The Most Popular Sports in Japan (Top 13 Ranked)

Soccer leads Japan with 836,297 registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year. Ranking of 13 sports, with sources.

This page ranks the sports of Japan by one number that is collected the same way for all of them: Athletes formally registered for competition with each sport’s national governing body. Every figure is the same kind of count, but the federations publish on different schedules, so the table mixes fiscal years 2023 to 2025. The gaps between the sports are far larger than any single year of change. The figures come from Compiled from the national sport federations and The R&A cited in each ranking entry.

Soccer is on top, followed by Golf and Basketball. The full table below covers 13 sports, and every section further down names the source for the figure it uses.

The Most Popular Sports in Japan

The table counts registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year, not people who say they like a sport. It is the figure that is published the same way for every sport in the list, which is what makes the rows comparable. The reference year is 2025.

#	Sport	Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year	Governing body
1	Soccer	836,297	Japan Football Association (JFA)
2	Golf	725,855	The R&A (Global Golf Participation report, per-country data)
3	Basketball	582,670	Japan Basketball Association (JBA)
4	Volleyball	470,371	Japan Volleyball Association (JVA)
5	Athletics	415,040	Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF)
6	Badminton	299,493	Badminton Association of Japan
7	Table Tennis	280,010	Japan Table Tennis Association (JTTA)
8	Judo	125,336	All Japan Judo Federation (Zen Nihon Judo Renmei)
9	Swimming	104,583	Japan Swimming Federation
10	Rugby	90,313	Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU)
11	Handball	87,750	Japan Handball Association (JHA)
12	Gymnastics	24,720	Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA)
13	Cycling	7,523	Japan Cycling Federation (JCF)

One caveat applies to every ranking of this kind: someone who plays two sports is counted twice, once in each federation, and sports people mostly do on their own, such as running or hiking, barely show up at all.

Most Played and Most Watched Are Not the Same Sport

Membership and license numbers tell you what people do. Audience figures tell you what they watch, and the two lists rarely have the same sport on top.

Sport	Figure	What it measures
Baseball	26,742,631	Nippon Professional Baseball set an all time single season attendance record across both leagues.
Soccer	12,540,265	The J.League set an all time record for total season attendance.
Rugby	1,830,000 tickets sold, 99% attendance versus capacity	The 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan sold out nearly all stadium capacity across every match.

Is There a National Sport of Japan?

Japan has no national sport laid down by law or by government decision. Japan has no law or government decree that designates any sport as the national sport.

Sumo. Sumo’s own governing body describes the sport in its statute as Japan’s traditional national sport, kokugi, though this is a self designation rather than a law.

Sports That Were Invented in Japan

Judo. Judo was created in Japan in 1882 when Jigoro Kano founded the Kodokan.
Karate. Karate originated in Okinawa, Japan, developed from self defense techniques practiced by the Ryukyu Kingdom’s warrior class.
Kendo. Kendo developed in Japan out of centuries of kenjutsu swordsmanship training, with protective armor resembling modern kendo equipment emerging in the 18th century.
Sumo. Sumo originated in ancient Japan as a Shinto ritual performed to divine and pray for a good harvest, with its earliest references found in 8th century chronicles.

#1 Soccer

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 836,297 (Japan Football Association (JFA), 2025)
Top national league: J1 League
Best known athlete: Hidetoshi Nakata. Named AFC Footballer of the Year for 1997 and 1998, played at three World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006), and built a career in Italy’s Serie A

Soccer has the largest verified national federation membership among the sports compared here. The Japan Football Association reported 836,297 registered players for the 2025 season, covering professional, amateur, school and youth players registered with JFA-affiliated clubs.

The men’s top division is the J1 League, the country’s premier professional competition. Hidetoshi Nakata remains one of the sport’s most recognized Japanese figures, named AFC Footballer of the Year for 1997 and 1998, playing at three World Cups between 1998 and 2006, and building a career in Italy’s Serie A.

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#2 Golf

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 725,855 (The R&A (Global Golf Participation report, per-country data), 2025)
Top national league: Japan Golf Tour (men) / LPGA of Japan Tour (women)
Best known athlete: Hideki Matsuyama. Became the first Japanese man to win a golf major, taking the Masters title in 2021

Golf ranks second among Japan’s sports by registered participants. The R&A’s Global Golf Participation report counted 725,855 registered golfers in Japan for 2025, made up of 651,008 men and 74,847 women.

