Chronicle of Japan Association of Athletics Federations
| 1924 | Japan Amateur Sports Association(JASA) was recognized as a member of the International Amateur Athletic Federation(IAAF). Later, in 1928, its representation was transferred to Japan Amateur Athletic Federation(JAAF). |
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| 1925 | On March , Japan Amateur Athletic Federation(JAAF) was found. Initially, it was designated All Japan Athletic Federation. |
| At the foundatation meeting held at the Marunouchi Nihon Club,Zennihon Rikujyo Kyogi Ren-mei(Amateur Athletic Federation of Japan) selected the following officials: | |
| President: Ryozo Hiranuma,Managing Director:Tadaoki Yamamoto,Chikara Saito,Hiromu Kasuga, Yosizo kaneda, Teiichi Takamatsu,Director: Shizo Kanaguri, Masanobu Kinami, You Takase,Shozo Shibuya,Hiroshi Hibino, Kinichi Satoh(Denomnation of chairman was not used). | |
| The Amateur Athletic Federation of Japan took place the 12th Japan Amateur Athletic Meeting for the first time as the national sports governing body of Japan during November 22-23 at the Meiji Jingu Outer Garden Athletic Stadium. | |
| 1928 | The first Japan Amateur Athletic Federation Rule Book was published by Books Sanseido Shoten. |
| At the 9th IAAF Congress Meeting held in August 7 JAAF in place of Dainippon Taiiku Kyokai was approved to be IAAF Group A member.The Zennihon Rikuren's name was kept registration up to 1945(Showa 20th year). | |
| 1929 | At the scheduled prefectural representatives(Daigiin)meeting the previous directors system was president into president and vice-president system and the following officials were selected: President:Ryozo Hiranuma Vice-president: Tadaoki Yamamoto,Hiromu Kasuga,Managing Director: Shizo Kanaguri,Hiroshi Hibino, Hikoji Kobayashi,Shin-ichi Sakamoto. |
| From December 12 the JAAF official recognition system was commenced for the athletic stadium,competition items and equipment. | |
| 1933 | November 2. In the JAAF the 12 technical committees were set up. |
| 1935 | June 15. Japan vs Philippine Athletic Meeting was held at the Meiji Jingu Athletic Stadium. Japan won the meet by 98-50 pionts. In the meet Takanori Yoshioka made world tie record of 10.3 in 100m under the tale wind condition of 2.5m per second and was officially recognized. |
| July 21. JAAF 10th Inauguration Ceremony was held at Nagoya Public Hall. | |
| 1936 | July. In the IOC Congress Meeting the 12th(1940=Showa 15th year)Olympic Games was decided to stage in Tokyo. |
| 1938 | Decision was made to return the venue of the 12th Tokyo Olympic Games. |
| Kishi Kinen Prize commendation system was commenced. | |
| 1939 | A financial system change plan under the leadership by Ryozo Hiranuma as president and managing director was approved by the JAAF Prefectural Represenratives Genenal Meeting . |
| The 12th Olympiad to be held in Tokyo, Japan was not celebrated due to WW2. | |
| 1941 | Kishi Kinen Taiiku Kaikan(Kishi Memorial Hall)was constructed(at present site of Hitachi Seisakusyo office )and JAAF office was moved from Marunouchi 6 Gokan site. |
| 1945 | JAAF organization was restored after interruption bythe World War ? and was officially named NIHON RIKUJYO KYOUGI RENMEI. In 1946 an official rules and regulations of JAAF was decided. |
| 1946 | Japan National Sports Festival was inaugurated with restoration of sports in the post-war Japan as its goal. |
| 1948 | JAAF official technical judges system was enforced. Japan was not invited to the Games of the 14th Olympiad, London, Great Britain due to her role in WW2. |
| 1949 | Local affiliated offices system was altered and the regional amateur athletic associations were placed. |
| 1951 | Inaugural Asian Games was held in New Delhi, India. Total of 31 male and female athletes competed in the Games and dominated 20 out of 33 events. |
| 1952 | Japan was invited back to the Olympics from the Games of the 15th Olympiad, Helsinki, Finland, with 16 male and 3 female athletes participating. |
| 1955 | In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of founding JAAF, a book titled "30 years of JAAF" was published. |
