(Tokyo) – A coalition of 12 non-governmental organizations and experts has urged Japan’s Sports Agency (JSA) to adopt stronger policies to ensure safe sports by ending abuse and discrimination against athletes. The joint letter, addressed to JSA Commissioner Junichi Kawai, emphasizes that athlete safety must be a top priority to protect participants of all ages from harm. The coalition includes organizations such as Athlete Save Japan, Human Rights Watch, Japan Safe Sport Project, Sport for Creating Pathways Japan (S.C.P. Japan), Unisocc, along with five athletes and experts.
Abuse in Japanese sports, including corporal punishment and systemic mistreatment of children, has been widely documented, with Human Rights Watch’s 2020 report highlighting the pervasiveness of these practices from grassroots to elite levels. The coalition calls for the adoption of international safe sport standards and effective policies that can prevent further abuse.
Central to their recommendations is the establishment of a Japan Center for Safe Sport, an independent body to receive and address abuse complaints. Such a center would provide a safe reporting environment, protect against retaliation, and enable authorities to monitor complaint handling to ensure accountability and effectiveness.
The coalition also urges the enactment of a Safe Sport Act under the Basic Act on Sport, which would legally mandate sports organizations to respond appropriately to abuse cases and prohibit all forms of abuse and discrimination. These measures would also foster inclusivity in sports, supporting athletes with disabilities and LGBTQ+ participants.
Experts stress the urgency of these reforms, noting recent amendments to Japan’s Basic Act on Sport that require measures against abuse as a foundation for introducing a dedicated Safe Sport Act. The organizations emphasize that safe sport policies must address both child and adult athletes to prevent lifelong trauma from abusive practices.
Athletes and advocates highlight the importance of these initiatives, underscoring that every participant should feel safe while training or competing. They call on the government to extend the message of zero tolerance for abuse and discrimination across schools, sports clubs, and elite athletic programs throughout Japan.
