By Yuji Kondo

8:00 JST, May 24, 2025

The Japan Sport Association (JSPO) convened an expert panel to discuss the future of the Japan Games, the country’s largest sports event, and to compile a set of proposals aimed at ensuring its long-term sustainability. These proposals advocate structural reforms to enhance the event’s national profile and prioritize the revitalization of host cities, with a newly formed organization overseen by the JSPO at the heart of these efforts.

A key feature of the proposals is the strong recommendation that the JSPO recognize the discretion of local governments. The proposals seek to enable flexible operations and cost reductions tailored to the circumstances of host cities, with options including: (1) relaxing standards for sports facilities to reduce construction costs, (2) spreading out the timing of events by sport to make it easier for top athletes to participate, (3) allowing multiple prefectures to host events (with some sports considering permanent venues), (4) simplifying opening and closing ceremonies, including the possibility of using indoor venues, and (5) reviewing the number of participants and events in consideration of the host municipalities’ preferences.

All of these measures aim to reduce the burden on host municipalities. The proposals also urge the establishment of a new organization to oversee the operation of the Games, with the aim of passing on operational expertise.

The Japan Games began in 1946 as a prefectural team event and have grown into a large-scale annual event, with approximately 27,000 participants competing in 40 sports during the autumn and winter events. The autumn main event rotates among........

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