| October 31. In accordance of the enactment of His Imperial Highness(HIH)Prince Chichibu Prize ,Her Imperial Highness Princess Chichibu awarded the Prize to the following 66 winners including Shozo HIRANUMA, Shizo KANAGURI, Mikio ODA, Kinichi ASANO and Chuhei NANBU. | |
| Ryozo HIRANUMA became the first recipient of the Order of Cultural Merits from the Japanese sports community. | |
| 1956 | In October, Teruji KOGAKE marked a world record in Men's Triple Jump with 16.48 meters during Japan National Athletics Championships. |
| 1958 | The 3rd Asian Games was held in Tokyo. |
| 1961 | In January JAAF organizational structures were vastly improved and besides existing athletes reinforcement committee for the Tokyo Olympic Games,three organizational committees such as Tokyo Olympic Games Organization Committee, the 4th Asian Games Preparation Committee and the Athletes Training Committee for the Overseas Games were newly established. |
| March 22-23, the first national indoor athletic championships were held at the Tokyo Taiikukan(Tokyo Metropolitan Athletic Gymnasium). | |
| July. In preparation for up-coming Tokyo Olympiad,5 organizations:JAAF,Student Athletics Federation,Coroporate Athletics League, High School Athletics Federation and Junior High School Athletics Federation Concluded an agreement. | |
| 1964 | June. JAAF Administrative Office was moved from Ochanomizu KishiMemorial Hall Bldg. to newly built Kishi Kinen Taiikukaikan located Shibuyaku Jinnan 1-1-1. |
| July. Kishi Memorial Hall Inauguration Ceremony was held. | |
| October The Games of the 18th Olympiad was held in Tokyo. | |
| 1966 | December 3. Traditional Asahi Marathon was developed into the 1st Fukuoka International Marathon with official support of the IAAF. |
| 1967 | March 18-19. The first Japan over JAAF chief technical judges general meeting was held. |
| March. JAAF published a booklet " Athletics for all(Minnano Rikujyokyogi)". | |
| August 26-September 24. Tokyo Universiade Games were held by participation of 34 countries. Japanese team was composed by 39 men and 19 women athletes. | |
| 1968 | Mikio ODA was elected as a council member of the International Amateur Athletic Federation(IAAF) during its session. |
| 1969 | September. The First Pacific Conferendce Games were held in the National Stadium with participation of Japan,USA,Canada,Australia and New Zealand. |
| Hanji AOKI, the chairman of the JAAF board of directors, | |
| was installed as the president of the Japanese Olympic Committee(JOC) and the managing director of Japan Amateur Sports Association(JASA). | |
| 1970 | The First Japan Junior Athletic Championships was held at the National Stadium which was renamed as Japan Junior Olympic Meeting. |
| 1971 | March. At the the prefectural representatives meeting JAAF was recognized by the Education Ministry tobecome the Foundation(Zaidan Houjin) Body and in April 24th ,JAAF was officially approved as Foundation Body . |
| 1973 | November. The First Asian Athletic Championships were held in Manila, Philippines and the Asian Amateur Athletic Association(AAAA)was founded. |
| 1974 | August. The First Japan Junior Students Athletic Championships were held and the former Junior Students broadcasting Athletic Meeting was dissolved. |
| 1975 | March. JAAF president Kenzo KONO was installed as the president of Japan Amateur Sports Association. |
| October. Japan vs China Athletic Meeting was commenced. | |
| 1977 | JAAF amateur rules revision was made and sponsor's commercial design on the number bib was approved.At the JAAF Championships Meet in October the commercial number bibs were shown(first time in JAAF history). |
| A member of JAAF board of directors, Seiko YASUDA was elected as a council member of IAAF during its session. | |
| 1978 | September. The First Eight Nations Athletic Meeting was held at the national Stadium(with participation of USA,USSR,West Germany,England, France,Italy,Poland and Japan).This meeting became the first meeting with sponsor"s title name. |
