Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIESIN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTSAND CULTURE1998 > MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SPORTS CHAPTER1 SECTION3 1

As mentioned earlier,sports are significant in a number of diverse ways.In particular,with the effects of urbanization and lifestyles becoming more convenient in recent years,and the consequent emergence of a living environment in which there is a lack of exercise,a more conscious effort to participate in sports has become indispensable to everyday life.

For the youth of today,various problemssuch as the decrease in stamina and the abilityto exercise,and emotional disturbances,havebecome apparent.Great changes have occurredin the living environment which surroundsyoung people,particularly the increase in indoor play,such as playing computer games,and the decrease in open-air play areas.Thereis also a lack of opportunity to develop socialskills.Under the current circumstances,participation in sports by young people is not onlyuseful for becoming healthy by improvingstamina and the ability to exercise,but alsoplays a vital role in emotional health,such asthe sense of refreshment derived from physicalactivity.Furthermore,because sports areplayed based on rules,it is an important opportunity for young people to acquire a mentality for respecting these rules as one of thefoundations of social skills,and,througb cooperation with others,to nurture thoughtfulnesstoward them.In advanced nations,the educationaleffectiveness of sports attracts a great deal of attention,and various types of sports promotionpolicies targeted at young people are being positively implemented( see column).

Sports also enable people to lead worthwhile lives.In an aging society,it is important for the aged to have a worthwhile purpose in life,and to be able to lead enjoyable lives.From this perspective,sports play an extremely important role.It is often said that the aged have an interest in sports,such as gate ball(Japanese croquet),through which they are able to have active exchanges with other local people,and that they spend fulfilling days in this way.Sports also promote a sense of togetherness among people,and are useful for establishing friendships and even for forming local communities.Urbanization has contributed to a breakdown in local human relations,and the destruction of the local community has become a problem all over Japan and in this situation,sports are assuming a greater role.In Europe and the United States,sports,which are diverse in such significant ways,are deeply rooted in the lifestyles of the people,who derive pleasure from them throughout tbeir lives.The role played by sports is steadily increasing in an era in which quality of life is constantly sought after.It is therefore necessary to create in Japan a society in which people can freely enjoy sports,that is to say,a society in which anyone can play sports,in any place and at any time.This is a lifelong sports society.

Table1-1:Guidelines for a Full and Satisfactory Sports Life(model plan)

Table1-2:Guidelines for Exercising to Improve Stamina(model plan)

In a lifelong sports society it is important forpeople to exercise and take part in sports independently and constantly according to their lifestage.From this perspective,in September1997,the Health and Physical Education,Council report proposed policies for the promotion ofparticipation in sports suited to the age of theindividual,and guidelines for participationshowing what sort of exercise and sports peopleshould be enjoying at each stage of their lives( see Tables1-1 , 1-2 ).