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Tatsuya Yamaguchi,1– 3 Akari Kitahara,1,4 Kazuki Sato,1 Masaru Mimura3,5 1Institute for Integrated Sports Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan; 2Department of Sports Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 4Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan; 5Center for Preventive Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, JapanCorrespondence: Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Email t.yamaguchi.cm@juntendo.ac.jpPurpose: To investigate the differences in characteristics between Japanese athletes who visited mental health outpatient clinics before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.Patients and Methods: Athletes who visited various healthcare facilities between 2018 and 2022 were considered. The independent variable was the timing of outpatient mental health clinic visits—either before or after COVID-19. The primary outcome was the F classification based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision. We collected data on clinical psychiatric diagnoses, age, sex, referral pathway, and sports-related information such as the type of sport, level of contact, individual/team sport, involvement duration, and athletic competition level. Between-group comparisons were performed among the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups using the t-test, Mann–Whitney test, and chi-square test.Results: Eighty-six athletes (37 before COVID-19 and 49 after COVID-19) were deemed eligible for the study. No significant differences were detected between the pre- and post-COVID-19 groups. However, subgroup analyses revealed a significant increase in anxiety-related disorders among female athletes and in participation in individual sports among male athletes in the post-COVID-19 group compared with the pre-COVID-19 group.Conclusion: The increased anxiety among female athletes and the increased participation in individual sports among male athletes suggest that these groups should be a high-priority target for early intervention and prevention strategies. This study contributes to our understanding of how COVID-19 has affected the mental health of athletes seeking medical treatment in Japan, and it highlights which segments of the Japanese athlete population may be more vulnerable to mental health issues in the post-COVID-19 era. Although the sample size is small, this study also provides valuable insights for practitioners on how to target specific segments of the athlete population for the implementation of interventions aimed at mitigating the development of mental health issues after COVID-19.Keywords: Japanese athletes, mental health problems, medical facilities, individual sports, female athletes, anxiety

The advocacy of celebrity athletes plays an important role in motivating people to engage in racial issues. However, little empirical research has explored the types of issue involvement that are motivated by athlete racial advocacy. This study investigates the relationship between exposure to athlete racial advocacy and issue involvement in the Japanese context. Data were collected from 2,700 Japanese respondents using an internet-based survey in January 2021. The results show that exposure to athlete racial advocacy is positively associated with the following types of public issue involvement: 'awareness,' 'concern,' 'knowledge,' and 'information-seeking.' However, the exposure has no significant effect on 'talk frequency.' The results suggest that athlete advocacy can motivate limited types of public involvement in racial issues. Our findings help athlete advocates, sport actors, and non-profit marketers to develop strategies on ways to respond to advocacy and facilitate further social change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anemia is a common condition in long-distance runners (LDRs). Recently, not only iron deficiency (ID) but also energy deficiency has been considered as a risk factor for anemia in athletes but no evidence has yet been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anemia and ID and the influence of body mass index (BMI) on anemia in high-school LDRs. The participants were 406 male and 235 female elite Japanese LDRs who competed in the All-Japan High-School Ekiden Championship 2019. They submitted their anthropometric data and results of a blood test within five days after the competition. The prevalence of anemia and ID and the influence of BMI on anemia were assessed retrospectively. Mean hemoglobin concentrations (Hb) were 14.8 ± 0.9 g/dl in males and 13.2 ± 0.9 g/dl in females. The prevalence of anemia (Hb < 14 g/dl in males and < 12 g/dl in females) was significantly higher in males (16.3%) than females (6.4%), but males also showed higher prevalence of non-iron deficiency anemia (NIDA) than females (11.6% and 3.0%, respectively). No significant gender difference was found in the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) (4.7% in males and 3.4% in females). ID (serum ferritin level < 25 ng/ml) was significantly more prevalent in females (37.4%) than males (18.5%). A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that low BMI was a contributor to anemia in females (odds ratios: 0.577 (95% CI: 0.369–0.901), p = 0.012). In Japanese high-school LDRs, one in six males was anemic, but most males did not have ID. Conversely, one-third of females were diagnosed with ID. Lower BMI was identified as a risk for anemia in females, suggesting that leanness may also lead to anemia in females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract:Objectives: This study aimed to analyze Japanese youth athletes' mental health and resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the potential correlations between their demographic factors and mental health outcomes. Methods: Participants were recruited from a single high school with a student population encompassing national-level competitors (NCs), local-level competitors (LCs), and general students (i.e., others; OTs), aiming to reduce the impact of differences in environmental conditions affecting pandemic-related stress. In March 2021, the students completed