| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1972 |
| Number of teams | 20 (2025) |
| Current champions | Mito HollyHock (2025) |
| Most successful club | Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo (6 titles) |
A national second tier of Japanese league football was first established in 1972, as the Japan Soccer League Second Division. In 1992, with the breakup of the JSL and restructuring of the top flight into the J.League, the (former) Japan Football League became the second tier. In 1999 the J.League has established a second division (officially known as J2 League).
Japan Soccer League Second Division (1972–1992)
Numbers in parentheses indicate number of wins at the date.
† Not promoted to Division 1 due to losing promotion/relegation series
‡ Not promoted to the newly formed J.League
(former) Japan Football League Division 1 (1992–1993)
An extra season of Japanese football was done by the Japan Football League in late 1992, as the top flight clubs were still re-organizing and adopting new identities before the J.League kicked off in 1993.
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Yamaha Motors† (2) | Hitachi† | |
| Shonan Bellmare (2) | Júbilo Iwata |
† Not promoted to J.League
(former) Japan Football League (1994–1998)
In 1994, the Japan Football League Division 2 was abolished.
| Season | Champions | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Cerezo Osaka | Kashiwa Reysol | |
| Fukuoka Blux | Kyoto Purple Sanga | |
| Honda Motors† (3) | Vissel Kobe | |
| Consadole Sapporo (3) | Tokyo Gas† | |
| Tokyo Gas† | Kawasaki Frontale† |
J2 League (1999–present)
From 1999 to 2014 the league was known as J.League Division 2.
† Not promoted to J1
‡ Not promoted to J1 due to losing promotion/relegation series
For play-off winners, the number in parentheses indicates their position after the end of the season.
Total wins
Clubs in bold compete in J2 as of 2025 season. Clubs in italic no longer exist.
Years in italic indicate seasons of amateur football (Japan Soccer League D2 and former Japan Football League).
| Club | Winners | Runners-up | Winning seasons | Runners-up seasons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consadole Sapporo | 6 |
1 |
1979, 1988–89, 1997, 2000, 2007, 2016 | 1982 |
| Shonan Bellmare | 4 |
1 |
1991–92, 1993, 2014, 2017 | 2012 |
| Kashiwa Reysol | 3 |
4 |
1990–91, 2010, 2019 | 1988–89, 1992, 1994, 2006 |
| Júbilo Iwata | 3 |
4 |
1982, 1992, 2021 | 1979, 1993, 2015, 2023 |
| Kawasaki Frontale | 3 |
3 |
1976, 1999, 2004 | 1974, 1980, 1998 |
| Honda FC | 3 |
0 |
1978, 1980, 1996 | — |
| Tokyo Verdy | 2 |
3 |
1974, 1977 | 1975, 1976, 2007 |
| Kashima Antlers | 2 |
2 |
1984, 1986–87 | 1983, 1991–92 |
| FC Tokyo | 2 |
2 |
1998, 2011 | 1997, 1999 |
| Kyoto Sanga | 2 |
2 |
2001, 2005 | 1995, 2021 |
| Gamba Osaka | 2 |
1 |
1985, 2013 | 1987–88 |
| NKK SC | 2 |
0 |
1981, 1983 | — |
| Albirex Niigata | 2 |
0 |
2003, 2022 | — |
| Sanfrecce Hiroshima | 1 |
3 |
2008 | 1985, 1990–91, 2003 |
| Yokohama FC | 1 |
3 |
2006 | 2019, 2022, 2024 |
| Nagoya Grampus | 1 |
2 |
1972 | 1986–87, 1989–90 |
| Cerezo Osaka | 1 |
2 |
1994 | 2002, 2009 |
| Ventforet Kofu | 1 |
2 |
2012 | 1973, 2010 |
| Avispa Fukuoka | 1 |
2 |
1995 | 2005, 2020 |
| Tanabe Pharmaceuticals | 1 |
1 |
1975 | 1972 |
| Yokohama Flügels | 1 |
1 |
1987–88 | 1984 |
| Urawa Red Diamonds | 1 |
1 |
1989–90 | 2000 |
| Vegalta Sendai | 1 |
1 |
2009 | 2001 |
| Omiya Ardija | 1 |
1 |
2015 | 2004 |
| Oita Trinita | 1 |
1 |
2002 | 2018 |
| Matsumoto Yamaga | 1 |
1 |
2018 | 2014 |
| Shimizu S-Pulse | 1 |
1 |
2024 | 2016 |
| Eidai Industries | 1 |
0 |
1973 | — |
| Tokushima Vortis | 1 |
0 |
2020 | — |
| Machida Zelvia | 1 |
0 |
2023 | — |
| Mito HollyHock | 1 |
0 |
2025 | — |
| Yokohama F. Marinos | 0 | 3 | — | 1977, 1978, 1981 |
| Vissel Kobe | 0 |
2 |
— | 1996, 2013 |
| V-Varen Nagasaki | 0 |
2 |
— | 2017, 2025 |
| Montedio Yamagata | 0 |
1 |
— | 2008 |
| Sagan Tosu | 0 |
1 |
— | 2011 |