2012 Emperor's Cup

The 92nd Emperor's Cup (第92回天皇杯全日本サッカー選手権大会) was a regular edition of an annual Japanese national cup tournament. It started on 1 September 2012 and ended on 1 January 2013 with the final at National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, won by Kashiwa Reysol 1–0 against Gamba Osaka.

The cup winners were guaranteed a place in the 2013 AFC Champions League. However, as a requirement of AFC in 2012, the spot is only issued if the team holds a J1 license (but not necessary being a Division 1 team).

Calendar

 * The collegiate champion no longer qualifies for the Emperor Cup. Though, they may still enter the Emperor Cup if they won the prefectural cup.
 * The highest ranked Japan Football League (JFL) club after the 17th match day (June 24) is to qualify for the tournament.
 * December 19 was reserved for at most 1 game of Fourth Round in case of event clashes due to 2012 FIFA Club World Cup. As Sanfrecce Hiroshima, the team playing the Club World Cup was already eliminated in Emperor Cup on Second Round, the event was not postponed.

Starting in the First round

 * Prefectural cup winners – 47 teams


 * Hokkaidō – Sapporo University
 * Aomori – Vanraure Hachinohe
 * Iwate – Grulla Morioka
 * Miyagi – Sony Sendai
 * Akita – Blaublitz Akita
 * Yamagata – Nihon University Yamagata High School
 * Fukushima – Fukushima United
 * Ibaraki – University of Tsukuba
 * Tochigi – Vertfee Takahara Nasu
 * Gunma – Tonan Maebashi
 * Saitama – Heisei International University
 * Chiba – Kashiwa Reysol U-18
 * Tokyo – Yokogawa Musashino
 * Kanagawa – YSCC Yokohama
 * Yamanashi – Yamanashi Gakuin University Orions
 * Nagano – Nagano Parceiro
 * Niigata – Niigata University of Management
 * Toyama – Toyama Shinjo Club
 * Ishikawa – Zweigen Kanazawa
 * Fukui – Saurcos Fukui
 * Shizuoka – Hamamatsu University
 * Aichi – FC Kariya
 * Mie – Suzuka Rampole
 * Gifu – FC Gifu Second
 * Shiga – Sagawa Shiga
 * Kyoto – Amitie SC
 * Osaka – Kansai University
 * Hyōgo – Kwansei Gakuin University
 * Nara – Nara Club
 * Wakayama – Arterivo Wakayama
 * Tottori – Yonago Kita High School
 * Shimane – Matsue City FC
 * Okayama – Fagiano Okayama Next
 * Hiroshima – Fukuyama University
 * Yamaguchi – Tokuyama University
 * Kagawa – Kamatamare Sanuki
 * Tokushima – Panasonic Energy Tokushima FC
 * Ehime – FC Imabari
 * Kochi – Kochi University
 * Fukuoka – Fukuoka University
 * Saga – Saga University
 * Nagasaki – Nagasaki Institute of Applied Science High School (*1)
 * Kumamoto – Ohzu High School
 * Ōita – Hoyo Oita
 * Miyazaki – Miyazaki Sangyo-keiei University
 * Kagoshima – Volca Kagoshima
 * Okinawa – FC Ryukyu

(*1) The team was the prefectural runners-up; Both Nagasaki Prefectural Cup finalists qualified for the final tournament, after the other finalist, V-Varen Nagasaki, had qualified to the Emperor's Cup as the JFL seeded club.


 * JFL seeded club – 1 team
 * V-Varen Nagasaki

Starting in the Second round

 * J.League Division 1 – 18 teams


 * Consadole Sapporo
 * Vegalta Sendai
 * Kashima Antlers
 * Kashiwa Reysol
 * Omiya Ardija
 * Urawa Red Diamonds
 * FC Tokyo
 * Kawasaki Frontale
 * Yokohama F. Marinos
 * Shimizu S-Pulse
 * Júbilo Iwata
 * Nagoya Grampus
 * Albirex Niigata
 * Cerezo Osaka
 * Gamba Osaka
 * Vissel Kobe
 * Sanfrecce Hiroshima
 * Sagan Tosu


 * J.League Division 2 – 22 teams


 * Montedio Yamagata
 * Mito HollyHock
 * Tochigi SC
 * Thespa Kusatsu
 * JEF United Chiba
 * Tokyo Verdy
 * Machida Zelvia
 * Yokohama FC
 * Shonan Bellmare
 * Ventforet Kofu
 * Matsumoto Yamaga
 * Kataller Toyama
 * FC Gifu
 * Kyoto Sanga
 * Fagiano Okayama
 * Gainare Tottori
 * Tokushima Vortis
 * Ehime FC
 * Giravanz Kitakyushu
 * Avispa Fukuoka
 * Roasso Kumamoto
 * Oita Trinita

Drawing
Since this year, the drawing of the tournament will be held twice: The first draw determine the pairings of first to third round matches; the second draw will be held after the third round that determines the pairings of the fourth round to the final.

Third round
Note: The venue was changed on 21 September, originally planned to be Hiroshima Big Arch Main Stadium.