2011 Emperor's Cup

The 91st Emperor's Cup (第91回天皇杯) was a regular edition of an annual Japanese national cup tournament. It started on 3 September 2011 and ended on 1 January 2012 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, won by FC Tokyo 4–2 against Kyoto Sanga.

The cup winner were guaranteed a place in the 2012 AFC Champions League.

Calendar
(*1)a total number of four games were postponed to 7 or 14 September due to tropical storm. (*2)a total number of eight games were postponed to 12 October due to event clashes of quarterfinals of 2011 J.League Cup, and November 9 was reserved for Cerezo Osaka and Hokkaido University of Education Iwamizawa Campus in case of event clashes if Cerezo entered the 2011 AFC Champions League semi-finals (but game was not postponed as Cerezo was eliminated in quarter-finals). (*3)Kashiwa Reysol's game was postponed to 21 December due to the participation in 2011 FIFA Club World Cup.

Starting in the first round

 * Prefectural finals winners – 47 teams


 * Hokkaidō – Hokkaido UE Iwamizawa
 * Aomori – Hachinohe University
 * Iwate – Grulla Morioka
 * Miyagi – Sony Sendai*
 * Akita – Blaublitz Akita
 * Yamagata – Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine
 * Fukushima – Fukushima United
 * Ibaraki – University of Tsukuba
 * Tochigi – Tochigi Uva
 * Gunma – Arte Takasaki
 * Saitama – Heisei International University
 * Chiba – Kashiwa Reysol U-18
 * Tokyo – Machida Zelvia
 * Kanagawa – YSCC Yokohama
 * Yamanashi – Yamanashi Gakuin University High School
 * Nagano – Matsumoto Yamaga
 * Niigata – Japan Soccer College
 * Toyama – Toyama Shinjo Club
 * Ishikawa – Zweigen Kanazawa
 * Fukui – Maruoka Phoenix
 * Shizuoka – Shizuoka Sangyo University
 * Aichi – Chukyo University
 * Mie – Suzuka Rampole
 * Gifu – FC Gifu Second
 * Shiga – Sagawa Shiga
 * Kyoto – SP Kyoto
 * Osaka – Hannan University
 * Hyōgo – Sanyo Electric Sumoto SC
 * Nara – Nara Club
 * Wakayama – Arterivo Wakayama
 * Tottori – Yonago Kita High School
 * Shimane – Dezzolla Shimane
 * Okayama – Fagiano Okayama Next
 * Hiroshima – Hiroshima University of Economics
 * Yamaguchi – Renofa Yamaguchi FC
 * Kagawa – Kamatamare Sanuki
 * Tokushima – Sanyo Electric Tokushima SC
 * Ehime – Ehime FC Shimanami
 * Kochi – Kōchi University
 * Fukuoka – Fukuoka University
 * Saga – Saga Lixil
 * Nagasaki – V-Varen Nagasaki
 * Kumamoto – Kumamoto Teachers SC
 * Ōita – Hoyo AC Elan Ōita
 * Miyazaki – Miyazaki Sangyo-keiei University
 * Kagoshima – FC Kagoshima
 * Okinawa – Kaiho Bank SC

* After Miyagi prefectural qualification tournament was canceled due to 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, Miyagi Football Association proposed that Sony Sendai represent Miyagi Prefecture since it is the most successful amateur team in the prefecture and represented the prefecture last year. Japan Football Association approved the proposal.


 * Prime Minister's Cup All Japan University Football Tournament winners – 1 team
 * Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences

Starting in the second round

 * J.League Division 1 – 18 teams


 * Vegalta Sendai
 * Montedio Yamagata
 * Kashima Antlers
 * Kashiwa Reysol
 * Omiya Ardija
 * Urawa Red Diamonds
 * Kawasaki Frontale
 * Yokohama F. Marinos
 * Ventforet Kofu
 * Shimizu S-Pulse
 * Júbilo Iwata
 * Nagoya Grampus
 * Albirex Niigata
 * Cerezo Osaka
 * Gamba Osaka
 * Vissel Kobe
 * Sanfrecce Hiroshima
 * Avispa Fukuoka


 * J.League Division 2 – 20 teams


 * Consadole Sapporo
 * Mito HollyHock
 * Tochigi SC
 * Thespa Kusatsu
 * JEF United Chiba
 * FC Tokyo
 * Tokyo Verdy
 * Yokohama FC
 * Shonan Bellmare
 * Kataller Toyama
 * FC Gifu
 * Kyoto Sanga
 * Fagiano Okayama
 * Gainare Tottori
 * Tokushima Vortis
 * Ehime FC
 * Giravanz Kitakyushu
 * Sagan Tosu
 * Roasso Kumamoto
 * Oita Trinita

※Clubs that occupied two top places at the end of the 17th round (11th week) of 2011 Japan Football League.
 * Japan Football League – 2 teams
 * Honda Lock
 * FC Ryukyu

Matches
All matches are Japan Standard Time (UTC+09:00)

First round
Due to Tropical Storm Talas (台風12号, 2011 Japanese Typhoon 12), four matches were postponed.

Note: The original schedule was 3 September 13:00 but postponed due to tropical storm.

Note: The original schedule was 3 September 15:00 but postponed due to tropical storm.

Note: The original schedule was 3 September 15:00 but postponed due to tropical storm.

''Note: The original schedule was 3 September 13:00 and but postponed due to tropical storm. The original venue was Naruto Otsuka Sports Park Pocarisweat Stadium but changed as a result of the postponement.''

Second round
Note: The venue of the match was originally planned to be Hiroshima Big Arch football ground 1 but changed on June 28.

Third round
Note: The venue of the match was originally planned to be Kashiwanoha Park Stadium but changed due to stadium maintenance.

Fourth round
Note: The original schedule was December 17 13:00 but changed due to Reysol's participation in 2011 FIFA Club World Cup.

Final

 * First final to feature two second-tier teams and first to feature such team since 1994 final.
 * Third time a second-tier champion wins the final since 1981 and 1982 finals.
 * Nakayama's goal was the first to be scored in the year 2012.