Asuka FC

{{Infobox football club

| clubname = Asuka FC
飛鳥FC

| image = Asuka FC logo.png

| image_size = 180px

| fullname = Asuka Football Club

| nickname =

| founded = {{Start date and age|2003}} as Porvenir Kashihara

| stadium = Nara Prefectural Kashihira Park Athletics Stadium
Kashihara, Japan

| capacity = 3,000

| owner = Asuka FC Co., Ltd.

| chairman = Tatsuo Fukunishi

| manager = Naohiko Minobe

| league = {{Japanese football updater|Asuka}}

| season = {{Japanese football updater|Asuka2}}

| current = {{CURRENTYEAR}} Asuka FC 2025 season

| position = {{Japanese football updater|Asuka3}}

| website = {{url|https://asukafc.jp/}}

| pattern_la1 =

| pattern_la2 =

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| pattern_b2 = _thinblacksides

| pattern_ra1 =

| pattern_ra2 =

| pattern_sh1 =

| pattern_sh2 =

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| leftarm1 = 9C0041

| leftarm2 = FFFFFF

| body1 = 9C0041

| body2 = FFFFFF

| rightarm1 = 9C0041

| rightarm2 = FFFFFF

| shorts1 = 9C0041

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}}{{Short description|Association football club in Japan}}

{{nihongo|Asuka Football Club|飛鳥フットボールクラブ|Asuka Futtobōru Kurabu}}, commonly known as {{nihongo|Asuka FC|飛鳥FC|Asuka Efushi}} is a semi-professional football club based in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan. The team currently play in Japan Football League, the fourth tier of Japanese football.{{Cite web |last=soccer11 |title=【公式】飛鳥FC|奈良県中南和地域のサッカーチーム {{!}} 飛鳥FCの公式サイトです。飛鳥FCは奈良県中南和のJリーグを目指す社会人サッカークラブです。各リーグの結果や選手情報を掲載しています。 |url=https://asukafc.jp/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=【公式】飛鳥FC|奈良県中南和地域のサッカーチーム |language=ja}} The club was founded on 6 December, 2003, and has undergone several name changes throughout its history, including Porvenir Kashihara and from Porvenir Asuka in 2022.{{Cite web |title=沿革 |url=https://www.porvenir.jp/about/history/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=NPO法人 ポルベニルカシハラスポーツクラブ |language=ja}}

History

Asuka FC has steadily progressed through the Japanese football league system. The club has participated in regional leagues, notably the Kansai Soccer League, which is part of the Japanese Regional Leagues and represents the fifth tier of Japanese football.

In the 2024 season, Asuka FC clinched the Kansai Soccer League Division 1 title, marking a significant achievement in the club's history. This victory earned them promotion to the Japan Football League (JFL), the fourth tier of Japanese football, for the 2025 season.

= Early foundations =

Kashihara FC was founded in 1979, followed by Shirakashi FC in 1984, and Unebi FC in 1993. These three clubs were established within the Nara Prefecture and participated in local leagues, developing their reputation within the regional football scene.

Porvenir Kashihara was established in 2003 from the merger of three local teams in Kashihara, those being Kashihara FC, Shirakashi FC, and Unebi FC. Alongside this merger, the Porvenir Kashihara Sports Club, a non-profit organization, was established as the operating entity. That same year, the team won the Nara Football League Division 1 championship, earning the right to compete in the Kansai Soccer League finals. Unfortunately, they finished 4th in the B Block of the Kansai League Finals Qualifying Tournament, which meant remaining in the Nara League Division 1.

= 2006–2010 =

In 2006, the club secured 2nd place in the Nara League Division 1 and advanced to the Kansai League Finals. However, their journey ended after finishing 3rd in the C Block of the Kansai League Finals Qualifying Tournament.

The following year, in 2007, the team won the Nara League Division 1 and advanced once again to the Kansai League Finals. Unfortunately, their campaign concluded with a 3rd place finish in the D Block of the Kansai League Finals Qualifying Tournament.

