Kyoto Sanga FC, commonly known as "Kyoto Sanga", was established in 1922 and is one of the oldest professional football clubs in Japan, originally known as Kyoto Purple Sanga.
The team is based in the ancient capital of Kyoto, and its name "Sanga" combines the beautiful landscapes of Kyoto with the Buddhist term "Sangha", while the purple jersey symbolizes Kyoto's long-standing royal tradition. The team's mascot, "Pasa-kun", is inspired by the phoenix decoration of Kinkaku-ji, perfectly embodying the spirit of this "immortal bird" team.
As a well-known "yo-yo" club in Japanese professional football, Kyoto Sanga FC has frequently moved between the top and second divisions since being promoted to J1 League in 1996. Although they won the Emperor's Cup in 2002, they have often struggled on the brink of relegation. After being promoted to J1 for the fifth time as the runner-up in J2 in 2021, the team continues to write the legendary story of a century-old club.