| 1979 | Seiko YASUDA, a vice president of JAAF, was installed as the president of Asian Amateur Athletic Association(AAAA) during its session. |
| 1980 | Political disputes prevented Japan from participating in the Games of the 22nd Olympiad, Moscow, USSR. |
| September 16. in place of nonparticipation for the Moscow Olympic Games its alternative Tokyo International Athletic Meeting was held at the National Stadium. | |
| 1981 | February 8. The First Yomiuri-NTV Tokyo Marathon was commenced and Hideki Kita(Kobe Seiko)won the race with a time of 2:12.04. |
| In March the IAAF has changed its rules that commercial reward for the athlete was approved in case the athlete's national governing body received as for his training expense. | |
| 1982 | January. Osaka Imternational Ladies Marathon was commenced. |
| 1983 | January 23. The Interprefectural Women's Ekiden Road Relay Meet was commenced in the Kyoto NishiKyogoku Stadium(start and back race course). The winner was Chiba team with a time of 2:29.02. |
| March 20. The World First International Women's Ekiden Road Relay(42.195km)was commenced at Yokohama City(Kanagawa pref.).The first winner was Soviet team with a time of 2hrs.19min.53. | |
| August , The First IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Helsinki and from Japan 14 men and 6 women athletes were participated. | |
| 1984 | Janurary 16.The International Indoor Athletic Meeting was held in newly built OsakaJo(Castle) Hall. |
| 1985 | April. The First World Marathon Cup Meet was held and Japanese Takeyuki Nakayama was placed second. |
| August. 1985 World Universitiy Games were held(second time in Japan)and Mami Fukao(Osaka Physical Univ.)won in the Women's Marathon. | |
| JAAF president HanjiAoki was awarded the Olympic Order Silver. | |
| 1986 | July. IAAF First World Junior Athletic Championships were held in Athens,Greece and from Japan 21 men and 8 women athlete were participated and Hiroshi Kakimori(Soegami S.HighSchool)won silver in 400m. |
| 1987 | March.The First IAAF World Indoor Championships were held in Indianapolis(USA). And the 3rd IAAF World Championships in Athletics were decided to stage in Tokyo,1991. |
| In the IAAF Congress, JAAF president Hanji Aoki was newly chosen to be IAAF Council member. | |
| 1988 | September. The First Toshiba Super Track & Firld Meet was held in the National Stadium. |
| November, Honorary Vice President Mikio Oda was awarded a Person of Cultural Merit succeeding Ryozo Hiranuma(second reward from the athletic world). | |
| In November Japan interprefectural Junior Cross-country Ekiden Meeting was Commenced. | |
| 1989 | Mikio Oda,Hon.Vice-President was assumed to be Honorary president and Hanji Aoki was chosen to be president of Japan Amateur Sports Association. |
| 1990 | Naoto Tajima was awarded the Olympic Order Silver, |
| December. International Chiba Ekiden was commenced. | |
| 1991 | August. JAAF President, Hanji Aoki was elected as a vice president of IAAF during its session held in Tokyo. |
| The President of Asian Amateur Athletic Association(AAAA), Seiko Yasuda was installed as its honorary president and Hideyuki | |
| Sasaki, a member of JAAF Board of Directors, was elected as a vice president of AAAA during its session. | |
| The IAAF Congress was held in Tokyo.JAAF president Hanji Aoki was chosen to be Vice President of the IAAF. | |
| Main points in the IAAF Rule change: | |
| 1. Doping infringement: from 2 years to 4 years of suspension period to participate in the international competitions | |
| 2. By amendment of the amateur rules other kinds of sports players would be possible to participate in the track and field athletic events. | |
| 3. IAAF World Championships would be held every 2 years from every 4 years. | |
| August. The 3rd IAAF Championships in Athletics were held in the National Stadium.From Japan 36 men and 27 women athletes were participated respectively. | |
| In the events:3 world records were established such as 100m: | |
| 1st Carl Lewis(USA) 9.86 | |
| 2nd Barrel(USA) 9.88 | |
| Long jump: | |
