Ten years have passed since Fukuoka Prefecture began its Talent Discovery Program, an initiative aimed at cultivating elementary and junior high school athletes into world-class competitors. One of the first of its kind in Japan, the project has produced 26 winners in junior competitions for sports such as fencing, swimming and archery. Last year, 47,505 students applied to the program, and only 116 were chosen based on their scores in a range of physical activities. There are about 30 seats per grade from 5th through 9th (JHS 3rd year) grades, and program students participate in tailored activities every Saturday. One former program student, Kana Suemoto, a 3rd-year student at Dazaifu High School won a bronze medal in rifle shooting at last year’s Youth Olympic Festival in Australia and was admitted to the Japan Olympic Committee’s Elite Academy Program for intensive training ahead of the Rio Olympics in 2016. With Tokyo’s recent winning bid for the 2020 Olympics, the prefecture’s program is gaining more attention as a “potential shortcut to the Olympics”. Source: Nishinippon Shimbun 2/2
