Health and Sports Day was first observed on October 10, 1966, which coincided with the 1964 Summer Olympics. In order to circumvent the rainy season in Japan, the unusually delayed Summer Olympics were scheduled for October.
Sports Day, which was previously referred to as Health-Sports Day, is annually observed on the second Monday of October in Japan. The date falls on October 9 this year. Its purpose is to encourage sports and an active lifestyle in order to promote mental and physical health, and it commemorates the commencement of the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Numerous businesses and educational institutions host their annual Field Day on this day. Typically, it encompasses an assortment of physical competitions, spanning from conventional track and field events like relay races to less commonplace ones like the tug of war and the ‘Cavalry Battle.’
Health and Sports Day was first observed on October 10, 1966, which coincided with the 1964 Summer Olympics. In order to circumvent the rainy season in Japan, the unusually delayed Summer Olympics were scheduled for October. Health and Sports Day was relocated to the second Monday of October in 2000 due to the Happy Monday System, a series of legislative amendments in Japan that established three-day weekends.
Health and Sports Day was formally redesignated as Sports Day (Supōtsu no hi) in Japan beginning in 2020. This is due to the fact that the term “sports” encompasses more than just physical education and also denotes voluntary recreation. It follows in the footsteps of other organizations, including the Japan Sports Association and the National Sports Festival of Japan, that have altered their Japanese names or have intentions of doing so.
In anticipation of the commencement of the 2020 Summer Olympics, a unique arrangement was established to reschedule Sports Day to July 24, 2020. This modification was maintained for 2020 due to the postponement of the Olympics and Paralympics until 2021. In 2021, the government amended the Olympic and Paralympic Special Measures Act to reflect the new date of the holiday, which is July 23.
Typically, the festival commences with a parade showcasing the various participating teams, which are organized according to school, neighborhood, class, or region. Typically, the proceedings commence with a performance of the national anthem “Kimigayo” by a local marching band, succeeded by the hoisting of the Japanese flag. Following speeches of greeting by local officials, attendees disperse to stretch their legs on the grounds, and the proceedings formally commence.
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The majority of institutions and communities in Japan observe this holiday. They consist of numerous conventional track and field events, including the long jump, sprint, and relay. There are numerous additional activities, such as tug of war, rugby-ball dribbling races, sack races, and ball toss.
A frequent occurrence is an obstacle course relay, which comprises an assortment of challenges. These consist of carrying a ‘injured’ colleague with a stretcher constructed from bamboo poles and three legs, hanging laundry, crawling on tug-of-war hands and knees beneath a net, and performing cartwheels across a mat.
Even when individuals are at home alone, they are encouraged to participate in this activity. A daily broadcast of stretching regimen music, produced by the government, is available on radio and television to assist individuals in following the program.
“Oodama okuri” is an exceptionally peculiar activity performed during these festivals; participants are divided into teams and must pass the object above their heads in the minimum time possible.
The Japan Sports Agency found in a 2019 survey that the percentage of elderly individuals who engage in physical activity or sports at least once per week exceeds 70% across the majority of age categories.
Those establishments which customarily shut on Mondays may remain operational on Sports Day and reopen the following day on Tuesday.
Field days consist not only of athletic competitions but also torch carrying and illumination ceremonies.
During one of these occasions, third-year boys from a school in Saitama Prefecture constructed a human wall that was six feet tall and then advanced approximately 328 feet.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | October 10 | Monday |
| 2023 | October 9 | Monday |
| 2024 | October 14 | Monday |
| 2025 | October 13 | Monday |
| 2026 | October 12 | Monday |
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