an anonymous online survey comprising questions on demographics and COVID-19, as well as the following scales: Kessler 6 (K6), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), and the Resilience Scale. Differences and correlations among these groups' scores were analyzed while controlling for covariates. Results: Of 1,022 students (51.3% girls), 22.3% were NCs, 38.6% were LCs, and 39.0% were OTs. NCs reported significantly lower scores on the K6, PHQ-9, and GAD-7, as well as significantly higher resilience scores, compared with LCs and OTs. Resilience scores had a significantly negative correlation with the K6, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 scores. Female gender, participation in cultural clubs, and indoor sports were factors associated with scores above the cut-off on each scale. COVID-19 testing, history of illness, and family history were not associated with any of the psychological evaluation measures. Conclusion: Based on responses to the self-reported questionnaires, NCs appear to have better mental health than their peers, while resilience has a potential association with improved mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calling on several disciplines from cultural history to media studies and gender studies, this paper analyses the representation of race, gender and culture in Japanese sports manga Kuroko no Basuke: Extra Game. First, it deconstructs the politics of sports manga and its representation of foreign athletes, as it allows Japanese mangakas to portray Japan as a rising cultural and athletic superpower. Then, it focuses on Kuroko no Basuke: Extra Game, in order to study the visual and textual representation of both American and Japanese athletes through the prism of race, gender and culture. Indeed, it draws a sharp contrast between American and Japanese masculinities. Also, it relays a deeply-stereotyped version of the myth of the Black Athlete. Last, this study focuses on the (soft) power of this cultural artefact, the duel of ethos which is relayed through it, and the signifying representation of bodies and emotions. In a nutshell, this work deconstructs Japanese sports mangas and their political dimension to assess the part played by these global cultural artefacts in shaping collective imaginations from Japan to France, via the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between the individual characteristics of athletes and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on their daily lives and athletic activities. Participants were 476 Japanese athletes (250 males and 226 females; mean age = 28.39 ± 6.53 years) registered as respondents at an Internet research company and who met the athletic-related inclusion criteria. The investigation took place from the 6th-13th April 2020, just before the Japanese government declared a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants answered questions related to socio-demographic variables, the impact of COVID-19 on daily life and athletic activities and completed the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. The results showed that the emergency declaration area, marital status, and gender were directly related to annual income, and that they indirectly influenced the impact of COVID-19 on athletes' daily lives and athletic activities through annual income. Additionally, although a state of emergency being declared in the region impacted the daily lives of all participants and their athletic activities, unmarried and female athletes with low incomes were among the most affected by COVID-19-related measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aimed to identify sports injury surveillance systems (ISSs) and injury surveillance guidelines (ISGs) developed and currently used in Japan. Additionally, the extent to which ISSs and ISGs developed overseas are employed in Japan was also examined. A systematic search of electronic databases was performed in March 2021. Prospective studies that investigated sports injuries and targeted Japanese athletes or sports in Japan were included to identify the following: (1) details of the ISSs or ISGs developed among sports in Japan, and (2) characteristics of studies focusing on sports in Japan employing ISSs or ISGs developed overseas and the method of use. A total of five ISSs developed among sports in Japan were included, most of which were based on insurance benefits or condolence payment systems. In total, 23 studies used ISSs or ISGs developed overseas, more than half of which were used as a resource for the development of other data collection tools or methods, indicating that the definition of injury and/or classification of items are modified based on the needs among sports in Japan. This review highlights the necessity of establishing club-based or organisational ISSs and ISGs that are appropriate for sports in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the direction of arm swing in world-class sprinters and compare it with a previous study done by Hiruma and Kariyama (2019) to provide source material to investigate the best arm swing movements for the future. Fifty-five world-class sprinters (26 males and 29 females) were studied using the observational evaluation method. Taking as a reference a previous study based on the analysis of videos available (Slawinski et al., 2017), in this study, the data were collected from the video-sharing service 'YouTube' provided by Google LLC. Based on the videos collected, five observers--one college and four junior high school track and field coaches, all with more than eight years of experience--observed the direction of the arm swinging motion around the maximum speed phase and rated it as either "longitudinal direction (Type 1)," "Neither longitudinal direction nor lateral direction or cannot be determined (Type 2)," or 'lateral direction (Type 3)." The results showed that the percentage of Type 1 was significantly greater than Types 2 and 3 for both males and females. This result differs from previous studies on Japanese athletes which showed that females, unlike males, were more likely to have types 2 and 3 arm swing movement. This means that there is a difference in