2023 Emperor's Cup
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 2023 Emperor's Cup final at Japan National Stadium | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Country | Japan |
| Dates | 20 May – 9 December |
| Teams | 88 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Kawasaki Frontale (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Kashiwa Reysol |
| Champions League Elite | Kawasaki Frontale |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 87 |
| Goals scored | 286 (3.29 per match) |
| Attendance | 344,191 (3,956 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Hidetaka Maie Akito Suzuki (5 goals) |
The 2023 Emperor's Cup (Emperor's Cup JFA 103rd Japan Football Championship (Japanese: 天皇杯 JFA 第103回全日本サッカー選手権大会)) was the 103rd edition of the annually contested cup, starting on 20 May. The format for 2023 did not present any changes from the previous edition. It featured 88 teams representing the prefectural football associations, J1 League, J2 League and Japan Football League. JFL's Honda FC was once again chosen to be the annually specially designated amateur club.[1]
Ventforet Kofu were the defending champions, after a cinderella story for the J2 club saw them qualify for the final, which they won on penalties against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, after a 1–1 draw in regulation time, but were eliminated by Vissel Kobe in the round of 16.[2]
As only J1 and J2 League clubs qualify directly for the first round, teams from outside of it who want to qualify to the Emperor's Cup (exception being made to the JFA-seeded team), had to, as usual, undergo a prefectural qualification, with regulations and schedules varying from one association to another. In total, there are 47 prefectural cup qualifications, with the winners of each prefectural cup having earned their right to play in the Emperor's Cup, with all of them assigned to start the competition in the first round.[3]
| 5 May Hokkaido Final[4] | BTOP Hokkaido | 1–0 | Hokkaido Tokachi Sky Earth | Sapporo |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Sapporo Soccer Amusement Park |
| 16 April Akita Final[5] | North Asia University | 4–1 | TDK Shinwakai | Akita |
| 10:00 JST | Stadium: Space Project Dream Field |
| 7 May Iwate Final[6] | Iwate Grulla Morioka | 7–1 | Ganju Iwate | Morioka |
| 14:00 JST | Stadium: Iwagin Stadium |
| 7 May Aomori Final[6] | Vanraure Hachinohe | 2–0 | Blancdieu Hirosaki | Hachinohe |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Prifoods Stadium |
| 7 May Miyagi Final[6] | Sony Sendai | 3–1 | Sendai University | Rifu |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Miyagi Co-op Megumino Soccer Field A Ground |
| 23 April Yamagata Final[7] | Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine | 3–1 | Yamagata University | Yamagata |
| 11:00 JST | Stadium: Yamagata City Athletic Stadium |
| 7 May Fukushima Final[6] | Fukushima United | 7–0 | Higashi Nippon International University | Fukushima |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Toho Stadium |
| 7 May Fukui Final[6] | Fukui United | 4–0 | Sakai Phoenix | Fukui |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Technoport Fukui Stadium |
| 7 May Nagano Final[6] | Nagano Parceiro | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Matsumoto Yamaga | Nagano |
| 14:00 JST | Stadium: Sunpro Alwin |
| 7 May Toyama Final[6] | Kataller Toyama | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) | Toyama Shinjo | Toyama |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Toyama Athletic Recreation Park |
| 7 May Niigata Final[8] | Niigata University HW | 3–2 | Niigata University HW FC | Shibata |
| 15:00 JST | Stadium: Izimino Park Athletic Stadium |
