Called Taiiku no Hi (体育の日), Sports Day is a Japanese national holiday held annually on the second Monday of October. The holiday was launched in 1966 following the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, to encourage healthy living and an active lifestyle. Despite the Olympics usually being held during the summer months, the Tokyo games were held in October to avoid the energetic showers of the rainy season.
While this holiday was originally created to encourage Japanese residents to stay active and healthy, it has now become a popular occasion for people to relax. This is largely thanks to the Happy Monday System, a set of modifications to Japanese law made in 1998 and 2001 that moved several public holidays to Mondays, creating three-day weekends for those with five-day workweeks.
Still, if you have the time, you should celebrate Sports Day as it was intended, by focusing on sport, health, and well-being! Read on to learn all you need to know about Sports Day, what it’s about, and some fun activities you can try!
When is Sports Day in Japan?
Sports Day (体育の日, Taiiku no Hi) in Japan is always held on the second Monday of October. This national holiday takes place just a few weeks after Respect for the Aged Day, which is held on the third Monday of September.
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | October 13 |
| 2026 | October 12 |
| 2027 | October 11 |
| 2028 | October 9 |
| 2029 | October 8 |
| 2030 | October 14 |
| 2031 | October 13 |
| 2032 | October 11 |
| 2033 | October 10 |
| 2034 | October 9 |
| 2035 | October 8 |
History of Sports Day in Japan
As mentioned, Sports Day in Japan was launched in 1966 following the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. But what exactly prompted the government to dedicate an entire day to the health of its people?
Sports Day was first actually called Health and Sports Day, held on October 10, 1966, two years after the Summer Olympics.
Why October? Isn’t Sports Day usually associated with summer? The reason goes back to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which were held unusually late in the year, in October, because of the weather. Tokyo’s summers are hot, humid, and often rainy, while spring weather can be unpredictable. Early autumn also falls during typhoon season, bringing heavy rain and storms.
To find the best time for outdoor events, the organizers consulted meteorologists. They recommended mid-October, when typhoons have usually passed and the skies are clear and sunny. Following this advice, the Games were scheduled later than a typical Summer Olympics.
Ever since, Health and Sports Day has been considered one of the fairest and most pleasant days of the year. Most communities and schools across Japan celebrate Sports Day with a sports festival that resembles a mini Olympics, complete with races, team games, and group activities. The first Sports Day in Japan is believed to have originated from a sports meet organized by French residents living in Yokohama.
Beginning in 2020, Health and Sports Day was permanently renamed Sports Day. The word “sports” encompasses more than just physical education and highlights having fun voluntarily.
How is Health and Sports Day Celebrated?
Staying true to the Olympic spirit, Sports and Health Day is not only about fitness, but also about connecting with others to have fun. It follows that perhaps the best way to mark this day is with a field day, known in Japanese as undoukai (運動会).
Each undoukai has a unique sports schedule, from track-and-field events to tug-of-war and even piggy-back battles (kiba-sen)! The day usually kicks off before 9 am by playing the kimigayo (national anthem) while the teams take part in a parade.
During this holiday, students are usually divided into two teams, often a red team and a white team. In school, Sports Day focuses less on competition and more on teamwork and cooperation, encouraging students to support and work together with their classmates. In fact, these events typically don’t involve trophies or awards! Some companies also host undoukai, which becomes a great team-bonding activity.
Afterwards, everyone contributes to the rajio taiso (warm-up exercises) until the competitions begin. And for those wanting more than winner’s glory, winning teams are also rewarded with prizes, although these are usually practical household goods, not gold medals!
Besides that, local neighborhoods also host small-to large-scale festivals, where they parade with performances by local marching bands. There is always a pattern: after that, they play the national anthem and raise the Japanese flag before the sports game begins.
Popular Undokai Activities
Many of the games and sports events held on Sports Day are quite universal, such as relay races and tug of war, though some schools add their own unique twists. Japanese students often take the day very seriously. Most schools divide students into several teams to compete for points in various games and athletic events.
