のお知らせ {{!}} V・ファーレン長崎|website=www.v-varen.com|language=ja|access-date=6 January 2018}}</ref> | {{flagicon|NED}} [[Jordy Buijs]] | [[Hummel International|Hummel]] | Japanet |- | [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ange Postecoglou]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.f-marinos.com/news/detail/2017-12-19/110000/192549|title=来シーズンの監督に関するお知らせ {{!}} 横浜F・マリノス公式サイト|website=横浜F・マリノス公式サイト|access-date=24 December 2017|archive-date=2017-12-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171219172707/http://www.f-marinos.com/news/detail/2017-12-19/110000/192549|url-status=dead}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuji Nakazawa]] | [[Adidas]] | [[Nissan]] |} {{notelist}}

===Managerial changes===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Team !Outgoing manager !Date of vacancy !Incoming manager !Date of appointment |- | [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] | {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Erick Mombaerts]] | 1 January 2018<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/11/02/soccer/j-league/marinos-erick-mombaerts-step-season/#.WlTkFLZ7EdU|title=Marinos' Erick Mombaerts to step down after season|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|date=2 November 2017}}</ref> | {{flagicon|AUS}} {{sort|name|[[Ange Postecoglou]]}} | 19 December 2017<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2017/12/19/soccer/j-league/marinos-announce-hiring-ex-australia-coach-ange-postecoglou/#.WkeHVbZ7G8U|title=Marinos announce hiring of ex-Australia coach Ange Postecoglou|newspaper=[[The Japan Times]]|date=19 December 2017}}/</ref> |- | [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takafumi Hori]] | 2 April 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/topteamtopics/%E5%A0%80%E7%9B%A3%E7%9D%A3%E3%81%A8%E3%81%AE%E5%A5%91%E7%B4%84%E8%A7%A3%E9%99%A4%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6/|title=堀監督との契約解除について|website=URAWA RED DIAMONDS OFFICIAL WEBSITE}}</ref> | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Oswaldo de Oliveira]] | 19 April 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.urawa-reds.co.jp/topteamtopics/%E3%82%AA%E3%82%BA%E3%83%AF%E3%83%AB%E3%83%89-%E3%82%AA%E3%83%AA%E3%83%B4%E3%82%A7%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A9%E7%9B%A3%E7%9D%A3%E5%B0%B1%E4%BB%BB%E3%81%AB%E3%81%A4%E3%81%84%E3%81%A6/|title=オズワルドオリヴェイラ監督就任について|website=URAWA RED DIAMONDS OFFICIAL WEBSITE}}</ref> |- | [[Kashiwa Reysol]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takahiro Shimotaira]] | 13 May 2018 | {{flagicon|JPN}} {{sort|name|[[Nozomu Kato]]}} | 13 May 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blog.reysol.co.jp/news/2018/016600.html|title = Reysol News｜柏レイソル Official Site}}</ref> |- | [[Gamba Osaka]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Levir Culpi]] | 23 July 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gamba-osaka.net/news/index/no/8126/|title = レヴィー・クルピ監督、マテルヘッドコーチ解任のお知らせ}}</ref> | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tsuneyasu Miyamoto]] | 23 July 2018 |- | [[Vissel Kobe]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takayuki Yoshida]] | 17 Sep 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/news/article/15273.html|title = ヴィッセル神戸トップチーム体制変更のお知らせ}}</ref> | {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Juan Manuel Lillo]] | 4 Oct 2018<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vissel-kobe.co.jp/news/article/15314.html|title = ヴィッセル神戸トップチーム新体制始動のお知らせ}}</ref> |- | [[Sagan Tosu]] | {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Massimo Ficcadenti]] | 17 Oct 2018 | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Myung-hwi]] | 17 Oct 2018 |}

===Foreign players=== The total number of foreign players is restricted to five per club. Clubs can register up to four foreign players for a single match-day squad, of which a maximum of three are allowed from nations outside the [[Asian Football Confederation]] (AFC). Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.