In 2010, the club achieved 2nd place in the Nara League Division 1 and advanced to the Kansai League Finals. They finished second in Group D of the Kansai League Finals Qualifying Tournament, remaining in the Nara League Division 1. Notably, this was the team's first appearance in the All Japan Club Teams Football Tournament.{{Cite web |title=第17回全国クラブチームサッカー選手権大会|大会・試合|日本サッカー協会 |url=https://www.jfa.or.jp/match/matches/2010/club_team_soccer/index.html |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.jfa.or.jp}} That year also marked the team's ambition to aim for membership in the J.League.

= 2017–2019 =

In 2017, the team made its second appearance in the All Japan Club Teams Football Tournament and won the Nara Football League Division 1 for the second time. They triumphed in the Kansai League Finals, earning promotion to the Kansai Soccer League Division 2.

The top team’s name was officially changed to Porvenir Asuka in 2018. A year later, in 2019, they finished as runners-up in the Kansai League Division 2 and secured promotion to the Kansai League Division 1.

= 2021–2022 =

In 2021, the club appointed Naohiko Minobe, who had previously managed Kyoto and other teams, as the new manager. That year, the club won the 26th Nara Football Championship and made its first appearance in the Emperor's Cup, losing in the first round against FC Osaka.

On 14 February 2022, the top team’s name was changed to Asuka FC to reflect its goal of expanding its operations beyond Kashihara City to the central and southern parts of Nara Prefecture.

= 2023–2024 =

In 2023, the club made its first appearance in the All Japan Senior Football Championship. That same year, the operating corporation was restructured, transitioning from the nonprofit organisation Porvenir Kashihara Sports Club to Asuka FC Co., Ltd., which was established in February 2023.

The 2024 season was a groundbreaking year for Asuka FC. They won the Kansai League Division 1 for the first time, clinched victory in the Japanese Regional Football Champions League, and earned promotion to the Japan Football League (JFL). To cap off an exceptional year, they also won the KSL Cup, achieving a remarkable triple crown in a single season.

Stadium

Asuka FC plays its home matches at the {{nihongo|Nara Prefectural Kashihira Park Athletics Stadium|奈良県立橿原公苑陸上競技場|}}, located in Kashihara, Nara.{{Cite web |last=soccer11 |title=奈良県立橿原公苑陸上競技場【会場案内】 |url=https://asukafc.jp/6258/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=【公式】飛鳥FC|奈良県中南和地域のサッカーチーム |language=ja}} The stadium has a seating capacity of 3,000 spectators.

File:Kashihara-tfstadium.jpg

Team colours

The official team colour of Asuka FC is enji, a traditional Japanese colour resembling dark red or burgundy.

League & cup record

class="wikitable"

|bgcolor=gold|Champions

|bgcolor=silver|Runners-up

|bgcolor=ff6600|Third place

|bgcolor=palegreen|Promoted

|bgcolor=pink|Relegated

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!colspan="12"|League !!rowspan="2"|J. League
Cup
!!rowspan="2"|Emperor's
Cup

SeasonDiv.Pos.PWDLFAGDPtsAttendance/G
colspan="14"|Porvenir Kashihara
2003

|rowspan="15"|Nara Football
League (Division 1)

|bgcolor="gold"|1st

1026rowspan="15"|rowspan="15"|Not eligiblerowspan="15"|Lost in the prefectural
qualifying round
2004

|4th

1016
2005

|4th

1118
2006

|bgcolor="silver"|2nd

1072135152023
2007

|bgcolor="gold"|1st

1181231161525
2008

|bgcolor=ff6600|3rd

1181234142025
2009

|5th

116142618819
2010

|bgcolor="silver"|2nd

1174039102925
2011

|5th

116322617921
2012

|bgcolor=ff6600|3rd

117133122922
2013

|9th

112361926 |
79
2014

|10th

113351024 |
1412
2015

|8th

112451725 |
810
2016

|5th

94231616014
2017

|bgcolor="gold"|1st

97202952423
colspan="14"|Porvenir Asuka
2018

|rowspan="2"|Kansai Soccer League
(Division 2)

|bgcolor=ff6600|3rd

1474337152225rowspan="4" |rowspan="4"|Not eligiblerowspan="3" |Lost in the prefectural
qualifying round
2019

|bgcolor="silver"|2nd

1492334122229
2020

| rowspan="2" |Kansai Soccer League
(Division 1)

