Supported by

Report on the Tennis Environment in Japan

March 2013

Japan Tennis Association

This is an abridged translation into English of the Japanese language report entitled “tenisu

jinkoutou kankyou jittai chousa houkokusho” (テニス人口等環境実態調査報告書), which was
published by the Japan Tennis Association in March 2013 as its special project for fiscal year 2012.

Table of Contents

1. Introductory Remarks ················································································· 3
2. Findings ···································································································· 4(1)

The Tennis Population of 3.73 Million in Japan Is Shrinking Over the Long Term

(2)

There Is a Potential Recreational Tennis Player Segment, While the Committed Players Remain
Strong(3)

An Ageing Adult Tennis Population(4)

Prefectures with the Top Tennis Player Ratios: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Hyogo, Chiba, Aichi, Kyoto(5)Tennis Court Facilities Decreased by One-Third During the 13 Years from 1996 to 2008

(6)

Tennis Equipment Market Size: 54.6 Billion Yen, 8th in the Sports Equipment Market(7)

Tennis Business Operators Focusing on Tennis School Services(8)

One in Ten Tennis School Students Are Children Under 10, and There Is Interest in PLAY + STAY

(9)Expectations Towards Media Strategies, Activities to Popularize, and School Tennis for Expanding theTennis Population(10) People in Metro Tokyo Play Tennis at Rental Courts, with Friends/Acquaintances(11) 12,761 Registered Players with the Japan Tennis Association, Gradually Decreasing and Ageing(12) Court Officials, on the Decrease from 2008, Down to 3,478, while Instructors Remain Static at 5,491(13) The Three Major Tennis Tournaments Attracted a Total of 164,000 Spectators in 2012, a 40% Increase
from 2003(14) Japan Tennis Association Budget: 1.5 Billion Yen for Fiscal Year 2011(15) Tennis Organizations Have 400,000 Registered Players/Members in Total

3. Concluding Remarks by the Project Team on the Research of the Tennis
Environment in Japan················································································· 33

11. Introductory Remarks
The Japan Tennis Association published a 102-page report on the tennis environment inJapan in March of this year as a special project of 2012, which marked its 90th anniversary.
It is my great pleasure at this point in time to present the English version, albeit abridged, of
this report.
The objective of this report, which has turned out to be the first of its kind in the field oftennis in Japan, was to compile basic quantitative data on the current state of tennis playing
and tennis-related business, profit-making or non-profitmaking alike, in Japan. The
quantitative data compiled in the report pertains to the tennis population, tennis courts,
tennis instructors, court officials, the current state of tennis-related associations and businessundertakings, and the like. The ultimate objective of this compilation of basic tennis data,
however, lies in the expansion of the base of the tennis population, which is being adversely
affected by the declining birthrate and ageing of the population.
We believe that the successive compilation of such basic data should enable us to assess what
we have done for the promotion of tennis in Japan as the national sporting association
governing tennis. It should also help our colleagues in regional and prefectural tennis
associations to work more effectively to popularize this life-long sport, develop junior tennis
players, and organize tournaments in their own jurisdictions. I would like to add withgratitude that this research project, which was conducted by a 10-person project team createdin January last year within the Japan Tennis Association, received professional support fromthe Sasakawa Sports Foundation, which is known for its biannual SSF Sports-Life Survey.
The project was subsidized by the Sports Promotion Lottery of the Japan Sport Council.
These bodies enabled us to carry out surveys on 9 regional tennis associations, 47 prefecturaltennis associations and tennis business operators nationwide, while allowing us to make themaximum use of available tennis-related statistics and research compiled by the government
and private institutes.
As shown in the report, Japanese tennis is faced with the double problem of a declining tennis
population and a reduction in the number of tennis courts. By sharing the findings of thisreport with as many colleagues as possible, the Japan Tennis Association, as a public-interest
incorporated foundation charged with the promotion of tennis as a life-long, competitive, andspectator sport in Japan, is now committed to improving the tennis environment in Japan andexpanding the base of the tennis population through the nation-wide promotion of
PLAY+STAY.
I would like to conclude my remarks by saying that through the publication of this English
version I am pleased to share with our colleagues in other countries over our findings in thereport and inform them about some of our experiences in promoting tennis as well as thechallenges facing the Japan Tennis Association. As the Japan Tennis Association is amember of the International Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation, I will be
more than happy if this report serves as a stepping stone for us to work together so that thestatus of tennis in the world of sports will be raised, thereby contributing more to the sporting
life of world citizens.
March 2013
Nobuo Kuroyanagi
President
Japan Tennis Association
32. Findings(1) The Tennis Population of 3.73 Million in Japan Is Shrinking Over the Long Term
The tennis population in Japan, defined as the number of people aged 10 or older who played
tennis (excluding soft tennis) at least once in the past one year, was 3.73 million and is shrinking
over the long term, according to the Sasakawa Sports Foundation’s (SSF) “National Sports-Life
Survey” among adults and young people (2001-2012, thereinafter SSF Survey).

The tennis

population has decreased from 4.23 million a decade ago to 3.73 million (Chart 1, 2). However,tennis is not the only competitive sport that is experiencing a declining trend.

Almost allcompetitive sports populations, excluding that of soccer, have remained static or are in decline.
Meanwhile, the soft tennis population in 2012 stood at 1.97 million.

(2) There Is a Potential Recreational Tennis Player Segment, While the Committed
Players Remain Strong
Among adults (20 years old and above), the number of those who would like to start or continue
playing tennis in the future was about twice more than the current tennis population, according to
the SSF Survey in 2012. This indicates the presence of a potential recreational segment of tennis
players.
Comparing the 2002 and 2012 SSF Surveys, the adult tennis population (those who played
tennis at least once a year) itself was gradually declining, although “regular” tennis players, such as
those who played at least twice a month or once a week, remained static (Chart 1). The number ofplayers who played tennis at least once a year was smaller than the corresponding figures forbadminton or table tennis players, but “regular” players (at least once a week) of tennis surpassed
these two sports. It can be said that committed tennis players remain strongly attached to thesport.

4

Chart 1: Changes in Adult Tennis Population（Number of Persons,in 10,000）

At least once a year

At least twice a month

At least once a week

450
403
400

389

378

2006
2004
2002
2000

335

350 315
300

296

250
200
154

151

192

176

150 120

146

100

107

93

2004

2006

50 80
0
2002

140

140

2008

2010

109

2012
(Year)

2002

1000
At least once a week(%)
Adult population, Basic
900
resident register (Number of800
Persons)

2004
3.1
1.2
0.8

At least once a year (%)（万人）(%)At least twice a month

2006
3.7
1.5
1.0

2008

2010
3.9
3.8
実施人口（年1回以上）
1.7
1.9
1.4
1.4

3.3
実施希望人口
1.5
0.9

2012
2.9
1.4
1.1

837 103,387,474 103,824,522 103,973,831
100,649,429
101,730,947 102,636,961
818
731

700

749

716

Note 1) Tennis population in the chart was estimated by multiplying the adult population of the basic resident register and the player ratio (%)
Note 2) "At least once a 600
year" includes "At least twice a month" and "At least once a week." "At least twice a month" includes "At least once a week"

500

From "SSF National Sports-Life Survey," Sasakawa Sports Foundation (2002-2012)

400(Numberof Persons,200
in 10,000)

140
120

403

378

389

335
Chart 2: Changes in Young(10-19 years old) Tennis Population

300

At least once a year

100

0
108.3

At least twice a week296

At least five times a week

124.6
2004

2006

2008

2010

100

2012

83.6

（年）

2001

76.9
2011
2009
2005
2001

80
60
36.3

40

21.4

20

20.2
10.1

19.9

13.4

0
2005

2009

2001

2005

At least once a year (%)

7.9
実施希望人口160

At least twice a week (%)

1.5
0.7

2.8
1.6

Population age 10-19, Basic 124.6
resident register (Number of
13,741,741
108.3
Persons)

12,856,314

At least five times a week (%)

135.6

2011

2009

（万人）

120

14.8
(Year)

2001

140

19.1

2011

9.7
6.9
実施人口（年1回以上）

6.4
1.6
1.2

1.8
1.1

12,143,089 116.1
12,004,534

113.9
100 Note 1) Tennis population in the chart was estimated by multiplying
83.6the population of age 10-19 from the basic
resident register and the player ratio (%)
76.9
80 Note 2) "At least once a year" includes "At least twice a week" and "At least five times a week." "At least twice a
60

week" includes "At least five times a week"
From "SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Young People," Sasakawa Sports Foundation (2001-2011)

