Japanese Basketball League (B1 League) History
League status
The B1 League (JBL) is the first-tier professional basketball league in Japan. B1 League was established in 1991.
The B1 League sits above the B2 League which effectively forms the second-tier of Japanese basketball.
At the end of regular season, top 8 teams qualify to the play-offs.
Limits of non-Japanese players per team: 3 import players (non-Europeans), 3 Bosman players (with European passport) . Total number of allowed imports and Bosmans is 3.
League name history
1991-2013: Japan Basketball League 1999-2000 2000-2001 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013
2000-2001: JBL Pre Superleague
2016[+] until now: B1 League 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019 2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
League logos
 Until 2007 |  2007-2016 |  Since 2016 |
Title holders
Championships by club
| Titles | Club | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Ryukyu GK | 2022-23 |
| 4 |  Tochigi Brex | 2009-10, 2016-17, 2021-22, 2024-25 |
| 3 |  Alvark Tokyo | 2011-12, 2017-18, 2018-19 |
| 3 |  Sea Horses M. | 2008-09, 2012-13, 2014-15 |
| 2 |  Kawasaki BT | 2013-14, 2015-16 |
| 1 |  Chiba Jets | 2020-21 |
| 1 |  Hiroshima D. | 2023-24 |
Finals year-by-year
Finals participants
| Club | W | L | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea Horses M. | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Tochigi Brex | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Kawasaki BT | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Alvark Tokyo | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Chiba Jets | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Ryukyu GK | 1 | 3 | 4 |
 Sunrockers Sh. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Hiroshima D. | 1 | 0 | 1 |
 Wakayama T. | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Final Four participants
| Club | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tochigi Brex | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sea Horses M. | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Alvark Tokyo | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Kawasaki BT | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Chiba Jets | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Ryukyu GK | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Hiroshima D. | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sunrockers Sh. | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Wakayama T. | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
 Panasonic T. | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
 Yokohama BC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
 Shimane SM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 Nagoya DD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
 San-en NP | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Players with the most appearances in the Japanese Finals
| Player | Finals Appearances | Years |
|---|---|---|
| JR Sakuragi | 6 | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| Yuta Tabuse | 5 | 2010, 2017, 2021, 2022, 2025 |
| Makoto Hiejima | 5 | 2015, 2016, 2021, 2022, 2025 |
| Gavin Edwards | 5 | 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2025 |
| Kazutaka Takashima | 4 | 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 |
| Ryoma Hashimoto | 4 | 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| Takeki Shonaka | 4 | 2012, 2015, 2018, 2019 |
| Takahiro Kurihara | 4 | 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Naoto Tsuji | 4 | 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| Mamadou Diouf | 4 | 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
Players with the most Japanese titles
| Player | Count | Years Won |
|---|---|---|
| Yuta Tabuse | 4 | 2010, 2017, 2022, 2025 |
| JR Sakuragi | 3 | 2009, 2013, 2015 |
| Kosuke Takeuchi | 3 | 2012, 2022, 2025 |
| Takeki Shonaka | 3 | 2012, 2018, 2019 |
| Makoto Hiejima | 3 | 2015, 2022, 2025 |
| Hironori Watanabe | 3 | 2017, 2022, 2025 |
| Yusuke Endo | 3 | 2017, 2022, 2025 |
| Daiki Tanaka | 3 | 2018, 2019, 2025 |
| Kazutaka Takashima | 2 | 2009, 2013 |
| Hiromasa Omiya | 2 | 2010, 2021 |