arm swing direction between world-class female sprinters and Japanese female sprinters. Therefore, we suggest that Japanese female sprinters should to aim for a longitudinal arm swing to enhance their performance at the world level. However, it was not possible to clarify the reason for the difference in the direction of arm swing between female world-class sprinters and Japanese female sprinters. Therefore, mechanistic verification of why Types 2 and 3 are so common in Japanese female athletes could potentially provide insights to assist domestic female sprinters in approaching world level status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background While scientific evidence supports the efficacy of only limited nutritional supplements (NS) on sports performance, the use of NS is widespread in athletes. Given the serious issues of health damage or unintended Anti-Doping Rule Violations due to ingestion of contaminated NS in sports, accurately understanding NS practices by athletes is crucial. This study therefore elucidated the use of NS by elite Japanese track and field (TF) athletes. Methods The subjects were 574 Japanese TF athletes, including 275 junior athletes (under 20 years) and 299 senior athletes, who participated in international competitions from 2013 to 2018. Data on NS use were collected through pre-participation medical forms obtained from all entrants before their participation in competitions. NS users were requested to report the product names and primary components of all NS they were taking. Results The overall prevalence of NS use was 63.9%. The mean number of NS products used per athlete was 1.4. The prevalence was significantly higher in women (69.2%) than in men (59.6%) (p = 0.018) and significantly higher in senior athletes (68.9%) than in junior athletes (58.9%) (p = 0.012). The prevalence of NS use was higher in long-distance runners (75.8%) and lower in jumpers (52.3%) and throwers (49.2%) than other disciplines (p

Background: While scientific evidence supports the efficacy of only limited nutritional supplements (NS) on sports performance, the use of NS is widespread in athletes. Given the serious issues of health damage or unintended Anti-Doping Rule Violations due to ingestion of contaminated NS in sports, accurately understanding NS practices by athletes is crucial. This study therefore elucidated the use of NS by elite Japanese track and field (TF) athletes. Methods: The subjects were 574 Japanese TF athletes, including 275 junior athletes (under 20 years) and 299 senior athletes, who participated in international competitions from 2013 to 2018. Data on NS use were collected through pre-participation medical forms obtained from all entrants before their participation in competitions. NS users were requested to report the product names and primary components of all NS they were taking. Results: The overall prevalence of NS use was 63.9%. The mean number of NS products used per athlete was 1.4. The prevalence was significantly higher in women (69.2%) than in men (59.6%) (p = 0.018) and significantly higher in senior athletes (68.9%) than in junior athletes (58.9%) (p = 0.012). The prevalence of NS use was higher in long-distance runners (75.8%) and lower in jumpers (52.3%) and throwers (49.2%) than other disciplines (p < 0.001). The most prevalent components were amino acids (49.3%), followed by vitamins (48.3%), minerals (22.8%), and protein (17.8%). Conclusions: Approximately two-thirds of elite Japanese TF athletes reported the use of NS, and NS practices varied by gender, age, and discipline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study explored the differences between Japanese (n = 115) and Canadian (n = 100) university level male athletes in their leader behavior preferences, their perceptions of leader behaviors, their satisfactions with leadership and personal outcome, and the relationships between leader behaviors and satisfactions. The results of MANOVA showed that (a) the Japanese athletes preferred more autocratic behavior and social support while the Canadian athletes preferred significantly more training and instruction; (b) the Japanese athletes perceived higher levels of autocratic behavior while the Canadian athletes perceived higher levels of training and instruction, democratic behavior, and positive feedback; and (c) the Canadian athletes expressed significantly more satisfaction with both leadership and personal outcome than the Japanese athletes. The results of the correlational and multiple regression analyses showed similarities as well as dissimilarities in the manner in which perceived leader behaviors were associated with the satisfaction measures in the two groups. Overall, the results of the study were more supportive of the cultural-influence hypothesis than of the athletic-imperatives hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2005, Football Federation Australia (FFA) launched its latest attempt to create a professional men's soccer football league in Australia, the A-League. The new competition aimed to distance itself from the old National Soccer League, which was based around ethnically affiliated clubs and in doing so appeal to a bigger, more mainstream, market. The formation of the A-League also coincided with Australia's alignment with the Asian Football Confederation for World Cup qualification and related championship play. Ambitious thinkers within FFA envisaged soccer football providing a vehicle to facilitate economic, cultural and political linkages into Asia in what has been termed the 'Asian Century'. However, while teams boosted their rosters with international players, there was a noticeable lack of players from Asia. In this paper we focus on Japanese international Shinji Ono, a marquee signing for the Western Sydney Wanderers (WSW) in 2012, who arguably became the first 'Asian' sporting celebrity in Australia. Hs impact on the A-League is considered both for fans of the WSW and in the marketing of the league more generally. Affectionately known as tensai (genius), Ono embodied characteristics that marked him as uniquely Japanese and captured the imagination of Australian football fans as few other players have. