The characteristics of the edge localized model (ELM), also referred to as edge relaxation phenomenon, were investigated in H-mode plasmas of JFT-2M. It was found that the ELM is mainly a density fluctuation phenomenon at the edge and that the electron temperature at the edge, except near the separatrix, is not very strongly perturbed. Some experimental conditions controlling the ELM intensity are plasma density, plasma ion species, heating power and plasma current ramping. ELMs found in low density deuterium discharges are suppressed by raising the density. ELMs are more strongly pronounced in hydrogen plasmas than in deuterium plasmas. ELMs seen in hydrogen plasmas or in near marginal H-mode conditions are suppressed by increasing the heating power. ELMs are found to be suppressed by plasma current ramp-down whereas they are enhanced by current ramp-up. The MHD aspects of the ELM were investigated. Although no consistent MHD features of the ELMs were found, they sometimes trigger bursts of the m = 2 mode. The enhanced broadband magnetic fluctuation suggests a temporary return to the L-mode during the ELM event.