Table of contents
Introduction

Methods



Results        

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Introduction
Since 2001, the Sasakawa Sports Foundation (SSF) has conducted its Sports-Life Survey of Ages 10 to 19 on
children in Japan, with the goal of achieving “Sport for Everyone” by understanding exercise and sports participation ofchildren during after-school periods and on holidays as well as sports environments surrounding these children. In 2009,
the SSF also began conducting the Sports-Life Survey of Ages 4 to 9 on young children in order to better ascertain thefactors that lead to the polarization of exercise and sports participation observed in those aged 10-19 and the turning
points for such phenomenon.
From the 2017 survey, the target age groups were newly categorized into those aged 4-11 and those aged 12-21;
these surveys have been conducted every two years on exercise and sports participation of preschool throughuniversity-age in Japan.

Methods
1 Population: 4-21 year olds living in Japan
2 Sample numbers: [4-11 year olds] 2,400[12-21 year olds] 3,000

8 Survey contents:
Frequencies, time, and intensity of exercise and sports participation,
sports facilities, sports teams/clubs, liking for exercise and sports, sports

3 Locations: 225 (207 urban areas and 18 rural areas)

injuries, sports spectating, favorite athletes, sports volunteering, sleeping

4 Extraction method: 2-staged stratified random sampling

time, media usage time (screen time), frequencies of exercise, sports,

5 Survey methods: Paper-based questionnaire survey byphysical play with family, etc.

the home-visit detention method

9 Scope of exercise and sports:

6 Survey period: June-July 2021

Activities and free play after kindergarten or preschool, as well as school

7 Collected questionnaires (rate):club activities and activities during recess periods, are included. However,[4-11 year olds] 1,496 (62.3%)

lessons at kindergarten, preschool, or school are not included, nor are[12-21 year olds] 1,663 (55.4%)

school events such as sports days or race tournaments.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary1

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■ 4-11 year olds Exercise and sports participation frequency groups
Table 1 Exercise and sports participation
frequency groups
Frequency

Non-participation
group

Standards

Non-participation Non-participation(0 time/year)
group
Low frequency
group

Fig.1 Annual trends in exercise and sports participation frequency groups(4-11 year olds : overall / by gender)

At least once a year but lessthan 3 times a week
(1-155 times/year)

Moderatefrequencygroup

At least 3 times a week but
less than 7 times a week
(156-363 times/year)

High frequency
group

At least 7 times a week
(364 or more times/year)

The 4-11 year old group was divided into the 4 groups of“Non-participation group,” “Low frequency group,” “Moderatefrequency group,” and “High frequency group” based onstandards set from exercise and sports participation
frequency over the past year (Table 1).

2Moderate frequency
group

High frequency
group

Overall 2017 (n=1,573) 2.0 18.1

32.4

47.5

2019 (n=1,538) 3.1 16.4

35.0

45.5

2021 (n=1,496) 3.1 17.1

34.4

45.4

Boys

Girls

2017 (n=838) 1.9 16.2

31.3

50.6

2019 (n=792) 2.4 14.9

34.8

47.9

2021 (n=750) 3.9 15.1

34.8

46.3

2017 (n=735) 2.0

20.3

33.7

43.9

2019 (n=746) 3.8

18.1

35.1

43.0

2021 (n=746) 2.4

19.2

33.9

44.5

0
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life
Survey of Ages 4 to 11

Low frequency
group

20

40

60

80

100 (%)

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 4 to 11

Annual trends in exercise and sports participation frequency groups (ages 4-11) are indicated in
Figure 1. At 45.4% overall, the high frequency group was the most common in the 2021 survey,
followed by the moderate frequency group (34.4%), the low frequency group (17.1%), and thenon-participation group (3.1%). The percentage of the high frequency group showed little change fromthe 2019 survey.
Regarding the percentages depending on gender, the high frequency group was 46.3% for boys,
which was 1.8 points higher than 44.5% for girls. With regard to the trends since the 2017 survey, thepercentage of boys in the high frequency group has decreased.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

■ 12-21 year olds Exercise and sports participation levels
Table 2 Exercise and sports participation levels
Level

Fig.2 Annual trends in exercise and sports participation levels(12-21 year olds : overall / by gender)Standards0

Non-participation (0 time/year)

1

At least once a year but less thanonce a week (1-51 times/year)

