2022 New Year’s Speech

Japan Sports Agency Commissioner, MUROFUSHI Koji

I would like to wish you all a joyous New Year for 2022.

It is my great pleasure to say amid the difficult circumstances brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games were a success due to the all-out collective efforts of so many relevant parties. I believe the Japan Sports Agency, or the JSA, must inherit and develop a legacy of the Games that will be cherished and passed down by future generations.

As the Tokyo Games have successfully disseminated the value and joy of sport to people both in and outside of Japan, we must use this opportunity to further expand the population of those who participate in sport. The JSA will continue to support measures to create sporting opportunities and develop an environment that enables all members of society to engage in sport. Through the “Sport in Life” project, the JSA has launched promotional campaigns through Social Network Services and is accepting applications for the Sport in Life Award. We will also swiftly advance measures to secure opportunities for people with disabilities to take up sport by providing the necessary equipment and enhancing facilities.

While the JSA has vigorously advanced measures to revive regional communities and the economy, we must also work on carrying over the momentum of the Tokyo Games to these regions. In order to create a nationwide movement to build towns and revive regional communities through sport, the JSA established a system to approve outstanding measures taken by local governments to promote sport and a healthy lifestyle. 30 local municipalities have been awarded to date for their unique programs. In terms of promoting innovation, at the end of fiscal 2022, the JSA plans to select and announce the performance results of 12 companies that have collaborated with sporting teams in the four regions of Hokkaido, Kansai, Chugoku and Okinawa. The JSA will continue to promote such measures that aim to revive communities and solve social issues through sport.

It is also important for relevant government agencies and organizations to further deepen collaborations in projects and policies. The JSA has a responsibility to play a central role in using sport in various measures and policies to revive communities and solve social issues. We will work more than ever before to advance sport policies by promoting collaborations that extend beyond ministries and agencies. Collaborations with the academia are also essential. In 2021, I had the opportunity to attend a conference on the topic of creating sporting environments along with members of the Japanese Orthopedic Society for Sports Medicine and the Japan Association of Sports Psychiatry. The JSA will continue to deepen collaborations with the academia, as our relationship is crucial in planning, developing and administering persuasive policies based on scientific knowledge and evidence. The JSA also receives continuous support on various occasions by the business community for its sport-related activities. We will advance collaborations with the industry and businesses upon reviewing the current situation and outstanding issues on our relationship with businesses in promoting sport overall, including increasing competitiveness.

The JSA is now formulating the Third Sport Basic Plan which outlines the direction of sport policies over the next five years starting April 2022. I hope to deepen discussions with all relevant parties to promote the value of sport to as many people as possible.
I believe sport has the power to energize people and contribute to promoting a healthy mind and body. The JSA will do all that it can to create a sporting world that inspires.

End