l,,.tElil- THE NIPPON
Supported by \£/i:'.i.Bl FOUNDATION• Executive Summary

December 2017, Japan

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IAIAKAWA IPORll fOUNDAllON

Table of Contents
Introduction

01

Methods

01

Results

About SSF

01. Exercise and sports frequency

02

02. Exercise and sports types

04

03. Sports teams / clubs

05

04. Sports spectating

06

05. Liking exercise and sports

08

06. Sports volunteering

09

07. Media usage time (screen time)10

08. Parent's expectations towards child doing exercise and sports

12

09. Exercise, sports and physical play with family

14

Towards the Realization of "Sport for Everyone"

15

Outline of Activities

16

Introduction
The Sasakawa Sports Foundation (SSF) aims to identify the rate of children exercising and playing sports aswell as the sports environment surrounding children after school and on holidays to realize the objective of"Sport for Everyone." In order to attain these goals, the National Sports-Life Survey of Teens subjected tothose aged 10-19 living in Japan, has been carried out a total of six times since 2001. We have also carriedout the National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 9, targeting children 9 and younger, a total of 4
times since 2009 in order to look for turning points in exercise and sports in children.
In 2017, we carried out the National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to11 subjecting children in preschool
to children in elementary school as well as the National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21 which targeted
those in junior high school, high school and university.

Methods

0 Population
4-21 year olds living in JapanfJ Sample numbers
2,400 [4-11 year olds] and 3,000 [12-21 year olds]

IJ Locations
225 (204 urban areas and 21 rural areas)

B Extraction method
2-staged stratified random samplingg Survey methods
Questionnaire sheet left at home

IJ Survey sample (rate)[4-11 year olds] 1,573 (65.5%)[12-21 year olds] 1,636 (54.5%)

EJ Survey contents
Exercise and sports frequency, time and intensity, sports
facilities, gyms, teams, clubs, liking exercise and sports,
sports spectating, favorite athletes, sports volunteering,
sleep time, time using media, frequency of exercise anddoing sports with family, parent's attitude towards
education concerning child's lifestyle, exercise and play, etc.

0 Survey period
June-July 2017

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I 01

Results

Exercise and sports frequency

01 •4-11 year olds

Table 1 Exercise and sports frequency groups
Participation GroupNon-participation
group

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

Criteria

Non-participation(O time/year)•

No exercise or sports group
Low frequency exercise and sports group
Intermediate frequency exercise and sports group
High frequency exercise and sports group•

Overall 2013 (n=1,549)
2015 (n=1,382)
2017 (n=1,573)

Low frequency
group

Moderate frequency
group

At least once a year
but less than 3 times a week
(between 1-155 times/year)
At least 3 times a week
but less than 7 times a week
(between 156-363 times/year)Boys

2013 (n=808)
2015 (n=700)
2017 (n=838)

Girls2013 (n=741)
2015 (n=682)

High frequency
group

At least 7 times a week
(364 or more times/year)2017 (n=735)
0

20

40

60

80

100(%)

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey ofChildren Ages 4 to 11*1) Created with data of 10-11 year olds from the 2013 and 2015 National Sports-Life Survey ofTeens
Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 11

The 4-11 year old group was divided in to the 4 groups of"non-participation group," "low frequency group," "moderatefrequency group" and "high frequency group" based on standards
set from exercise and sports frequency over the past year

Fig.1 shows annual trends in the exercise and sports frequency groups (4-11 year olds). The(Table 1).

02 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary2017 results show that the largest group was the "high frequency exercise and sports group" at

47.5% followed by the "intermediate frequency exercise and sports group" at 32.4%, the "lowfrequency exercise and sports group" at 18.1% and the "no exercise or sports group" at 2.0%.
When looking at gender, 50.6% of boys and 43.9% of girls were in the "high frequency
exercise and sports group" with boys 6.7points higher than girls.

Results

Exercise and sports frequency

01• 12-21 year olds
Table 2 Exercise and sports level•II•

Criteria

Level O•

Level 1•

Level 2•

Level 3•

Level 4Overall 2013 (n=1,s1 •l

Non-participation (0 time/year)
At least once during the year but less thanonce a week (1-51 times/year)•••

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

2015 (n=1,453)
2017 (n=1,636)

Boys2015 (n=738)

At least once a week but less than 5 times
a week (52-259 times/year)
At least 5 times a week(260 times or more/year)
At least 5 times a week (260 times ormore/year) with a duration of 120 minutes, andwith more than moderate intensity

2013 (n=781)

2017 (n=852)

Girls2013 (n=729)
2015 (n=715)
2017 (n=784)
0

20

40

60

80

100(%)

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21*1 I Created with data of 12-19 year olds from the 2013 and 2015 National Sports-Life Survey of Teens
Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

The 12-21 year olds were classified into 5 levels from level O to level4 based on standards set from exercise and sports frequency, timeand intensity over the past year (Table 2).