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the relation between grit, competitive levels, and athletic events in Japanese athletes (N = 496, 428 men; mean age = 20.6 years, SD = 0.6). The results indicated that consistency of interest was marginally positively associated with competitive levels in closed-skills sports, but a negative association existed between the two in open-skills sports. In contrast, the interaction of athletic events and perseverance of effort were not significantly associated with competitive levels. These findings suggest that the combination of grit and participation in athletic events has a different relation to competitive levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to analyse the Japanese National Women's Volleyball Team and to identify items differentiating it from other teams. All fifteen matches between the six National Teams (i.e., Japan, Brazil, China, Belgium, Turkey and Russia) competing at the Women's Volleyball World Grand Prix Finals of 2014 were analyzed, in a total of 56 sets and 7,176 situations of ball possession. Data suggested the existence of differences between Japan's and the other five teams' gameplay, namely the likelihood of more gameplay with utilization of the float jump serve (20.42; ± 3.79%, very large magnitude) and attack tempo 2 (61.89; ± 29.67%, large magnitude), while exhibiting less gameplay with zero blockers opposing the attack (-42.06; ± 21.28%, large magnitude). Based on these findings, it was concluded that sports success could be achieved even when a core feature of mainstream performance models (e.g., height in volleyball) was lacking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between athletic identity and the two dimension of sport commitment: enthusiastic commitment and constrained commitment. Approach: The participants were 838 Japanese collegiate athletes (females: 123, males: 715). All participants currently play competitive sport at the varsity or intramural level; their mean age was 19.15 years (SD ± 1.10). Results: The results of this study indicated that athletic identity positively affected both enthusiastic commitment and constrained commitment, the former more strongly. Conclusions: This study finds the causal relationships between athletic identity and the two dimensions of sport commitment in Japanese collegiate athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three facets of self-presentation were examined for 179 intercollegiate soccer players in Canada, Germany, and Japan. Participants completed the brief Fear of Negative Evaluation scale (FNE) and listed their sport-specific self-presentational concerns plus the target people of those concerns. Independent samplesttests and post-hoc Tukey analyses of FNE scores revealed that evaluative fear was significantly higher for the Japanese players than for the Western participants. In addition, content analysis indicated that all three cohorts’ thoughts were both performance- and behaviour-focused, but more team-oriented than individual. Interestingly, however, the highest scoring category in Canada and Germany was that players had no specific concerns/that impressions did not matter; no such response was given in Japan. All of the players listed teammates and both knowledgeable and less knowledgeable spectators as target people, but the Japanese targets differed in that there was greater emphasis on in-groups. The results suggest that positive social evaluation carries considerable weight in Japanese sport, due in part to collectivistic values and the threat of losing “face”. Coaches can reduce evaluative concern in Japan by reframing appropriate behaviours for sport versus those for social contexts. In Western nations, a Japanese-like emphasis on in-groups could lessen some of the pressures that stem from external sources. Follow-up study should examine how evaluative concern affects anxiety and performance quality in non-Western samples, as there are indications that self-presentational thinking may serve an adaptive function in Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The purpose of this study was to develop a Japanese version of the enthusiastic and constrained sport commitment scale originally developed by Scanlan et al. (2016), and to investigate the relationship between actual behavior and the two types of commitment. The participants were 587 male Japanese collegiate athletes. The scale was translated into Japanese using the back translation method, and its reliability and validity were examined. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to analyze scale items, and 2 factors (6 items for enthusiastic commitment, 5 items for constrained commitment) were extracted. In addition, reliability and factorial validity were confirmed by Cronbach's alpha and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). Construct validity was also confirmed in this study. The results suggested that the Japanese version of the enthusiastic and constrained sport commitment scale has sufficient validity and reliability. In addition, the result of examining the relationship between the two types of sport commitment and actual sport participation behavior showed that both enthusiastic commitment and constrained commitment were positively associated with actual behavior, and enthusiastic commitment affected actual behavior more strongly than constrained commitment. In conclusion, the constructed scale was judged to be suitable for measuring the two types of sport commitment in Japanese athletes; the two types indicated differences in effectiveness for actual sport participation behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Asthma in athlete populations such as Olympic athletes has various pathogeneses. However, few reports are available on the features of asthma in the athlete population in clinical practice. In this study, we focused on classifying asthma in Japanese athlete population. Methods We performed a cluster analysis of data from pulmonary function tests and clinical biomarkers before administering inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy in athlete population of individuals diagnosed with asthma (n = 104; male, 76.9%; median age, 16.0 years), based on respiratory symptoms and positive data on methacholine provocation tests. We also compared backgrounds, sports types, and treatments between clusters. Results Three clusters were identified. Cluster 1 (32%) comprised athletes with a less atopic phenotype and normal pulmonary function. Cluster 2 (44%) comprised athletes with a less atopic phenotype and lower percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV 1 ) values, despite less symptomatic state. Cluster 3 (24%) comprised athletes with a strong atopic phenotype such as high eosinophil count in the blood and total serum immunoglobulin E level. After treatment with ICS or ICS plus long-acting β-adrenergic receptor agonist for 6–12 months, %FEV 1 values were significantly improved in Cluster 2 athletes, whereas Cluster 3 athletes had a significant decrease in the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide compared to pretreatment values. Conclusions These data suggest three clusters exist in Japanese athlete population with asthma. Between the clusters, the characteristics differed with regard to symptoms, atopic features, and lower %FEV 1 values. The pathogeneses between clusters may vary depending on the inflammation type and airway hyperresponsiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship among personality traits, day-to-day resilience, and athletes' resilience among Japanese athletes. Participants, comprising 165 Japanese athletes (male=57, female=108, mean age=19.4 years, SD=1.2), were asked to complete a questionnaire. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that the personality traits of "Extroversion," "Agreeableness," "Conscientiousness," and "Openness" were significantly associated with athletes' resilience and related concepts such as "Athletic Mental Toughness," "Athletic Self-understanding," and "Athletic Physical Toughness," which develop through innate resilience. Their personality traits were also significantly associated with concepts such as "Athletic Motivation and Challenge" and "Athletic Self-understanding," which develop through acquired resilience. In addition, "Neuroticism" showed a significant negative association with athletes' resilience developed through innate resilience. The findings of our study support our hypothesis that the personality traits of athletes, owing to their resilience, may vary based on whether they are involved in day-to-day life situations or in competitive situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a known patho-mechanism that causes hip pain and osteoarthritis (OA) and is considered uncommon in Japan, while secondary OA due to hip dysplasia is considered common. However, no studies have specifically targeted athletes in Japan and/or Asia. This study aimed to determine FAI prevalence using radiological findings among baseball players playing on a professional, Japanese team.Methods: We retrospectively assessed 63 plain anteroposterior (AP) hip radiographs (126 hips from 47 [74.6%] Asian players and 16 [25.3%] non-Asian players) obtained for medical evaluations. Radiographs were used to measure lateral center-edge (LCE) angle; acetabular roof obliquity (ARO); and the presence of crossover sign (COS), posterior wall sign (PWS), coxa profunda, pistol grip deformity, herniation pits, and labral ossification. Further, the prevalence of radiographic indicators related to FAI was compared between Asian and non-Asian players.Results: In the 126 hips examined, 10 hips (7.94%) were classified as having hip dysplasia (LCE angles < 20°). Of the remaining 116 hips, eight (6.9%) had LCE angles > 40°, and 24 hips (20.7%) had AROs of <0°, indicating acetabular over-coverage. In Asian players, COS was identified in 47 hips (54.0%), positive PWS in 38 hips (43.7%), positive coxa profunda in 8 hips (9.2%), and pistol grip deformity in 37 hips (42.5%). Further, herniation pits and positive labral ossification were identified in 25 (28.7%) and 11 (12.6%) hips, respectively. A comparative review of COS prevalence (Asians vs. non-Asians) revealed that COS was significantly higher in Asian players. No differences were observed in the mean LCE angle, mean ARO, or other radiographic indicators.Conclusions: Radiological indicators related to FAI were identified in 76.6% (72/94 hips) of the Asian professional baseball players; this prevalence was considerably higher than that reported for general Asian populations. We consider that elite Asian athletes may frequently show morphological deformities related to FAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few decades, there has been increased attention paid to psychological skills usage among high-level athletes. However, little is known about these skills in Japanese rugby players. Considering the significant role of practice in determining competition outcomes, a need exists to assess the usage of psychological skills in both practice and competition environments. The purpose of this study was to assess the usage of psychological skills by Japanese rugby players in both practice and competition. This study also aimed to test the ability of the Test of Performance Strategies (TOPS) to differentiate players of deferring competitive and experience levels. The TOPS was administered to 352 male rugby players, including 95 Top League and 257 university players. Discriminant function analysis demonstrated psychological skills were employed, in both practice and competition, used more frequently by Top League players than university players, and by more experienced versus less experienced players. The 16 subscales of the TOPS, with four exceptions, created an internally stable instrument with moderate predictive ability relative to performance level and competitive experience in this sample of Japanese rugby players. