Japan starts talks on improving children’s physical strength

December 26, 2019

Tokyo--The Japan Sports Agency on Thursday held the first meeting of a panel to discuss improving children's physical strength, planning to draw up specific measures as early as June next year.

Poor results were shown in fiscal 2019 fitness tests conducted for elementary school fifth-graders and junior high school second-graders. In particular, the average overall score for fifth-grade boys fell to the lowest level since the survey began in fiscal 2008, according to the test outcomes announced by the agency on Monday.

"I'm very worried" about the test results, Daichi Suzuki, head of the agency and Olympic gold medalist swimmer, said at the beginning of the panel meeting. "We have to come up with measures to cope with the situation promptly," he added.

While seeking advice from experts as needed, the panel, which comprises officials of the agency, the education and sports ministry, and the health ministry, will consider helping children build an exercise habit and increase their regular sports activities. Jiji Press