This year will be the 50th anniversary season for the top league in Japan in its varying forms.
The 8 teams participating are:
Toyota Gosei Trefuerza (Defending champion)
Panasonic Panthers
Toray Arrows
JTEKT Stings
JT Thunders
Sakai Blazers
Suntory Sunbirds
FC Tokyo
The regular season will be 21 games (playing each team 3 times) beginning on October 22nd, ending February 5th
The top 6 teams will make the Final 6 playoff stage, a single round robin will be played to determine the top 3 teams for the Final 3. The best team win advance to the Final.
The 2nd and 3rd placed teams will play in the Final 3 matches. Last year it was a single match, but this year it will be 2 matches with a Golden Set if the matches are split. The difference in the Golden Set compared to CEV tournaments is that the set will go to 25 points instead of 15.
The Final will also be over 2 matches instead of a single match, and also using the Golden Set system if needed.