2

At least once a week but less than
5 times a week (52-259 times/year)

3

At least 5 times a week(260 times or more/year)

4

At least 5 times a week (260 times ormore/year) with a duration of 120 minutes,
and with more than moderate intensity

Level 0Overall 2017 (n=1,636)

Boys

Girls

16.5

Level 1

15.8

Level 2

20.6

Level 319.7

Level 427.3

2019 (n=1,675)

21.7

15.1

20.3

18.2

24.7

2021 (n=1,663)

19.7

14.9

21.8

21.9

21.8

2017 (n=852)

12.2

13.6

2019 (n=875)

15.7

13.9

19.9

19.2

31.3

2021 (n=840)

14.5

13.5

22.0

21.7

28.3

21.2

2017 (n=784)
2019 (n=800)

28.32021 (n=823)

24.9
0

19.5

18.2

21.8

16.4
16.3
20

20.9

18.5

20.8
21.5

40

33.8

20.3

17.1

17.5

22.2

15.1

60

80

100 (%)

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation NationalSports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

The 12-21 year old group was classified into 5 levels
from level 0 to level 4 based on standards set fromexercise and sports participation frequency, time andintensity over the past year (Table 2).

Annual trends in exercise and sports participation levels (ages 12-21) are indicated in Figure 2. The
overall rates in the 2021 survey were 19.7% for Level 0, 14.9% for Level 1, 21.8% for Level 2, 21.9%
for Level 3, and 21.8% for Level 4. With regard to the annual trends, Level 4, which indicates the groupof high frequency and high intensity, was on a downward trend.
Regarding the rates depending on gender, Level 4 was the highest for boys (28.3%), while Level 0
was the highest for girls (24.9%). Annual trends showed that Level 4 has continued to decrease sincethe 2017 survey for both boys and girls, while Level 0 has decreased since the 2019 survey.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary3

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Table 3 Exercise and sport types often carried out over the past year (multiple answers were allowed.)
4-11 year olds (n=1,449)

12-21 year olds (n=1,336)

Rank

Type of exercise / sport

Percentage

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Tag
Bicycle riding
Jump rope (including long jump rope)
Dodgeball
Swimming
SwingsSoccerIron barHide-and-seek
RaceBadminton
gymnastics, morning
Gymnastics ( light)radio calisthenics, etc.
Basketball
Catch
Walking
Baseball
Kickboard
Trampoline
Jogging/running
Cycling

57.3
30.3
30.2
29.2
27.3
26.8
22.5
21.3
19.8
17.1
9.9
8.6
8.2
7.9
7.3
6.1
5.9
5.7
4.3
4.0

(%)

Rank

Type of exercise / sport

Percentage

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13

Jogging/running
Soccer
Badminton
Muscle training
Basketball
Volleyball
Walking
Table tennis
Tag
BaseballJump rope (including long jump rope)
CatchSoft tennis
Dodgeball
Swimming
Track & Field
Cycling
Tennisgymnastics, morning
Gymnastics ( light)radio calisthenics, etc.
SwingsBowling

23.2
20.9
19.7
19.5
16.4
16.3
16.1
11.9
11.7
10.9
9.8
8.7
6.7
6.0
6.0
5.9
5.8
5.5
5.5
5.3
5.3

14
16
17
18
20

(%)

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 4 to 11 and National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

4

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

Table 3 indicates the top twenty
exercise or sports activities carriedout often (on many occasions) in thepast year.
For the 4-11 year old group, “tag”
was the highest at 57.3%, followedby “bicycle riding” at 30.3%, “jumprope (including long jump rope)” at
30.2%, “dodgeball” at 29.2%, and“swimming” at 27.3%.
For the 12-21 year old group,“jogging/running” was in the firstplace at 23.2%, followed by “soccer”
at 20.9%, “badminton” at 19.7%,“muscle training” at 19.5%, and“basketball” at 16.4%.