Players marked in '''bold''' indicate players that were registered during the mid-season transfer window. Players marked in ''ITALICS'' indicate players that were out of squad or left their respective clubs during the mid-season transfer window.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%;" |- !Club !Player 1 !Player 2 !Player 3 !Player 4 !Player 5 !Other !Former players |- | [[Cerezo Osaka]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Souza (footballer, born 1988)|Souza]] | {{flagicon|CRO}} [[Matej Jonjić]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Jin-hyeon]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yang Dong-hyun]] | {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Osmar (footballer, born 1988)|Osmar]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} '''[[Pierce Waring]]''' {{flagicon|THA}} [[Chaowat Veerachat]] | |- | [[FC Tokyo]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Diego Oliveira (footballer, born 1990)|Diego Oliveira]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Lins (footballer)|Lins]]''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Lipe Veloso]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jang Hyun-soo]] | | {{flagicon|THA}} [[Jakkit Wachpirom]] | |- | [[Gamba Osaka]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Ademilson]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Fábio Aguiar|Fábio]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Hwang Ui-jo]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Oh Jae-suk]] | | | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Matheus Jesus]]'' |- | [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]] | {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Jay Bothroyd]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Gu Sung-yun]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Min-tae]] | | | {{flagicon|THA}} [[Chanathip Songkrasin]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Jonathan Reis]]'' {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Julinho (footballer, born 1986)|Julinho]]'' |- | [[Júbilo Iwata]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Adaílton (footballer, born 1990)|Adaílton]] | {{flagicon|POL}} [[Krzysztof Kamiński]] | {{flagicon|TUR}} '''[[Eren Albayrak]]''' | {{flagicon|UZB}} [[Fozil Musaev]] | | | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Gabriel Morbeck]]'' {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Guilherme Santos (footballer, born 1988)|Guilherme]]'' |- | [[Kashima Antlers]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Leandro (footballer, born 1993)|Leandro]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Léo Silva]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Serginho (footballer, born March 1995)|Serginho]]''' | {{flagicon|KOR}} '''[[Jung Seung-hyun]]''' | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kwoun Sun-tae]] | | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Pedro Júnior]]'' |- | [[Kashiwa Reysol]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Cristiano da Silva|Cristiano]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Nathan Ribeiro|Nathan]]''' | {{flagicon|KEN}} '''[[Michael Olunga]]''' | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Bo-kyung]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Park Jeong-su]] | | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Ramon Lopes]]'' {{flagicon|KOR}} ''[[Yun Suk-young]]'' |- | [[Kawasaki Frontale]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Caio César (footballer)|Caio César]]''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Eduardo (footballer, born 1993)|Eduardo]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Elsinho (footballer, born 1989)|Elsinho]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jung Sung-ryong]] | | {{flagicon|PHI}} [[Jefferson Tabinas]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Eduardo Neto]]'' |- | [[Nagoya