Japan Football League


 * For the league before 1998 (Japan Futtobōru Rīgu, referred to in this page as "the former JFL"), see Japan Football League (1992–1998).

The Japan Football League, also known as simply the JFL is the 4th tier of the Japanese association football league system, positioned beneath three divisions of the J.League, and the top tier of amateur football in the country. Despite its officially amateur status the league features fully professional teams that hold J.League associate membership among its ranks.

Competition format
The league follows the Apertura and Clausura system, with two winners of each stage contesting the championship in the playoff.

Participating clubs (2016)

 * Pink background denotes clubs that were most recently promoted from Japanese Regional Leagues through the Regional League promotion tournament.
 * "Qualifiable base for J. League" indicates the club has the basic prerequisites for 100 Year Plan status. Clubs who actually hold the status are denoted in bold.