The J. League Division 1 (Jリーグ・ディビジョン1, J Rīgu Dibijon1^?) or J1 League (J1リーグ, J1 Rīgu^?) is the top division of Japan Professional Football League (日本プロサッカーリーグ, Nippon Puro Sakkā Rīgu^?) and is the top professional association football league in Japan. It is one of the most successful leagues in Asian club football and the only league given top class 'A' ranking by the AFC. Currently, J. League Division 1 is the first level of the Japanese association football league system. The second tier is represented by J. League Division 2.

Before the inception of the J. League, the highest level of club football was the Japan Soccer League (JSL), which consisted of amateur clubs. Fans were few, the grounds were not of the highest quality, and the Japanese national team was not on a par with the Asian powerhouses. To raise the level of play domestically, to attempt to garner more fans, and to strengthen the national team, the Japan Football Association (JFA) decided to form a professional league.

The professional association football league, J. League was formed in 1992, with eight clubs drawn from the JSL First Division, one from the Second Division, and the newly formed Shimizu S-Pulse. At the same time, JSL changed its name and became the Japan Football League, a semi-professional league. Although the J. League did not officially launch until 1993, the Yamazaki Nabisco Cup competition was held between the ten clubs in 1992 to prepare for the inaugural season.

Yoichiro Kakitani (柿谷 曜一郎, Kakitani Yōichirō^?, born January 3, 1990 in Osaka, Japan) is a Japanese football player. He currently plays for the J. League team Cerezo Osaka.

Kakitani joined the youth team of Cerezo Osaka at the age of 4. In 2006, he signed his first professional contract with Cerezo at 16 which is the youngest record of the club. He played the first game of the J-League Division 1 on November 26, 2006. He was named Most Valuable Player in AFC U-17 Championship 2006 after he helped Japan win the tournament, scoring 4 goals. He also participated in the training of the youth teams of Arsenal F.C. and Inter Milano.

Kakitani scored two goals at 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup in South Korea. Against France he scored a spectacular goal from the halfway line.

Kakitani entered the e-School of Human Sciences, Waseda University in 2008.

Kakitani was a little bad behavior, so manager Levir Culpi often warned him of tardy. He also lost the struggle for position with Takashi Inui and Shinji Kagawa, he was loaned to Tokushima Vortis on June 18, 2009.