Japan Sports Agency survey finds sports club membership impacts physical strength

A fiscal 2025 survey by the Japan Sports Agency has found that affiliation with school or community sports clubs significantly influences physical strength. The data indicates a widening gap in total physical strength scores between club members and nonmembers across all examined age categories and genders.

This trend is most pronounced among younger generations. For instance, the gap for 19-year-old men increased from 6.29 points in fiscal 2001 to 8.45 points in fiscal 2025, driven by rising scores among club members and declining scores among nonmembers. Additionally, the survey noted a marked decline in the physical strength of women in their 40s.

The study, which covered 60,213 participants aged 6 to 79, utilized various exercises such as grip strength and sit-ups to quantify results. In response to these findings, the agency intends to work on improving environments to help different age groups secure necessary physical exercise opportunities.