Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERMENT POLICICIES IN EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND CULTURE 1994 > PART II Chapter 8 Section 3 1

The achievements of Japanese athletes at the Olympic Games and other international competitions stimulate public interest in and enthusiasm for sports, particularly among young people, and thus help to popularize and promote sports. In this way top athletes contribute to the formation of an enriching and dynamic society.

The dramatic rise in international performance standards in recent years has been accompanied by a decline in Japan's international competitiveness. It is becoming increasingly difficult for Japanese athletes to achieve good results at international events, such as the Olympic Games and the Asian Games ( Figure II.8.1 ).

This situation is attributable to various factors. First, there are differences in the physiques and strength levels of Japanese and foreign athletes. Second, Japan has lagged behind other countries in the use of sports science to strengthen its athletes. Third, Japan lacks integrated coaching systems starting at the junior level. Fourth, support systems for athletes and coaches are inadequate, and there are problems surrounding the treatment of athletes after the completion of their careers. Active steps are needed to overcome these problems.

Japan will host Universiade '95 Fukuoka in 1995 and the Nagano Olympic Winter Games in 1998. It is hoped that there will be further improvement in Japan's competitiveness at these events. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is working to achieve this goal through the following measures.

Figure II.8.1 Medal Tallies in the Olympic Games and the Asian Games

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture provides subsidies for a variety of programs, including athlete improvement and international exchange projects undertaken by the Japanese Olympic Committee, programs to foster sports instructors, junior athlete development programs, and overseas technical cooperation in sports (official development assistance) undertaken by the Japan Amateur Sports Association.

The Sports Promotion Fund is also contributing to efforts to improve competitiveness by providing assistance to various sports organizations and top-level athletes and instructors. Assistance from this source and from the central government is playing an important role in the promotion of sports in Japan.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture provides subsidies for junior-level competitiveness improvement programs, such as the organization of training camps and the deployment of coaches, undertaken by prefectural governments with the cooperation of prefectural amateur sports associations and other organizations. The purpose of these activities, which target lower and upper secondary school students, is the early discovery of potential athletes so that they can receive medium- to long-term coaching and training.

People who have made notable contributions to the improvement and promotion of physical education and sports in Japan are designated "sports instructors of special merit." They are sent to various prefectures to provide guidance and other assistance to physical education and sports programs of prefectural governments. The schedule for fiscal 1994 provided for the appointment of 21 such instructors in 15 sports.

The recruiting and training of able instructors is an important priority from the viewpoint of improving competitiveness. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture certifies training programs for instructors implemented by sports organizations and other groups in 30 types of sports, including track and field (as of June 1994).

The Ministry also sponsors the National Summit Meeting of Sports Coaches for coaches, sports medicine and science researchers, prefectural government officials, and others involved in the development and improvement of athletes. The purpose of this conference is to foster mutual understanding and provide an opportunity for the discussion of research and the exchange of information. The conference is also seen as a step toward the establishment of improved coaching systems based on organic cooperation.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture has traditionally presented sports merit awards to Olympic medalists. To clarify the status of these athletes in relation to that of medalists at other sports events, the Ministry established the Olympic Medalist Award Regulations (Ministry of Education, Science and Culture Ordinance) in February 1994. It was decided that the presentation of Minister of Education, Science and Culture awards under the new system would begin with the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer.

The Japanese Olympic Committee has made monetary awards to Olympic medalists since the 1992 Olympic Winter Games in Albertville. In recognition of the special nature of the Olympic Games, these payments have been exempted from income tax since the Lillehammer Games.

Japan needs scientific and systematic athlete improvement systems to enable its athletes to keep pace with the dramatic rise in performance levels in recent years. A number of organizations, including the National Council on Educational Reform and the Discussion Group on Sports Promotion (an advisory group to the Prime Minister), have expressed concern about Japan's disadvantage in such areas as research in sports medicine and science. These groups have recommended that urgent priority be given to the establishment of a sports medicine and science research institute and a national training center in order to improve the competitiveness of Japanese athletes.

As a result of these recommendations, the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture is currently making preparations for the establishment of the National Sports Science Center (provisional name). This center, aiming to improve the competitiveness of Japanese athletes by conducting research in sports medicine and science, will be established as an agency of the National Stadium and School Health Center of Japan.

The concept of a comprehensive national training center with various sports facilities, such as athletic fields, tennis courts, gymnasiums, and swimming pools, as well as accommodation and training facilities, is being studied as a long-term goal.

The annual National Athletic Festival is a comprehensive interprefectural competition. As a national sports festival, it has played an important role in the promotion of sports in Japan.

The 43d National Athletic Festival in 1988 marked the beginning of a new cycle for the festival, which is held in a different prefecture each year. Approaches to the second cycle were studied by the Japan Amateur Sports Association, which developed guidelines for events that would involve a wide spectrum of the Japanese people. A number of changes were made, including management rationalization and simplification of the scoring system.

Participation of lower secondary school students in the National Athletic Festival was introduced on a trial basis in fiscal 1988. Since then third-year students of lower secondary schools have been permitted to enter events in the four categories of swimming, track and field, gymnastics, and figure skating. After consultations with the relevant organizations, it was decided to implement the system on a formal basis beginning with the 49th National Athletic Festival in 1994, using the same procedures as during the trial period.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture has established an organizer liaison council for consultation with representatives of the Japan Amateur Sports Association and prefectural governments. The Ministry is working through this council to maintain close liaison with organizers of the National Athletic Festival.

Japan will be the host country of the 1995 Universiade in Fukuoka and the Nagano Olympic Winter Games in 1998. The government recognizes the importance of these events in promoting sports in Japan, as well as their considerable significance from the viewpoint of fostering international friendship and goodwill. The Cabinet has expressed its support for both events, and the government will provide the necessary cooperation.

Support for the Nagano Olympic Winter Games has been given special priority. The Chief Cabinet Secretary and the Minister of Education, Science and Culture have been appointed to the Organizing Committee for the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, Nagano 1998 (NAOC), to provide management cooperation. In addition, the Council for Preparatory Measures for the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano has been established within the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate government measures relating to preparations for the Nagano Games. The council, headed by the Chief Cabinet Secretary, includes the vice-ministers or their equivalents of the relevant government ministries and agencies. Under the Law Concerning Special Measures Necessary for Preparation for and Management of the Nagano Olympic Winter Games, the government has provided for special measures under laws relating to such matters as the issuance of prestamped postcards with donations included in the price of the postage and the dispatch of central and local government personnel to NAOC. The fiscal 1994 national budget included 6,036 million yen in subsidies for development of facilities for the Nagano Games.

Since fiscal 1993 the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture has also been providing a series of information and education programs designed to gain public support and cooperation for the Nagano Games. In fiscal 1993 the Ministry produced a booklet titled From Around the World-to Flower as One for elementary and lower secondary school students. In fiscal 1994 booklets were prepared for upper secondary school students and the general public.

The Vice-Minister of Education, Science and Culture has been appointed to the organizing committees of the Hiroshima Asian Games and the Fukuoka Universiade to provide management cooperation.