Abstract
This paper analyzed the partial sports participation of labors during the period of rapid economic growth in Japan (1955-1973). Company sports facilities played an important role in the involvement of workers in sports at that time. Referring to the research data by the Ministry of Labor, this paper revealed that size and job type accounted for differences in the construction of company sports facilities. Based on data from the Prime Minister’s Office, it also demonstrated that employees who worked in small and medium-sized businesses, independent businessmen, and family workers did not fully participate in sports.
This paper raised two viewpoints to explain this problem, the “social welfare model” and the “leisure choice model.” The former perspective regards the disparities in sports participation and company sports facilities as a big problem and explains why such problems occurred. Referring to research on a company-centered society, it clarifies why Japanese society built a unique social welfare structure.
The latter viewpoint does not evaluate such inequalities as serious problem. It explains why some workers did not choose sports activities during their leisure times. It analyzes working hours, labor intensity, and the leisure choices.
