The champions and runners-up of the 1996 J.League regular season as well as the finalists of the J.League Cup took part. Nagoya Grampus Eight won and qualified for the 1997 Sanwa Bank Cup. Participating clubs Kashima Antlers (J.League champions) Nagoya Grampus Eight (J.League runners-up) Shimizu S-Pulse (J.League Cup winners) Verdy Kawasaki (J.League Cup runners-up) Results Meiji Yasuda 2015 J.League Championship The Championship stage consisted of a knockout tournament involving the champions of the First and Second Stages, and any team that finishes in the top 3 of the overall table. The team with the best aggregate record earned a bye to the final. The remaining teams playoff for the other spot in the final. Meiji Yasuda 2016 J.League Championship References See also Japanese football champions Apertura and Clausura for a general explanation of the format Championship Football competitions in Japan