Studies on Physical Education Promotion Policy for Young Men’s Association in the Taisho Era: Focusing on the Administrative Process in Tokyo Prefecture*

Abstract

The Young Men's Association (YMA) was an education institute that provided programs and further education for young men. It aimed to train both mind and body, and valued physical education. However, in preceding studies, emphasis was placed on the consideration of the national stance that physical education should be promoted in the YMA, or on the consideration of the implementation status of physical education in the YMA in the local community. Speciˆc considerations on the policy and process of the local government liaising between national aim and region implementation were insu‹cient. This study aims to clarify the development process of the physical education promotion policy of the YMA, taking as an example the Tokyo Prefecture administration during the Taisho Era. As a result, the following points were clariˆed: 1) In the Local Governor Conference, no instruction on the speciˆc development method concerning physical education promotion of the YMA was given. Therefore, in each prefectural administration, policies needed to be formulated and implemented, taking into account the regional situation within the jurisdiction. 2) Prefectural Governor Tomoichi Inoue who spearheaded the YMA policy in Tokyo Prefecture, had set as the main objective of the YMA, the implementation of civil education and labor education for the working young men. He placed physical education as ``prerequisite for all'' activities of the YMA. In so doing, the aim was to train ``young men who contribute to labor'' through physical education. 3) As a specialized institution reviewing physical education policies of the YMA in Tokyo Prefecture, Governor Inoue established ``Tokyo Prefecture Physical Education Council.'' The council members consisted, not only of Tokyo prefectural workers, but also of external ``education and physical education experts.'' 4) The Physical Education Council raised as speciˆc issues, ``improvement of the physique and strength of young men'' and ``popularization method of physical education,'' and held repeated discussions thereof. In resolving the above issues, the Physical Education Council cooperated and collaborated with companies within Tokyo Prefecture, and further held ``workshops'' and ``lectures'' in the YMA'' at a local level. 5) The Physical Education Council compiled the information obtained through discussions and through the ``workshops'' and ``lectures,'' and therefrom established and issued the ``Tokyo Prefecture Regulations for Young Men's Physical Education.'' Regulations for Young Men's Physical Education Promotion played an important role in the origin of physical education of the YMA in Tokyo Prefecture in the years to follow.