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.

† Not promoted to Division 1 due to losing promotion/relegation series‡ Not promoted to the newly formed J.League 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.

† Not promoted to J.League In 1994, the Japan Football League Division 2 was abolished.

† Not promoted to J1‡ Not promoted to J1 due to losing promotion/relegation seriesFor play-off winners, the number in parentheses indicates their position after the end of the season.

Clubs in italic no longer exist.Years in italic indicate seasons of amateur football (Japan Soccer League D2 and former Japan Football League).