Grampus]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mitchell Langerak]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Eduardo Neto]]''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Gabriel Xavier (footballer, born 1993)|Gabriel Xavier]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Jô]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Willian Rocha]] | | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Washington (footballer, born November 1986)|Washington]]'' |- | [[Sagan Tosu]] | {{flagicon|LIB}} '''[[Joan Oumari]]''' | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Cho Dong-geon]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Min-hyeok (footballer, born February 1992)|Kim Min-hyeok]] | {{flagicon|ESP}} '''[[Fernando Torres]]''' | | | {{flagicon|COL}} ''[[Víctor Ibarbo]]'' {{flagicon|KOR}} ''[[An Yong-woo]]'' {{flagicon|KOR}} ''[[Jung Seung-hyun]]'' |- | [[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]] | {{flagicon|KOS}} '''[[Besart Berisha]]''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Felipe Silva (footballer)|Felipe]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Patric (footballer, born 1987)|Patric]] | | | {{flagicon|THA}} [[Teerasil Dangda]] | |- | [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Mitch Duke]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Crislan]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Douglas (footballer, born 1987)|Douglas]]''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Leandro Freire|Freire]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Hwang Seok-ho]] | {{flagicon|PRK}} [[Jong Tae-se]] | {{flagicon|CHN}} ''[[Wu Shaocong]]'' |- | [[Shonan Bellmare]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[André Bahia]] | {{flagicon|CRO}} [[Mihael Mikić]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Lee Jeong-hyeop]] | | | | {{flagicon|SRB}} ''[[Alen Stevanović]]'' |- | [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Andrew Nabbout]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Fabrício (footballer, born March 1990)|Fabrício]]''' | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Maurício Antônio]] | {{flagicon|CUW}} [[Quenten Martinus]] | {{flagicon|SVN}} [[Zlatan Ljubijankič]] | | |- | [[Vegalta Sendai]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Rafaelson]] | '''{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Ramon Lopes]]''' | {{flagicon|KOR}} Lee Yun-oh | | | {{flagicon|PRK}} [[Ryang Yong-gi]] {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Jung-ya]] | |- | [[Vissel Kobe]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Wellington (footballer, born 1988)|Wellington]] | {{flagicon|GER}} [[Lukas Podolski]] | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Kim Seung-gyu]] | {{flagicon|ESP}} '''[[Andrés Iniesta]]''' | | {{flagicon|QAT}} '''[[Ahmed Yasser (footballer, born 1994)|Ahmed Yasser]]''' {{flagicon|THA}} [[Theerathon Bunmathan]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} ''[[Leandro (footballer, born February 1985)|Leandro]]'' {{flagicon|KOR}} ''[[Jung Woo-young]]'' |- | [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] | {{flagicon|NED}} '''[[Jordy Buijs]]''' | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Choi Kyu-baek]] | {{flagicon|ESP}} '''[[Jairo Morillas]]''' | {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Juanma (footballer, born 1990)|Juanma]] | | | {{flagicon|AUS}} ''[[Ben Halloran]]'' |- | [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] | {{flagicon|BRA}} '''[[Thiago Martins (footballer, born 1995)|Thiago Martins]]''' | {{flagicon|CMR}} [[Olivier Boumal]] | {{flagicon|POR}} [[Hugo Vieira]] | {{flagicon|SRB}} '''[[Dušan Cvetinović]]''' | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Yun Il-lok]] | {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Ippey Shinozuka]] | {{flagicon|AUS}} ''[[Milos Degenek]]'' {{flagicon|MKD}} ''[[David Babunski]]'' |}

==Results== ===League table=== {{2018 J1 League table}}

===Positions by round=== {{#invoke:sports rbr table|table|sortable=y|legendpos=br |team1 = [[Kawasaki Frontale]] | pos1 = 1/ 4/ 2/ 1/ 3/ 2/ 5/ 6/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 4/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1 |team2= [[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]] |pos2= 4/ 2/ 1/ 2/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 1/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2 |team3= [[Kashima Antlers]] |pos3=12/ 7/ 9/ 6/ 8/12/13/ 8/12/14/15/13/ 8/10/11/13/10/ 7/ 9/ 6/ 7/ 7/ 7/ 7/ 8/ 7/ 4/ 3/ 3/ 5/ 5/ 3/ 3/ 3 |team4= [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]] |pos4=16/11/15/11/15/ 7/ 6/ 4/ 4/ 4/ 4/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 6/ 4/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 6/ 4/ 4/ 5/ 7/ 4/ 5/ 3/ 3/ 4/ 4/ 4 |team5= [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] |pos5= 6/13/13/17/17/16/11/10/ 9/12/14/11/12/13/14/11/12/ 9/ 7/ 8/ 9/ 9/ 9/ 9/ 9/ 9/ 8/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 5 |team6= [[FC Tokyo]] |pos6= 6/14/17/13/ 9/ 4/ 3/ 5/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 2/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 3/ 5/ 4/ 4/ 4/ 5/ 5/ 6 |team7= [[Cerezo Osaka]] |pos7= 6/ 9/10/15/12/ 6/ 4/ 3/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 5/ 4/ 5/ 4/ 4/ 4/ 5/ 6/ 7/ 6/ 5/ 5/ 6/ 5/ 6/ 5/ 7/ 8/ 7/ 8/ 8/ 9/ 7 |team8= [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] |pos8=12/ 5/ 3/ 3/ 4/ 5/ 8/12/13/11/ 7/10/11/ 9/10/ 9/ 8/10/ 8/10/11/11/11/12/12/10/10/ 9/ 9/ 8/ 7/ 7/ 7/ 8 |team9= [[Gamba Osaka]] |pos9=14/17/18/18/18/18/18/18/17/17/16/15/16/16/16/16/16/16/16/17/17/18/17/17/17/17/17/13/12/10/ 9/ 9/ 8/ 9 |team10= [[Vissel Kobe]] |pos10= 6/15/14/ 8/13/10/ 9/ 9/ 7/ 6/ 8/ 8/10/ 7/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 4/ 5/ 5/ 4/ 4/ 4/ 5/ 7/ 8/ 9/10/11/12/11/12/11/10 |team11= [[Vegalta Sendai]] |pos11= 4/ 3/ 5/ 4/ 2/ 3/ 2/ 2/ 6/ 7/ 6/ 9/ 7/ 8/ 7/ 8/ 7/ 8/10/12/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 8/ 6/ 4/ 6/ 8/ 7/ 9/10/10/10/11 |team12= [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] |pos12= 6/16/16/12/10/13/14/16/15/15/13/16/15/15/13/10/13/13/13/15/13/14/15/15/14/14/12/11/10/11/13/11/12/12 |team13= [[Shonan Bellmare]] |pos13= 3/ 6/ 7/10/14/11/12/15/14/13/10/12/13/14/12/14/11/12/11/11/12/12/12/14/13/13/14/14/13/14/14/14/14/13 |team14= [[Sagan Tosu]] |pos14= 6/10/ 6/ 9/ 6/ 9/ 9/14/16/16/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/17/16/15/15/16/16/16/15/15/16/17/16/15/15/15/14 |team15= [[Nagoya Grampus]] |pos15= 2/ 1/ 4/ 5/ 7/15/16/17/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/16/14/13/11/12/13/15/16/15/16/16/16/15 |team16= [[Júbilo Iwata]] |pos16=18/18/11/13/10/14/15/11/ 8/10/ 9/ 6/ 6/ 6/ 8/ 7/ 9/11/12/ 9/10/10/10/10/10/11/11/12/15/13/12/13/13/16 |team17= [[Kashiwa Reysol]] |pos17=16/ 8/ 8/ 7/ 5/ 8/ 7/ 7/10/ 8/11/ 7/ 9/11/ 9/12/14/15/15/13/14/13/13/11/15/16/16/17/14/17/17/17/17/17 |team18= [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] |pos18=15/11/12/16/16/17/17/13/11/ 9/12/14/14/12/15/15/15/14/14/14/16/17/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18/18  | color_1 =1st |text_1 = Leader and qualification to [[2019 AFC Champions League#Group stage|AFC Champions League Group stage]] | color_2-3=green2|text_2-3= Qualification to [[2019 AFC Champions League|AFC Champions League qualifying play-off]] | color_16 =red2 |text_16 = Qualification to [[#Relegation play-off|Relegation play-off]] | color_17-=red1 |text_17-= Relegation to [[2019 J2 League|J2 League]] | source=[http://www.jleague.jp/en/match/search/j1/latest/ Meiji Yasuda J1 League] | update=complete }}