| 7 May Ishikawa Final[6] | Hokuriku University | 2–0 | Kanazawa Gakuin University | Kanazawa |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Kanazawa Soccer Stadium |
| 7 May Gunma Final[6] | Tonan Maebashi | 2–0 | Thespakusatsu Challengers | Maebashi |
| 10:00 JST | Stadium: Earth Care Gunma Shikishima Football Stadium |
| 7 May Ibaraki Final[6] | University of Tsukuba | 2–0 | Ryutsu Keizai Dragons Ryugasaki | Hitachinaka |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Hitachinaka City Stadium |
| 7 May Tochigi Final[6] | Tochigi City | 8–0 | Sakushin Gakuin University | Utsunomiya |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Tochigi Green Stadium |
| 7 May Yamanashi Final[6] | Yamanashi Gakuin University Pegasus | 3–1 | USC Nanaho | Kofu |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: JIT Recycle Ink Stadium |
| 23 April Chiba Final[7] | Briobecca Urayasu | 2–1 | Juntendo University | Narashino |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Frontier Soccer Field |
| 7 May Tokyo Final[6] | Criacao Shinjuku | 1–0 | Meiji University | Kita |
| 14:00 JST | Stadium: Ajinomoto Field Nishigaoka |
| 22 April Saitama Final[9] | Tokyo International University FC | 1–0 | Josai University | Sakado |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Tokyo International University 1st Soccer Field |
| 7 May Kanagawa Final[6] | SC Sagamihara | 2–0 | YSCC Yokohama | Yokohama |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Football Stadium |
| 7 May Mie Final[6] | Veertien Mie | 7–0 | Suzuka Point Getters | Suzuka |
| 13:05 JST | Stadium: Mie Suzuka Sports Garden |
| 6 May Gifu Final[10] | FC Gifu | 11–0 | Gifu Shotoku Gakuen University | Gifu |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Gifu Nagaragawa Meadow |
| 6 May Aichi Final[10] | Maruyasu Okazaki | 3–0 | Chukyo University | Nagoya |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: CS Asset Minato Soccer Stadium |
| 7 May Shizuoka Final[6] | Azul Claro Numazu | 3–0 | Tokoha University | Numazu |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Ashitaka Park Stadium |
| 7 May Nara Final[6] | Nara Club | 1–0 | Asuka FC | Kashihara |
| 13:05 JST | Stadium: Kashihara Park Athletics Stadium |
| 7 May Hyogo Final[6] | Cento Cuore Harima | 3–2 | Kwansei Gakuin University | Sumoto |
| 14:00 JST | Stadium: ASPA Goshikidai Sports Park |
| 7 May Shiga Final[6] | Reilac Shiga | 2–1 | Lagend Shiga | Higashiomi |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Nunobiki Green Stadium |
| 5 May Wakayama Final[4] | Arterivo Wakayama | 5–1 | Wakayama Kihoku Shukyudan | Wakayama |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Kimiidera Athletic Stadium |
| 6 May Kyoto Final[10] | Laranja Kyoto | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Doshisha University | Kameoka |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Sanga Stadium by Kyocera |
| 7 May Osaka Final[6] | Kansai University | 2–0 | FC Osaka | Sakai |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: J-Green Sakai |
| 23 April Okayama Final[7] | Mitsubishi Mizushima | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (8–7 p) | NTN Okayama | Okayama |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: City Light Stadium |
| 23 April Shimane Final[7] | Belugarosso Iwami | 7–0 | Hikawa Cosmos | Masuda |
| 13:30 JST | Stadium: Shimane Soccer Field |
| 23 April Tottori Final[7] | Gainare Tottori | 6–1 | Yonago Genki | Tottori |
| 12:00 JST | Stadium: Axis Bird Stadium |
| 23 April Hiroshima Final[7] | SRC Hiroshima | 1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 p) | Fukuyama City | Hiroshima |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Edion Stadium Hiroshima |
| 23 April Yamaguchi Final[7] | Baleine Shimonoseki | 2–0 | Shunan University | Shimonoseki |
