The secrets to Japan’s elite sport success

As Korea’s elite sports system is at a crossroads, this is something to consider.

JUNG WON-SEOKThe author is a Tokyo correspondent of the JoongAng Ilbo. The Japanese national team — which aimed to win 20 gold medals in the Paris Olympics — ranked third again this time without any advantage of hosting the Games. Korea set the goal of winning five gold medals but won more than double. The two countries are celebrating the outstanding results, but they are a bit different.

First of all, Team Korea’s medals are concentrated in certain fields. Korea won 32 medals, second best in history and tied with results from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But those medals were won in 11 sports. Half of the total medals came from shooting, fencing and archery, and 80 percent of the gold medals were from these three events. Korea had the most concentrated medal-winning events among the top ten. Japan produced medalists in 16 sports, standing out in many fields.

Japan has a clear advantage in ball games and track and field. Korea couldn’t advance to the Olympics in basketball, football and volleyball. The only Asian team in men’s basketball at the Olympics was Japan, which almost beat France — the silver medalist — in the preliminary round. Japan was leading France by four points, but tied with only 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter and lost in overtime. Had it not been for the “bad call” controversy, Japan could have won the game. In men’s volleyball, Japan also suffered a come-from-behind defeat against Italy in the quarterfinals, but overall the country proved that it plays neck and neck with others on the world stage. In track and field events, it was not uncommon for Japanese athletes to appear on the final stage.

Before the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Japan launched the Japan Sports Agency under the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2015 to implement an active elite sports policy. If each sports association was responsible for improving athletes’ performance in the past, the government is actively supporting sports now. The budget for improving athletic performance is currently 10 billion yen ($67.6 million) per year. It was less than 5 billion yen in 2014, but the amount is still maintained after exceeding 10 billion yen in 2019. Through this, athletes consistently participate in games and training abroad and receive support from technical analysis teams and excellent coaches.

This created synergy for daily sports. In Japan, students engage in various activities in clubs at schools, and they have the culture of valuing the experience of dedicating time to club activities at school.

After curriculum and classroom hours were drastically cut in 1987, the generation born afterward spent more time playing sports and chose them as their career path. Even if they don’t become successful athletes, the wide sports base offers a venue for them to make money. As Korea’s elite sports system is at a crossroads, this is something to consider.