Fig.2 shows annual trends in exercise and sports level (12-21 year olds). The 2017 results
show level Oat 16.5%, level 1 at 15.8%, level 2 at 20.6%, level 3 at 19.7% and level 4
at 27.3% overall.
When looking at gender, level 4 was the highest for boys with 33.8% followed by level 3 at
20.9%. The highest for girls was level 2 at 21.8% followed by level Oat 21.2%.

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I 03

Results

Exercise and sports types

02 •4-11 year olds/ 12-21 year olds

Table 3 Exercise and sports types often carried out over the past year (multiple answers)
4-11 year olds (n=1,542l

12-21 year olds (n=1,366)

Type of exercise / sport

Rank

: .:
Swimming

34.2

Bicycle riding

30.4-----------------------------------------------------

Dodgeball

30.4

Type of exercise / sport%~

Basketball

21.9

2

Jogging/running

20.7

3

Soccer

20.4

4

Badminton

18.7
18.2

Swings25.4

5Muscle training

Soccer24.3

6Volleyball

15.6

22.2

7,

Table tennis

14.4
13.7

Jump rope (including long jump rope)
Hide-and-seek

16.6

8

BaseballIron bar

16.2

9Playing tag

13.3

Walking

12.8

13.7

~o

Badminton

9.5~~

Swimming

10.6

Baseball

9.1~2

Dodgeball

10.0

Basketball

8.9

H

Bowling

9.1

Catch

8.0

~4

Soft tennis

8.5

Table 3 shows the top 20 types of exercises andTable tennisGt" ( light gymnastics,)
ymnas ICS morning radio calisthenics, etc.
Scooter

5.4

Jump rope (including long jump rope)

7.8

5.3

~5
~6

Catch

7.5

5.2

~1

Cycling

6.4

Unicycle

4.2~8

Tennis6.2

Volleyball

3.8

~9

Track & Field

5.0

Hip hop dance

3.5

4.9

Track & Field

3.5

Skiing)• ( light gymnastics,
Gymnast1cs
morning radio calisthenics, etc.

sports carried out most frequently over the past
year (highest number of times carried out).
For 4-11 year olds, "playing tag" was the highest
at 47.3% followed by "swimming" at 34.2% and"bicycle riding" and "dodgeball" both at 30.4%.
For 12-21 year olds, "basketball" was the highest
at 21.9% followed by "jogging/running" at
20.7% and "soccer" at 20.4%.

Race

4.9

*1] Types of exercise and sports carried out often: Type of exercise and/or sport carried out the most frequently among the exercises andsports carried out over the past year
Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 11 and National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

04 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

Sports teams / clubs• 4-11 year olds

• 12-21 year olds

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

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

Overall

Overall(n=1,558)(n=1,620)

Boys

Boys

(n=833)(n=846)

Girls

Girls

(n=725)(n=774)

0

20

40

60

80(%)

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: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children 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: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Fig.3 shows participation rate in sports teams/clubs of 4-11 year olds. The
participation rate in sports teams/clubs of 4-11 year olds was 58.5%. Whenlooking at gender, the rate was 65.3% For boys and 50.6% for girls.

Fig.4 shows participation rate in sports teams/clubs of 12-21 year olds. The
participation rate in sports teams/clubs of 12-21 year olds was 49.2%. Whenlooking at gender, the rate was 57.4% for boys and 40.2% for girls.

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I OS

Sports spectating

D Rate of live viewing of sports at the venue• 4-11 year olds

• 12-21 year olds

Fig.5 Rate of live viewing of sports at the venue(4-11 year olds: overall/ by gender)

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

Overall

Overall(n=1,561)(n=1,616)

Boys

Boys

(n=834)(n=841)

Girls

Girls

(n=727)(n=775)

0

10

20

30

40

50(%)

0

10

20

30

40

50(%)

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 11

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Fig.5 shows the rate of live viewing of sports at the venue for 4-11 year olds.

Fig.6 shows the rate of live viewing of sports at the venue for 12-21 year olds.

The proportion of those who viewed sports at a place such as a gymnasium or
stadium over the past year was 30.4% on the whole. When looking at gender,
the rate was 34.8% for boys and 25.4% for girls.

The proportion of those who viewed sports at a place such as a gymnasium or
stadium over the past years was 38.3% on the whole. When looking at gender,
the rate was 41.0% for boys and 35.4% for girls.