40

5

20
0
2001

2005

10.4

2009

2011 （年）(3)An Ageing Adult Tennis Population
Looking at the age composition of the adult tennis population, the largest age group among

men was 20-29 years old (29.9%), and among women 40-49 years old (26.6%), according to the“Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities” (2011) by the Ministry of Internal Affairs andCommunications. Compared to a decade ago in 2001, among both men and women the proportionsof the 20-29 year old and 30-39 year old segments became smaller, while all the age groups over 40
years old were larger in 2011. In particular, those 60-69 years old among both men and women
have significantly increased, and the tennis population is indeed ageing (Chart 3).
Chart 3: Gender and Age Group Composition of Adult Tennis Players

Age 20-29

Age 30-39

Men in 2011

29.9

Men in 2001

34.1

Age 40-49

Age 50-59

17.6

Age 60-69

22.1
26.7

Age 70 or above

15.0
20.9

10.9 4.4
12.1

1.1
5.1
2.4

Women in 2011

25.8

21.4

26.6

14.3

9.5
2.7

39.4

Women in 2001
0%

20%

27.5
40%

19.8
60%

80%

10.0

0.6
100%

From “Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities,”
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2011)

Note: May include soft tennis players

6

(4)

Prefectures with the Top Tennis Player Ratios: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Hyogo, Chiba,
Aichi, Kyoto
The top five prefectures in terms of tennis population (number of persons) were Tokyo,

Kanagawa, Aichi, Osaka, and Saitama, according to the “Survey on Time Use and Leisure
Activities” (2011) by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (Table 1). On the other
hand, the top five prefectures in terms of tennis player ratio (proportion of tennis players in thegeneral population) were Tokyo, Kanagawa, Hyogo, Chiba, Aichi, and Kyoto (including two
prefectures with the same ratio) (Table 2).
Table 1: Tennis Population by Prefecture (10 years and older: Top 10)

Rank

Prefecture

Population of Age
10 or abovein eachPrefecture(in 1,000)
732
11,998
474
8,127
321
6,596
306
7,936
297
6,477
279
5,584
254
4,979
142
3,343
142
4,883
117
4,478

TennisPopulation(in 1,000)

Tokyo
Kanagawa
Aichi
Osaka
Saitama
Chiba
Hyogo
Shizuoka
8
Hokkaido
10 Fukuoka
Note: May include soft tennis players
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

From “Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities,”
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2011)

Table 2: Tennis Player Ratio by Prefecture (10 years and older: Top 10)

Rank

Prefecture

Tennis Player
Ratio (%)

Tokyo
Kanagawa
Hyogo
Chiba
Aichi
5
Kyoto
7 Saitama
8 GifuShizuoka
9
IbarakiNote: May include soft tennis players
1
2
3
4

6.1
5.8
5.1
5.0
4.9
4.9
4.6
4.4
4.3
4.3

Tennis Population(in 1,000)
732
474
254
279
321
115
297
81
142
115

From “Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities,”
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (2011)

7

(5)

Tennis Court Facilities Decreased by One-Third During the 13 Years from 1996 to2008
In 2008, there were 8,702 facilities with tennis courts nationwide, a decrease by one-third from

13,229 in 1996, according to the “Survey on Facilities for Physical Education and Sports” by the
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. By facility type, all three – public,commercial, and company owned – have decreased. In particular, the company owned tennis court
facilities (i.e., welfare facilities of companies) have decreased by half during a 13-year period, from3,527 facilities in 1996 to 1,608 in 2008 (Table 3).
The number of tennis courts of public and commercial facilities (excluding company owned) was
28,398 in 2008, a decrease by one-fourth from 38,423 in 1996. Comparing indoor versus outdoor,
the number of indoor courts increased. By facility type, the decrease in courts of commercial
facilities was larger than that of public ones (Table 4). It is safe to assume that the commercial
tennis industry has been exposed to a difficult business environment.
Table 3: Changes in Number of Facilities with Tennis Courts by Facility Type
Facility Type

PublicCommercial

Company owned(Welfare facilities ofcompany)

Total

Year 1996
OutdoorIndoorTotal
OutdoorIndoorTotal
OutdoorIndoorTotal
OutdoorIndoorTotal

Year 2002

Year 2008

7,381
127

6,140
158

5,530
215

7,508

6,298

5,745

1,859
335

1,385
304

1,026
323

2,194

1,689

1,349

3,457
70

2,239
29

1,565
43

3,527

2,268

1,608

12,697
532

9,764
491

8,121
581

13,22910,255

8,702

From “Survey on Facilities for Physical Education and Sports,”
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology（1996, 2002, 2008）

Table 4：Changes in Number of Tennis Courts by Facility Type
Facility Type

PublicYear 1996

Year 2002

Year 2008

OutdoorIndoor

27,509386

23,610472

21,910580

Total

27,89524,082

22,490Commercial

OutdoorIndoor

9,582
946

6,919
866

4,981
927

Total

10,528

7,785

5,908

Total

OutdoorIndoor

37,091
1,332

30,5291,338

26,891
1,507

Total

38,42331,86728,398From “Surv ey on Facilities f or Phy sical Education and Sports,”
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology （1996, 2002, 2008）

8

(6)

Tennis Equipment Market Size: 54.6 Billion Yen, 8th in the Sports Equipment
Market
The market size of tennis equipment was estimated at some 54.6 billion Japanese yen in 2012,

and was 4.3% of the total sports equipment market, according to the Yano Research Institute’s
study “Sporting Goods Industry 2012.” The market sizes by sport equipment types showed that
golf had the largest share at 19.3%, followed by sport shoes, outdoor, athletic wear, fishing,baseball/softball, and soccer/futsal. Tennis (including soft tennis) placed eighth (Table 5).
The composition of the shipment amount by tennis equipment type showed that tennis apparelwas 42.8% of the total, followed by tennis shoes at 14.9%, according to the 2012 estimates (Chart 4).
Looking at the changes in domestic shipment, it was some 85 billion yen in 1986, when thestatistics were first taken. In 1991, when the Bubble Economy was in its final stage in Japan, thedomestic shipping amount was a record-high 105.2 billion. Afterwards, it went into a downward
trend for all years except 2003 and 2004 (Chart 5).

9Table 5: Changes in Sport Equipment Domestic Market Size (By Equipment Types)
Unit: Million Yen, % Upper: Composition Lower: Comparison from Previous Year

Golf

294,03022.9

292,960

60,570

4.7

58,670126,7709.9

125,110

169,160

13.2

176,840

125,6109.8

131,510

167,460

13.0

177,770

61,1504.8

60,62026,3702.1

27,59074,1005.8

74,35022,6001.8

28,10013,195

1.0

13,595

13,6001.1

13,360

9,650

0.8

9,650

18,3901.4

18,48067,3805.2

61,97021,0001.6

20,46011,0900.9

10,370

1,790

0.1

1,770

1,283,915

100.0-

74,800

2.2

1.0

1.0

0.7

1.4

4.8

1.6

0.8

0.1

1,303,175

100.0

10.7

14.1

4.6

2.0

5.9

30,3002.4

142,490

1.1

180,3101.0

55,9000.8

24,2601.5

73,1904.9

31,6001.6

13,8100.8

12,980

0.1

9,685

100.0
97.1

101.5

9.6

13.2

11.4

14.4

4.5

1.9

5.8

2.5

1.1

1.0

0.8

20,2401.6

110,520

4.8

158,6101.6

155,160

0.8

184,6400.1

54,120100.0
98.9

159,290

12.6

14.9

4.4

23,3301.9

162,240

5.9

187,840

2.8

54,6101.1

23,8701.0

72,7900.8

37,0001.7

14,0104.9

12,700

1.6

9,720

0.8

20,4400.1

62,330

100.0
98.7

4.9
102.1

19,680

1.6
100.1

9,650

0.8
100.2

1,620

0.1
101.3

106.0
1,236,150

1.6
99.0

98.7
1,600

0.8
102.1

100.7
9,630

1.0
99.4

101.1
19,670

1.1
104.0

102.0
61,050

2.9
107.7

98.3
20,640

5.8
100.1

98.5
9,520

1.9
102.3

97.5
12,780

4.3
100.9

108.7
13,470

14.9
101.7

99.4
34,350

12.9
104.6

96.2
72,730

12.6
100.4

96.8

91.0
1,252,355

12.8

9.3
106.1

102.4

96.7
1,510

117,240

108.9

98.8
9,760

8.9

4.1
98.9

96.0

97.5
19,54051,47092.2

107.5
60,390

4.2
98.9

100.0

93.8
1,265,715

52,050

102.9

97.3
1,660

4.2

100.6

93.6

103.5

96.6
10,090

19.3

104.3

100.0
19,770243,800

97.8

101.8
61,940

19.6

96.5

100.4
18,820242,280

95.9

94.4
9,685

20.7

101.0

98.1
12,610

%

104.8

107.8
13,340(Estimate)

