1988–89 Japan Soccer League
Statistics of Japan Soccer League in season 1988/1989.
First Division
For the first time, the format of three points for a win was adopted, but only for the First Division. Nissan won their first title.
Four-time champion Mitsubishi was relegated for the first time, along with struggling Sumitomo.
Second Division
This was the last season in which the second tier was contested in an East-and-West format. Toshiba won a second championship, but this time their promotion was automatic. Fallen giant Hitachi, still adjusting to the change in town, joined them. Regional outfits Fujieda Municipal and NTT Kansai went back to their regional leagues.
First Stage
East
| Pos | Club | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1 | Toshiba | 23 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 38 | 7 | +29 |
| 2 | Fujitsu | 20 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 22 | 13 | +9 |
| 3 | Hitachi | 19 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 18 | 9 | +9 |
| 4 | NTT Kanto | 16 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 12 | +4 |
| 5 | Kofu Club | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 19 | 24 | -5 |
| 6 | Toho Titanium | 9 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 24 | -14 |
| 7 | Cosmo Oil | 8 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 25 | -12 |
| 8 | Fujieda City Office | 3 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 29 | -22 |
West
| Pos | Club | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1 | Mazda | 22 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 6 | +18 |
| 2 | Toyota Motors | 21 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 27 | 8 | +19 |
| 3 | Tanabe Pharmaceuticals | 19 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 11 | +9 |
| 4 | Osaka Gas | 18 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 18 | +2 |
| 5 | Nippon Steel | 12 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 19 | +3 |
| 6 | Kawasaki Steel | 8 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 15 | -7 |
| 7 | Teijin Matsuyama | 8 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 32 | -14 |
| 8 | NTT Kansai | 4 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 31 | -24 |
Second Stage
Promotion Group
Relegation Group
East
| Pos | Club | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Notes |
| 1 | Kofu Club | 20 | 9 | 2 | 9 | 24 | 29 | -5 |
| 2 | Cosmo Oil | 17 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 25 | 30 | -5 |
| 3 | Toho Titanium | 13 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 33 | -16 |
| 4 | Fujieda City Office | 8 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 38 | -27 | Relegated to Regional Leagues |
West
| Pos | Club | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Notes |
| 1 | Nippon Steel | 20 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 25 | 25 | 0 |
| 2 | Kawasaki Steel | 14 | 2 | 10 | 8 | 15 | 22 | -7 |
| 3 | Teijin Matsuyama | 13 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 26 | 42 | -16 |
| 4 | NTT Kansai | 9 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 17 | 42 | -25 | Relegated to Regional Leagues |
9th-16th Places Playoff
| Pos | East | Score | West |
| 9・10 | Kofu Club | 1-1(PK3-1) | Nippon Steel |
| 11・12 | Cosmo Oil | 0-0(PK3-2) | Kawasaki Steel |
| 13・14 | Toho Titanium | 2-3 | Teijin Matsuyama |
| 15・16 | Fujieda City Office | 0-3 | NTT Kansai |
References