Goal 1 Promotion of physical strength enhancement measures for children

[Education on and promotion of fitness habits in early childhood – Day-nursery visits for exercise instructions]

Mastering various body movements in early childhood enables children to enhance their fitness for performance, such as muscle strength and stamina, as well as other physical abilities including reflexes to protect themselves from injury and the sense of balance. This helps them develop the fundamental physical strength and athletic capability that are needed for them to enjoy exercise and sports for their entire lives.
The Child and Youth Bureau and ward offices are jointly conducting a day-nursery visit program in which instructors visit day-nursery centers to teach young children to acquire the physical abilities commensurate with their respective developmental stages through exercise (play).

Goal 2 Promotion of sports activities in local communities

[Provision of sporting facilities in local communities – Running and walking programs of local sports centers]

The sports center in each ward of Yokohama offers running and walking programs using its facilities as bases.

– Running and walking station of the Kohoku Sports Center

The center provides information about recommended running and walking courses along the Tsurumi River and in other locations. The station is used as the start and finish points where lockers and shower rooms are available.
In addition to daytime users, people on their way from work also drop by and use the station.
Usage fee: 100 yen per person per use
Hours open: 9:00 – 19:00 (weekdays) / 10:00 – 19:00 (weekend and holidays)
* The facilities close at 21:00.
* For information about how to use the facilities and other details, contact the Kohoku Sports Center.
Phone number of the Yokohama City Kohoku Sports Center: TEL. 045-544-2636

– Walking event hosted by the Isogo Sports Center

The Isogo Sports Center holds a walking event regularly in which participants enjoy walking with officials of the center. The walk is not limited to just within Isogo Ward, and participants sometimes walk very far – even to Kamakura.
Participants are given instructions on walking before the event, which makes this program popular among beginners who feel at ease taking part in the walk.
Phone number of the Yokohama City Isogo Sports Center: TEL. 045-771-8118

Goal 3 Promotion of sports for the elderly and disabled

[Promotion of the fitness strategy for 1 million citizens]

Yokohama City will host the Yokohama Health-Promoting Rally using a point system, beginning on September 1, 2013, with the aim of providing its citizens with an opportunity to start health-promoting efforts while having fun.
Participants of the rally earn points by receiving designated health checkups (target period: December 1, 2012 through November 30, 2013), cancer screening tests and other health examinations, as well as by participating in the city-specified health-promoting events. After earning the required number of points, participants can apply using a dedicated application postcard and may win a prize in a drawing.
“Cheer Up, Yokohama!! Sports Recreation Festival 2013” and “Fitness Walking in Yokohama Forests” are among the city-specified events.
Some of the classes offered at the ward sports centers are also included.
Leaflets, each containing a dedicated application postcard, will be distributed at the ward offices as well as at the ward sports centers and other event venues, beginning in mid-August. To find more information, visit the official website of the Yokohama City Health and Social Welfare Bureau, “Let’s Enjoy Walking in Yokohama.”
http://enjoy-walking.city.yokohama.lg.jp/

Goal 4 Promotion of cooperation and collaboration with top-level sports communities

[Cooperation and collaboration with professional sports teams/Attraction and hosting of large-scale sporting events]

[Cooperation and collaboration with professional sports teams]

Yokohama Nettou Club invites citizens to watch games of professional sports teams, has players of those teams visit elementary schools for interchanges and hosts sports classes and other events to provide opportunities to have first-hand experiences with the professional sports world.

Results for fiscal 2012

Number of citizens invited: About 64,000 citizens were invited to 58 games of the four teams combined.
Elementary school visits and sports classes: The four teams conducted a total of 1,113 events with the participation of about 56,000 citizens.

Attraction and hosting of large-scale sporting events

Yokohama City has successfully attracted and hosted a number of international competitions and large-scale sporting events, including World Triathlon Yokohama.

Ai Fukuhara clinched a women’s singles title in an international table tennis championship, ITTF World Tour Japan Open 2013 Ogimura Cup, which was held at the Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium from June 19 through 23, 2013.
Her victory in Yokohama is a remarkable accomplishment, marking the first time in 25 years that a Japanese player won the women’s singles event in Japan Open.

World Triathlon Yokohama 2013 was held again in the city for the fourth time. The sight of participants racing through the streets around Yamashita Park has now become a popular feature of the City of Yokohama, which takes great pride in hosting the triathlon race.