Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the physical activities of the Tokyo Factory Association, 1931-1940, which was the biggest association at that time. The results of this study are as follows:1) From September 1931 through 1937, the Tokyo Factory Association encouraged factory physical education for the purposes of promoting labor-capital cooperation, improving industrial efficiency, and promoting laborers' health. The activities of the association until 1937 consisted of training of the factory physical education leaders, popularizing factory gymnastics and folk dances by publishing brochures such as 'Factory Physical Education', giving lessons in physical education, lecturing on physical education, holding the Factory Physical Education Day and athletic meetings, and so on. Though free gymnastics was encouraged by the authorities and the association, athletic sports, martial arts, archery, sumo, baseball, and tennis were also activities practiced in those days. 2) From 1938 the activities began to change. In 1938 baseball matches and tennis tournaments that had been popular with laborers were suppressed. In 1940 the purpose of the factory physical education had a stronger nationalistic tendency of the day. Therefore, at the athletic meetings held in the same year, mass free gymnastics were encouraged and military sports were adopted.
