2008 J.League Cup

The 2008 edition of the J. League Cup, officially the 2008 J.League Yamazaki Nabisco Cup, sponsored by Nabisco began on March 20. The top team in each of the four qualifying group automatically qualified for the quarter-finals along with the best two remaining runners-up. Both Gamba Osaka and Kashima Antlers received a bye to the quarter-final stage due to their participation in the group stage of the Asian Champions League.

Oita Trinita defeated Shimizu S-Pulse 2–0 in the final on November 1 at the Tokyo National Stadium. They qualified for the 2009 Pan-Pacific Championship and the 2009 Suruga Bank Championship.

Second leg
Gamba Osaka advances to the semi-finals on Away goals rule.

Awards

 * MVP: 🇯🇵 Daiki Takamatsu (Oita Trinita)
 * Top Scorer: 🇯🇵 Keita Sugimoto (Nagoya Grampus)
 * New Hero Prize: 🇯🇵 Mu Kanazaki (Oita Trinita)