The remaining seven clubs in the Japan Football League, the newly formed Yokohama FC, and one promoting club from the Regional Leagues, formed the nine-club JFL, then the third tier of Japanese football.

A national second tier of Japanese association football was first established in 1972, when the JSL formed a Second Division.

In 1992, following the formation of the J.League, the JSL Second Division was renamed the (former) Japan Football League.

As the J.League expanded in numbers, the need for another second tier with promotion and relegation arose, as the number of clubs which wanted to become professional increased (particularly in the case of Shonan Bellmare, Kashiwa Reysol, Cerezo Osaka and Júbilo Iwata, who had been JSL First Division champions but had not been chosen for the inaugural J.League season).

In fact, clubs like Mito HollyHock only draw an average of 3,000 fans a game and receive minimal sponsorship, yet still field fairly competitive teams in J2.

Clubs in J2 took time to build their teams for J1 promotion, as they also tried to gradually improve their youth systems, their home stadium, their financial status, and their relationship with their hometown.

Clubs such as Oita Trinita, Albirex Niigata, Kawasaki Frontale, and Ventforet Kofu accomplished this successfully.

Even though Kofu and Ōita were later relegated back to Division 2, they are well-established association football clubs, managing to average 10,000 fans per game.

In the first three seasons (1999–2001), games were played with extra time for regular league matches if there was no winner at end of the regulation.

The extra time was abolished in 2002, and the league adopted the standard 3-1-0 points system.

In 2004, however, two clubs showed interest as Thespa Kusatsu and Tokushima Vortis were accepted to the league.

From the league's perspective, the J.League 'Hundred Year Vision' from the late 90s has been moving in a positive direction.

After conducting several case studies, the committee made a professional assessment that it was in the best interest of the league to expand the J2 to 22 clubs rather than form a third division.

The membership was exclusively given to non-league clubs that had intentions of joining the J.League, while meeting most of the criteria for J2 promotion.

Following the promotion of Ehime FC, six more clubs joined J2 League through this system.

Clubs failing to fulfill this licensing requirement can be relegated to the third tier, regardless of their league position.

The regular season will begin in August and pause for a winter break between December and February, with the final matches played in May.

However, promotion or the right to play the now-defunct pro/rele series relied on the J2 clubs meeting the requirements for J1 franchise status set by the league.

To accommodate the ongoing expansion process, a triple round-robin format was implemented during the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

The clubs are ranked by points, and tie breakers are, in the following order: A draw would be conducted, if necessary.

The relegation to the lower tier J3 League will depend on the number and final standings of promotion-eligible clubs that possess a J2 license.

Next year the professional J3 League was formed, making relegation between second and third tiers a permanent establishment.

The rules for exchange between J2 and J3 are the following from 2017 to 2019 and 2022 to 2023: the 21st and 22nd place J2 teams are relegated immediately and are replaced by the J3 champion and runner-up.

[3] If one or both J3 contenders do not possess J2 licenses, they are not allowed to be promoted, and the relegation spots for J2 sides are reduced accordingly.