A History of the Junior High School Sports Federation in Japan, 1947-1967: Toward a Reexamination of the Relationship Between Education and Competition in School Sports*

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe the history of the Junior High School Sports Federation (JHSSF) based on reexamination of the relationship between education and competition in school sports. Previous studies have maintained that there was a conflict between education and competition in school sports, and that the potential educational effects of sports were impeded by its competitive focus. However, it is assumed that the JHSSF held competitions like athletic meets under the guise of educational activity. To fully understand the historical development of school sports we should instead reexamine whether the educational aspect of school sports is actually combined with its competitive one. This reorientation of perspective would then allow for new research questions, such as how the JHSSF was formed and developed, and how and why it combined education and competition in school sports. The present study attempts to answer these questions, which previous studies have not, by analyzing documents gathered from official annual reports of the JHSSF. The study produced a number of findings. Beginning in 1947 with the establishment of the postwar junior high school system, the JHSSF first developed at the prefectural level. Initially the association was formed by physical education teachers under the influence of the Ministry of Education, while also accepting the assistance of the junior high school principals’ association, boards of education and sports federations. In 1955, the national level of the JHSSF was initially formed in order to control the junior high school sports and as a counter organization to sports federations. Crucially, the JHSSF differed from sports federations in that it was specifically driven by educational ideals. Yet, even with such an organization principle, it encouraged sports and even athletic meets under the name of educational activities. At that time, some prefectures did not have local JHSSF branches; however, by 1967 all prefectures had designated branches and the association finally became a national organization. In conclusion, this study has clarified that the JHSSF had to compete against sports federations and thus included a system of competitions within the ethos of school sports. By continuing to combine education and competition in school sports, it was possible to utilize athletic meets for the realization educational ideals. The present findings suggest that there is the possibility of modifying the prior consensus that education is opposite to competition in school sports in Japan.