99.0

100.6

98.9

-

Total

5.7

165,240

91.1

93.5

-

Rugby

25,14097.4-

Volleyball

2.1

13.2

%

95.9

96.1

92.0

-

Basketball58,270100.5-

Soccer/Futsal

4.7

119,870

100.4

100.0

-

Fitness

178,510

98.2-

Table Tennis

13.6

9.9

(Projected)

96.1

103.4

103.0

-

Budo

136,000

124.3-

Badminton

10.1

52,650

94.4

100.3

-

Cycle Sports

166,980

104.6-

Baseball/Softball

13.6

4.3

%

96.6

99.9

99.1

-

Swim

124,980

106.2-

Tennis9.6

258,930

93.4

104.7

-

Sports Shoes

54,770104.5-

Outdoor

4.5

21.2
91.5

98.7

-

Athletic Wear

268,050

96.9-

Fishing

22.5
99.6

-

Ski/Snowboard

%

%

%

Year 2012

Year 2011

Year 2010

Year 2009

Year 2008

Year 2007

1,260,300

100.0
102.0

Note) Market sizes for all sport categories have been re-investigated and re-calculated from the year 2007
Yano Research Institute Study/Do Not Reproduce Without Permission

10Chart 4: Changes in Shipping Amount by Tennis Equipment Types

100%
3.9

3.8

3.8

Other Tennis Equipment
3.5

6.6

6.8

6.7

String 6.8

3.2

3.4

3.5

Bag, Case etc 3.6

45.0

44.4

44.2

Tennis Apparel 42.8

14.0

14.3

14.5

2.9

2.8

3.0

7.3

7.5

7.6

6.3

6.7

7.3

Soft Tennis Racket 7.3

10.7

10.2

9.5

Tennis Racket for
Hardball 10.1

Year 2009

Year 2010

Year 2011 (Projected)

Year 2012 (Estimate)

80%

60%

40%

20%

Tennis Shoes 14.9

Soft Tennis Ball 2.9

Hard Tennis Ball 8.00%

Yano Research Institute Study/Do Not Reproduce Without Permission

11

Chart 5: Changes in Tennis Equipment Domestic Shipment
Unit: Million Yen

110,000

105,160
98,190100,000

104,530

89,92090,00086,54485,01785,42078,67084,84780,00077,40078,48575,942

71,61569,37270,00068,14067,23071,27567,90067,08963,70060,62065,58060,00055,90061,15054,61058,27054,12050,00040,000
'86

'87

'88

'89

'90

'91

'92

'93

'94

'95

'96

'97

'98

'99

'00

'01

'02

'03

'04

'05

'06

'07

'08

'09

85,017－

Year 1995
Year-on-Year
78,485

99.8

Year 2004
Year-on-Year
68,140103.9

Year 1987
Year-on-Year
84,847

99.8

Year 1996
Year-on-Year
77,40098.6

Year 2005
Year-on-Year
67,90099.6

Year 1988
Year-on-Year
86,544102.0

Year 1997
Year-on-Year
75,942

98.1

Year 2006
Year-on-Year
63,70093.8

Year 1989
Year-on-Year
89,920103.9

Year 1998
Year-on-Year
71,615

94.3

Year 2007
Year-on-Year
61,15096.0

Year 1990
Year-on-Year
98,190109.2

Year 1999
Year-on-Year
71,275

99.5

Year 2008
Year-on-Year
60,62099.1

Year 1991
Year-on-Year
105,160

107.1

Year 2000
Year-on-Year
69,372

97.3

Year 2009
Year-on-Year
58,27096.1

Year 1992
Year-on-Year
104,530

99.4

Year 2001
Year-on-Year
67,08996.7

Year 1993
Year-on-Year
85,42081.7

Year 2002
Year-on-Year
67,230'11'12(Projected)(Prospect)

Unit: Million Yen, %Note) Market sizes have been re-calculated from the year 2008 or earlier; thus there could be some differences from the market sizes that were released in the past from year to year

Year 1986
Year-on
-Year

'10

100.2

Year 1994
Year-on-Year
78,67092.1

Year 2003
Year-on-Year
65,58097.5

Year 2010
Year 2011
Year 2012
Year-onYear-onYear-on(Projected)(Estimate)
-Year
-Year
-Year
55,90095.9

54,12096.8

54,610100.9

Yano Research Institute Study/Do Not Reproduce Without Permission

12

(7)

Tennis Business Operators Focusing on Tennis School Services
According to the “National Tennis Business Operators Survey” (2012, effective response rate

36.5%) by the Japan Tennis Association, among the 659 operators that responded to the survey,
43.9% offered membership tennis clubs, 75.6% offered tennis schools, and 67.4% offered rental
tennis court services (multiple answers possible, Chart 6).
According to the “Survey of Selected Service Industries” (2004) by the Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry, 60.8% of the operators offered tennis schools. However, the “National Tennis
Business Operators Survey” (2012) by the Japan Tennis Association showed that as many as 75.6%
operated tennis schools.

It can be inferred that the tennis industry is focusing on schooling

services.
Chart 6: Services Offered by Tennis Business Operators (Base: 659 businesses)
(%)
100
75.6

80

67.4

60
43.9
40
20

9.9
-

0
Membership Tennis
Club

Tennis School

Rental Tennis Court

Other

No Response（n=659)Looking at the combination of services the businesses responding to the “National Tennis
Business Operators Survey” offered, 27.9% had “school and rental courts” and 22.2% had“membership, school, and rental courts,” each given by more than 20%. “School only,” “rental
courts only,” and “membership and school” were all given by less than 20%, and “membership only”
and “membership and rental courts” were both given by less than 10% (Chart 7).
Chart 7：Combination of Services Offered by Tennis Business Operators (Base: 659 businesses)

Other
0.9%
Rental Courts Only
13.2%

Membership Only
Membership &6.2%
School
11.4%
Membership &Rental Courts
4.1%

School & Rental
Courts27.9%

Membership,
School, & Rental
Courts22.2%
School Only
14.1%

(n=659)13

(8)One in Ten Tennis School Students Are Children Under 10, and There Is Interestin PLAY + STAY
Among the 659 tennis businesses that responded to the “National Tennis Business Operators

Survey” (2012) by the Japan Tennis Association, 289 businesses (43.9%) had membership tennis
clubs, with 42,325 members in total (Chart 8). 45.3% of their members were 60 years old or above,
thus indicating a graying membership (Chart 9).
On the other hand, 498 businesses (75.6%) had tennis schools as part of their services, with
216,503 students (Chart 10). 40-49 years old and 10-19 years old students were the largest age
groups, each comprising slightly less than 20% of the total, revealing a stark difference frommembership clubs (Chart 11).
In addition, 10.5% of tennis school students were younger than 10 years old. The Japan
Tennis Association promotes for children under 10 years old the International Tennis Federation’s
recommended PLAY+STAY program, as a means of expanding the tennis population.

The

PLAY+STAY program uses courts and three types of balls that fit children’s respective physicaldevelopment stages. 62.4% of tennis businesses indicated interest in PLAY+STAY (Chart 12), withtennis school operators showing particularly strong interest.
Chart 8: Number of Tennis Club Members (By Gender) (Base: 281 businesses, No response: 8 businesses)
Unknown 2,251 5.3%

Total
42,325

Women 17,497
41.3%

Men 22,577 53.3%

Chart 9: Number of Tennis Club Members (By Gender and Age) (Base: 281 businesses, No response: 8 businesses)(Number of Persons)0

Under age 10

5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000
391 303 0

Total(Number of
Persons)

Composition
(%)

694

1.6

Age 10-19

889 587

4

1,480

3.5

Age 20-29

534

8

911

2.2

Age 30-39

1,206 923

2,145

5.1

5,430

12.8

10,73625.4

19,170

45.3

1,759

4.2

Age 60 or older
Unknown

16

2,611 2,721

Age 40-49
Age 50-59

369

5,320

5,251

98

165

11,469

7,211

Men

490

Women
157 132

Unknown

1,470

14

Chart 10: Number of Tennis School Students (By Gender) (Base: 481 businesses, No response: 17 businesses)
Unknown 18,999
8.8%
Men 95,691 44.2%

Total
216,503

Women 101,813
47.0%

Chart 11: Number of Tennis School Students (By Gender and Age)
(Base: 481 businesses, No response: 17 businesses)(Number of Persons)0
Under age 10

5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 40,000 45,000
11,330Age 10-19
Age 20-29
Age 30-39

