Sports Day
A day to enjoy sports, cultivate a spirit of respect for others, and wish for a healthy and vibrant society
Sports no Hi (Sports Day) is a national holiday celebrated on the second Monday of October. Its purpose is "to enjoy sports, cultivate a spirit of respect for others, and wish for a healthy and vibrant society."
The Legacy of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
The holiday was established in 1966 as "Health and Sports Day" (Taiiku no Hi) to commemorate the opening of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics on October 10th. October 10th was originally chosen for the Olympics because it is statistically one of the days most likely to have clear, sunny weather in Tokyo.
Many schools and towns hold their annual sports festivals (undokai) around this time of year.
Name Change
In 2020, to coincide with the second Tokyo Olympic Games, the holiday was renamed from "Health and Sports Day" to simply "Sports Day." The change reflects a shift in focus from physical training to the enjoyment and universal values of sports.