■ 4-11 year olds

■ 12-21 year olds

Fig.3 Participation rates in sports teams/clubs(4-11 year olds : overall / by gender)

Fig.4 Participation rates in sports teams/clubs(12-21 year olds : overall / by gender)

Overall

Overall

58.3(n=1,486)

Boys

Girls

Boys

0

20

40

60

52.5

(n=834)

Girls

54.9

(n=738)36.6(n=818)
80(%)



44.6

(n=1,652)

61.8(n=748)

0

20

40

60

80 (%)*1) Including school club activities, sports teams, private sports teams/clubs (swimming,
gymnastics, etc.), regional sports teams/clubs (youth sports team, regional sports
classes, etc.).
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 4 to 11*1) Including school club activities, sports teams, private sports teams/clubs (swimming,
gymnastics, etc.), regional sports teams/clubs (youth sports team, regional sports
classes, etc.).
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

The participation rates in sports teams/clubs for ages 4-11 are indicated in

The participation rates in sports teams/clubs for ages 12-21 are indicated in
Figure 4.
The overall rate of participation in sports teams/clubs for ages 12-21 was
44.6%.
Regarding the rates depending on gender, boys had a participation rate of
52.5% and girls had a participation rate of 36.6%.

Figure 3.
The overall rate of participation in sports teams/clubs for ages 4-11 was 58.3%.
Regarding the rates depending on gender, boys had a participation rate of
61.8% and girls had a participation rate of 54.9%.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

5

 




Fig.5 Liking for exercise and sports participation

I like doing exercise
and sports

If I had to choose, I would
say I like doing exercise
and sports

4-11 year olds

If I had to choose, I would
say I do not like doing
exercise and sports

62.6(n=1,487)

I do not like doing
exercise and sports

28.9

6.7
1.9

12-21 year olds

30.7
30.9

50.2

(n=1,657)

0

20

40

60

14.1 5.1

80

100 (%)

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 4-11 and National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

The rates of liking and disliking for exercise and sports
participation are indicated in Figure 5.
For ages 4-11, “I like doing exercise and sports” was 62.6%,“If I had to choose, I would say I like doing exercise and sports”
was 28.9%, “If I had to choose, I would say I do not like doing
exercise and sports” was 6.7%, and “I do not like doing
exercise and sports” was 1.9%.

6

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

For ages 12-21, “I like doing exercise and sports” was
50.2%, “If I had to choose, I would say I like doing exercise andsports” was 30.7%, “If I had to choose, I would say I do not likedoing exercise and sports” was 14.1%, and “I do not like doing
exercise and sports” was 5.1%.

 

1 Rates of live sports viewing at the venue■ 12-21 year olds
Fig.6 Rates of live sports viewing at the venue (12-21 year olds : overall / by gender)

Overall

18.4(n=1,634)

Boys

23.4

(n=825)

Girls

13.3

(n=809)0102030 (%)

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

The rates of live sports viewing at the venue for ages
12-21 are indicated in Figure 6.
Overall, 18.4% of survey participants watched a sports
match at a gymnasium, stadium, or other facility in the past
year. This rate of the 2021 survey decreased by 18.8 points
from 37.2% in the 2019 survey. This situation is assumed tobe affected by the decrease in direct spectating opportunities

at the venue caused by the spread of COVID-19. Regarding
the rates depending on gender, 23.4% of boys and 13.3%
of girls watched a sporting event, with boys exceeding girlsby 10.1 points. The tendency for boys to watch more sporting
events than girls has not changed since the 2001 survey,
when the survey was first conducted.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary7



2 Types of sports viewed live at the venue■ 12-21 year olds
Table 4 Types of sports viewed live at the venue(12-21 year olds : overall / by gender) (multiple answers were allowed.)
Rank

Type of sports(%)

Overall

Boys

Girls

(n=1,634)(n=825)(n=809)1

Professional baseball (Nippon Professional Baseball)

5.4

7.5

3.2

2

High school baseball

3.5

4.6

2.3

3

Soccer (high school, university, JFL, etc.)

2.6

3.8

1.4

4

Japan Professional Football League (J1, J2, and J3 League)

2.3

3.5

1.1

5

Basketball (high school, university, Women's Japan Basketball League, etc.)

1.9

1.6

2.2

I have not watched a sports match at the venue live

81.6

76.6

86.7

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Table 4 indicates the types of sports that were viewed live at thevenue by the 12-21 age group.
Overall, “professional baseball” had the highest viewing rate at
5.4%, followed by “high school baseball” at 3.5%, “soccer (highschool, university, JFL, etc.)” at 2.6%, “Japan Professional Football8

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

League” at 2.3%, and “basketball” at 1.9%.
For both boys and girls, “professional baseball” had the highest
viewing rate (7.5% for boys and 3.2% for girls), followed by “highschool baseball” (4.6% for boys and 2.3% for girls).