Age 60 or older

1,330

21,087
7,043

7,029

16,836

1,267

14,444

17,17323,394

14,187
9,824

18,274
9,583

1,471
1,020

434

Men
Women

11,415

Unknown

1,600

462

12,698

Age 40-49
Age 50-59

10,003

Unknown

Total (Numberof Persons)Composition(%)

22,663

10.5

39,523

18.3

14,534

6.7

28,40913.1

42,03819.4

33,481

15.5

19,841

9.2

16,0147.4

2,349 2,250

Chart 12: Interest in PLAY＋STAY (Base: 659 businesses)(%)
Very Interested

Interest in
PLAY+STAY

29.1

Somewhat
Interested

Not MuchInterested

33.2

No Interest At
All

20.6

Don't Know

Top 2

5.6

62.4

11.4
(n=659)15

(9)Expectations Towards Media Strategies, Activities to Popularize, and School
Tennis for Expanding the Tennis Population
When asked about what they wanted from the Japan Tennis Association, many tennis business

operators gave responses such as “more media exposure for tennis,” “activities to popularize tennis,”and “activities to popularize tennis at school” in the “National Tennis Business Operators Survey”(2012) by the Japan Tennis Association (Table 6). In regard to activities to popularize tennis at
school, some urged that tennis should be included as an official sport of the National Junior HighSchool Physical Education Meet (by joining the Nippon Junior High School Physical Culture
Association) in order to promote tennis as an extracurricular activity at junior high schools.
Table 6: Expectations and Requests for the Japan Tennis Association (Base: 659 businesses)

Opinions

Number of Mentions

More media exposure for tennis

53

Improve the environment for playing tennis, activities to popularize,
increase the tennis population
Activities to popularize tennis at school (e.g. tennis clubs at juniorhigh schools)

29
22

Development of top players (e.g. winning medals)

16

Tax incentives for tennis businesses

14

Hosting tournaments

14

Junior player development

13

Promote PLAY+STAY

12

Integrate and promote coordination among tennis-relatedorganizations

10

Promote tennis as a life-long sport

9Competition with public courts

8

Training and information sharing for coaches/instructors

8

Promote tennis as a spectator sport

5

Provide professional tennis players clinics

5

Address problems regarding unlicensed coaches/instructors

4

Tennis for children

4

Improve working conditions for coaches/instructors

3Make JTA player registration and tournaments more open

3

Ageing of the tennis population

3

Provide data

3

Goods and prize money sponsorship for tournaments

2

Promotional activities for tennis beginners

2

Other

3

16

(10) People in Metro Tokyo Play Tennis at Rental Courts, with Friends/Acquaintances
Among adult regular tennis players (20 years old or above) in the four prefectures (Tokyo,
Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama) of Metro Tokyo, most play tennis at “public rental tennis courts”(45.5%), followed by those who play at “commercial rental tennis courts” (38.6%) (Chart 13, multiple
answers possible), according to the “Tennis Come Back, Tennis Intender Survey” (2008) by theCommittee of Activating Tennis. The survey also showed that many play tennis with “friends andacquaintances of the same gender” (69.3%) (Chart 14, multiple answers possible). The Committeeof Activating Tennis was founded by the Japan Tennis Industry Association and nine manufacturesof tennis equipment.
Chart 13: Where to Play Tennis
(%)

0

20

40

60

80

100

45.5

Public Rental Tennis Courts

38.6

Commercial Rental Tennis Courts
Rental Tennis Courts at Resorts

17.0

As Students at Tennis School

14.8

Tennis Circles for Workers

8.0

Participate in "Sandlot" Tennis Tournament

6.8

Tennis Circles/Clubs at Workplace

5.7

Membership Tennis Club (Through Personal Contract)

4.5

Participate in Events such as "Tennis Day"

4.5

Participate in School Club Camp as Alumni

3.4

School Tennis Circle

2.3

Tennis Courts at Workplace

2.3

Participate in Official Tournament

2.3
1.1

As Coach at Tennis School
Membership Tennis Club (Through Corporate Contract)-

School Tennis Club

4.5

Other

(n=88）
From "Tennis Come Back, Tennis Intender Survey"(2008), Committee of Activating Tennis/ Do Not Reproduce Without Permission

Chart 14: Whom to Play Tennis With
(%)

0

20

40

60

Friends, Acquaintances (Same Gender)
43.2
37.5

Family22.7

Members of Tennis Club /Tennis School
15.9

Co-workers
Members of Tennis Circles for Workers

9.1

Members of Tennis Club from School Days

8.0

Other

100

69.3

Friends, Acquaintances (Opposite Gender)

Members of Tennis Club at Workplace80

2.3(n=88)

From "Tennis Come Back, Tennis Intender Survey"(2008), Committee of Activating Tennis/ Do Not Reproduce Without Permission

17

(11)

12,761 Registered Players with the Japan Tennis Association, Gradually

Decreasing and Ageing
The Japan Tennis Association has a player registration system with the three categories ofprofessional, general, and veteran. In 2012, there were 334 registered professional players in total.
There were more male players than female, with men comprising 63.5% of the total (Chart 15).
The age groups of registered professional players ranged from teen to 60 years or older, but the
20-29 years old and 30-39 years old groups were the largest, with 102 players each. By gender andage groups, male players in their thirties were the largest group, with 72 players (Chart 16).
Chart 15: Japan Tennis Association Registered Professional Players (By Gender) in 2012

Women 122 36.5%

Total
334
Men 212 63.5%

Chart 16：Japan Tennis Association Registered Professional Players (By Gender and Age) in 2012

(Number of Persons)050

Age 10-192

Age 20-29

37

100

150

200

5
65
72

Age 30-3930

Age 40-49

43

10

Age 50-5942

9Total (Number Compositionof Persons)
(%)

7

2.1

102

30.5

102

30.5

53

15.9

51

15.3

19

5.7

Men

Age 60 or older

16

3

Women

18

In 2012, there were 4,629 registered general players in total. There were more male players
than female, with men comprising 65.8% of the total (Chart 17). The age groups of registeredgeneral players ranged from under 10 years old to 60 years or older, with disproportionately highpercentages among those 10-19 years old and 20-29 years old. Players in their twenties were thelargest age group. By gender and age groups, male players in their twenties were the largest
group, with 1,268 players (Chart 18).
Chart 17：Japan Tennis Association Registered General Players (By Gender) in 2012

Women 1,584 34.2%

Total
4,629
Men 3,045 65.8%

Chart 18：Japan Tennis Association Registered General Players (By Gender and Age) in 2012
(Number of Persons)0

Under age 10500

0

Age 10-19

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

1
701

Age 20-29

600
1,268

539

1

0.0

1,301

28.1

1,807

39.0

794

17.2

Age 30-39644

Age 40-49

354 209563

12.2

Age 50-59

70 77

147

3.2

13

0.3

3

0.1

Age 60 or older
Unknown

150

Total (Number Compositionof Persons)
(%)

6 7
2

Men

1

Women

19

In 2012, there were 7,798 registered veteran players in total. There were more male players
than female, with men comprising 59.9% of the total. However, female players were 40.1% of thetotal, which was larger than the female ratios found among professional and general players (Chart19). The age groups of registered veteran players started from 30-39 years old, but 60 years orolder was the largest group, with 3,218 players. By gender and age, male players aged 60 years orolder were the largest group (Chart 20).
Chart 19: Japan Tennis Association Registered Veteran Players (By Gender) in 2012

Women 3,128 40.1%
Total
7,798
Men 4,670 59.9%

Chart 20: Japan Tennis Association Registered Veteran Players (By Gender and Age) in 2012
(Number of Persons)0

Age 30-39

500

276

1,500

2,000

2,500

7

3,000

Men

Age 40-49

1,074

Age 50-59

1,168

Age 60 or older

1,000

Women

769
1,286

2,152

1,066

20

3,500

Total (Number Compositionof Persons)
(%)

283

3.6

1,843

23.6

2,454

31.5

3,218

41.3

Changes in the number of registered players from 2006-2012 showed that the total number ofregistered professional, general, and veteran players increased to 13,733 in 2008 but gradually
decreased thereafter. In 2012, the total was 12,761.
The number of registered professional players was the smallest of the three categories, withlittle fluctuation from year to year. Registered general and veteran players both increased in
number in 2008 from the previous year, but since then general players have been on the decrease,
while veteran players have been increasing in number. But the increase in veteran players was
eclipsed by the decrease in general players, thus resulting in an overall and gradual process ofageing and decrease in the number of registered players (Chart 21).
Chart 21：Changes in the Number of Japan Tennis Association Registered Players (By Category)
Total(Number 12,269
of Persons)

12,44913,733

13,493

13,19912,965

12,761

15,00012,5007,112
10,000 6,325

6,586

7,437

7,593

7,643

7,798

5,007

4,629
334

7,500
5,000
2,500
0

5,631

5,511

6,245

313

352
2007

2006

5,659

5,298

376

397

308

315

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012
(Year)

Professional

General21

Veteran(12) Court Officials, on the Decrease from 2008, Down to 3,478, while Instructors
Remain Static at 5,491
In 2012, the Japan Tennis Association had 3,478 registered court officials. The number has
decreased by 28.6% from 4,869 in 2008 (Chart 22).
Chart 22: Changes in the Number of Japan Tennis Association Court Officials (By Gender)(Numberof Persons)

Total

4,316

4,524

4,869

4,623

3,973

3,493

3,478

5,000

4,000

2,126

2,301

2,465

2,369
2,104

3,000

1,884

1,811

1,609

1,667

2,000

1,000 2,190

2,223

2,404

2,254

1,869

0

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012
(Year)Men

Women

The Japan Tennis Association has established an Authorized Instructors Certification Systemwith the following six designations, based on the uniform standards set by the Japan Sports
Association for authorized sports leaders:•

Coach I: In each prefecture, they provide basic practical instruction for children andrecreational tennis players from the beginner to the intermediate levels. They contribute to
the popularization of tennis.