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background In Japan, although the incidence of overweight (BMI ≥ 25) is still low compared with that in Europe and the United States, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has increased over the last 15 years,. In both Japanese and Caucasian populations it has been reported that a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness protects against the development of type 2 diabetes. However, there are no reports focused specifically on athletes that investigate whether high cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age can prevent disease later in life. We examined the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age and the development of type 2 diabetes in Japanese athletes using a cohort study. Methods The cardiorespiratory fitness of male alumni of the physical education department of Juntendo University, as measured by stored data of a 1,500-m endurance run in college (1971-1991) was compared with their incidence of type 2 diabetes as determined by follow-up questionnaires (2007-2009). This study used Cox's proportional hazards models and adjusted for age, year of graduation, BMI, smoking, and sports club participation at college age. Results We collected data on cardiorespiratory fitness at college age and medical history survey data during 2007-2009 from 570 male alumni. The median follow-up period was 26 years (IQR: 23-29 years), and 22 men had developed type 2 diabetes. An inverse relationship was observed between incidence of type 2 diabetes and level of cardiorespiratory fitness at time of college after adjustment for age, year of graduation, BMI, smoking, and sports participation. The adjusted hazards ratio and 95% CI by category (low, medium, and high) were 1.00 (reference), 0.40 (0.14-1.13) and 0.26 (0.07-1.00) (p = 0.03 for trend). Conclusions A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness at a young age can help prevent type 2 diabetes later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to identify mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) polymorphisms and rare variants that associate with elite Japanese athletic status. Subjects comprised 185 elite Japanese athletes who had represented Japan at international competitions (that is, 100 endurance/middle-power athletes: EMA; 85 sprint/power athletes: SPA) and 672 Japanese controls (CON). The entire mtDNA sequences (16 569 bp) were analyzed by direct sequencing. Nucleotide variants were detected at 1488 sites in the 857 entire mtDNA sequences. A total of 311 variants were polymorphisms (minor allele frequency1% in CON), and the frequencies of these polymorphisms were compared among the three groups. The EMA displayed excess of seven polymorphisms, including subhaplogroup D4e2- and D4g-specific polymorphisms, compared with CON (P<0.05), whereas SPA displayed excess of three polymorphisms and dearth of nine polymorphisms, including haplogroup G- and subhaplogroup G2a-specific polymorphisms, compared with CON (P<0.05). The frequencies of 10 polymorphisms, including haplogroup G- and subhaplogroup G2a-specific polymorphisms, were different between EMA and SPA (P<0.05): although none of these polymorphisms differed significantly between groups after correcting for multiple comparison (false discovery rate q-value0.05). The number of rare variants in the 12S ribosomal RNA and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I genes were also higher in SPA than in CON (P<0.05). Analysis of the entire mtDNA of elite Japanese athletes revealed several haplogroup- and subhaplogroup-specific polymorphisms to be potentially associated with elite Japanese athletic status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern Japan has a long history of sports literature. After the successful diffusion of Western sport through the school system, sport literature became popular with the advent of mass culture in 1920s Japan. In order to encourage ‘proper’ moral associations to be made between Western sport and masculinity in Japanese youth, literature about sport was actively published by Japanese media and focused primarily on schoolboys. Serialised magazines stories and short novels focused on sports and athletes as the embodiment of vitality and values requisite of an expanding imperial nation. Athletes and various Western sports were glorified for Japanese youth and enabled a generation to deepen their appreciation of how hard work, industry and athletic masculinity could be trained through sport. With the sensational performance by Japanese Olympic athletes in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Games, Tanaka Hidemitsu wrote the short novel, Orinposu no kajitsu (‘The Fruits of Olympus’) which became an instant best-seller in inter-war Japan. Written during the escalated Japanese war efforts in China, however, the short story showcases an anti-hero in detailing the physical and psychological Olympic journey of Japanese athletes to America. More recently various supotsu manga (sport comics) have appeared that feature sport heroes. These visual narratives function as more popular forums of sport literature for contemporary Japanese youth. This essay will briefly outline the emergence of pre-war Japanese sport literature and post-war sports comics. The enduring relationships among moral instruction, sports heroes and the Japanese state will also preliminarily be explored in terms of how sports literature and comics glorify the idealised athletic sports hero who embodies values promoted by the Japanese state for Japanese youth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Anthropometric characteristics of elite Japanese athletes in various athletic events have not been documented well. We have conducted a medical check-up on more than 1000 athletes at the Japan Institute of Sports Sciences. Based on the results of these examinations, we evaluated the muscle tightness of the trunk and the lower limbs in 543 runners (390 males and 153 females) to investigate the effect of the running motion on muscle tightness. The runners had a significantly higher tightness score than any other athletes, especially in the hamstrings and gastrocnemius muscles. There were some differences in the distribution of muscle tightness between men and women. These findings seem to indicate that muscle tightness in the posterior muscles of the lower limbs is beneficial to propel athletes forward and that it reflects gender differences in the muscles that are mainly used in running. