JAPAN Trends and Developments Contributed by: Shiro Kato and Yudai Suzuki, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
Amendments to the Basic Act on Sport On 1 September 2025, amendments to the Basic Act on Sport (the “Act”) came into force (the “Amend - ment”). The Amendment is the most substantial revi - sion since the Act’s enactment in 2011. Japan’s sports policy is at a major inflection point. The Amendment reflects shifts in the value and role of sport in Japa - nese society, is highly significant within Japan’s sports policy framework, and has meaningful implications for the development of the sports industry in Japan. Purpose of the Basic Act on Sport The Act was enacted in 2011 as a comprehensive revi - sion of the 1961 Sports Promotion Act. The Sports Promotion Act, enacted in 1961 with the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in mind, historically treated the promotion of sport in Japan primarily as an aspect of education policy. It encouraged the development of school facili - ties and sought to popularise sport through school education and related administrative measures. Subsequently, with the development of professional sport in Japan and the increase in sports participa - tion by the public, the legislation was overhauled to reflect contemporary realities, resulting in the enact - ment of the Act in 2011. The Act is Japan’s funda - mental statute for the promotion of sport, expressly recognising the “right to enjoy a happy and fulfilling life through sport” as a right of all people. It states: “The purpose of this Act is to comprehensively and systematically promote measures concerning sport by providing basic principles concerning sport, and by clarifying the responsibilities of the national govern - ment and local governments, and the efforts, etc of sport organisations, which are consequently to con - tribute to the sound development of mind and body of citizens, the formation of the bright and prosper - ous life of the citizens, the realisation of an energetic society and the harmonised development of an inter - national society.” Substantively, it clarifies the basic principles concerning sport and, most importantly, prescribes the responsibilities and obligations of the national and local governments in formulating and implementing measures related to sport. In addition, it stipulates efforts to be undertaken by sports organi - sations, which are expected to play an important role in the dissemination of sports and the improvement of competitive levels.
Purpose of the Amendment The Amendment is the most significant revision since the Act’s enactment, undertaken to address evolving circumstances surrounding sport in recent years. The Preamble emphasises the contribution of sport to real - ising an inclusive society, specifically providing that opportunities to participate in sport shall be secured “regardless of race, gender, age, or the presence or absence of disability”. Furthermore, with respect to the role of sport, in addition to the conventional modes of “playing”, “watching” and “supporting”, the con - cepts of “gathering” (coming together around sport) and “connecting” (building connections through sport) have been added. The Act clarifies that by securing opportunities for the public to engage in these forms of involvement with sports, it seeks to enable each member of the diverse public to live with purpose and enjoy happiness, and to realise a society in which peo - ple can tangibly experience prosperity. At the level of specific provisions, the Amendment introduces changes across a broad range of topics, including the development of sports facilities, preven - tion of sports-related accidents, utilisation of infor - mation and communications technologies, ensuring opportunities for students to engage in sports, promo - tion of sports hospitality, protection of athletes, and enhancement of anti-doping initiatives. Examples of Specific Amendments (1) Integrated promotion of sports facility development/utilisation and urban development Article 12 of the Act imposes on the national and local governments the responsibility to take the necessary measures to ensure that the public can readily enjoy sport and that competitive levels can be improved, including the development of sports facilities, improve - ment in their operation, and assignment of instructors to such facilities. The Amendment adds to the same article a duty for the national and local governments to make integrat - ed and multifaceted arrangements with other facilities and surrounding areas, and to collaborate with sports operators and other stakeholders in the development and utilisation of sports facilities, thereby promoting sports facility development and utilisation in tandem with urban development as a duty to endeavour. The
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