3 Rates of sports viewing via media■ 12-21 year olds
Fig.7 Rates of sports viewing via media (12-21 year olds : overall / by gender)

Overall65.0(n=1,661)

Boys(n=838)

74.1

Girls

55.7

(n=823)
0

20

40

60

80 (%)

1*) Including sports viewing through media such as television, smartphones, tablets, PCs, etc.
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

The rates of sports viewing through media for ages 12-21
are indicated in Figure 7. Overall, 65.0% of survey
participants watched a sports match using a television,
smartphone, or other form of media in the past year.

Regarding the rates depending on gender, 74.1% ofboys and 55.7% of girls watched a sporting event, with boys
outnumbering girls by 18.4 points. This trend has notchanged since the survey was first conducted in 2013.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary9

  ■ 12-21 year olds
Fig.8 Sports volunteering rates(12-21 year olds : overall / by gender)

Overall

Fig.9 Sports volunteer activities (12-21 year olds)(n=164 : Multiple answers were allowed.)

9.9(n=1,656)

Boys

12.9

(n=834)

Girls

0

5

10

15(%)

Referee or helping
the referee

48.8
26.2
0

20

40

60 (%)

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Figure 8 indicates the sports volunteering rates for ages 12-21.
Overall, 9.9% of subjects participated in sports volunteering in the past year.

participated in sports volunteering, with the rate of volunteering being 6.1 points
higher for boys than that for girls. This trend has not changed since the 2005
survey.
When asked about the type of sports volunteer activities they participated in,most subjects responded with “referee or helping the referee (48.8%), followedby “sports instruction or helping with sports instruction” (47.0%), and “helping
with a sporting event (26.2%) , as indicated in Figure 9.

This rate decreased by 2.6 points from 12.5% in the 2019 survey, which results inthe lowest rate since the 2005 survey, when the survey on the sports volunteering
began. This is assumed to be influenced by a decrease in opportunities for sports
volunteering due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regarding the rates depending on gender, 12.9% of boys and 6.8% of girls

10

47.0

Helping witha sporting event

6.8(n=822)

Sports instruction or
helping with sports
instruction

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

■ 12-21 year olds
Fig.10 Number of days at least 60 min/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the past week
（12-21 year olds : overall / by gender）
None

Overall30.4(n=1,658)

Boys

25.8

(n=837)

Girls

28.6

0

20

11.4

27.6
60

7 days

9.8

34.8
29.1

40

4-6 days

31.2

28.1

35.1

(n=821)

1-3 days80

8.2
100 (%)

1*) Number of days in the last 7 days doing physical activity equivalent in intensity to heart pounding or large increases in heart rate fora total of at least 60 minutes per day.
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Figure 10 shows the number of days in the last 7 days
that respondents engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physicalactivity for at least 60 minutes a day. Moderate-to-vigorous
physical activity refers to activities equivalent in intensity toheart pounding or large increases in heart rate, which includes
sports, playing with friends, walking or biking to school, etc.
Overall, 31.2% of the respondents selected “4-6 days,”followed by “None” at 30.4%, “1-3 days” at 28.6%, and “7days” at 9.8%. The results depending on gender showed thatthe highest percentage for boys was 34.8% for “4-6 days,”while the highest percentage for girls was 35.1% for “None,”indicating a difference in the status of moderate-to-vigorous
physical activity of boys and girls.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary11 

■ 4-11 year olds
Fig.11 Media usage time (4-11 year olds : overall / by gender)Less than
30 min.

30 min. to lessthan 1 hour

Weekdays Overall (n=1,487)

HolidaysBoys(n=746)Girls(n=741)

1 hour to lessthan 2 hours

10.0
7.0
13.0

Overall (n=1,485) 3.4 7.3

2 hours to lessthan 3 hours

3 hours to lessthan 4 hours

20.4
20.0

4 hours to lessthan 5 hours

31.5

25.5

31.8
20.8
28.9

18.2

27.2

(n=746) 2.5 7.4

Girls(n=739) 4.2 7.2

18.5

0

20

17.7

30.6
40

0.9
1.3
8.0 3.5
0.9
2.3
6.9 2.4 0.9
0.3

24.4
18.2

11.6
12.6

18.7
60

I don't know

7.5 3.0

26.5
31.3

18.4

Boys

5 hours
or more

10.6
80

10.0

2.4

12.1

2.3

7.8

2.4
100 (%)*1) Number of hours watching TV or DVD, using computer, video games (including TV, computer, and cellular device games, etc.) or using smart phone per day outside ofschool class (including kindergarten and pre-school).
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 4 to 11

