Consadole Sapporo, Shimizu S-Pulse and Cerezo Osaka entered as the three promoted teams from the 2016 J2 League.
The league was won by Kawasaki Frontale, winning their first major title while in J1 and 40 years after their first season in the Japanese top division.
These included the two top teams; Consadole Sapporo and Shimizu S-Pulse from the J2 League, and the winners of the play-offs; Cerezo Osaka.
The three promoted clubs replace Nagoya Grampus, Shonan Bellmare and Avispa Fukuoka.
For matchday squad registration, a club can register up to four foreign players, but a maximum of three can be from outside the AFC.