Asuka FC (飛鳥フットボールクラブ, Asuka Futtobōru Kurabu) is a semi-professional football club based in Kashihara, Nara Prefecture, Japan.[1] 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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[2]

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.[3] That year also marked the team's ambition to aim for membership in the J.League.[2]

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 February 14, 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 Nara Prefectural Kashihira Park Athletics Stadium (奈良県立橿原公苑陸上競技場), located in Kashihara, Nara.[4] The stadium has a seating capacity of 3,000 spectators.

Kashihara-tfstadium
A view from the athletics track of the stadium grounds.

Team colours

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

League & cup record

Champions Runners-up Third place Promoted Relegated
League J. League
Cup
Emperor's
Cup
Season Div. Pos. P W D L F A GD Pts Attendance/G
Porvenir Kashihara
2003 Nara Football
League (Division 1)
1st 10 26 Not eligible Lost in the prefectural
qualifying round
2004 4th 10 16
2005 4th 11 18
2006 2nd 10 7 2 1 35 15 20 23
2007 1st 11 8 1 2 31 16 15 25
2008 3rd 11 8 1 2 34 14 20 25
2009 5th 11 6 1 4 26 18 8 19
2010 2nd 11 7 4 0 39 10 29 25
2011 5th 11 6 3 2 26 17 9 21
2012 3rd 11 7 1 3 31 22 9 22
2013 9th 11 2 3 6 19 26 -7 9
2014 10th 11 3 3 5 10 24 -14 12
2015 8th 11 2 4 5 17 25 -8 10
2016 5th 9 4 2 3 16 16 0 14
2017 1st 9 7 2 0 29 5 24 23
Porvenir Asuka
2018 Kansai Soccer League
(Division 2)
3rd 14 7 4 3 37 15 22 25 Not eligible Lost in the prefectural
qualifying round
2019 2nd 14 9 2 3 34 12 22 29
2020 Kansai Soccer League
(Division 1)
7th 7 1 2 4 6 8 -2 5
2021 3rd 14 8 3 3 22 11 11 27 1st round
FC Asuka
2022 Kansai Soccer League
(Division 1)
2nd 14 9 0 5 16 11 5 27 Not eligible Lost in the prefectural
qualifying round
2023 5th 14 5 1 8 16 19 -3 16
2024 1st 14 8 4 2 19 9 10 28
2025 JFL TBD TBD

Current squad

As of 17 March 2025.[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Japan JPN Sotaro Maruyama
2 DF Japan JPN Kazuki Shinohara
3 DF Japan JPN Shoki Ohara
4 DF Japan JPN Tsuyoshi Fujitake
5 MF Japan JPN Kanta Kokura
6 DF Japan JPN Koki Okura
7 MF Japan JPN Sasuga Kiyokawa
8 MF Japan JPN Toshiki Onozawa
9 FW Japan JPN Hiryu Okuda
10 MF Japan JPN Yu Takiue
11 MF Japan JPN Shoma Tanaka
13 DF Japan JPN Kodai Uryu
14 DF Japan JPN Kyohei Ozasa
15 MF Japan JPN Kaoru Nonaka
16 DF Japan JPN Ryosuke Oshima
17 MF Japan JPN Ryosuke Iguchi
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF Japan JPN Ryo Ozaki
19 FW Japan JPN Taisei Komoto
20 MF Japan JPN Daia Kitada
21 DF Japan JPN Tomoyasu Yoshida (on loan from Tegevajaro Miyazaki)
22 DF Japan JPN Kazunari Ishida
23 MF Japan JPN Tomoya Seki
24 DF Japan JPN Ran Fujii
25 DF Japan JPN Akihiro Kawasaki
26 MF Japan JPN Sho Horino
27 MF Japan JPN Kota Sasaki
28 GK Japan JPN Ryo Momoi
29 MF Japan JPN Yusuke Umekita
31 GK Japan JPN Shota Nakano
36 FW Japan JPN Takato Nakai
41 GK Japan JPN Shota Okayama

Coaching staff

The coaching staff for 2025 season. [6]

Position Staff
Manager Japan Naohiko Minobe
Assistant managers Japan Hiroki Minobe
Japan Shimuzu Katsuyuki
Goalkeeper coach Japan Kazumasa Tsuchishi

Honours

Asuka FC
Honour No. Years
Kansai Soccer League Division 1 1 2024
Japanese Regional Football Champions League 1 2024

Managerial history

Manager Nationality Tenure
Start Finish
Naruyuki Naitō  Japan 1 February 2020 31 January 2021
Naohiko Minobe  Japan 1 February 2021 Current

References

  1. ^ soccer11. "【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。". 【公式】飛鳥FC|奈良県中南和地域のサッカーチーム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c d "沿革". NPO法人 ポルベニルカシハラスポーツクラブ (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  3. ^ "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". www.jfa.or.jp. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  4. ^ soccer11. "奈良県立橿原公苑陸上競技場【会場案内】". 【公式】飛鳥FC|奈良県中南和地域のサッカーチーム (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "選手". asukafc.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 March 2025.
  6. ^ "2025 Coaching staff". asukafc.jp. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
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