The 2012 Sagan Tosu season was Sagan Tosu's first season in J.League Division 1 after being promoted for J.League Division 2 in 2011. They finished the season in fifth position, narrowly missing out on an AFC Champions League spot by two points. They also participated in the J.League Cup, going out in the Group Stages, and the Emperor's Cup, where they reached the Second Round before defeat to Kamatamare Sanuki. It was their second season with Yoon Jung-hwan as their manager, and Yohei Toyoda was their top goalscorer with 16 league goals.