| 10:30 JST | Stadium: Nogihama Park |
| 7 May Ehime Final[6] | FC Imabari | 1–0 | Ehime FC | Matsuyama |
| 19:00 JST | Stadium: Ningineer Stadium |
| 7 May Kochi Final[6] | Kochi United | 2–0 | Kochi University | Kochi |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Kochi Haruno Athletic Stadium |
| 7 May Kagawa Final[6] | Kamatamare Sanuki | 8–0 | Tadotsu FC | Takamatsu |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Kagawa Athletic Park |
| 7 May Tokushima Final[6] | FC Tokushima | 3–0 | Yellow Monkeys | Naruto |
| 14:00 JST | Stadium: Pocarisweat Stadium |
| 23 April Fukuoka Final[7] | Giravanz Kitakyushu | 1–0 | Fukuoka University | Fukuoka |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Best Denki Stadium |
| 7 May Kumamoto Final[6] | Tokai University Kumamoto | 2–1 | FCK Marry Gold Kumamoto | Kashima |
| 10:00 JST | Stadium: Kumamoto Football Center Cosmos |
| 7 May Oita Final[6] | Verspah Oita | 2–2 (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | J-Lease FC | Oita |
| 11:00 JST | Stadium: Resonac Dome Oita |
| 7 May Saga Final[6] | Brew Kashima | 2–1 | Saga University | Tosu |
| 11:00 JST | Stadium: Ekimae Real Estate Stadium |
| 6 May Nagasaki Final[10] | Mitsubishi Nagasaki SC | 0–0 (a.e.t.) (4–3 p) | MD Nagasaki | Isahaya |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Transcosmos Stadium Nagasaki |
| 7 May Miyazaki Final[6] | Tegevajaro Miyazaki | 1–0 | Minebea Mitsumi | Miyazaki |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Miyazaki Ikimenomori Sports Park Athletic Stadium |
| 7 May Kagoshima Final[6] | Kagoshima United | 1–0 | NIFS Kanoya | Kagoshima |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Shiranami Stadium |
| 7 May Okinawa Final[11] | FC Ryukyu | 2–0 | Okinawa SV | Okinawa |
| 13:00 JST | Stadium: Tapic Kenso Hiyagon Stadium |
Participating clubs
J1 League
All 18 teams playing in the 2023 J1 League entered in the second round.
|
|
J2 League
All 22 teams playing in the 2023 J2 League entered in the second round.
|
|
Amateur designated team
One team selected from the Japan Football League. It entered in the first round.
| Club | Apps. | Prefecture |
|---|---|---|
| Honda FC | 43rd | Shizuoka |
Prefectural tournaments
All the 47 prefectural tournaments winners. They all entered in the first round.[12]
- Note: In the sections below, club tiers (league levels) are presented as follows:
- National: (1): J1 League; (2): J2 League; (3): J3 League; (4): Japan Football League
- Regional (senior): (5): Regional Leagues 1st Divs.; (6): Regional Leagues 2nd Divs.
- Prefectural (senior): (7): Prefectural Leagues 1st Divs.
- Regional (university): (UL): University Regional Leagues
- Others (?): Below the cited club tiers, unknown or not affiliated with any league.
Calendar
The schedule from the first round to the quarter-finals was announced on 20 December 2022.[13] The semi-finals and the final did not have its dates released by the Japan Football Association, as uncertainties around the schedule of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup left doubts about possible reschedule of one or more rounds of the Emperor's Cup. The decision was also made to avoid schedule conflict for teams whose squads would have one or more players participating in the competition.[14]
| Round | Date (alternative date) | Matches | Clubs | New entries this round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First round | 20–21 May (22 May) | 24 | 48 (47+1) → 24 |
|
| Second round | 7–21 June | 32 | 64 (24+18+22) → 32 |
|
| Third round | 12 July (19 July) | 16 | 32 → 16 | |
| Fourth round | 2 August (9 August) | 8 | 16 → 8 | |
| Quarter-finals | 30 August (13 Sep) | 4 | 8 → 4 | |
| Semi-finals | 8 October | 2 | 4 → 2 | |
| Final | 9 December | 1 | 2 → 1 |