•

Coach II: In each region or prefecture, they provide technical instruction depending on the age
and skill level. They take part in the training of tennis coaches. They take on a central roleas leaders in the popularization of tennis.

•

Coach III: In each region or prefecture, they provide leadership for finding, developing, andfostering competitive players in the area. They contribute to the development of top tennis
players.

•

Coach IV: In each region or prefecture, they develop and foster top players in the area. They
take on the central leadership role in each regional training center.

•

Instructor I: At commercial tennis facilities, they provide basic practical instruction for players
from beginners to the intermediate level. They take part in drafting and executing school
instructor curriculum.

•

Instructor II: At commercial tennis facilities, they provide technical instruction for all ages
and skill levels. They take on central roles regarding operations and management of schools,
drafting instructor curriculum, event planning, etc. They take part in training and developing
tennis instructors.
22

In 2012, the Japan Tennis Association had 5,491 authorized instructors. The largest groupwas “Coach I” with 2,968, followed by “Coach II” with 1,489. There were 257 of “Coach III,” 230 of“Coach IV,” 385 of “Instructor I,” and 162 of “Instructor II.” The static numbers of authorized
instructors from 2006 to 2012 showed that there were no significant changes (Chart 23).
Chart 23：Changes in the Number of Japan Tennis Association Authorized Instructors (By Certification)(Number Total
5,479
of Persons)

5,425

5,358

5,426

156
376
166
186

160
379
171
195

166
344
188
187

169
355
204
203

4,000 1,475

1,410

1,456

1,491

3,110

3,017

3,004

2,962

2007

2008

2009

2010

6,000

5,285

5,318

5,491

158
348
213
210

159
359
212
237

162
385
230
257

1,394

1,443

1,489

2,908

2,968

5,000

3,000
2,000

3,120
1,000
0

2006

2011

2012
(Year)

Coach I

Coach II

Coach III

Coach IV

Instructor I

Instructor II

The Japan Tennis Association has an elite coach certification system. Elite coaches use thelatest scientific theories and practical knowledge in tennis training, coaching, and management totrain players active on the world stage. This is done through activities at the national training
center, with the national team, and on professional tour coaching. The system was launched in2008 and there were 42 “S-class Elite Coaches” as of February 2013. Of the 42 coaches, 37 weremale and 5 were female.

23

(13)

The Three Major Tennis Tournaments Attracted a Total of 164,000 Spectators

in 2012, a 40% Increase from 2003
The number of spectators at the three major annual tennis tournaments in Japan — the Japan
Open Tennis Championship, the TORAY Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament, and the All Japan
Tennis Tournament — increased 43.7% during the past ten years from 114,357 spectators in 2003 to
164,351 in 2012 (Chart 24).
Chart 24: Changes in Number of Spectators for Three Major Tennis Tournaments(Numberof Persons)Total
114,357 128,319

124,438

150,283

145,842

167,755

134,530

165,550

164,857

164,351

180,000
160,000
36,478140,000

30,00730,31029,912

55,41255,75855,91380,13178,78978,5262010

2011

25,711
31,349120,000
100,000

27,81428,647
27,97422,19755,431

52,18653,35780,00055,00844,63050,35043,67360,00040,00020,00072,38648,4870
2003

55,875

2004

75,846
61,13650,875

46,114

2005

Japan Open Tennis Championship

2006

2007

2008

2009

TORAY Pan Pacific Open Tennis Tournament

24

All Japan Tennis Tournament

2012(Year)

(14) Japan Tennis Association Budget: 1.5 Billion Yen for Fiscal Year 2011
In the fiscal year 2011, the expenditure of the Japan Tennis Association was some 1.5 billion
Japanese yen, a 41.0% increase from 2003. The largest category was “tournament operations” at
66.5%, followed by “funding for player participation in international tournaments / performancedevelopment” at 10.2%, “administrative” at 9.6%, and “popularization of tennis” at 1.4%. The
income breakdown by category showed that “tournament” was some 1.05 billion yen or 70.0% of thetotal, followed by “grant / commissioned projects” (9.8%), “registration fee” (3.7%), “publication”(1.4%), and “development” (1.3%) (Table 7).
Table 7：Changes in Japan Tennis Association Budget（Unit: Million Yen）

Expenditure Total

Tournament Operations

Administrative
Funding for player participation ininternational tournaments / performancedevelopment
Popularization of Tennis

Other

Expenditure Total (Within the Year)

Roll-Over

Income Total

Tournament

Donation

Grant / Commissioned Projects

Registration Fee

Sponsorship

Publication

Development

Other

Income Total (Within the Year)

Roll-OverYear 2011
Year 2003 Year 2004 Year 2005 Year 2006 Year 2007 Year 2008 Year 2009 Year 2010 Year 2011 Composition
(%)
1,061
1,088
1,195
1,311
1,245
1,237
1,332
1,451
1,497
100.0%(100)

102.5%

112.6%

123.5%

117.3%

116.5%

125.5%

136.7%

676

693

733

818

841

834

814

942

141.0%
996(100)

102.5%

108.5%

121.1%

124.4%

123.5%

120.4%

139.5%

147.4%

126

139

144

137

135

131

148

156

144

(100)

110.2%

114.2%

108.8%

106.7%

103.7%

117.2%

123.9%

114.1%

83

106

108

98

92

94

95

143

153

(100)

126.6%

129.2%

116.9%

109.7%

112.2%

113.8%

171.8%

183.0%

21

15

33

35

50

39

34

26

21

(100)

73.8%

160.3%

167.8%

242.0%

187.3%

164.2%

127.6%

99.5%

109

86

93

168

105

100

187

124

97

(100)

79.0%

85.4%

154.6%

96.3%

92.0%

172.1%

113.9%

89.2%

1,015

1,039

1,111

1,256

1,222

1,198

1,278

1,392

1,410

(100)

102.4%

109.5%

123.7%

120.4%

118.0%

125.9%

137.2%

139.0%

47

49

84

55

24

39

54

59

87

(100)

104.8%

179.7%

118.1%

50.6%

84.5%

116.7%

126.4%

185.3%

1,061

1,088

1,195

1,311

1,245

1,237

1,332

1,451

1,497

(100)

102.5%

112.6%

123.5%

117.3%

116.5%

125.5%

136.7%

141.0%

718

731

788

848

885

913

972

1,056

1,047

(100)

101.8%

109.7%

118.0%

123.2%

127.1%

135.3%

147.0%

145.8%

63

34

76

24

23

22

16

9

4

(100)

54.5%

121.1%

38.0%

36.2%

34.6%

25.4%

13.8%

6.4%

60

43

39

32

27

30

52

76

146

(100)

71.8%

65.4%

53.0%

45.1%

49.6%

87.8%

128.1%

245.2%

45

50

51

58

58

54

54

61

55

(100)

113.3%

114.2%

130.7%

130.6%

121.7%

122.0%

135.9%

123.2%

44

47

48

47

45

45

45

4

3

(100)

107.1%

109.2%

108.3%

103.6%

102.8%

102.3%

8.9%

7.8%

28

31

34

29

26

24

23

23

21

(100)

110.7%

120.1%

104.9%

92.6%

85.4%

82.4%

83.3%

76.6%

27

20

33

55

47

13

33

23

20

(100)

71.9%

120.8%

203.8%

172.4%

48.8%

123.2%

86.2%

74.1%

48

85

78

133

79

112

97

145

140

(100)