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reassesses the role of women in judo in Japan, from its secluded and restricted beginnings in the late nineteenth century to the gradual changes in gender and social paradigms triggered by the influence of Western feminist struggle from the 1960s onwards. Judo has been considered in theory an inclusive martial art because its creator, Jigoro Kano, stressed safety, etiquette and moral teachings irrespective of age, size or gender of its adherents. However, the social and cultural environment in Japan has traditionally discriminated against women both outside and inside the dojo (training place). We treat this issue historically, considering the broader context of the Japanese social, political and cultural developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During World War Two, 35 Japanese Olympic athletes, including seven medalists, died while serving as members of the Imperial military. This essay reconstructs the memorialization of several track-and-field athletes and traces how their military service was remembered and how it was linked during the war to their athletic performances. Just as government and private voices celebrated their athletic performances as heroic, their enlistment, service, and deaths were glorified as selfless acts for the nation. Memories of Japan's Olympic victories and wartime experiences continue to shape national memory, but they are often remembered as if they are entirely unrelated. This paper seeks to reconstruct representations of these athletes' sporting and martial deeds to show how they became tightly intertwined during the war and how they have been remembered and forgotten in the over six decades since the war ended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have been asked to provide a summarizing article on the role of sports in memorizing the Japanese nation. Each of the three dimensions of memory evoked and revealed in the studies that are contained in this issue demonstrate the promise of, and purchase that, a focus on sport and lieu de memoire provides to scholars of sport and Japanese society. We draw a tentative conclusion that the articles in this issue demonstrate that historical studies of sports can open a window onto the topology of Japanese symbolism. Amongst the questions we need to continue to ask are to what degree pre-modern societies have actually shared and nourished the 'living memory', the loss of which has been bemoaned by Nora. Also we must take issue with the notion of 'collective memory' as an absolute, all-encompassing, entity, since it is important to consider opportunities for the investigation of counter-memory and counter-memorialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will analyse the swimming events of the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics in the framework of collective memory. Olympic Games are memorable moments in the history of a nation. As moments they are a unit of time, but they are equally part of an Olympic as well as a national narrative sequence: Each Olympic Games continues the established rituals and symbolism of the Olympic Movement and each athletic event is firmly based in the history of prior athletic events. Performative practices are, in this sense, also commemorative practices that function as cues for collective memories. The memory of the 1932 swimming competitions thrives on the notion that Japan once has been a nation of extraordinary skilled and successful swimmers. I will show that the significance of the 1932 swimming competitions as lieu de memoire is not based on the invention of a tradition, but rather lies in them being a frame of reference to verify the invented past as present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess oxidative stress (OS) induced by endurance exercise, concentrations of serum reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined in 70 Japanese male amateur runners completing a two-day ultra-marathon race. Serum ROS levels were analyzed at three time points: before the race (baseline), after the 1st day race (mid-race), and after the 2nd day race (goal) (post-race). The means (SE) of ROS were 151.4(3.7) (U. CARR.), 168.7(4.4), and 156.8(4.4), respectively. Significant positive trends were noted between age and serum ROS concentrations at the three race points (p<0.05 for all). After adjusting for age, BMI and average monthly running distance, the baseline serum ROS concentrations were positively associated with completion times of the first-day race, in particular (p<0.05), suggesting that the concentrations may predict physical performance. The ROS production increased at mid-race (p<0.05), but the levels returned to baseline levels at post-race, indicating that an antioxidant defense system may develop post-race to reduce OS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the manner in which the Japanese colonial government influenced the development of baseball in Taiwan during the period from 1895 to 1945. The paper seeks to explain the role that baseball played in the divided society of this period. It argues that baseball was a political vehicle used by the Japanese colonial government to promote social integration and it evaluates the responses of the Taiwanese to baseball utilized for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern Japan has considered global sport an appropriate forum for not only defining the national cultural identity of Japan but also for conducting its international diplomacy. The recent phenomenon of Japanese baseball athletes ‘defecting’ from Japanese leagues to play for the American baseball leagues has often been described in political terms. This paper argues that the current trend of analysing Japanese nationals playing baseball in America in political terms can be historically contextualized by reviewing the bids by Japanese cities for the 1940, 1964, 1998 and 2016 Olympic Games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese athletes were very successful in the Athens Olympic Games in 2004. Contributing to their successes were the support system including medical, scientific, and nutritional management etc. During 2001 to 