Although specific target populations have not been strategically defined in SfA promotion in Japan, children and adolescents have been regarded as the major target groups who must receive the various benefits brought by participating in sport activities.　In addition, sport and exercise among older adults and disabled persons have received greater attention in the current SfA movement in Japan.

　In order to encourage a regular participation into sport activities for the people, it is important to have an enjoyable experience of sport in childhood.　Thus, physical education classes at schools and extra-curricular sport activities take on a significant role in offering a pleasant experience to play sport.

　According to the survey conducted by MEXT in 1998, regarding the sporting activities engaged by elementary school 6^th grade pupils among which sampled approximately 2,600 pupils in 100 elementary schools in Japan, more than half of the children (56.2%) were taking part in sporting activities through affiliation with sports clubs in the school, sport clubs in the community, sport clubs run by commercial companies, etc.

　According to the reports of the Japanese Junior High School Physical Education Federation in 2000, popular school sport among male students are baseball, basketball, table tennis, track and field, soccer and female students' popular school sport are volleyball, soft tennis, basketball, track and field, table tennis.

　Among high school students, male students prefer baseball, soccer and basketball and female students prefer volleyball, basketball and badminton.　However, despite these popularity in sport among high school students, the membership in sport club at school declined sharply from 1.66 million in 1992 to 1.26 million in 1999.

　For the youth of today, various health problems such as the decrease in the levels of physical fitness and motor performance, and emotional disorders, have become apparent.　The results of the Physical Strength Test conducted by MEXT reveal that the physical fitness and motor performance of students, while improving from around 1965 to 1975, and staying unchanged from 1975 to 1985, have deteriorated in varying degrees in almost all school grades(MEXT, 2001).

　In addition, great changes have occurred in the living environment which surrounds children and adolescents, particularly the increase in the amount of hours of staying home and playing video games, and the decrease in the number of open-air activities.　Under the current circumstances, participation in sport by young people is not only important for becoming healthy by improving their physical fitness and motor performance, but it also plays a vital role in developing their emotional and social well-being,

　The Japanese population is aging at a rapid tempo due to the extension of the average life span and a decline in birth rates.　Those aged over 65 comprise about 17.9% of the total Japanese population in 2000 and this proportion is increasing at a rate several times faster than in most Western countries.　In an aged society, it is important for older adults to have a worthwhile purpose in life and to be able to lead enjoyable lives.

　From this perspective, sport and exercise activities are expected to play a more important role in the 2lst century in Japan.　Public and private agencies have offered sport programs and opportunities for the elderly, including gateball games (Japanese croquet), new sport programs (e.g., ground golf, lawn bowls, petanque, flying disks, and shuffle board), walking events and programs, and masters games at the national and local levels.

　According to the 2000 SSF National Sport-Life Survey, about 60% of the respondents aged 60-69 and about 50% of the respondents aged over 70 participated in sport and physical activities more than once in the last twelve months.　Main activities included walking (33.7% for 60-69 and 34.2% for over 70), light exercises and calisthenics (19.1% for 60-69 and 7.8% for over 70).　However, "Active Sports Participants" exercising somewhat intensely more than twice a week for over 30 minutes at a time, which is thought to be necessary for gaining health benefits, accounted for only 14.4% for 60-69 and 13.7%for over 70.

　The Japanese Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions of People on Health and Welfare also reports that 20% of the older adult population experience significant difficulties in performing activities of daily living.　These disabilities prevent them from going outside (11%) and from participating in the workforce (10%).　There is a greater necessity to encourage people to participate in sport and physical activities in their later lives, because ample research evidence has suggested that regular physical activity reduces the risks of several potentially life-threatening conditions among aging adults, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic disorders, osteoporosis and colon cancer.

　Because the large aging population is likely to encounter unnecessary health problems and higher medical insurance costs because of a sedentary lifestyle, it is urgent to develop effective and efficient promotion strategies appropriate for this vast target population in Japan.

　Sport for the disabled persons have been considered not only as welfare measures, such as the recovery of bodily functions and social participation, but also as fulfillment of the diverse needs of people, such as being able to enjoy sport themselves, and improving competitiveness through challenges.

　There used to be two major sporting events for the disabled in Japan, including the National Sports Games for the Physically Disabled, which are held after the autumn session of the National Sports Festival, and the National Sports Games for Intellectual Disabilities (Yuaipic or Friendship Olympic).　In 2001, these two events are merged into a single event called the National Sports Games for the Disabled where both physically disabled and intellectually disabled can participate.

　There are also other events in which people without disabilities play friendly with the disabled persons.　For example, at the 10^th National Sports and Recreation Festival held in Okinawa in November 1997, there were 88 disabled participants who competed in events such as ground golf, and target bird golf.　The Nagano Winter Paralympic Games were held after the 18^th Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, from 5 to 14 March 1998.　The Japanese disabled athletes performed extremely well, winning 41 medals, including 12 gold medals.　These athletes' achievements left a strong impression on the Japanese people and raised public awareness and interest in sport for the disabled persons.