177.3%

163.5%

278.8%

165.7%

235.3%

202.7%

303.1%

293.1%

1,032

1,041

1,146

1,227

1,190

1,213

1,293

1,397

1,438

(100)

100.9%

111.1%

118.9%

115.3%

117.6%

125.2%

135.3%

139.3%

29

47

49

84

55

24

39

54

59

(100)

158.8%

166.5%

285.4%

187.6%

80.4%

134.3%

185.3%

200.7%

25

66.5%

9.6%

10.2%

1.4%

6.5%

94.2%

5.8%

100.0%

70.0%

0.3%

9.8%

3.7%

0.2%

1.4%

1.3%

9.4%

96.1%

3.9%

(15)

Tennis Organizations Have 400,000 Registered Players/Members in Total

The Japan Tennis Association requested seventeen tennis organizations to provide data on
their membership and registered players as part of the “Research of the Tennis Environment inJapan,” its special project of 2012. These seventeen tennis organizations are divided into four
categories,

namely“national

competitive

tennisorganizations,”“national

schooltennisorganizations,” “national recreational tennis organizations,” and “national tennis industry andprofessional organizations.” The chart below shows the relationship between the seventeenorganizations and the Japan Tennis Association, regional tennis associations, and prefecturaltennis associations (Chart 25).
Chart 25: Major Tennis Organizations in Japan

Major Tennis Organizations in Japan
Japan Tennis Association (JTA)*

Japan Tennis Association (JTA) isa member of:International Tennis Federation (ITF)
Asian Tennis Federation (ATF)
Japan Sports Association (JASA)
Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC)* Form Japan Tennis Consortium (JTC)

Member organizations

Affiliated organizations

JTA Articles of Incorporation, Article 7

JTA Articles of Incorporation, Article 8

Regional tennis associations●9 regional tennis associations

Prefectural tennis associations●47 prefectural tennis associations

Local tennis associations(county, city, town, village level)

National competitive tennis
organizations

Other organizations
National competitive tennis
organizations●Japan Ladies Tennis Federation (JLTF)*●Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association(JWTA)●Japan Federation of Beach Tennis (JFBT)●Japan Handicap Tennis Federation (JHTF)

National school tennis organizations

National school tennis organizations●All Japan Inter-Collegiate Tennis Federation●All Japan Federation of University Student
Tennis Circles●Tennis Department of National TechnicalCollege Athletic Federation●All Japan High School Athletic Federation
Tennis●National Junior High School Tennis Federation

National tennis industry andprofessional organizations●Japan Professional Tennis Association (JPTA)*●Japan Tennis Industry Association (JTIA)*●National Technical School Tennis Federation

National recreational tennis
organizations●Japan Senior Tennis Association (JSTA)●Japan InterCompnay Tennis Federation (JICTF)●National Tennis Association of the New JapanSports Federation●Association of National Government OfficeTennis Circles

National tennis industry andprofessional organizations●Association of Japan Tennis Equipment

As of March 2013

There were 400,842 registered players/members in the 69 tennis organizations (Japan Tennis
Association, 9 regional tennis associations, 47 prefectural tennis associations, Japan Ladies Tennis
Federation, Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association, Japan Federation of Beach Tennis, 6 national
school tennis organizations, 3 national recreational tennis organizations) (may include those whoare registered or members in multiple organizations, Table 8).

26

Table 8: Number of Registered Players/Members in Major Tennis Organizations in Japana）Japan Tennis Association and regional/prefectural tennis associations
Japan Tennis Association

Professional（Number of
Persons）

334

General

4,629

Veteran

7,798

Total

12,761

Regional tennis associations

Junior31,126(*Include those who are registered with prefectural tennis associations, as well as

General

5,672

in multiple categories)

Total

36,798Prefectural tennis associations

Junior

49,959(*Include those who are registered with regional tennis associations, as well as inGeneral51,445multiple categories)

Veteran

4,668

Other

11,643

Total

117,715（Number of
Persons）

b）National competitive tennis organizations
Japan Ladies Tennis Federation

Member

34,502

Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association

Member405

Japan Federation of Beach Tennis

Registered playerc）National school tennis organizations

740（Number of
Persons）*some regions missing

All Japan Inter-Collegiate Tennis Federation *Member

7,497

All Japan Federation of University Student Tennis Circles*

Registered player

24,000Tennis Department of National Technical College Athletic

Member

1,681

All Japan High School Athletic Federation Tennis

Member101,296

National Junior High School Tennis Federation

Member

44,978National Technical School Tennis Federation *Registered player

Federation

379（Number of
Persons）

d) National recreational tennis organizations
Japan Senior Tennis Association

Member

10,662

Japan InterCompnay Tennis Federation

Registered player

1,896

National Tennis Association of the New Japan Sports

Member5,532

Federationa)-d）Total number of registered players/members

400,842（Number of
Persons）

e）National tennis industry and professional organizations
Japan Professional Tennis Association

Full member

Japan Tennis Industry Association

27

1,528

Associate member

11

Tennis producer

142

(a) Japan Tennis Association and Regional / Prefectural Tennis Associations
1

Japan Tennis Association
It is a public-interest incorporated foundation governing tennis in Japan as a national sportingorganization. It was established in 1922 as "Nippon Teikyu Kyokai,” a voluntary organization.
At the time of developing itself into an incorporated foundation in 1980, its name was changed into
the present one. In the framework of the reform of public-interest corporations by the government,
the Japan Tennis Association was transformed into a public-interest incorporated foundation in
April 2012. It is a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee, the Japan Sports Association, theInternational Tennis Federation and the Asian Tennis Federation.
The number of persons such as directors, auditors, councilors, officials with director status,
division directors, deputy division directors, committee chairs, and committee members who
participated in the association’s activities, totaled approximately 550 (based on a member list, may
include those who play multiple roles) in the year 2011-2012. Almost all were volunteers. The
number of those working in the secretariat was 15, including temporary staff and part-timers.

2

Regional and Prefectural Tennis Associations
Regional tennis associations govern tennis in each of the nine regions of Japan. They arevoluntarily established by the prefectural tennis associations of each region. Therefore theirorganizational, operational, and business activities differ amongst regional associations.

The

Kanto and Kansai Tennis Associations, the oldest of all, were established in 1922. Prefecturaltennis associations govern tennis in each respective prefecture. The Shizuoka and Osaka Tennis
Associations, the oldest of all, were established in 1945.
Although they are autonomous independent organizations, regional and prefectural tennis
associations take charge of the promotion of tennis in their respective regions and prefectures as
members of the Japan Tennis Association, playing important roles in the development of tennis inJapan. The jurisdictional demarcation of each regional tennis association more or less corresponds
to the geographical divisions of Japan. However, the following prefectures belong to regions thatdiffer from the conventional regional groupings: Niigata, Nagano, Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui
prefectures form the Hokushinetsu Tennis Association; Shizuoka, Gifu, Aichi, and Mie prefecturesorganize the Tokai Tennis Association; and Yamanashi prefecture comes under the Kanto Tennis
Association. The Hokkaido Tennis Association performs the function of both regional andprefectural associations due to its geographical situation and for other reasons.
As a member of the Japan Tennis Association, each regional tennis association is given theright to recommend a director candidate to the Board of Directors, whereas each prefectural tennis
association is given the right to recommend an expected councilor candidate to the Board of
Councilors.

28

(b) National Competitive Tennis Organizations
1

Japan Ladies Tennis Federation (JLTF)
It is a nonprofit voluntary organization for female professional and amateur tennis players andaims to popularize and vitalize tennis. It was formed in 1968 as “Joshi Teikyu Kyokai” and its
name was changed into “Nippon Joshi Teikyu Renmei” in 1977 and then into the present name

“Nippon Joshi Tenisu Renmei” or the Japan Ladies Tennis Federation.

It is an affiliatedorganization of the Japan Tennis Association and forms the Japan Tennis Consortium jointly with
the Japan Tennis Association, the Japan Tennis Industry Association, and the Japan Professional
Tennis Association.

2

Japan Wheelchair Tennis Association (JWTA)
It was established in 1991 as the national organization that governs wheelchair tennis inJapan. Its purpose is to improve the environment for recreational and competitive tennis playedby persons with disabilities and to encourage their public participation in and contribution tosociety through the medium of wheelchair tennis. It is an affiliated organization of the Japan
Tennis Association and a member of the International Wheelchair Tennis Association. However,the Japan Tennis Association represents the JWTA when the latter sends competitors totournaments organized by the International Tennis Federation.

