| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1992 |
| Number of teams | 20 (2024) |
| Current champions | Omiya Ardija (2024) |
| Most successful club | Honda FC (5 titles) |
A national third tier ofJapanese leaguefootball was first established in 1992, as the second division offormer Japan Football League, though it only lasted for two seasons. In 1999, following the establishment of J.League Division 2, a newJapan Football League was created, fulfilling the third tier until a fully professionalJ3 League was launched in 2014.
The old Japan Football League was established simultaneously with creation ofJ.League and was initially a two-level tournament but that lasted only for two inaugural seasons.
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Chuo Bohan | Kyoto Shiko |
| 1993 | Honda Motors | PJM Futures |
With the establishment ofJ.League Division 2, the new Japan Football League was automatically moved a tier down the pyramid comparing to its discontinued namesake.
†Not promoted toJ2
For additional promoted teams, the number in parentheses indicates their position after the end of the season.
In 2014, J. League launched a fully professional third division.
† Not promoted toJ2.
‡ Not promoted toJ2 due to a loss in the Promotion/Relegation series.
For play-off winners, the number in parentheses indicates their position after the end of the season.
Clubs inbold compete in J3 as of2025 season. Clubs initalic no longer exist.
Years initalic indicate seasons of amateur football (former and new Japan Football League).
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda FC | 5 | 4 | 1993, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2008 | 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004 |
| Sagawa Shiga | 3 | 1 | 2007, 2009, 2011 | 2010 |
| Tokushima Vortis | 2 | 1 | 2003, 2004 | 2001 |
| Yokohama FC | 2 | 0 | 1999, 2000 | — |
| Ehime FC | 2 | 0 | 2005, 2023 | — |
| Blaublitz Akita | 2 | 0 | 2017, 2020 | — |
| Nagano Parceiro | 1 | 3 | 2013 | 2011, 2012, 2014 |
| Roasso Kumamoto | 1 | 1 | 2021 | 2007 |
| Avispa Fukuoka | 1 | 0 | 1992 | — |
| Gainare Tottori | 1 | 0 | 2010 | — |
| V-Varen Nagasaki | 1 | 0 | 2012 | — |
| Zweigen Kanazawa | 1 | 0 | 2014 | — |
| Renofa Yamaguchi | 1 | 0 | 2015 | — |
| Oita Trinita | 1 | 0 | 2016 | — |
| FC Ryukyu | 1 | 0 | 2018 | — |
| Giravanz Kitakyushu | 1 | 0 | 2019 | — |
| Iwaki FC | 1 | 0 | 2022 | — |
| Omiya Ardija | 1 | 0 | 2024 | — |
| Tochigi SC | 0 | 3 | — | 2008, 2016, 2017 |
| Sagawa Express Tokyo | 0 | 2 | — | 2002, 2006 |
| Kagoshima United | 0 | 2 | — | 2018, 2023 |
| Kyoto Sanga | 0 | 1 | — | 1992 |
| Tosu Futures | 0 | 1 | — | 1993 |
| YKK AP | 0 | 1 | — | 2005 |
| Yokogawa Musashino | 0 | 1 | — | 2009 |
| Kamatamare Sanuki | 0 | 1 | — | 2013 |
| Machida Zelvia | 0 | 1 | — | 2015 |
| Thespa Gunma | 0 | 1 | — | 2019 |
| SC Sagamihara | 0 | 1 | — | 2020 |
| Iwate Grulla Morioka | 0 | 1 | — | 2021 |
| Fujieda MyFC | 0 | 1 | — | 2022 |
| FC Imabari | 0 | 1 | — | 2024 |
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