This study aims to clarify how women’s swimming became widespread at the dawn of women’s sports in Japan, by focusing on the systematization of women’s swimming. When the constitution of the Japan Amateur Swimming Federation (JASF) was revised in 1932, a women’s committee was established, while the Japan Women’s Amateur Swimming Federation (JWASF) was already in existence. Establishment of the Women’s Committee in the JASF was intended to integrate swimming organizations for men and women. The primary historical materials used for this investigation were the periodicals ‘Swimming’ (1930-1939) and ‘Swimming Regulations’ (1925-1939), both published by the JASF. The following three issues are examined: 1) The position of women’s swimming in the JASF from the perspective of its constitution. 2) The background to establishment of the Women’s Committee in the JASF. 3) The changes resulting from establishment of the Women’s Committee. The results of this paper are summarized as follows: The JWASF, which was managed by former female athletes and its members played a significant role in the process of organizing women’s swimming in Japan. When the JWASF was established, the JASF already had the rights to dispatch delegates and to recognize official records of female athletes． After 1932, the JASF changed its working policy to promote swimming by men and women of all ages nationwide. Following this policy, the Women’s Committee in JASF was established. The members of the Women’s Committee were all women. The JASF made a commitment to improve female athletes’ performance and promote women’s swimming. The JASF held competitions, training camps, and training sessions under the leadership of former female athletes. The establishment of the Women’s Committee gave many women the opportunity to serve as organizers and coaches. This study shows that the systematization of women’s swimming in Japan was led by former female athletes.