===Results table=== {{#invoke:sports results|main|matches_style = FBR|update=complete |source = [http://data.j-league.or.jp/SFRT06/search?selectedCompetitionName=明治安田生命Ｊ１リーグ&selectedYear=2018年&selectedYearId=2018&selectedCompetitionId=444&yearId=2018&competitionId=444 2018 J1 League]

| match_VIS_ANT = 0–5 | match_VIS_BEL = 0–3 | match_VIS_CER = 2–0 | match_VIS_CON = 4–0 | match_VIS_FMA = 0–2 | match_VIS_FRO = 1–2 | match_VIS_GAM = 1–2 | match_VIS_GRA = 3–0 | match_VIS_JUB = 2–1 | match_VIS_RED = 2–3 | match_VIS_REY = 1–0 | match_VIS_SSP = 2–4 | match_VIS_SAG = 0–0 | match_VIS_SFR = 1–1 | match_VIS_TOK = 0–0 | match_VIS_VVN = 1–1 | match_VIS_VEG = 3–2 }}

==Promotion–Relegation Playoff== '''2018 J.League J1/J2 Play-Offs''' (2018 J1参入プレーオフ) {{main| 2018 J2 League#Promotion–Relegation Playoffs}} {{Football box | date = {{Start date|2018|12|8|df=y}} | event = | time = 14:00 | team1 = [[Júbilo Iwata]] | score = 2–0 | report = https://www.jleague.jp/sp/en/match/j1j2playoff/2018/120801/live/#live | team2 = [[Tokyo Verdy]] | goals1 = [[Koki Ogawa (footballer)|Ogawa]] {{goal|41|pen.}} [[Taishi Taguchi|Taguchi]] {{goal|80}} | goals2 = | stadium = [[Yamaha Stadium]], [[Iwata, Shizuoka|Iwata]] | attendance = 14,588 | referee = }} Júbilo Iwata stays in J1 League and Tokyo Verdy remains in J2 League.

==Season statistics== ===Top scorers=== {{updated|matches played on 1 December 2018}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jleague.jp/en/stats/goal.html?s=J1|title = J.league.jp Japan Professional Football League}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:central" |- !Rank !Player !Club !Goals |- !1 | {{flagdeco|BRA}} [[Jô]] | [[Nagoya Grampus]] | {{center| 24}} |- !2 | {{flagdeco|BRA}} [[Patric (footballer, born 1987)|Patric]] | [[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]] | {{center| 20}} |- !3 | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Hwang Ui-jo]] | [[Gamba Osaka]] | {{center| 16}} |- !rowspan=2|4 | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shinzo Koroki]] | [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] | rowspan=2 align=center| 15 |- | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yu Kobayashi (footballer)|Yu Kobayashi]] | [[Kawasaki Frontale]] |- !rowspan=3|6 | {{flagdeco|BRA}} [[Diego Oliveira (footballer, born 1990)|Diego Oliveira]] | [[FC Tokyo]] | rowspan=3 align=center| 13 |- | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Koya Kitagawa]] | [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] |- | {{flagicon|POR}} [[Hugo Vieira]] | [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] |- !9 | {{flagdeco|JPN}} [[Ken Tokura]] | [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]] | {{center| 12}} |- !rowspan=5|10 | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Douglas (footballer, born 1987)|Douglas]] | [[Shimizu S-Pulse]] | rowspan=5 align=center| 11 |- | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kengo Kawamata]] | [[Júbilo Iwata]] |- | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Musashi Suzuki]] | [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] |- | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Takuma Nishimura (footballer)|Takuma Nishimura]] | [[Vegalta Sendai]] |- | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuma Suzuki]] | [[Kashima Antlers]] |}

===Top assists=== {| class=wikitable |- !Rank !Player !Club !Assists |- !1 |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yōsuke Kashiwagi]] |[[Urawa Red Diamonds]] |{{center|12}} |- !2 |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Junya Ito (footballer, born 1993)|Junya Ito]] |[[Kashiwa Reysol]] |{{center|11}} |- !rowspan=2|3 |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kosei Shibasaki]] |[[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]] |rowspan=2 align=center|9 |- |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuma Suzuki]] |[[Kashima Antlers]] |- !rowspan=4|4 |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Gabriel Xavier (footballer, born 1993)|Gabriel Xavier]] |[[Nagoya Grampus]] |rowspan=4 align=center|8 |- |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hideki Ishige]] |[[Shimizu S-Pulse]] |- |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Koya Kitagawa]] |[[Shimizu S-Pulse]] |- |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Yuki Muto]] |[[Urawa Red Diamonds]] |}