06 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

Sports spectating

fJ Types of sports viewed live at the venue• 4-11 year olds

• 12-21 year olds

Table 4 Types of sports viewed live at the venue by 4-11 year olds
(overall / by gender: multiple answers)(%)

Table 5 Types of sports viewed live at the venue by 12-21 year olds
(overall / by gender: multiple answers)
(%)

II

II

fl

Type of sport

Professional baseball (NPB)J League (J1, J2 and J3)
Professional golf

• Ill• IIII
11.7

14.7

8.3

6.4

8.5

4.0

2.4

2.6

2.1

II
II
II

Professional baseball (NPB)

•••
12.9

16.2

9.4

High school baseball

10.0

11.3

8.5

J League (J1, J2 and J3)

6.5

9.5

3.2

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

5.2

6.3

4.0

Type of sport

Professional basketball ( B League, )BJ League

2.4

2.6

2.1

High school baseball

2.3

2.8

1.8

B k tb II ( high school, university, )as e a NBL, WJBL, etc.

2.3

2.3

2.3

Basketball ( high school, university, )NBL, WJBL, etc.

3.9

2.7

5.2

I have not viewed sports live

69.6

65.2

74.6

I have not viewed sports live

61.7

59.0

64.6

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 11

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Table 4 shows the types of sports viewed live at the venue by 4-11 year olds.

Table 5 shows the types of sports viewed live at the venue by 12-21 year olds.

The highest for 4-11 year olds was "professional baseball (NPB)" at 11.7%
following by "J League (J1, J2 and J3)" at 6.4% and then "professional golf" and"professional basketball (B League, BJ League)" at 2.4% each.
When looking at gender, the highest rate for both boys and girls was"professional baseball (NPB)" (14.7% for boys and 8.3% for girls).

The highest for 12-21 year olds was "professional baseball (NPB)" at 12.9%
following by "high school baseball" at 10.0% and "J League (J1, J2 and J3)" at 6.5%.
When looking at gender, the highest rate for both boys and girls was "professional
baseball (NPB)" (16.2% for boys and 9.4% for girls) followed by "high school
baseball" (11.3% for boys and 8.5% for girls).

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I 07

Results

Liking exercise and sports

05 •4-11 year olds/ 12-21 year olds

Fig.7 Liking exercise and sports

4-11 year olds

1.7

(n=1,571)

12-21 year olds

• I like doing exercise and sports• doing
If I had to choose, I would say I like
exercise and sports• IflikeI haddoingto exercise
choose, I would say I don't
and sports• I don't like doing exercise and sports

5.5(n=1,631)

0

20

40

60

80

100(%)

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children 4-11, National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Fig.7 shows the proportion of liking exercise and sports. For 4-11 year olds,

64.9% said that "they like doing exercise and sports," 24.1% said that "if they
had to choose, they would say they like doing exercise and sports," 9.3% said
that "if they had to choose, they would say they don't like doing exercise andsports" and 1.7% said "they don't like doing exercise and sports".

08 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

For 12-21 year olds, 48.3% said that "they like doing exercise and sports,''
31.1% said that "if they had to choose, they would say they like doing exercise
and sports,'' 15.2% said that "if they had to choose, they would say they don't
like doing exercise and sports" and 5.5% said "they don't like doing exercise
and sports".

Sports volunteering• 12-21 year olds
Fig.8 Sports volunteer rate (12-21 year olds: overall / by gender)

Fig.9 Sports volunteer activities (12-21 year olds)(n=221: Multiple answers)

Sports instruction
or helping withsports instruction

Overall(n=1,634)

Boys

Referee or helping
the referee(n=852)Girls

Helping witha sporting event(n=782)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18(%)

0

20

40

60(%)

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Fig.8 shows the sports volunteer rate for 12-21 year olds.

When asked about what type of sports volunteer activities they carried out, 47.1%
responded "referee or helping the referee," 44.8% said "helping with a sporting
event" and 25.3% said "sports instruction or helping with sports instruction"

13.5% of participants carried out sports volunteer activities on the whole overthe past year.
When looking at gender, the sports volunteer rate was higher in boys at 15.7%
than in girls at 11.1%.

(Fig.9).

