Totalitarian Sports Instruction in Japan

Abstract

This study examines the issues surrounding totalitarian sports instruction with reference to an unfortunate incident involving American football in Japan. Violence and corporal punishment are part of physical education and sports in Japan. Consequently, there have been calls for more democratic governance in sports, mainly from educational institutions and academic societies. However, the dictatorship reminiscent of totalitarianism still remains. In May 2018, it was suspected that a foul committed by a player during a university American football game could have been due to the coach’s instructions. A video footage and an interview survey confirmed this suspicion. The final report of a committee lawyer revealed that the coach had subjected the player to a dictatorship. This incident falls into the phenomenon of totalitarianism, as it involves the denial of individual autonomy. Totalitarian sports instruction refers to instruction that disregards player autonomy and fair play, and dominates the player while prioritizing victory. The formative process of totalitarianism is based on the thought of philosopher Hannah Arendt, who presented totalitarianism as a movement that can occur anywhere. Arendt’s examination of the “thoughtlessness” caused by totalitarianism had a direct influence on the theories about the subject. In conclusion, totalitarian sports instruction by a thoughtless coach can lead to cruel consequences that deprive human ability and potential. Particularly when totalitarian dominance is widespread in sports, players are unable to make fair judgments. Therefore, in physical education and sports, it is necessary to deepen the discussion on totalitarian instruction.