The men’s professional circuit is the Japan Golf Tour, while women compete on the LPGA of Japan Tour. Hideki Matsuyama became the first Japanese man to win a golf major when he claimed the Masters in 2021.

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#3 Basketball

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 582,670 (Japan Basketball Association (JBA), 2025)
Top national league: B.LEAGUE
Best known athlete: Rui Hachimura. Became the first Japanese player taken in the NBA draft lottery round when the Washington Wizards selected him ninth overall in 2019, and represented Japan at the 2021 Olympics

Basketball is Japan’s third most registered sport by federation membership. The Japan Basketball Association counted 582,670 registered competitors for the 2025 season, not including separate 3×3 basketball registrations.

The top professional league is the B.LEAGUE. Rui Hachimura became the first Japanese player selected in the NBA draft lottery round when the Washington Wizards took him ninth overall in 2019, and he went on to represent Japan at the 2021 Olympics.

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#4 Volleyball

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 470,371 (Japan Volleyball Association (JVA), 2025)
Top national league: SV.League
Best known athlete: Yuji Nishida. Named Best Server and Best Opposite Spiker at the 2019 FIVB World Cup and has captained Japan’s national team at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics

Volleyball follows closely behind basketball in federation membership. The Japan Volleyball Association recorded 470,371 registered players for 2025, up from 456,632 the previous year.

The sport’s top domestic competition is the SV.League. Yuji Nishida was named Best Server and Best Opposite Spiker at the 2019 FIVB World Cup and has captained Japan’s national team at the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.

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#5 Athletics

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 415,040 (Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF), 2023)
Best known athlete: Yoshihide Kiryu. Became the first Japanese sprinter to break the 10 second barrier in the 100 meters, clocking 9.98 seconds in 2017, and won relay silver at the 2016 Rio Olympics

Athletics is one of Japan’s largest sports by federation registration. The Japan Association of Athletics Federations reported a total of 415,040 registered members for 2023, an increase of 13,428 over the prior year.

Yoshihide Kiryu became the first Japanese sprinter to break the 10 second barrier in the 100 meters, clocking 9.98 seconds in 2017. He was also part of the Japanese team that won silver in the 4×100 meter relay at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

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#6 Badminton

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 299,493 (Badminton Association of Japan, 2025)
Top national league: S/J League
Best known athlete: Kento Momota. Reached the world number one ranking and won the BWF World Championships in both 2018 and 2019

Badminton has one of the largest competitive memberships among racket sports in Japan. The Badminton Association of Japan reported 299,493 registered competitors for the 2025 fiscal year, up 7,048 from 292,445 the year before.

The sport’s top domestic league is the S/J League. Kento Momota reached the world number one ranking and won the BWF World Championships in both 2018 and 2019.

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#7 Table Tennis

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 280,010 (Japan Table Tennis Association (JTTA), 2025)
Top national league: T.LEAGUE
Best known athlete: Tomokazu Harimoto. Became the youngest ever men’s world number one in table tennis and has won multiple World Championship medals for Japan

Table tennis is registered with a large membership base in Japan. The Japan Table Tennis Association recorded a grand total of 280,010 registered members for the 2025 fiscal year, made up of 175,866 men and 104,144 women.

The professional league T.LEAGUE hosts Japan’s top domestic competition. Tomokazu Harimoto became the youngest ever men’s world number one in table tennis and has won multiple World Championship medals for Japan.

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#8 Judo

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 125,336 (All Japan Judo Federation (Zen Nihon Judo Renmei), 2025)
Top national league: All Japan Judo Championships
Best known athlete: Yasuhiro Yamashita. Won Olympic gold in 1984 and compiled 203 consecutive victories between 1977 and 1985

Judo, a sport that originated in Japan, remains widely practiced at the competitive level. The All Japan Judo Federation recorded 125,336 registered individual members for 2025.

The All Japan Judo Championships is the sport’s premier open weight domestic tournament. Yasuhiro Yamashita won Olympic gold in 1984 and compiled 203 consecutive victories between 1977 and 1985, a run that established him as one of the sport’s greatest competitors.