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I 09

Results

Media usage time (screen time)07 •4-11 year olds

Fig.10 Media usage time (4-11 year olds: overall/ by gender)

Weekdays

Overall (n=1,S64)
Boys (n=836)
Girls (n=728)

Days off

Overall (n=1,SS7)

15.2

8.2 ~ 1.6

Boys (n=833)

14.9

8.4

mg 1.6Girls (n=724)

15.5

8.o

m1.7

0

20

40

60

80

• Less than 30 min.
• 30 min. to less than 1 hour
• 1 to less than 2 hours• 2 to less than 3 hours• 3 to less than 4 hours• 4 to less than 5 hours• 5 hours or more
• I don't know

100(%)*1) Number of hours per day watching TV or DVD, using computer, video games [including TV, computer and cellular device games, etc.) or using smart phone per day outside of school class[including kindergarten and pre-school)
Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 11

Fig.10 shows media usage time (screen time) on weekdays and holidays for 4-11
year olds. Media usage time per day for weekdays outside of school class(including kindergarten and pre-school) was highest for "1 to less than 2 hours"

10 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

at 30.1% followed by "2 to less than 3 hours" a day at 25.2%. On holidays,
the highest was "2 to less than 3 hours" at 29.0% followed by "1 to less than
2 hours" a day at 22.3%.

Media usage time (screen time)• 12-21 year olds

Results07

Fig.11 Media usage time (12-21 year olds: overall/ by gender)

Weekdays

Overall (n=1,627)

16.8

9.2

Boys (n=849)

17.9

8.2

Girls (n=778)

Days off

15.6

Overall (n=1,611)

3.8 9.4
2.5
3.8 10.5
2.1
3.8 8.2
2.9

Boys (n=842)
Girls (n=769)
0

18.7

15.8

19.2

16.2

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

10.2

:

Less than 30 min.
30 min. to less than 1 hour
1 to less than 2 hours
2 to less than 3 hours
3 to less than 4 hours
4 to less than 5 hours
5 hours or more
I don't know

:
18.2

15.5

26.1- - 6.8

:
20

40

60

80

100(%)*1] Number of hours per day watching TV or DVD, using computer, video games [including TV, computer and cellular device games, etc.] or using smart phone per day outside of school and/or work
Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

Fig.11 shows media usage time (screen time) on weekdays and holidays for
12-21 year olds. Media usage time per day for weekdays outside of school andwork was highest for "2 to less than 3 hours" a day at 28.1% followed by "1 toless than 2 hours" at 17.2%. On holidays, the highest was "5 hours or more" at
24.8% showing an increase in the percentage of those who use media for along time on holidays compared to weekdays.

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I 11

Parent's expectations towards child doing exercise and sports• 4-11 year olds
Fig.12 Parent's expectations towards child doing exercise and sports (4-11 year olds) (overall/ by gender of child: multiple answers)

•

(%)

100

•

Overall (n=1,567)•

Boys (n=837)

Girls (n=730)

79.674.s-76.3--·
775-74;s --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------so --77.3--63.8_58.6

60 ----------54.4 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------52.7 53.7 53.0
49.9
49.1
46.0
49.1
48.9
47·4 44.5 47.2 44.9 45.6 45.2 44.7
43.9
42 945.6
39.7
38.2_ .
39.9_38.Li 41.2 -------------------------------------------------35.1
26 8 29.0· 24.922 8 25.2.
20.1

40 - - ---- 16J -----------------------

20 ---

13.8 . 10.5
0.8 1.0 0.7 0.3 0.4 0.3

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Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 11

Fig.12 and Fig.13 show parent's expectations towards child doing exercise andsports.
Parents were asked "What are your expectations towards your child doing(starting) exercise and/or sports?"

12 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

For 4-11 year olds, the most common response overall was "to improve physicalfitness" at 77.3% which was followed by "to have fun with sports" at 76.3%,"to learn etiquette and manner" at 58.6% and "to make friends" at 53.7%.

Parent's expectations towards child doing exercise and sports• 12-21 year olds
Fig.13 Parent's expectations towards child doing exercise and sports (12-21 year olds) (overall / by gender of child: multiple answers)

•

(%)

80

74.0
12
69.8 7 · 68.3---69.2
70 ----64.0

50 ---•

Boys (n=826)•

Girls (n=758)

64.9
60.9

60 ---Overall (n=1,584)

56 6- - - 5s.o ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------. 54.2
54.2
50.1 51.8 491
51.7
50.8
- •. -475- -- -45_6 -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - 42.9
42.0 42.143.240.9 39.9 43.1

40 ---

33.4
30 ---

20 ---

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22.1 19__.5_-18.4.21.2________________________ _
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Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Ages 12 to 21

For 12-21 year olds, the most common response overall was "to have fun withsports" at 69.8% which was followed by "to improve physical fitness" at 69.2%,"to learn etiquette and manner" at 60.9%, "to make friends" at 54.2% and"to learn communication skills" at 51.8%.