7th712468 |
25
2021

|bgcolor="ff6600"|3rd

1483322111127

|1st round

colspan="14"|Asuka FC
2022

|rowspan="3"|Kansai Soccer League
(Division 1)

|bgcolor="silver"|2nd

149051611527rowspan="4" |rowspan="4" |Not eligiblerowspan="3"|Lost in the prefectural
qualifying round
2023

|5th

145181619 |
316
2024

|bgcolor="gold"|1st

148421991028
2025

|JFL

|TBD

|TBD

Current squad

{{updated|17 March 2025.}}{{Cite web |title=選手 |url=https://asukafc.jp/player/ |access-date=17 March 2025 |website=asukafc.jp |language=ja}}

{{fs start}}

{{fs player|no=1 |nat=JPN|pos=GK|name=Sotaro Maruyama}}

{{fs player|no=2 |nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Kazuki Shinohara}}

{{fs player|no=3 |nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Shoki Ohara}}

{{fs player|no=4 |nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Tsuyoshi Fujitake}}

{{fs player|no=5 |nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Kanta Kokura}}

{{fs player|no=6 |nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Koki Okura}}

{{fs player|no=7 |nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Sasuga Kiyokawa}}

{{fs player|no=8 |nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Toshiki Onozawa}}

{{fs player|no=9 |nat=JPN|pos=FW|name=Hiryu Okuda}}

{{fs player|no=10|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Yu Takiue}}

{{fs player|no=11|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Shoma Tanaka}}

{{fs player|no=13|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Kodai Uryu}}

{{fs player|no=14|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Kyohei Ozasa}}

{{fs player|no=15|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Kaoru Nonaka}}

{{fs player|no=16|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Ryosuke Oshima}}

{{fs player|no=17|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Ryosuke Iguchi}}

{{Fs mid}}

{{fs player|no=18|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Ryo Ozaki}}

{{fs player|no=19|nat=JPN|pos=FW|name=Taisei Komoto}}

{{fs player|no=20|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Daia Kitada}}

{{fs player|no=21|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Tomoyasu Yoshida|other=on loan from Tegevajaro Miyazaki}}

{{fs player|no=22|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Kazunari Ishida}}

{{fs player|no=23|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Tomoya Seki}}

{{fs player|no=24|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Ran Fujii}}

{{fs player|no=25|nat=JPN|pos=DF|name=Akihiro Kawasaki}}

{{fs player|no=26|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Sho Horino}}

{{fs player|no=27|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Kota Sasaki}}

{{fs player|no=28|nat=JPN|pos=GK|name=Ryo Momoi}}

{{fs player|no=29|nat=JPN|pos=MF|name=Yusuke Umekita}}

{{fs player|no=31|nat=JPN|pos=GK|name=Shota Nakano}}

{{fs player|no=36|nat=JPN|pos=FW|name=Takato Nakai}}

{{fs player|no=41|nat=JPN|pos=GK|name=Shota Okayama}}

{{fs end}}

Coaching staff

The coaching staff for 2025 season. {{cite web |title=2025 Coaching staff |url=https://asukafc.jp/staff/ |website=asukafc.jp |access-date=12 March 2025}}

class="wikitable"
PositionStaff
Manager{{flagicon|JPN}} Naohiko Minobe
Assistant managers{{flagicon|JPN}} Hiroki Minobe
{{flagicon|JPN}} Shimuzu Katsuyuki
Goalkeeper coach{{flagicon|JPN}} Kazumasa Tsuchishi

Honours

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

|+Asuka FC

!scope=col|Honour !!scope=col|No. !!scope=col|Years

!scope=row|Nara Prefectural Adult Soccer League Division 1

|align="center"|3

|2003, 2007, 2017

scope=row|Nara Prefectural Football Championship
Emperor's Cup Prefectural Qualifiers

|align="center"|1

|2021

scope=row|Kansai Soccer League Division 1

|align="center"|1

|2024

scope=row|Japanese Regional Football Champions League

|align="center"|1

|2024

scope=row|KSL Cup

|align="center"|1

|2024

Managerial history

class="wikitable"

!rowspan="2"|Manager !!rowspan="2"|Nationality !!colspan="2"|Tenure

StartFinish
Naruyuki Naitō{{JPN}}1 February 202031 January 2021
Naohiko Minobe{{JPN}}1 February 2021Current

References