Sports give great excitement and joy to people around the world.  Sports will encourage people.  Sports are one of world cultures that human beings have developed in cooperation with one another while embracing differences in language and lifestyle.

 Sports are also the cornerstone of personal development, improved physical fitness, health and longevity.  They contributes to revitalizing regions and expanding the scope of the sports industry, thereby having positive economic effects indispensable for the creation of a bright, rich and vibrant society.

 The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology had worked to formulate the national physical activity strategy to define the basic direction of the nation’s sports policy in the future, with a view to reviewing the current “Sports Promotion Act” and replacing it with a newly formulated “Basic Sports Act”.

 In its work, having taken into account that sports are something extremely relevant to the life of individual citizens, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology listened to views and opinions of a wide range of people who are involved in sports, e.g. athletes competing in various games, instructors, experts, representatives of sports associations and corporations, administrative staff in charge of sports administration at local public authorities, as well as community sports club organizers, to address various issues related to modern sports.

 As a result of this work, the strategy has been formulated based on the “basic concept”, i.e.

  • A focus on persons (sporting participants, spectators, supporters/educators); and
  • Promotion of cooperation and collaboration

 with a view to “developing a new sports culture” in Japan as a policy package covering a wide range of issues derived therefrom, including five key policies and policy objectives to be implemented over the next 10 years, policies that should be implemented intensively and a framework to be developed.

 The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology will comprehensively as well as proactively undertake measures defined in this Strategy and further promote sports in Japan, so as to make Japan more active in this area.

 We sincerely hope the formulation of this Strategy will provide an opportunity for many more people to enjoy, take part in, support and encourage sports, thereby ensuring that the diversified significance and value of sport be widely shared across society and that a “new sports culture” be developed in Japan.

(Policy Planning Division, Sports and Youth Bureau)