| 1st Peter Powel(USA) 8m95 | |
| 4x100m(men) | |
| 1st USA team 37.50 | |
| Japanese athletes: | |
| Men's marathon: | |
| 1st: Hiromi Taniguchi, 2:14.57, | |
| 5th Futoshi Shinohara: 2:15.52 | |
| 50km Race Walk: | |
| 7th Fumio Imamura, 4:06.07 | |
| Women's marathon: | |
| 2nd Sachiko Yamashita, 2:29.57 | |
| 4th Yuko Arimori, 2hrs 31min. 08 | |
| 1993 | The first East Asia Athletic Meeting was held in Shanghai,China. |
| JAAF president Hanji Aoki was assumed to be Honorary President of Japan Amateur Sports Association. | |
| December, Japan Inter Junior High School Ekiden Meeting was commenced. | |
| The 10th Inaugural World Veterans' Athletics Championships was held in Miyazaki, Japan with participants of 12,175 from 78 countries and territories. | |
| In the 4th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Stuttgart, Germany, Junko Asari won a gold | |
| medal and Tomoe Abe(o??Aleft) won bronze in Women's Marathon. | |
| 1994 | The 12th Asian Games was held in Hiroshima . In the Games 7,300 athletes from 42 countries and areas participated to the 34 events. |
| Japanese winners?F | |
| 5,000m and 10,000m: Toshinari Takaoka(Kanebo) | |
| 400mH: Shunnji Karube(Fujitu) | |
| 4x100m R. | |
| High Jump: Takahisa Yoshida(Mizuno) | |
| 1995 | In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of founding JAAF, "70 Years of Japan Amateur Athletic Federation" was published. |
| Fukuoka Universiade was held in Fukuoka, Japan . | |
| 1996 | January. The First Japan Over Primary School Athletic Guidance Program was held in the Kusanagi Athletic stadium(Shizuoka Prefecture)with participation of 67 leaders and 301 school children. |
| 1997 | In the 6th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Athens, Greece, Hiromi Suzuki won a gold medal in Women's Marathon and Masako Chiba won a bronze medal in Women's 10,000 meter race. |
| August. JAAF set up " JAAF Official Computer Address Site" | |
| 1998 | In the 13th Asian Games held in Bangkok, Thailand, Koji ITO renewed the Asian record 10.00 in Men's 100 meter Semifinal. He won a gold medal in 100 meter , 200 meter and 4?~100m |
| July 19-22. The 12th Asian Athletic Championships were held at the Hakatanomori Athletic stadium(Fukuoka City)with participation of 37countries including 516 athletes fro?? Asia. | |
| 1999 | In the 7th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Seville, Spain, Ari Ichihashi won a silver medal in Women's Marathon and Nobuyuki Sato won a bronze in Men's. |
| A vice president of JAAF, Taizo Watanabe was elected as a council member of IAAF during its session. | |
| March 5-7. The 7th IAAF Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Green Dome in Maebashi City(Gunma Prefecture). | |
| March. Japan Primary School Children "Nisshin Syokuhin Cup" Meeting and | |
| Primary School Cross Country Relay Workshop were held(for the first time). | |
| April. The First Nagano Winter Olympics Memorial Nagano Marathon was held. | |
| 2000 | November. JAAF made a report of basic concept of the JAAF for the 21stCentury. |
| 2001 | In Men's 10,000 meter, Toshinari Takaoka renewed the national record after an interval of 14 years with 27.35.09. |
| At the 8th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Edmonton, Canada, there were 3 medal winners: Koji Murofushi, silver for Men's Hammer Throw, Dai Tamesue, bronze for Men's 400 meter Hurdles and Reiko Tosa, bronze for Women's Marathon. In the World Cup Marathon held at the same time, Japan marked third consecutive victory in Women's Team Event. | |
| 2002 | In Women's 10,000 meter, Yoko Shibui marked the time in thirties for the first time as a Japanese woman with 30.48.89. |
| In Women's 5,000 meter, Kayoko Fukushi marked the time in fourteens for the first time as a Japanese woman with 14.55.21. In Chicago Marathon, Toshinari Takaoka set a new national record of 2.06.16. | |
| At the IAAF World Junior Championships in Athletics held in Kingston, Jamaica, Fumi Mitsumura won a gold medal in Women's 10,000 meter Walk. | |
