Rate of children doing sports in Japan 2023, by frequency

According to a study conducted in Japan in 2023, about 43 percent of children aged four to eleven stated that they did sports or participated in a sports group at least seven times a week. More than three percent of respondents, on the other hand, reported that they did not exercise at all during the surveyed period.

Physical education at schools

Physical education in Japan begins in kindergarten. Through physical play using balls and playground equipment, dancing, or games, children learn the basic movement of their bodies. Swimming classes are also held at most kindergartens. From elementary school to senior high school, classes of physical education are conducted several times a week. Some of the main sports disciplines taught are track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and dancing. As the Japanese government supports martial arts education at schools by providing sufficient budget, students also learn martial arts such as kendo or judo in classes. Additionally, a sports day takes place every year at schools. On the day, children compete in teams in various types of athletics events like relay races and gymnastics.

Sports clubs

In addition to physical education classes, sports clubs at schools are also very active, and it is often required for most of the students to participate in club activities after classes. Clubs compete in a variety of sporting events throughout a year, such as the high school baseball championship Koshien. Koshien is one of the biggest sporting tournaments for students in Japan and attracts not only the young generation but also an adult audience. Some children also participate in private clubs outside of schools. Rugby, which is recently gaining popularity in the country because of the successful national Rugby team, for example, has multiple active private clubs for children across Japan.