JAPAN Trends and Developments Contributed by: Shiro Kato and Yudai Suzuki, Nagashima Ohno & Tsunematsu
necessary to provide high-quality, high-value-added services related to opportunities to enjoy sport, in order to increase business opportunities for sports- industry and other operators and to revitalise regional economies. The “provision of high-quality, high-value- added services related to opportunities to enjoy sport” referred to here is named “sports hospitality”. The national and local governments are required to secure opportunities to enjoy sports that respond to diverse needs and, through this, to take necessary measures to develop the environment for sports hospitality, with a view not only to the sports industry but also to increasing business opportunities in other industries such as tourism, food and beverages, culture and healthcare, and to revitalising regional economies. (5) Promotion of e-sports Newly added Article 24-2 of the Act provides that the national and local governments shall endeavour, in collaboration with sports organisations, to promote “sports that utilise information and communications technology”, ie, e-sports. In implementing such collaboration, the Act provides in particular that all sport-related activities must be conducted fairly and appropriately, with due consideration to maintaining and promoting the physical and mental health of par - ticipants and ensuring their safety. With the growing popularity of e-sports, especially among young peo - ple, global convergence with the traditional sports industry is advancing, as exemplified by the Olympic Esports Series organised in 2023 by the International Olympic Committee and others. In Japan as well, since 2019, the “National Prefectural Competitive Esports Championship” has been held as part of the cultural programme of the National Sports Festival, and a 21 March 2025 proposal by the Expert Panel on the Future of the National Sports Festival estab - lished by the Japan Sports Association mentions that it would be desirable to consider introducing e-sports as an official event of the National Sports Festival. This provision reflects the recent momentum behind promoting e-sports. (6) Protection of athletes from violence and harassment Newly added Article 29 of the Act obligates the nation - al and local governments to take measures address - ing issues that have drawn increasing attention in
recent years, such as violence and power harassment by coaches against athletes at training sites, voyeuris - tic filming at competition venues, and defamation and other online abuse of athletes on social media. Sports organisations are also placed under an effort obliga - tion to address these issues. The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and others adopted the “Declara - tion on the Elimination of Violent Acts in the Sports Community” in April 2013 and launched the “No! SpoHara” initiative in April 2023 to eliminate violence and harassment in sports settings. Furthermore, with respect to sexual harassment of athletes through pho - tos and videos, a joint statement by relevant organi - sations including the JOC was issued in November 2020 declaring their commitment to countermeas - ures, and in March 2025, a joint statement was also issued regarding defamation and other abuses tar - geting athletes. This article clarifies that the national and local governments, together with sports organisa - tions, should continue to work towards establishing an environment in which athletes can compete with peace of mind. Impact of the Amendment The Amendment responds to various changes in the environment surrounding sport and, in particular, reflects the expanded role that sport plays in Japa - nese society. For example, the Amendment aims to realise an inclusive society in which individuals can participate in and contribute to society through sports regardless of disability or other attributes, and it repeatedly articulates contributions to regional revitalisation through “gathering” and “connecting”, thereby clearly signalling an intent to leverage sports to address social challenges. The expanding role of sport is a global trend and has been a factor behind the growth of the sports market in recent years. As the term “Basic Act” suggests, the Act primarily sets out the national government’s basic policies regarding systems, policies and measures. Accordingly, while the Amendment does not immediately and directly affect sports-industry practices, it is expected that specific policies and related laws and regulations aligned with the Amendment will be introduced and developed over time. Therefore, stakeholders in the sports industry should understand the intent and background of the Amendment and grasp the future direction of policies and laws relating to sport.
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