===Hat-tricks===

{|class="wikitable" |- ! Player !! For !! Against !! style="text-align:center"| Result !! Date |- |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Diego Oliveira (footballer, born 1990)|Diego Oliveira]] || [[FC Tokyo]] || [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2–5 (A)|| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|04|08}} |- |{{flagicon|POR}} [[Hugo Vieira]] || [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] || [[Shonan Bellmare]] || style="text-align:center;"| 4–4 (H)|| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|04|21}} |- |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Sho Ito]] || [[Yokohama F. Marinos]] || [[Vegalta Sendai]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2–8 (A)|| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|07|18}} |- |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Jô]] || [[Nagoya Grampus]] || [[Gamba Osaka]] || style="text-align:center;"| 4–1 (H)|| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|08|05}} |- |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Fabrício (footballer, born March 1990)|Fabrício]] || [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] || [[Júbilo Iwata]] || style="text-align:center;"| 4–0 (H)|| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|08|15}} |- |{{flagicon|BRA}} [[Jô]] || [[Nagoya Grampus]] || [[Urawa Red Diamonds]] || style="text-align:center;"| 4–1 (H)|| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|08|26}} |- |{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Musashi Suzuki]] || [[V-Varen Nagasaki]] || [[Nagoya Grampus]] || style="text-align:center;"| 4–3 (A)|| {{dts|format=dmy|2018|09|15}} |- |}

;Note (H) – Home; (A) – Away

==Attendances== {{fb a header}} {{fb a team|p=1 |t=[[Urawa Red Diamonds]]|s=603534|h=55689|l=21250|a=35502|pr=33542}} {{fb a team|p=2 |t=[[FC Tokyo]]|s=449388|h=44801|l=13425|a=26432|pr=26490}} {{fb a team|p=3 |t=[[Nagoya Grampus]]|s=419218|h=43579|l=9297|a=24660|pr=15365|nt=†}} {{fb a team|p=4 |t=[[Gamba Osaka]]|s=399242|h=35242|l=11824|a=23485|pr=24277}} {{fb a team|p=5 |t=[[Kawasaki Frontale]]|s=394709|h=24677|l=17113|a=23218|pr=22112}} {{fb a team|p=6 |t=[[Yokohama F. Marinos]]|s=370401|h=41686|l=8688|a=21788|pr=24180}} {{fb a team|p=7 |t=[[Vissel Kobe]]|s=367716|h=26603|l=9015|a=21630|pr=18272}} {{fb a team|p=8 |t=[[Kashima Antlers]]|s=330376|h=33647|l=7672|a=19434|pr=20467}} {{fb a team|p=9 |t=[[Cerezo Osaka]]|s=319782|h=34303|l=8165|a=18811|pr=20970}} {{fb a team|p=10|t=[[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]]|s=309798|h=34250|l=6729|a=18223|pr=18418}} {{fb a team|p=11|t=[[Júbilo Iwata]]|s=263060|h=31375|l=8047|a=15474|pr=16321}} {{fb a team|p=12|t=[[Vegalta Sendai]]|s=261943|h=19152|l=13158|a=15408|pr=14746}} {{fb a team|p=13|t=[[Sagan Tosu]]|s=255004|h=22669|l=7138|a=15000|pr=14194}} {{fb a team|p=14|t=[[Shimizu S-Pulse]]|s=254844|h=20109|l=6193|a=14991|pr=15116}} {{fb a team|p=15|t=[[Sanfrecce Hiroshima]]|s=243874|h=21997|l=7344|a=14346|pr=14042}} {{fb a team|p=16|t=[[Shonan Bellmare]]|s=206039|h=15351|l=8002|a=12120|pr=8454|nt=†}} {{fb a team|p=17|t=[[Kashiwa Reysol]]|s=193833|h=14208|l=9255|a=11402|pr=10728}} {{fb a team|p=18|t=[[V-Varen Nagasaki]]|s=190827|h=15975|l=6579|a=11225|pr=5941|nt=†}} {{fb a footer|s=5833538|h=55689|l=6193|a=19064|pr=18883|u=1 December 2018|source=[http://data.j-league.or.jp/SFTD14/search?endDayNum=8&competition_year=2018&competition_frame=1 J. League Data]|notes=† Promoted from J2. |date=December 2021}}

