Half of Former Sports Club Members Exercise Weekly

Oct 13, 2025 | News On Japan

TOKYO - People who belonged to a school sports club or athletic circle are significantly more likely to maintain regular exercise habits after graduation than those who did not, according to a new survey by the Japan Sports Agency.

The nationwide survey, conducted last year with around 60,000 men and women aged 6 to 79, compared exercise habits among people in their 20s and 30s who had participated in sports clubs during high school or university with those who had not. It found that 50.5% of former club members reported exercising at least once a week, compared with 33.1% among those without such experience.

Fitness test scores also showed a clear gap. Among respondents aged 25 to 29, the average score for former sports club members was nearly seven points higher for both men and women than for those who had never participated.

However, the difference narrows with age. The agency noted that people with a history of regular exercise tend to remain confident in their physical abilities, but cautioned that physical strength inevitably declines over time and urged continued attention to health and fitness.

Source: TBS

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