3

Japan Federation of Beach Tennis (JFBT)
It is a general incorporated association which supervises and represents the beach tennis

community in Japan. In January 2013, efforts were launched to popularize beach tennis in Japanand organize international and domestic beach tennis tournaments in earnest, and the Japan
Beach Tennis Association and the then Japan Beach Tennis Federation were integrated to establish
the JFBT.
It is not a member or affiliated organization of the Japan Tennis Association, but JFBT
cooperates with the Japan Tennis Association’s beach tennis committee.

The Japan Tennis

Association represents the JFBT when the latter sends competitors to tournaments organized by
the International Tennis Federation.

4

Japan Handicap Tennis Federation (JHTF)
It was established in 1981 as a specified nonprofit organization with the purpose of developing

tennis playing opportunities for handicapped persons as well as for a wider demographic that
includes elderly persons and children. It also aims to foster a good sporting environment andpromote the disclosure of relevant information. In addition, its purposes include carrying out
educational campaigns to popularize technologies and providing know-how for life-saving not onlyat places where tennis is played but also at times of emergency.

29

(c) National School Tennis Organizations
1

All Japan Inter-Collegiate Tennis Federation
It was established in 1931 as an autonomous national organization run by university students.

It governs the activities of university official tennis teams. It is an affiliated organization of theJapan Tennis Association.

2

All Japan Federation of University Student Tennis Circles
It was established in 1983 as a national organization, a federation of associations by membersof recreation-oriented university tennis circles. It is governed by region (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto,
Tokai, Kansai, Chushikoku, and Kyushu, though Chushikoku federation no longer exists). It is anaffiliated organization of the Japan Tennis Association.

3

Tennis Department of National Technical College Athletic Federation
It was established in 1948 as a national organization of tennis run by teachers and staff

members of technical colleges. They organize themselves into one of 14 sport departments within
the National Technical College Athletic Federation that oversees the participation of technicalcollege students. It is an affiliated organization of the Japan Tennis Association.

4

All Japan High School Athletic Federation Tennis
It was established in 1955 as a national organization of tennis run by teachers and staff

members of senior high schools. They organize themselves into one of 33 sport departments of All
Japan High School Athletic Federation.

It is an affiliated organization of the Japan Tennis

Association.

5

National Junior High School Tennis Federation
It was established in 1987 as a national organization of prefectural tennis federations for juniorhigh school tennis clubs and their members. It is run by teachers and staff members of junior highschools. It aims to popularize and promote tennis at junior high schools and to cultivate mutual
friendships between member schools. Since it is not affiliated to the Nippon Junior High School
Physical Culture Association which governs athletic and sporting activities by junior high school
students, tennis (lawn) is not included as a competitive event in the National Junior High School
Physical Education Meet. It is an affiliated organization of the Japan Tennis Association.

6

National Technical School Tennis Federation
It is a national organization of prefectural technical school tennis federations for technicalschool tennis clubs and their members. It is run by teachers and staff members of technicalschools. It is belongs to the National Technical School Athletic Federation.

30

(d) National Recreational Tennis Organizations
1

Japan Senior Tennis Association (JSTA)
It is a specified nonprofit organization which aims to deepen mutual friendship through themedium of tennis among members who are aged at 60 or more in the case of males and 50 or morein the case of females. It aims to promote healthy lives, popularize and develop tennis among
elderly persons and contribute to international friendship. Its activities are carried out in 12
regions of Japan. It was originally created under the name of “Senior Tennis Paradise” in 1993
and later transformed into the present corporation in 2003.

2

Japan InterCompany Tennis Federation (JICTF)
It is a tennis friendship organization established in 1986 for the development of amateur tennis

into a life-long sport for working adults, by working adults and for working adults by providingthem with tennis as a means for social interaction. In eight regions (Hokkaido, Hokushinetsu,
Kanto, Tokai, Kansai, Chugoku, Kitakyushu, and Minamikyushu) of Japan, JICTF organizes
regional federations.

3

National Tennis Association of the New Japan Sports Federation
The New Japan Sports Federation is a nonprofit voluntary organization which actively

advocates for healthy attitudes toward tennis and the promotion and improvement of tennis
theories and tennis skills as part of a sound and enlightened life. Established in 1965 under thename of “Shin Nippon Taiiku Renmei,” its name was changed into the present one on the occasion ofits 30th anniversary.

As of 2012, it has been composed of 13 sporting organizations and 25

prefectural and regional organizations. The National Tennis Association is the tennis branch of
the New Japan Sports Federation.

4

Association of National Government Office Tennis Circles
It was established in 1958 as a friendship organization by recreational tennis players who workfor central government offices and other state organs. It promotes friendship among its members
through tennis and aims to improve tennis skills.

(e) National Tennis Industry and Professional Organizations
1

Japan Professional Tennis Association (JPTA)
It is a public-interest incorporated association with a membership consisting of professional

tennis coaches and players. It trains and qualifies professional and general instructors, as well as
develops professional, junior, and recreational tennis players. Established in 1972 as a joint stockcompany, it transformed into an incorporated association in 1989, and then into a public-interest
incorporated association in 2012. It is an affiliated organization of the Japan Tennis Associationand forms the Japan Tennis Consortium jointly with the Japan Tennis Association, the Japan
Tennis Industry Association, and the Japan Ladies Tennis Federation.
31

2Japan Tennis Industry Association (JTIA)
It is a public-interest incorporated association with a membership consisting of corporations

and individuals that operate tennis businesses, as well as organizations that have suchcorporations and individuals as their members. Its purpose is to seek the sound development of
the tennis business and improve the social profile of commercial tennis business operators. The
number of regular corporate members is 206 and that of supporting members totals 65. These
regular corporate members are tennis business operators in 23 prefectures and most are situated in
Kanto District prefectures such as Tokyo, Saitama, and Kanagawa.
Established in 1988 as a voluntary organization under the name of “Japan Tennis Club
Federation,” in 1992 it transformed into an incorporated association named “Japan Tennis Industry
Association,” and then into a public-interest incorporated association in 2012. It is an affiliatedorganization of the Japan Tennis Association and forms the Japan Tennis Consortium jointly with
the Japan Tennis Association, the Japan Professional Tennis Association, and the Japan Ladies
Tennis Federation.

3

Association of Japan Tennis Equipment
It was established by 11 tennis equipment manufacturers in September 2012 as a special

department of the Association of Japan Sporting Goods Industries. Its purpose is to strengthen
cooperation among tennis equipment manufacturers and to work on establishing a sound market
through tennis market vitalization and greater demand from the perspectives of distribution, theenvironment, and consumers.

(f) Other Tennis Organizations
1

Japan Tennis Consortium (JTC)
It is a consultative organization established in 2009 by four national tennis organizations(Japan Tennis Association, Japan Tennis Industry Association, Japan Professional Tennis
Association and Japan Ladies Tennis Federation) to take up and discuss issues which exist
horizontally across the Japanese tennis community. The presidents of the four organizations holdmeetings every two months. Among the issues taken up in its action plans are the unification of
the certification systems for players and coaches, compliance, ethics and improvement of thecertification programs for, and quality of players / instructors. It also aims to formulate concretemeasures for the establishment of an organizational structure to enable the four organizations to
act coherently in the field of player development and tennis popularization.

32

3. Concluding Remarks by the Project Team on the Research of the Tennis
Environment in Japan(1) The Tennis Population Is Shrinking amid a Deteriorating Tennis Environment
Our colleagues in the tennis community have been discussing the deterioration of the tennis
environment in Japan for the past several years. Unfortunately, the data collected by our study
proved that their concerns were founded in fact.

The number of tennis court facilities has

decreased by one-third over the period of thirteen years from 1996 to 2008. The number of places
where people can play tennis is indeed on the decline. The Basic Act on Sports in Japan says thatsport is a common culture that the world shares, and that playing sport is a right for all people.
However, the situation of tennis in Japan is at odds with the spirit of the Basic Act on Sports.
Compared to other sports, it is said that tennis in Japan has been heavily dependent on
workplace facilities and commercial tennis business operators. The prolonged deflationary periodof the Japanese economy has worsened the business environment for many private companies andcommercial tennis business operators, resulting in the closure and reduction of tennis courts. And
for commercial tennis business operators, the fixed property tax and inheritance tax have long been
business burdens.
It is valid to assume that some structural changes are in progress in the commercial tennis
business industry due to the worsened business environment and shifts in recreational tennis
players’ needs.

