Japanese people always preferred physical fitness via Sports. Thus it has become a significant part of their culture.

Both traditional sports like “sumo” and “martial arts”, to other Western sports, Japanese have been very enthusiastic. Japan has a long-standing history of observing great sports events. Besides hosting major sporting tournaments, several sports are extremely famous here. Below, we prepare a list of top sports in Japan in terms of popularity.

Baseball: liked by almost 45.2% of Japanese people’s:

It is the most popular “participatory” and “spectator” sport in Japan. Baseball was introduced to Japan in 1872. Baseball is the unofficial national sport in Japan. Japanese people call it as “yakyu”, or “puro yakyu”.  Thousands of enthusiasts attend the baseball games during the weekends as well as “high school baseball” during the summer season. In 1936, a professional league was first established in Japan. You will be surprised to know that “Japanese baseball” is different from “American baseball”, as the former one uses a smaller ball, strike zone, and playing field.

Sumo Wrestling: liked by almost 27.3% of Japanese people:

“Sumo” is the “national sport” of Japan. It originated from the “Japanese Shinto ritual” that depicted "human wrestling” as the“god”. Sumo tournaments became popular in the late 17th century in “Tomioka Hachiman-gu Shrine” in Tokyo. There are at least 6 major “sumo tournaments” across the country every year. 3 tournaments are played in Tokyo, and the rest 3 are played in Aichi, Osaka, and Fukuoka each. All those tournamentsare conducted for 15 days. The “highest-ranking” sumo wrestler is called “Yokozuna”. Unlike other combat sports famous in other countries, “sumo wrestling” has no weight classes.

Soccer: liked by 25.0% of Japanese people.

Much before “football”, there was a “kickball” sport called “cuju” was played in China. Eventually, it became popular in Korea and Japan. In Japan, it was renamed “kemari”. In the 19th century, modern football or soccer was introduced here by Lieutenant-Commander “Archibald Lucius Douglas” of the “British Royal Navy”. He taught football to “Japanese navy cadets” during 1873 and 1879. In 1930 Japan first had a national team. And in 1936, Japan made its debut at the “Berlin Olympic Games”.

Tennis: liked by 21.7% of Japanese people.

Tennis was first introduced in Japan in 1878. Tennis was taught as a “physical activity” rather than a “competitive sport”. Then it was played with flexible, “all-rubber ball”. It was also known as soft tennis.

Golf: liked by 13.7% Japanese people.

Golf was introduced in Japan in the 19th century, however, it was not popular then. The first golf course was introduced in Tokyo in 1914. After the second World war, golf became famous in Japan. “The Japan Golf Tour” was founded in 1973. Japan has produced numerous great golfers for the last couple of years.

So, you must have understood how much Japan is enthusiastic about sports.