Figure 11 indicates the media usage time (screen time) on weekdays
and holidays for the 4-11 age group.
Regarding the media usage time per day (outside of lessons at
kindergarten, preschool, or school), the highest reported answer for
weekdays was “1 hour to less than 2 hours” (31.5%), followed by “2 hours
to less than 3 hours” (25.5%). For holidays, the most frequent response

12

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

was “2 hours to less than 3 hours” (28.9%), followed by “1 hour to lessthan 2 hours” (18.4%).
The rates of media usage time less than 2 hours on holidays were lower
than those on weekdays, whereas the opposite was true in the rates of that
more than 3 hours.



■ 12-21 year olds
Fig.12 Media usage time (12-21 year olds : overall / by gender)Less than
30 min.

30 min. to lessthan 1 hour

1 hour to lessthan 2 hours

Weekdays Overall (n=1,655)

5.7

2 hours to lessthan 3 hours

15.7

3 hours to lessthan 4 hours

4 hours to lessthan 5 hours

5 hours
or moreI don't know

22.9

18.1

11.1

18.3

6.0

24.2

16.7

11.2

20.2

5.4

21.6

19.5

16.4

6.7

2.1

Boys

(n=836)

3.8

16.6

1.8

Girls
Holidays(n=819) 2.4 7.7

14.8

Overall (n=1,655) 2.2 5.1

15.8

16.7

16.9

34.3

7.7

16.5

16.6

15.2

36.5

7.4

15.0

16.8

10.9

1.3

Boys

(n=836) 1.7 4.9
1.2

Girls

(n=819)2.7 5.4
1.5
0

20

18.7
40

32.0
60

7.9
80

100 (%)*1) Number of hours watching TV or DVD, using computer, video games (including TV, computer, and cellular device games, etc.) or using smart phone per day outside ofschool and/or work.
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Figure 12 indicates the media usage time (screen time) on weekdays
and holidays for the 12-21 age group.
Regarding the media usage time per day (outside of work or lessons at
school), the highest reported answer for weekdays was “2 hours to lessthan 3 hours” (22.9%), followed by “5 hours or more” (18.3%). For
holidays, the most frequent response was “5 hours or more” (34.3%); therate of respondents who used media for longer periods of time on holidays
was higher than that on weekdays.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary13

          ■ 4-11 year olds
Fig.13 Exercise, sports and physical play with family (4-11 year olds : overall / by gender)

Often

Overall(n=1,483)

Boys(n=742)Girls

0

Almost neverNot at all

18.3

50.6

24.1

7.0

20.5

49.6

25.9

4.0

16.1

(n=741)

Sometimes

51.6
20

22.4

40

60

80

10.0
100 (%)

1*) Family indicates parents and guardians.
Source: 2021 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 4 to 11

Figure 13 indicates the frequency of engaging in exercise
or sports together with family for the 4-11 age group.
Parents or guardians of respondents in the 4-11 age groupwere asked: “Do you or another family member regularly
engage in exercise, sports, or physical play together with thechild participating in the survey?.”14

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

Overall, 18.3% responded with “often,” 50.6% with“sometimes,” 24.1% with “almost never,” and 7.0% with “notat all.” A total of 68.9% of children aged 4-11 engaged in
exercise, sports, or physical play together with a family
member “often” or “sometimes;” 70.1% for boys and 67.7%
for girls.