| At the council meeting of IAAF held in Monte Carlo, Osaka(Japan) was awarded with honor to host 2007 IAAF World Championships in Athletics. | |
| 2003 | At the 9th IAAF World Championships in Athletics held in Paris, France, Japan brought out 4 medal winners: Shingo Suetsugu, bronze for Men's 200m, Koji Murofushi, bronze for Men's Hammer Throw, Mizuki Noguchi, silver and Masako Chiba, bronze for Women's Marathon. In the World Cup Marathon held at the same time, both men and women Team of Japan won the victory. Japan marked 4 consecutive victories in Women's Team Event. |
| November. IAAF Council Meeting made an approval to stage The 34th World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka City(Fukuoka Prefecture). | |
| 2005 | In 2005 the JAAF(Japan Association of Athletics Federations) celebrated its 80th anniversary. In the same year, the 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Helsinki, and Japan sent a team of 33 men and 22 women to the Finnish capital. The team won three medals. Both Tsuyoshi Ogata at marathon and Dai Tamesue at 400mH were third, while the men's marathon team won a team gold for the second straight championships. For Tamesue it was his second bronze medal, having won his first bronze at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton. |
| JAAF Sports Activities Support System was commenced. | |
| JAAF Directors Meeting and Prefectural Representaitves Meeting made a decision to introduce JTO(Japan Technical official)system | |
| JAAF 80 Year History Book was published. | |
| 2006 | In 2006, the 34th World Cross Country Championships, the first in Asia, were held in Fukuoka. For Japan both the women's long course as well as junior team won team bronze. Furthermore in the 10th World Cup of Athletics in Athens, Koji |
| Murofushi won the Hammer Throw while Daichi | |
| Sawano was second in the Pole Vault. Other bronze medalists in Athens were Shingo Suetsugu at 200m, Kayoko Fukushi at women's 5000m and the Men's sprint Relay team(Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu, Shinji Takahira and Shigeyuki Kojima) at 4?~100m. | |
| June. JAAF celebrated its 90th Championships. | |
| November. "Kids Athlete Project- Yume No Rikujyo Caravantai-and the First Attempt was commenced. | |
| 2007 | February. The First Tokyo Marathon was held with participation of elite long distance runners and 30,000 fun runners chosen by lot from more than 90,000 applicants. |
| August. IAAF 11th World championships in Athletics was held in Osaka City,Reiko Tosa , bronze for women's Marathon. | |
| December. The first JAAF Athletics Award was held. | |
| 2010 | Emperor's and Empress's Cups presented to the Men's and Women's All Japan Interprefectural Ekiden Championships respectively. |
| 2011 | March, Launched "RUN FOR JAPAN", a project for 3.11 Disaster Relief. |
| July, Hosted the 19th Asia Athletics Championships at the Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium of Hyogo Prefecture with Japan winning 11 Gold Medals. | |
| 1 August, JAAF inaugurated as Public Interest Incorporated Foundation. | |
| 2012 | 11 March, Staged "The Nagoya Women's Marathon", a race dedicated solely for female elite and recreational runners. |
| 2015 | 15 November, The First Saitama International Marathon was held. |
| 2016 | Organized the Centennial JAAF National Championships. |
| 2018 | Inauguration of Japan Grand Prix Series. Hosted the 18th Asian Junior Athletics Championships in Nagaragawa Stadium, Gifu. |
| 2019 | Hosted the IAAF World Relays Yokohama 2019 at International Stadium Yokohama. |
| 2020 | The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games was postponed to 2021 because of COVID-19. |
| 2021 | The postponed 2020 Olympic Games was held in Tokyo. Inauguration of the Japan Marathon Championships Series (JMC Series). |
| 2022 | World Athletics Championships 2022 was organized in Oregon, USA. Tokyo was awarded as the host city of the World Championships 2025. |
| 2023 | World Athletics Championship 23 was organized in Budapest, Hungary. The Marathon Grand Championships (MGC) was held as an Olympic Trial. |
