Contrary to the Japanese media report that almost all clubs support the change of Chuchun Festival, the atmosphere of the actual J-League club CEOs seems to be more negative.
Recently, Japanese media <Sponichi> 메이저놀이터reported that the Japanese J-League is considering switching to the Chuchun system from 2026, and that almost all clubs are responding positively to the switch. However, on the 18th, another Japanese sports media <Nikan Sports> delivered a different atmosphere in the J-League. <Nikan Sports> reported that each representative of the J-League showed a very negative reaction to the transition to the Chuchun Festival.
According to <Nikan Sports>, the J-League convened the CEOs of each J1, J2, and J3 club on the 18th to hold a working-level committee and discuss whether or not to switch to the autumn festival. As reported by <Sponich>, the autumn festival, which starts the league in the fall of 2026 when the 2026 FIFA World Cup United ends and runs the season until the end of May 2027, is on the agenda.
<Nikan Sports> explained that Chuchunje was actually an idea proposed by the Japan Football Association (JFA) to the J-League Secretariat. The Japan Football Association (JFA) proposed a plan to use the 2026 FIFA World Cup break for 7 weeks from the beginning of June to switch to the autumn festival, and prepare a 5-week winter break from January for clubs in areas with heavy snow. In addition, it appealed to J-League clubs that it was possible to increase the performance of players by reducing the number of games in hot weather and to avoid the risk of reorganizing the team power caused by overseas transfers during the season.
However, the CEOs of the J-League clubs were more inclined to maintain the current spring and autumn system. According to <Nikan Sports>, an official said, “More than 70% of CEOs showed a passive reaction to the transition to the Chuchun system. Realistically, the Chuchun system is difficult.” The reason why the J-League CEOs objected is that ▲ Teams based in areas with heavy snow are at a disadvantage ▲ It is said that Japan’s current education system (April-March) and the Chuchun system are inconsistent.
In fact, this is not the first time Japan has attempted to change the Chuchun festival. In 2013 and 2017, the Chuchun Festival was also promoted. However, even then, it was canceled due to the absolute opposition of the J-League teams. In the end, it is an atmosphere that the Japanese J-League’s Chuchunje transition has never been talked about.