Liven up with sports day trivia quizzes! Fun facts you’ll be glad to know

Meiji era

It is said that the first sports day in Japan was held in the Meiji era. Called the Kyōtō Yūgikai (Competitive Games Meet), it took place on March 21, 1874, at the Naval Academy in Tsukiji, Tokyo. At the time, the concept of “sports” did not exist in Japan, and students at the Naval Academy spent most of their time in seated classes. For that reason, the head of the British Naval Advisory Mission recommended holding Japan’s first sports day, the Kyōtō Yūgikai. It is said that one of its purposes was to help students relieve stress.

Three-legged race

“Tefu no Hanaoi” may sound like an incantation, but it was actually one of the events held at athletic meets in the Meiji era. It is said that “Tefu no Hanaoi” was a competition similar to a three-legged race. At the time, Japan was actively adopting Western culture. In fact, instructors invited from Britain held an event called a kyōtō-yūgikai—the forerunner of today’s sports days—at Japan’s naval academy as well. The athletic meet program was written entirely in English. Because there were no equivalent Japanese events, instead of translating the names directly into Japanese, they devised four-character compound names for the competitions.

Teacher-centered or student-centered?

From kindergarten and daycare through high school and university, many schools hold sports days or athletic festivals. The difference between a sports day and an athletic festival lies in how they’re run—whether teachers or students take the lead. Sports days, which are often held up through elementary school, are typically organized by teachers. Athletic festivals, on the other hand, are more often run by a student executive committee, which may also plan the events and competitions.

Field Day

In the United States, there is an event called “Field Day,” where relays, beanbag tosses, and various games are held, much like Japan’s undokai (sports day). It’s a staple event hosted once a year at many schools. In the U.S., sports days are often held by class or by grade level.

United Kingdom

Sports festivals, which are held at many schools, daycare centers, and kindergartens in Japan today, are said to have been first organized systematically by the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Japan’s first such event, known as the Kyōtō Yūgikai (Competitive Games Gathering), is also said to have originated in Britain.

anpan

In today’s bread-eating races, it’s common to see a variety of breads. When the bread-eating race was first held, they reportedly competed by eating anpan (sweet red bean buns). At the Kyōtō Yūgikai, the first athletic meet in Japan, held at the Naval Academy in Tsukiji, Tokyo, there is a theory that Kimuraya Sohonten’s anpan was used in the event. This is considered to be the origin of the bread-eating race.

Tug of war

Tug-of-war is one of the Olympic events that can no longer be seen today. From the 1900 Paris Games to the 1920 Antwerp Games, tug-of-war helped enliven the Olympics as an official competition. The International Olympic Committee, concerned about the expansion of the Games, decided to cut back on several events. Tug-of-war was reportedly among those eliminated, partly due to reasons such as the lack of an international governing body.