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#9 Swimming

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 104,583 (Japan Swimming Federation, 2025)
Best known athlete: Daiya Seto. Won the world title in the 400 meter individual medley five times between 2013 and 2019, a feat matched by only one other swimmer in history

Swimming is registered by more than a hundred thousand competitors in Japan. The Japan Swimming Federation recorded 104,583 registered athletes as of March 31, 2026, covering the 2025 fiscal year.

Daiya Seto has been the sport’s leading Japanese figure, winning the world title in the 400 meter individual medley five times between 2013 and 2019, a feat matched by only one other swimmer in history.

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#10 Rugby

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 90,313 (Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), 2024)
Top national league: Japan Rugby League One
Best known athlete: Ayumu Goromaru. Was a key figure in Japan’s 34-32 victory over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, known as the ‘Brighton Miracle’, and scored 176 points that calendar year, the most of any player worldwide

Rugby maintains a registered membership in the tens of thousands in Japan. The Japan Rugby Football Union recorded 90,313 registered players for the 2024 season, made up of 84,901 men and 5,412 women.

Japan Rugby League One is the country’s top professional competition. Ayumu Goromaru was a key figure in Japan’s 34-32 victory over South Africa at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, a result widely called the Brighton Miracle, and he scored 176 points that calendar year, the most of any player worldwide.

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#11 Handball

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 87,750 (Japan Handball Association (JHA), 2023)
Top national league: Japan Handball League (JHL)

Handball has a smaller but active registered base in Japan. The Japan Handball Association reported 87,750 registered competitors for 2023, an increase of 743 from the previous year.

The sport’s top domestic competition is the Japan Handball League, contested by club teams from across the country.

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#12 Gymnastics

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 24,720 (Japan Gymnastics Association (JGA), 2024)
Best known athlete: Kohei Uchimura. Won the Olympic all-around title in 2012 and 2016, the first man in 44 years to defend it successfully, and won six consecutive World Championship all-around titles between 2009 and 2015

Gymnastics is registered by tens of thousands of competitors in Japan across its disciplines. The Japan Gymnastics Association recorded 24,720 registered athletes for the 2024 fiscal year, covering artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline.

Kohei Uchimura won the Olympic all-around title in 2012 and 2016, becoming the first man in 44 years to defend the title successfully, and he also won six consecutive World Championship all-around titles between 2009 and 2015.

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#13 Cycling

Registered federation members, each federation in its latest published fiscal year: 7,523 (Japan Cycling Federation (JCF), 2025)

Cycling has the smallest registered competitive base among the sports in this ranking. The Japan Cycling Federation recorded 7,523 registered competitors for the 2025 fiscal year.

Japan’s cycling federation also organizes national track and road championships each year, drawing the country’s registered competitive riders.

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Sources

Figures on this page come from national federations and statistics offices and are only as current as their latest published report. Last reviewed: August 2026.

FAQ

What is the most popular sport in Japan?

By national federation registration, soccer is Japan’s most popular sport. The Japan Football Association reported 836,297 registered players in 2025, the highest count among the sports compared here.

What are the most popular sports in Japan?

Ranked by national federation registration, the leading sports are soccer (836,297 registered players, 2025), golf (725,855 registered golfers, 2025), basketball (582,670 registered competitors, 2025), volleyball (470,371 registered players, 2025) and athletics (415,040 registered members, 2023).

What is Japan’s national sport?

Japan has no law or government decree naming an official national sport; a 2011 government response to the House of Representatives confirmed that no law designates sumo as the national sport. Sumo’s own governing body, the Japan Sumo Association, nonetheless describes the sport in its statute as the country’s traditional national sport, or kokugi.

What is the biggest sport in Japan?

By spectator numbers, baseball is Japan’s biggest sport. Nippon Professional Baseball drew a record 26,742,631 fans across both leagues in the 2025 season, more than the J.League’s record 12,540,265 season attendance in 2024.

What are famous Japanese sports?

Judo and kendo are sports that originated in Japan: judo was created in 1882 when Jigoro Kano founded the Kodokan, and kendo developed out of centuries of kenjutsu swordsmanship training. Sumo, whose earliest references appear in 8th century chronicles, is described by its own governing body as the country’s traditional national sport.