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I 13

Results

Exercise, sports and physical play with family

09 •4-11 year olds

Fig.14 Exercise, sports and physical play with family (4-11 year olds) (overall/ by gender of child)

Overall (n=1,570)

30A

46A

Boys (n=837)

49.9

Girls (n=733)

20

Often
Sometimes
Almost neverNot at all

25.0

42.3
0

•
•
•
•

36.7
40

60

80

100(%)*1 I Exercise and sports: Including physical playing*2] Family: Excluding brothers and sisters
Source: 2017 Sasakawa Sports Foundation National Sports-Life Survey of Children Ages 4 to 11

Fig.14 shows the exercise, sports and physical play with family (4-11 year olds).
Parents of respondents 4-11 year olds were asked the question "Does the childasked to do the survey, regularly do exercise, sports or physical playing withfamily including you?"
Overall, 13.2% answered "often," 46.4% answered "sometimes," 30.4%
answered "almost never" and 9.9% answered "not at all" showing that 60% of

14 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

children 4-11 year olds carry out exercise, sports or physical playing with theirfamily.
When looking at the gender of the child, the proportion combining "often" and"sometimes" was 66.3% for boys and 52.0% for girls with boys being
14.3points higher than girls.

About SSF

Towards the Realization of "Sport for Everyone"

The Sasakawa Sports Foundation (SSF) was established in March 1991.
Since the establishment, SSF has implemented a wide range of activities such as survey
research, grant programs, and international cultural exchange in order to promote theenjoyment of sports by "anyone, anytime, anywhere."
As Japan has faced the declining birthrate and the aging society, the public awareness about
the importance of sports and healthy lifestyles has increased. Despite this fact, over the pastten years, the number of people who are unaccustomed to playing sports has remained steadyat five out of ten. SSF believes that it is our responsibility to change this shocking statistic
while helping create a healthy, dynamic environment for everyone, the mission of SSF.
The first decade of the 21st century has now gone and we have begun to see a push toward
new sports policies by the government. SSF celebrated its 20th anniversary amid the ongoingchanges, and has decided to enhance the research function, which compiles and analyzes awide variety of survey data. We are thus able to proactively propose governmental policy on
local and national levels and propose programs to sports organizations. In addition, we are alsoable to develop and implement programs that embody our vision of sports in the future.
SSF will continue promoting the firm establishment of "Sport for Everyone," a philosophy thataims to create a happier, healthier society, with the ultimate goal of enriching the athletic livesof each individual and creating an environment in which people can continue enjoying sports intheir own ways.

Kazutoshi Watanabe, President
Sasakawa Sports Foundation

111:
ss f

IAIAKAWA IPORII fOUNDAIION

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary I 15

About SSF

Outline of Activities

0 Research and surveys

D Collaboration with local governments

The Institute of Sports Policy, established in SSF carries out fact-finding
surveys, case studies and empirical research in the three fields of "sports
policy," "community-building through sports" and "promotion of sports
among children and youth."
The institute gathers and analyses quantitative data and advanced casesin the country as well as overseas, which are essential for the national
government and local governments to draft sports policy and for variousorganizations to plan sports promotion programs. SSF proactively makes
proposals for policies to governments and for plans to sports
organizations, based on evidence obtained from the research and survey.

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

fJ Research grants and human resource development
Research..grantSIThe Sasakawa sports research grants program aims to support prominent
research in the fields of the humanities and social science that contributes
to the promotion of sports in the country.
Under this program, SSF aims to encourage debate on sports policy inJapan, and to nurture young researchers who will carry the future of thenext generation.

Sport :Policy fo JapanSSF contributes to foster leaders who will direct the future of thepromotion of sports in the country by supervising the program called"Sport Policy for Japan." This program provides students who are studying
sports with exchanging ideas each other and publishing their research
results.

16 I The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary

B Public relations
SSF disseminates the information about its initiatives as described above,and releases the latest sports information in the country and overseas thatis 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 the results of the
National Sport and Lifestyle Survey, which is biannually conducted tounderstand the state of participation and involvement 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 is printed.

The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey of Children and Young People Executive Summary
Date
31 Dec. 2017
Produced by Kazutoshi Watanabe
Published by Sasakawa Sports Foundation
1-2-2 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052 Japan
TEL +81-3-6229-5300 FAX +81-3-6229-5340
URL http://www.ssf.or.jp/ Email datarassf.or.jp

Printed by
Nihon Publicity Co.,Ltd.
Cover Designed by Junko Fukuchi©Sasakawa Sports Foundation, 2017 Printed in Japan

SPORT FOR~The 2017 SSF National Sports-Life Survey ot Cfiildren and Young People• Executive Summary

December 2017, Japan