They were chairman Choko Sai, the head of the Shudokan of Kanken Tōyama, and vice chairmen Konishi from Shindō Jinen-ryū, Hiroshi Kinjo from Kanbukan, Otsuka Hinorori from Wado-Ryu, Tatsuo Yamada from Japan Kenpo Karate, and Shinkin Gima from Shotokan.

On October 1, 1964, the original Japan Karate Federation, which changed its own name to Japan Karate Renbukai, handed over its organization name to the new united league, such as Gōgen Yamaguchi of Goju-ryu, Ōtsuka Hironori of Wadō-ryū, Nakayama Masatoshi of Shotokan, Mabuni Kenei and Iwata Manzao of Shitō-ryū, in addition to the Japan Karate Rengokai, which was founded by Ryōichi Sasakawa.

Japan instilled "a uniform order in Karate", recognizing the four major schools, Goju-kai, Wado-Kai, Shotokan and Shito-kai.

On January 13, 1969, the JKF was officially incorporated as a central umbrella body for the four partner organizations and recognized under the Cabinet of Japan.

In December in the same year, the All Japan Karate Championships were held at the Nippon Budōkan in Tokyo.

On December 11, 2009, the JKF started building a new headquarters named the Japan Karate Kaikan in Koto-ku, Tokyo.

The JKF became a member of the Nippon Budokan (Japan Martial Arts Council).