2020 J3 League
The 2020 J3 League, referred to as the '''2020 Meiji Yasuda Life for sponsorship reasons, is the 7th season of J3 League under its current name.
On March 19, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season.
Postponement of the beginning of the season
Due to COVID-19 outbreak and concerns, the JFA opted to postpone the beginning of the season, firstly established for March 7.On February 25, all J.League matches until March 15 were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until March 29. On March 19, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season. On March 25, announced that it would be Suspended April 3 to May 6.
On April 3, decided to starting over the official game schedule, which aims to gradually resume J3 from April 25, J2 from May 2, and J1 from May 9. Note that, considering a new schedule in the future, but it will resume it at least one month later and later in the month.
On May 29, J.LEAGUE announced to decided to resume on June 27. On June 9, announced to About schedule announcements of the 2020. On June 15, announced to New dates. The first 2 matches in each league will be held without spectators. After July 10th, as a general rule, the maximum number of people will be 5,000. After August, the maximum number of stadium capacity will be 50%, and it will be a “high alert spectator match”.
After that, 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee on July 20, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" extended to August 10 in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.
Clubs
saw two teams promoted to J2 League: Giravanz Kitakyushu won the championship after being for three seasons in the third tier, while Thespakusatsu Gunma won promotion just in the last game of the season. From second division, there was a double automatic relegation for the second time: FC Gifu will play their first season in J3 after being in the second division for the last 12 years, when J3 League wasn't even on the cards. Alongside them, an incredible final of the 2019 season pushed Kagoshima United FC immediately back to J3, just one year after sealing their first-ever participation to the second tier. This is the last J3 League season that features the U-23 teams from J1 League. On June 5, FC Tokyo U-23 withdrew from the league.Also, Japan Football League saw the promotion of another time: after two fifth-placed performances, FC Imabari came third in 2019 and booked their first professional season in their history.
| Club Name | Home Town | Stadium | Capacity | Last season | licence |
| Azul Claro Numazu | Numazu | Ashitaka Stadium | 10,000 | J3（12th） | J3 |
| Blaublitz Akita | Akita | Soyu Stadium | 20,125 | J3（8th） | J2 |
| All cities/towns in Gifu | Gifu Nagaragawa Stadium | 26,109 | Relegated from J2 | J1 | |
| FC Imabari | Imabari | Arigato Service Dream Stadium | 5,000 | Promoted from JFL（3rd） | J3 |
| Fukushima United FC | Fukushima | Toho Stadium | 21,000 | J3（11th） | J3 |
| Gainare Tottori | All cities/towns in Tottori | Axis Bird Stadium | 16,033 | J3（7th） | J2 |
| Iwate Grulla Morioka | All cities/towns in Iwate | Iwagin Stadium | 4,946 | J3（18th） | J3 |
| Kamatamare Sanuki | All cities/towns in Kagawa | Pikara Stadium | 30,099 | J3（14th） | J2 |
| Kagoshima United FC | Kagoshima | Shiranami Stadium | 19,934 | Relegated from J2 | J1 |
| Kataller Toyama | All cities/towns in Toyama | Toyama Athletic Stadium | 25,251 | J3（4th） | J1 |
| Fujieda MYFC | Cities/towns in Shizuoka Prefecture | Fujieda Soccer Field | 13,000 | J3（3rd） | J3 |
| Nagano Parceiro | Nagano | Nagano U Stadium | 15,491 | J3（9th） | J2 |
| Roasso Kumamoto | Kumamoto, Kumamoto | Egao Kenko Stadium | 32,000 | J3（5th） | J1 |
| SC Sagamihara | Sagamihara | Gion Stadium | 15,300 | J3（15th） | J3 |
| Vanraure Hachinohe | Prifoods Stadium | 5,200 | J3（10th） | J3 | |
| YSCC Yokohama | Yokohama | Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium | 15,454 | J3（13th） | J3 |
| Cerezo Osaka U-23 | Osaka & Sakai, Osaka | Kincho Stadium | 19,904 | J3（6th） | - |
| Gamba Osaka U-23 | North cities in Osaka | Panasonic Stadium Suita Expo '70 Commemorative Stadium | 39,694 21,000 | J3（17th） | - |
Personnel and kits
Managerial changes
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Cerezo Osaka U-23 |  Kazuhiro Murata | Appointed Academy Deputy Director and U-18 Head Coach | 28 July 2020 | | 28 July 2020 |
League table
It was decided on 19 March to change the format regarding the rules for promotion/relegation for the end of the season for the J1, J2 and J3 leagues, such that there would be no relegation this season, that two clubs from the J2 League would be promoted to the 2021 J1 League, and that two clubs from the J3 League would be promoted to the 2021 J2 League.FC Tokyo U-23's withdrawal was approved at a board meeting held on June 5, leaving the J3 League with 18 teams.