Japan’s newly formed fully professional women’s league will require that at least half the staff roles at clubs are filled by women when it kicks-off its first season in September 2021.

Japan's coach Asako Takakura during the France 2019 Women's World Cup round of sixteen football match between Netherlands and Japan, on June 25, 2019, at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, north western France.
Japan’s coach Asako Takakura during the France 2019 Women’s World Cup round of sixteen football match between Netherlands and Japan, on June 25, 2019, at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes, north western France. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) (Photo credit should read LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)

Although the final details of the new league have not been formalised (it will have between six and 10 teams in it, for instance) it will run between September 2021 and May 2022 in what is considered a traditional European football season unlike the men’s which starts in the spring. Details of the new league were announced last year but further information came out this weekend.

Clubs will be required to have women in at least half their staff roles within three years.

The current women’s Nadeshiko League will continue as an amateur league and while it will be ranked beneath the new division, there are no plans to introduce promotion and relegation.

The teams for the new league are expected to be announced this summer with the league’s parent company being set up in April.