 At the end of the 2004 season, J1 expanded from 16 clubs to 18 clubs.Due to the expansion, the league promoted the top two teams in J2 to J1 without any relegations.The league also instituted a new playoff game that allowed the 3rd-place J2 club to challenge the 16th (and at the time, last- ) placed J1 club for a berth in J1 in the 2005 season.