Fair warning: Japanese students take their games seriously. Children may begin practicing for Sports Day as early as a month in advance. Here are some of the popular games that Japanese students play during undōkai (Sports Day):
1. Giant ball roll
In this game, players form a circle and roll a giant ball over their heads, passing it from person to person. The trick is that everyone must move together as a team. If the ball drops, the team has to return it to the spot where it fell and start again. Because students rarely get to practice together, the ball often veers in unexpected directions, making it a real challenge to reach the finish line.
2. Beanbag toss
Each team tries to throw small beanbags into a basket set high above their heads. The team with the most beanbags in the basket at the end wins. Even though the goal seems simple, younger students sometimes struggle when their throws fall short, adding both excitement and a bit of frustration to the game.
3. Scavenger hunt
In the Scavenger Hunt, players have to pick out a card, find the item written on the card and bring the item to the finish line. Words like “handkerchief” and “pen” on some cards may be easy-to-get items because the players can borrow them from anyone, but other words like “cat” and “your friend’s mother” may be things that are tricky to find.
4. Relay
Teams compete in a series of short sprints, passing a baton from one runner to the next. Coordination and timing are crucial, as a fumbled handoff can cost the team the lead.
5. Tug of war
Two teams pull on opposite ends of a rope, trying to drag the other team across a designated line. Strength, teamwork, and strategy all come into play,
What Does It Mean to Be “Healthy”?
Perhaps one of the best descriptions comes from the World Health Organization (WHO), which hasn’t altered its definition of health since 1948: “Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
According to a recent study, due to balanced diets and active lifestyles, Japan is the seventh healthiest country in the world. However, this ranking is based upon quantitative factors such as life expectancy and mortality risks, not more subjective factors such as happiness or mental health. Although even when it comes to happiness, Japan comes in the top third of countries, albeit in 51st place. So, can we use sports to stay healthy? If so, how?
How Sports Contribute to Health
In addition to the more obvious physical benefits, sport helps us to relieve stress, boost our mood, and can even provide us with a sense of “flow” – believed by some psychologists to be one of the greatest contributors to happiness. Although we probably can’t cater to our every health need with sports, they are probably a good place to start!
How to Commemorate Sports and Health Day
- Take care of yourself. As the WHO describes through their definition of health, mental and social well-being are fundamental aspects too. Why not go for a walk to reflect upon all areas of your health? Identify which areas of your health you may be neglecting and how you can start to make them a priority.
- Spend your day at an undoukai. It’s a good chance to practice your Japanese!
- Host your own undoukai. If there aren’t any community undoukai available to you, invite your friends together to host your own. Most events can probably be done using things from around the house!
- Get active. Head to your local park for a run, meet your friends for a bike ride or attend an exercise class.
- Just relax. If all of the ideas above are unrealistic, just do something that makes you feel good!
Conclusion
If you want to fully participate in Japan’s Sports Day and immerse yourself in fun, cultural activities, learning Japanese is the first step. Why not learn to speak Japanese confidently at Coto Academy, Tokyo’s number one Japanese language school? ou can build the skills to join in, understand the rules, cheer with friends, and truly experience the excitement of events like undōkai while improving your language at the same time.
Why join Coto Academy?
- Small classrooms with only up to 8 students for personalized support
- Professional native Japanese teachers, all trained to help you succeed
- Over 60 different Japanese classes across 18 levels, tailored to your needs
- A fully online Japanese language school so that you can learn anywhere, anytime!
Ready to start your learning journey?
FAQ
What is Sports Day in Japan?
Sports Day (Taiiku no Hi) is a national holiday in Japan dedicated to promoting health, fitness, and teamwork. It features school and community sports festivals with activities like relay races, tug-of-war, and group gymnastics.
When is Sports Day celebrated?
Sports Day is held on the second Monday of October each year, creating a long weekend for many workers and students.
Why is Sports Day celebrated in October, not July or August?
The date traces back to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, which were held in October to avoid the hot, humid summer weather and the spring rainy season. Meteorologists recommended mid-October for clear skies and comfortable conditions for outdoor events.
How does Sports Day connect to Japanese culture?
Sports Day emphasizes teamwork, cooperation, and community spirit, reflecting broader Japanese social values. Participating in these events is also a great way to practice Japanese language skills and experience local culture firsthand.
Visiting Japan this autumn? You might be interested in reading: