抄録
The purpose of this study was to clarify what kind of roles and activities the association of sporting-goods distributors have conducted in postwar Japan. This study was based largely on articles of the 'Nihon Undogu Shinpo (1948-1956)', which is a sporting-goods trade newspaper. The 'Nihon Undoyogu Oroshi Shougyoukai', the national association of sporting-goods distributors, was established in 1948. This association took over the functions of the 'Nihon Taiikuyohin Haikyu Kabushikigaisha', which was established in 1943 when the material allocation and distributive route was controlled by the government, owing to the war. After the end of World WarII, Japan's government had to operate a controlled economy because of the lack of materials. Many sporting-goods became controlled commodities. The dominant role of the 'Nihon Undoyogu Oroshi Shougyoukai' was to increase the efficiency of the sporting-goods allowance. The 'Nihon Undoyogu Oroshi Shougyoukai' undertook four active roles. (1) They started a movement to remove the controls. They called for decontrol of sporting-goods and reduction and exemption of taxes. As a result, their demand came true by degrees since 1949. (2) They organized commodity fairs and the merchandise fairs for sporting-goods since 1950. These fairs increased in size and were popular every year, and it turned out that industry-wide profits rose on a grand scale. (3) They embarked on enterprise that exported a variety of sporting-goods. In 1956, distributors of sporting-goods set up the organization, the 'Nippon Yushutu Undoyohin Kyoudoukumiai', for new market exploration in foreign countries and the quality control of exported sporting-goods. (4) They attempted to preserve the order which was absolutely necessary for the mutual harmony and benefit of the manufacturers, the retail distributors and the distributors.
