ABSTRACT
The core of the Japanese sport system is the Japanese Amateur Sports Association (JASA), a non-governmental organisation. JASA was established when Japan took part in the 1912 Olympics for the purpose of promoting national sports and to raise international competitive ability. Its current activities include responsibility for staging the national athletics meeting (since 1946), the biggest competitive event in the country, and training sports coaches, promoting sports clubs and conducting sports programmes, etc. JASA is, in conjunction with the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC), also responsible for the selection and development of athletes for international competition. Government departments such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology support these activities as public benefits, and the JOC grants a subsidy to the JASA.
