2018 J3 League

The 2018 J3 League (referred to as the Meiji Yasuda J3 League for sponsorship reasons) is the 5th season of J3 League under its current title.

Clubs
2017 J3 League 2nd placed Tochigi SC gained promotion to J2 League after another runners-up season; this time, unlike 2016, it was enough to clinch direct promotion. Defending champions are Blaublitz Akita, which became the 1st club to not gain promotion after winning the championship since J3's inception. Thespakusatsu Gunma is the new entry for the league: it's going to be their first 3rd division-season since 2004, when they got promoted to J2 from JFL.

No promotion from Japan Football League came this time: this was another 1st time for J3 League since 2014.