A tennis business expert mentioned that especially in metropolitan areas

recreational tennis players tend to choose tennis schools with indoor tennis courts that are shieldedfrom bad weather. Meanwhile, membership tennis clubs have been forced to shut down theirbusinesses. In our study, some commercial tennis business operators pointed out that they are incompetition with public tennis facilities. On the other hand, some operators seem to have taken on
new challenges to survive. Some have started to manage public tennis courts under the "System of
Designated Managers," trying out a new business model that includes the use of public courts.
Others are increasing the number of tennis schools to widen their business coverage.
A decrease in the number of places where people can play tennis will lead to fewer
opportunities to play. It will result in a declining tennis population. The tennis population isseeing a decrease in numbers and the ageing of its players over the long run. We expect a large
drop when the baby boomers retire from their tennis careers in the near future. In addition, sincetennis is not included as an official sport of the National Junior High School Physical Education
Meet (i.e. tennis is not part of the Nippon Junior High School Physical Culture Association),
promotion of the sport among junior tennis players, especially ages 12-15, is being impeded.
Japan is experiencing a population decrease, a decline in the birth rate, and the ageing of the
population. However, these problems are not the only reasons for the decrease in the tennis
population. The social environment that surrounds tennis is also changing. Diversifying hobbies,changes in lifestyle, and reduced income due to the worsened economy and employment situation
all have contributed to the decrease in the tennis population. The problem is multi-faceted andcomplex. Our colleagues in Western countries with a rich tennis culture are also experiencing adecline in their tennis populations. In fact, a decrease in teen tennis players was reported in a33

seminar hosted by the International Tennis Federation in November 2012.

(2) Some Good News for the Tennis Community in JapanThe JTA study confirmed some good news for the tennis community in Japan as well. The
number of those who would like to start or continue playing tennis in the future is about twice morethan the current tennis population, indicating the possible emergence of a new group of recreational
tennis players.

The number of “regular” tennis players remains static, a testament to theircommitment to the sport.
Focusing on the prospect of an increase in recreational tennis players by expanding the tennis
population from bottom-up, the study showed that about 10% of tennis school students are children
under 10 years old. It also proved that tennis business operators, especially tennis schools, arevery interested in the PLAY + STAY, a program the Japan Tennis Association promotes for
introducing tennis to children under 10. In addition, it is good news for tennis that, though thetennis population is in decline, the number of tennis instructors is not decreasing, a trend thatsuggests positive dividends in terms of popularization of the sport.

(3) Expanding the Tennis Population
There is a segment of potential recreational tennis players: i.e., those who want to start or goback to playing tennis. And this indicates the possibility of an expanding tennis population in the
future. The recreational tennis players who regularly play tennis have not decreased in number,but the tennis population in general is in decline.

This implies that the shrinking segment

consists of recreational tennis players who play tennis less frequently, such as tennis beginners orcasual players who do not belong to any tennis organizations.
While the tennis population is ageing, the 20-29 year old age group still represents a large
portion of the tennis population. School tennis organizations’ membership data shows that highschool tennis teams (All Japan High School Athletic Federation Tennis) have over 100,000 members,
but the number drops off in tennis teams of colleges, universities, technical colleges, and technicalschools.

Additionally, the 20-29 year old age group is smaller than others in terms of theirmembership in tennis clubs and tennis schools. These facts indicate that many tennis players intheir twenties are casual tennis players who are not playing in organized groups. Campaigns thatcourt potential and less frequent, casual recreational tennis players would help to reverse thedeclining trend of the tennis population, in addition to removing institutional impediments.
There is a tennis population consisting of children under the ago of 10. Tennis business
operators are interested in PLAY+STAY.

In order to expand the tennis population from thebottom-up, it will be necessary to trigger interest in tennis among young children under 10 and tomaintain an environment where they can first experience and then continue to play tennis. This is
why continuation of PLAY+STAY campaigns is essential.

In order to expand the teen tennis

population, we also need to promote so that tennis is included as an official sport of the National
Junior High School Physical Education Meet (by joining the Nippon Junior High School PhysicalCulture Association). This will mean that children can continue to play tennis as an extracurricular34

activity when they enter junior high school.

(4) What the Japan Tennis Association Should Do
The shrinking tennis population and deteriorating tennis environment (such as the decrease in
number of tennis courts) mean fewer playing opportunities for recreational tennis players. These
pose management problems for tennis organizations and tennis business operators. It is the time
for the Japanese tennis community as a whole to collectively acknowledge the background andcauses of the deteriorating tennis environment, and work together to solve the problems.
As members of the Japan Tennis Association, the regional and prefectural tennis associations
play an important role in popularizing and promoting tennis. However, many of these associations
face the problem of a reduced tennis population, decreasing numbers of registered players, andfewer participants in tournaments in their areas. Most of the management and operational tasksof these associations are made possible through the support of volunteers, and yet they are
struggling to find volunteers while, in the meantime, their current board members are ageing. On
the other hand, the Japan Tennis Association is differently positioned from the regional andprefectural associations in that it has an independent financial source, is able to secure volunteers,and institutionally benefits from being a national competitive sport organization.
In April 2012, the Japan Tennis Association became a public-interest incorporated foundation.
The Article 4 of the JTA’s Articles of Incorporation says that “the purpose of the Foundation is topopularize and promote tennis as an organization that supervises and represents the tennis
community in Japan, and thereby serve for and contribute to people's sound mental and physicaldevelopment as well as the international community.” In transitioning to become a public-interest
incorporated foundation, the Japan Tennis Association declared that it will implement programs forthe development of tennis as a life-long, competitive, and spectator sport, for the benefit of the
public interest.

The role it should play in promoting tennis and removing the social andinstitutional impediments that the sport faces now is larger than ever. It is the JTA’s duty to leadthe movement in halting deterioration of the tennis environment, while working toward
popularizing and promoting tennis, and contributing to the development of the physical and mental
health of the Japanese people.
The London 2012 Summer Olympics underscored the importance of sport in society and left astrong impression among the Japanese people that winning medals is important for popularizing
and promoting a sport. In that regard, the improvement of performance levels is more important
than ever for all competitive sport organizations. As a public-interest incorporated foundation, theJapan Tennis Association should reaffirm the significance of implementing programs intended to
improve performance.

Success by Japanese competitive tennis players in international

tournaments would bring pride, joy, dreams, and excitement to the Japanese people. This would
elicit the general public’s interest in tennis, lead to greater popularization of the sport, contribute to
the welfare of the sporting community, and foster sound mental and physical development of thepeople as well as the ties of friendship to the international community.
35

(5) Recommendations
In closing the Report on the Tennis Environment in Japan, the project team recommends that
the Japan Tennis Association take the following actions for the sake of the future of tennis in Japan:i.

Assume leadership in taking action and working together with other stakeholders inJapanese tennis in order to remove the social and institutional impediments that arehindering the popularization of tennis. The actions would include lobbying to thegovernment agencies in charge. In order to have tennis included as an official sport of the
National Junior High School Physical Education Meet, the Japan Tennis Association willcontinue to work with the National Junior High School Tennis Federation.

ii.

Carry out campaigns to raise awareness of the characteristics1 of tennis and its social andeducational benefits.

These will include actions to achieve for tennis a position thatcommands respect at the city, ward, town, and village levels.
iii.

Better promote the PLAY+STAY program with a view toward expanding the tennis
population from the bottom-up.

iv.

Implement activities to increase media coverage of tennis to make it a popular, major sport.
The actions should include media strategies to seize three opportunities: signs of economic
recovery in Japan, Japanese competitive tennis players’ winning at international
tournaments, and the organizational change of the Japan Tennis Association as it completes
the transition to fully serve as a public-interest incorporated foundation.

v.

Redefine how it shares responsibilities with regional and prefectural tennis associations.
Reinforce and develop the Japan Tennis Association’s relationships with other tennis
organizations.

vi.

Encourage the organization of local tennis associations at the city, ward, town, and village
levels through prefectural associations.

vii.

Clarify the purpose, target, expected outcome, and procedure when implementing programs
that include the popularization of tennis and performance development of competitiveplayers. And verify the subsequent effectiveness of such programs.

viii.

Improve the research, planning, and operational competencies of the organization.

ix.

Set up an action plan and budget that factor in the importance of popularizing tennis.

x.

Establish and maintain self-governance and compliance in operations and management of
the organization as a public-interest incorporated foundation.

xi.

Conduct basic research on the tennis environment regularly to achieve the given role of theJapan Tennis Association and verify the results of programs. Conduct special studies
focused on particular subjects as needed.

Characteristics of tennis: Regardless of gender, age, skill, or disability, anyone can participate in this international,
traditional, popular, and Olympics sport at any time in life. It is a national sport that can serve for and contributeto people's sound mental and physical development as well as the international community.
136

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Report on the Tennis Environment in Japan
March 2013
Published by: Japan Tennis Association
Kishi Memorial Hall, 1-1-1 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 105-8050, Japan
Phone：03-3481-2321
E-mail：mail@jta-tennis.or.jp
URL: http://www.jta-tennis.or.jp/
Printed by: Matsubarainsatsu CO., LTD:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::