Japan Games: Should Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai’s Suggestion to Eliminate Annual National Event Be Considered?

In Sendai, Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai, who is also the president of the National Governors’ Association, proposed the idea of eliminating the annual national sports event that was previously known as “Kokutai.”

During a regular news conference, Murai stated that he personally believes that one option to consider is to do away with the event. The event, now called the Japan Games, was known as the National Sports Festival or Kokutai in the past.

The annual event is hosted by the 47 prefectures in Japan and is co-sponsored by the Japan Sport Association (JSPO), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Technology, and the host prefecture. Since 1946, it has been held every year and is set to have its third round in 2035.

Murai emphasized that the financial obligations on host prefectures are substantial and that only a few top athletes, who are focused on global competitions like the Olympics, take part in the event. He highlighted that it’s important to re-evaluate its continuation as it moves into its third round.

The National Governors’ Association is currently conducting a survey among its member prefectures to gather opinions on how the event should be organized. The association plans to compile a report based on feedback received and share it with JSPO for further discussions.