Foreword
This is a revised edition of Sport for All in Japan, a collective work by three promising sport sociology scholars and originally published by Sasakawa Sports Foundation in February 2001. Written from historical and sociological perspectives, the previous edition analyzes the development of Sport for All movement in Japan and offers an outline about sport in the country. Fortunately the book enjoyed a warm reception as a textbook on the subject by sport promotion and academic communities around the world.
For people in the field of sport promotion in Japan, the last couple of years is the time of change. In September 1999, The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) laid out " Basic Plan for the Promotion of Sports" to propose its policy vision for the next 10 years. In March 2001, Sports Promotion Lottery "toto" was launched nationwide with expectation to create a financial resource for sport promotion. It is estimated that the lottery generated about 60,000 million yen (approx. US$45 million) as fund in 2001. In August 2001, the 6th World Games, an international competitions of sports not adopted in Olympic games, was successfully taken place in a regional city, Akita. And of course, as many of you are well aware, Japan will co-host the 2002 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament between May 31 and June 30 with Korea.
According to the 2000 SSF National Sport-Life Survey by Sasakawa Sports Foundation, the sport participation rate among Japanese adults has been steadily increasing for the last 10 years (see Chapter 9). This result proves that Sport for All movement has taken root in Japan. As our country enters super-aged society, advancing Sport for All is definitely an important national agenda.
Kiyoko Ono
Member of the House of Councillors, the National Diet of Japan
President, Sasakawa Sports Foundation (SSF)
March, 2002