== Awards == {| role="presentation" class="floatright" style="width:180px;" |style="text-align:center;"| {{Image label begin|image=Soccer Field Transparant.svg|width=175|font-size=80%}} {{Image label|x=0.45|y=1.28|scale=175|text=[[Jung Sung-ryong|Jung]]}} {{Image label|x=0.54|y=1.11|scale=175|text=[[Shogo Taniguchi|Taniguchi]]}} {{Image label|x=0.74|y=1.00|scale=175|text=[[Elsinho (footballer, born 1989)|Elsinho]]}} {{Image label|x=0.24|y=1.11|scale=175|text=[[Shintaro Kurumaya|Kurumaya]]}} {{Image label|x=0.17|y=1.00|scale=175|text=[[Daigo Nishi|Nishi]]}} {{Image label|x=0.74|y=0.57|scale=175|text=[[Akihiro Ienaga|Ienaga]]}} {{Image label|x=0.60|y=0.71|scale=175|text=[[Kengo Nakamura|Nakamura]]}} {{Image label|x=0.31|y=0.71|scale=175|text=[[Ryota Oshima|Oshima]]}} {{Image label|x=0.17|y=0.56|scale=175|text=[[Chanathip Songkrasin|Chanathip]]}} {{Image label|x=0.60|y=0.31|scale=175|text=[[Jô|Jô]]}} {{Image label|x=0.33|y=0.31|scale=175|text=[[Hwang Ui-jo|Hwang]]}} {{Image label end}}2018 J.League Best XI |}

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Award ! Winner ! Club |- | [[J.League Manager of the Year|Manager of the Year]] | {{flagicon|SRB}} [[Mihailo Petrović (footballer)|Mihailo Petrović]] | [[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]] |- | [[J.League Player of the Year|Most Valuable Player]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Akihiro Ienaga]] | [[Kawasaki Frontale]] |- | [[J.League Best Young Player|Rookie of the Year]] | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Hiroki Abe]] | [[Kashima Antlers]] |}

{| class="wikitable" |- ! colspan="13" | [[J.League Best XI]] |- | '''Attack''' | colspan="6" align="center" | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Hwang Ui-jo]] ([[Gamba Osaka]]) | colspan="6" align="center" | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Jô]] ([[Nagoya Grampus]]) |- | '''Midfield''' | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|THA}} [[Chanathip Songkrasin]] ([[Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo]]) | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Ryota Oshima]] ([[Kawasaki Frontale]]) | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kengo Nakamura]] ([[Kawasaki Frontale]]) | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Akihiro Ienaga]] ([[Kawasaki Frontale]]) |- | '''Defence''' | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Daigo Nishi]] ([[Kashima Antlers]]) | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shintaro Kurumaya]] ([[Kawasaki Frontale]]) | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shogo Taniguchi]] ([[Kawasaki Frontale]]) | colspan="3" align="center" | {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Elsinho (footballer, born 1989)|Elsinho]] ([[Kawasaki Frontale]]) |- | '''Goalkeeper''' | colspan="12" align="center" | {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Jung Sung-ryong]] ([[Kawasaki Frontale]]) |}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:J1 League}} [[Category:2018 J.League|1]] [[Category:J1 League seasons|2018]] [[Category:2018 in Asian men's top-tier association football leagues|Japan]]