2004, I worked as one of the orthopedic medical staff of the JISS/Japan Institute of Sports and Sciences, Tokyo, Japan.), working onsite. In this paper, I introduce several actions and the utilization of our facility in this session. The support system for high and top level athletes was satisfactory. However, support for the general sporting public is insufficient. Orthopedists should work to promote and establish the role of sports specialists for the general sports public and the promotion of health in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26) and self-administered questionnaires were used to survey eating attitudes and menstrual irregularity of Japanese (J) and Chinese (C) collegiate female runners (RUNs), rhythmic gymnasts (RGYMs), gymnasts (GYMs), and nonathletic controls (NAs). Athletes were recruited from several outstanding colleges for physical education and sport in each country. The prevalence of disordered eating (DE) was significantly higher in Japanese athletes (21% in JRUNs. 19% in JRGYMs, and 15% in JGYMs) than Chinese athletes (4% in CRUNs, 2% in CRGYMs, and none in CGYMs). Also, the prevalence of amenorrhea was very low in CRUNs (1%), CRGYMs (0%). and CGYMs (0%), as compared with their respective Japanese counterparts (JRUNs 22%, JRGYMs 10%, JGYMs 8%). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of DE and amenorrhea between Japanese and Chinese NAs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis using 10 independent variables regarding anthropometrics, athletics, weight and diet concern, and nationality indicated that high frequency of dieting during a lifetime, high athletic level and being Japanese were significant risks for the development of DE in athletes. It is concluded that the low prevalence of DE in the Chinese in this study is partly explained by the lack of socioculturally- and socioeconomically-imposed desire to be thin as well as by the low frequency of dieting during their lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine body conditioning requirements during foreign expeditions with prolonged air travel, we investigated the changes in condition that accompany long flights among top Japanese athletes. Athletes from the Japanese delegation who participated in the 14th Asian Games (2002/Busan) were surveyed using a questionnaire on their foreign travel in 2002, regarding the experiences of change in their condition and the influence on performance in the competition, and activities performed in the air plane during the flight. We collected effective data from five hundred and twenty-nine (529)athletes. Countries most frequently visited were China, followed by France, the United States of America, Australia, and Canada. Two hundred and fifty (250)athletes experienced swelling of the crus and lower back and crus pain in the past. One hundred and forty-one athletes also noted deterioration in their condition due to prolonged travel. In forty-one (41)athletes, the deterioration of their condition influenced their performance in the competition. About three hundred and ninety (390)to four hundred (450)athletes did not organize the timing or content of breakfast, dinner or sleep in the days before travel or on the day of travel, in consideration of the time difference. The most frequently performed activities in the airplane were sleeping, reading books, listening to music, and watching movies. However, exercises such as stretching, massage, flexibility exercises, and easy training were less frequent. Many athletes drunk beverages such as tea, coffee, water, or alcohol, and took care over keeping their bodies warm and preventing dry nose and/or throat. As the drinks mentioned are diuretics thus causing dehydration, athletes should be advised to take isotonic drinks with minerals. These findings suggest that prolonged air travel that accompanies foreign expeditions influenced the condition of top Japanese athletes, which was related to performance in competitions. We concluded that fluid intake to prevent dehydration, gentle exercise to facilitate peripheral blood circulation, and attention to timing and volume of sleep and meals before and during travel were required to prevent condition deterioration in top Japanese athletes. Then, circadian rhythm disorder related to jet-lag characterized by fatigue, depression and sleep problems was discussed and resynchronization with the local time recommended. Consequently, subliminal problems during foreign travel were clarified to improve the conditioning of representative athletes. Coaches should educate athletes on the importance of conditioning during prolonged air travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine male Japanese lightweight national class rowers of 1999 (age 25 years : 21-32, height 181.7 cm : 176.7-187.7, weight 72.5 kg 70.2-75.5) participated in this study. Their percentage body fat measured by an underwater-weighing method was 10.6% (7.9-15.1). Using a rowing ergometer (Concept II, Model C), 2 different tests were performed : (1) 2,000 m rowing, modeled for the formal race, while measuring output power, heart rate and O2 consumption, (2) maximal rowing of several times over different distances to obtain the relationship between power and distance (or time) i.e., power-endurance curve. During the 2000-m all-out test, the maximal heart rate was 190 ± 10 beat min. maximal VO2 was 4.60 ± 0.27 1/min, average output power was 388 ± 14 watt. Values of average output power in the power-endurance trials were : 610 ± 49 watt (10 sec), 586 ± 28 watt (60sec), 390 ± 15 watt (2,000m), 318 ± 8 watt (6,000m), 280 ± 14 watt (60 min) (average ± SD). A comparison of these values with Danish elite rowers revealed that the VO2 of Japanese rowers in the all-out test seemed to be lower than those of the Danish, while other variables were not different. A power-endurance curve was performed at various ratios of aerobic and anaerobic metabolic components and represents an individual characteristic of the physiological profile. Measurements that represent physiological profiles are available for the evaluation of national class rowers and training strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]