About SSF
President's message

A think tank whose every dream and action is taken with the future in mind
The activities of the Sasakawa Sports Foundation (SSF) are
aimed at creating a "Sport for Everyone society" in which everyone
enjoys sports in a manner that fits their own lifestyle and interests.
Sports not only have the power to maintain and improvemental and physical health, but also the mysterious ability (value)
to act as a universal remedy that helps people grow andencourages the formation of society.
As we see changes in demographic movement that are
unprecedented anywhere in the world, Japan faces a variety ofsocial issues. SSF is working to utilize scientific investigation andresearch to convert that mysterious ability into objective andeasy-to-understand data and language and develop projects andprograms that help as many people as possible enjoy their lives
through sports, and projects and programs that help solve social
issues, among other things.
In 2019, Rugby World Cup 2019 filled Japan with excitement,
and we saw an increase in interest not only in rugby, but in sports
in general. Then, just as that momentum was moving forward to
the Tokyo Olympics/Paralympics, and expectations were high for
an increase in the number of people participating in sports, thenovel coronavirus began to spread, and we were hit with thestagnation of social activity worldwide. In the "new normal" (ournew lifestyle under the coronavirus peril), socio-economic activities
continue to be limited, and our sports environment has also been
subject to enormous restrictions. SSF's ingenuity and ability totake action toward achieving a Sport for Everyone society are now
being tested.

It is also likely that our battle against changes in the global
environment and the accompanying natural disasters andcommunicable diseases will continue as well. As we reflect onhistory, we see that we have faced a variety of threats in the past
as well. In 2011, following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi
Nuclear Power Station, there were concerns regarding the healthof evacuees. These included the issue of children getting
insufficient physical exercise. However, many individuals andorganizations working together gradually reduced the problem.
It is impossible to completely eliminate all crises faced by thehuman race. What is important is to establish a mobile system thatmakes it possible for people to work together in such a manner at
any time, and to spread that system throughout the world. SSF
believes that difficulties are an opportunity to do so, and we will
focus even more effort on achieving a society in which as many
people as possible can enjoy the power of sports and live healthy
lives.
Fortunately, we have already built a broad network of
personal connections, and have a rich store of information andknowledge. We will utilize, enhance, and expand these to move
forward with convincing cross-disciplinary research based on theinsights of both the social sciences and the natural sciences, andreturn the findings to society as quickly as possible throughcollaboration with a variety of individuals and organizations. Let us
do this to achieve a Sport for Everyone society which we aim at.

Kazutoshi Watanabe, President
Sasakawa Sports Foundation

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

15

About SSF

Outline of activities

1

Research and surveys
The Institute of Sports Policy, established in SSF carries out
fact-finding surveys, case studies and empirical research in thethree fields of "sports policy","community-building through sports"and "promotion of sports among children and youth".
The institute gathers and analyses quantitative data andadvanced cases in the country as well as overseas, which are

2

Collaboration with local governments
SSF promotes a nationwide sport program, which aims toencourage people to participate in sports and physical activities,
called Challenge Day. In this program, municipal communities
with similar size of populations compete over the percentage of
their residents who did some kind of sports and physical activities
for a minimum of fifteen minutes on the last Wednesday of May.
Through Challenge Day, SSF is able to forge closer links withlocal governments and other organizations, and to verify that3

sports are beneficial in building local communities and promoting
relationships between people of different generations, and to
propose a system in which individual residents can enjoy sports
in their communities.
Furthermore, in collaboration with local governments who
participate in Challenge Day and with other local governments
nationwide, SSF draws up sports promotion plans for local
communities and offers the results of its surveys and research.

Public relations
SSF disseminates the information about its initiatives as
described above, and releases the latest sports information in the
country and overseas that is beneficial for sports policy research,using its official website, social media, at symposiums, seminars,
and international conferences.
As part of its public relations activities, SSF publishes theresults of the National Sport and Lifestyle Survey, which is

16essential for the national government and local governments todraft sports policy and for various organizations to plan sports
promotion programs. SSF proactively makes proposals forpolicies to governments and for plans to sports organizations,based on evidence obtained from the research and survey.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

biannually conducted to understand the state of participation andinvolvement in sports by Japanese, by means of a report called
the SSF National Sports-Life Survey.
SSF also brings out and extensively distributes Sport White
Paper, in which the latest data in the country and overseas isprinted.

The 2021 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary
Date
Produced by
Published byPrinted by
Cover Designed by

31 Dec. 2021
Kazutoshi Watanabe
Sasakawa Sports Foundation
1-2-2 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Japan
Phone +81-3-6229-5300 Fax +81-3-6229-5340
URL https://www.ssf.or.jp/ Email data@ssf.or.jp
Nihon Publicity Co.,Ltd.
Junko Fukuchi©Sasakawa Sports Foundation, 2021 Printed in Japan