Sports Wellness Fukiya Day (Supōtsu Wellness Fukiya no Hi)

What Is Sports Wellness Fukiya Day?

November 28 is "Sports Wellness Fukiya Day," established by the Japan Sports Wellness Fukiya Association based on a wordplay: "11 (ii/good) 28 (fukiya)" sounds like "ii fukiya" (good blowgun). It was certified and registered by the Japan Anniversary Association in 2021. "Sports Wellness Fukiya" is a uniquely Japanese sport in which players blow darts from a tube at a target. It places minimal strain on the body and is enjoyed nationwide by people of all ages, from children to seniors, as a healthy form of exercise.

Features of Sports Wellness Fukiya

• Diaphragmatic breathing: Darts are blown using a breathing technique based on diaphragmatic breathing, and the association promotes the sport for physical and mental well-being
• Gentle movement: Players walk to the target to collect their darts, so it isn't a purely sedentary activity
• The joy of focus: Concentrating on the target one dart at a time makes for a refreshing change of pace
• Low injury risk: With no physical contact or risk of falling, it's well suited to seniors and people in rehabilitation

How the Game Works

Players load a dart made of thin film rolled into a cone into a tube about 120 cm long (inner diameter about 13 mm) and blow it at a round target 5–10 meters away. The target is divided into zones worth 7, 5, 3, and 1 points from the center outward. Each round consists of 5 darts blown within 3 minutes, and the total over a set number of rounds determines the score.

Simple Equipment

The tube is made of fiberglass, and each dart is about 20 cm long and weighs about 1 gram, with a metal tip and a body of thin vinyl film rolled into a cone. The target is a board of polyethylene foam about 33 cm on each side. Wheelchair users and others can compete under the same rules.

Getting Started and Its Popularity

• The association has local branches across Japan, with classes and clubs held at community centers and sports centers
• Trial classes for beginners are held in many areas
• The association also awards ranks (kyu and dan), giving players goals to work toward