A think tank whose every dream and action is taken with the future in mind.

The activities of the Sasakawa Sports Foundation (SSF) are aimed at creating a "Sport for Everyone society" in which everyone enjoys sports in a manner that fits their own lifestyle and interests. Sports not only have the power to maintain and improve mental and physical health, but also the unique potential to contribute to individual development and social cohesion that helps people grow and encourages the formation of society.

The role of the community in people's lives has been shrinking over the years, and children are growing up with fewer opportunities to interact with those in different age groups. The rapid population ageing is pushing up health- and nursing-care costs, exacerbating already strained fiscal resources. These are issues confronting not just Japan but also an increasing number of countries around the world.

We at the SSF believe that one way of tackling these issues is to utilize the power of sports to build a healthier, more vibrant, and more inclusive society.

Sports can lead to better physical and mental health and can also be used as a communication tool to bridge differences in age, language, and gender. Our task at the SSF is to help provide an environment where everyone can participate in sports and expand opportunities for interpersonal contact, thereby energizing and invigorating both individuals and communities. Such initiatives can not only encourage greater "self-help" efforts toward better health but also deepen understanding of others, fostering an altruistic desire for "mutual aid" and prompting the government to enhance "public assistance."

And as people's engagement with sports and the community increases, they will experience three aspects of sports: "participate," "spectate," and "volunteer."

To achieve these goals, we undertake research activities to obtain the data needed to develop concrete, effective policy solutions. We then work with individual and organizational partners to implement those policies, actively engaging with the community to gauge their effectiveness and feeding the results back to our research team. The two pillars of our activities thus act as a feedback mechanism, enabling us to develop even better, more practical solutions confronting society.

One initiative that supports this reinforcing cycle is the Active City Promotion Project led by the SSF. This project aims to utilize sports not only as a mere competition or event, but also as a solution to various issues facing the community, such as health, education, social inclusion, environment, tourism, and community development. The project also aims to create a sustainable system by rooting sports-based practices in the community in cooperation with municipalities and various local leaders.

The knowledge gained from implementing the project in the field is then reflected in surveys and research, leading to the next policy proposal and the formation of public opinion. Through this cycle, SSF enhances the effectiveness of community development through sports and builds a role model that can be implemented by municipalities nationwide.

It is our strong hope that our efforts to address social challenges through the power of sports will trigger similar initiatives abroad, and we intend to actively offer our insights to organizations sharing the Sports for All philosophy. At the same time, we seek to incorporate many innovative, promising practices from other countries, working closely with researchers and professionals around the globe to create a better world for all.