Swimming Day

What Is Swimming Day?

August 14th is "Swimming Day" in Japan, established in 1953 by the Japan Swimming Federation as "National Swim-for-All Day" and renamed to its current title, "Swimming Day," in 2014.

Why "Swim for All" Was the Goal

As an island nation surrounded by the sea, Japan placed great importance on improving swimming ability nationwide, both as a matter of public health and as protection against water-related dangers like boating accidents.

• Its original purpose: to improve the nation's swimming ability and promote overall health
• A change of name: after a long hiatus, the day was revived in 2014 as "Swimming Day," carrying on the earlier "National Swim-for-All Day"
• Its current goals: as part of the Japan Swimming Federation's "Dream Project 2020," the day aims to raise competitive performance and expand participation in the sport

Swimming as "A Sport That Protects Lives"

Beyond simply raising competitive performance, Swimming Day also aims to convey the importance of swimming as a skill that can protect your own life in a water-related emergency. The goal is to reduce water accidents by helping the entire nation learn to swim.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Go for an actual swim at a pool or the beach
• Take stock of your own swimming ability and your knowledge of water safety
• Talk with your children about the joy of swimming and how to swim safely
• Learn about the initiatives run by the Japan Swimming Federation

Being Able to Swim Can Be a Life-Saving Skill

Swimming is both a competitive sport pursued for records and a practical life skill that can protect you and the people you love in an emergency. Let August 14th be a day to reflect anew on how you relate to water and safety.