JSL was the first-ever national league of an amateur team sport in Japan.

Top JSL teams included Hitachi, Furukawa Electric, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nissan, Toyo Industries (Mazda) and Yomiuri Shimbun, which are now, respectively, Kashiwa Reysol, JEF United Chiba, Urawa Red Diamonds, Yokohama F. Marinos, Sanfrecce Hiroshima and Tokyo Verdy.

Current J.League identity and/or standing in the Japanese football league system follows each name.

Name changes made outside First Division play and following the advent of the J.League system are not mentioned; see individual club pages for more information.

In this ranking, three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and zero for a loss, regardless of the transition of regulation through the time as follows: