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In recent years,the basic stamina and ability to exercise of students has been on a long-term downward trend as the opportunities and spaces for physical activity in daily life diminish.

The findings of the Sports Test conducted byMESSC reveal tbat the stamina and ability to exercise of students,while improving from around1965to1975,and staying unchanged from1975to1985,have deteriorated in varying degrees in almost allschool grades since then( see Figures3-1 , 3-2 ).

According to the"Opinion Survey on Stamina and Sports"conducted by the Prime Minister's Office in October199774.2%of the respondents felt that today's children did not getenough exercise.As for the reasons,many citedthat today's children"spend a lot of time watching television and playing games instead ofplaying outside"or that they"do not have anytime because they are busy studying and going tojuku(cram schools)and private lessons"( seeFigures3-3 , 3-4

).At the same time,it was also found that there was a widening gap between students who were interested and actively participating in sports and those who were not.

Figure3-1:Annual Change in Total Points on Stamina Test

Figure3-2:Annual Change in Total Points on Ability to Exercise Test

Figure3-3:Do Today's Children Get Enough Exercise?

Figure3-4:Reasons Why Today's Children Do Not Get Enough Exercise

By comparing the stamina and ability to exercise of students by differences in the amount of exercise they get daily according to the findings of the Sports Test,it is clear that students who exercised almost everyday scored higher than students who did not exercise(see Figure3-5).

According to the findings of tbe MESSC"Survey on Health and Sports,"students whobelonged to extracurricular sports clubs or community sports clubs were more likely to haveconfidence in their stamina than students who didnot,showing that daily exercise marked the differences in stamina and the ability to exercise( see Table3-1 )

Table3-1:Children's Membership in Extracurricular Sports Clubs and Community Sports Clubs,and Confidence in Their Stamina Levels

Students who were asked which were their favorite subjects in school ranked Health and PhysicalEducation at the top of their lists,likely because itprovides a special opportunity for students tomove their bodies( see Figure3-6 ).

For the reasons as to why they took part insports,many students responded"to promotehealth and stamina,"reflecting the health consciousness of students who exercise and the parents and guardians who encourage them to do so.Many also said"because exercise is fun"and"tobe with friends."It is notable that many lowerand upper secondary school students said"to reduce stress"( see Figure3-7 ).

Figure3-5(1):Points on Stamina Tests According to Frequency of Exercise and Sports Activity

Figure3-5(2):Points on Ability to Exercise Tests According to Frequency of Exercise and Sports Activity

Figure3-6:Favorite Classes

Figure3-7:Reasons for Wanting to Take Part in Sports and Recreation(Students)Reasons for Wanting Students to Take Part in Sports and Recreation(Parents and Guardians,Teachers,Instructors)

With regard to the awareness of children towardhealth and sports,the"Survey on Health andSports"asked respondents how they try to promote their health and stamina.While many elementary and lower secondary school studentssaid they hied to"exercise and play sports,"fewer gave that response in upper secondaryschool;more said that they tried to"have a goodnight's sleep and rest"( see Figure3-8 ).

In terms of students'membership in extracurricular sports clubs or other sports clubs,56%of sixth grade elementary school students,66%of third grade lower secondary school studentsand38%of third grade upper secondary schoolstudents said that they belonged.However,35%of the upper secondary scbool students questioned said that tbey"used to belong but do notanymore,"indicating that they had stopped in order to prepare for entrance examinations or dueto other circumstances( see Figure3-9 ).

Figure3-8:Efforts to Promote One's Health and Stamina

Figure3-9:Do You Belong to an Extracurricular Sports Club/Community Sports Club?

Elementary school students differed from lower and upper secondary school students in terms of the associations to which they belonged.Fiftyfour percent of the former belonged to extracurricular sports clubs and circles,while more than90%of the latter did.Furthermore,41%of elementary school students belonged to clubs with people generally living in the same area and25%to private membership sports clubs,reflecting the influence of youth sports associations and swimming clubs for them,while fewer of the lower and upper secondary school students had contact with the local associations.As for sports and recreation over the previous year,swimming and jumping rope were popular among elementary school students,while basketball,bowling and soccer were popular among lower and upper secondary school students.