For three days in late July, more than 40,000 visitors gathered at Tokyo Big Sight to attend the 15th edition of SPORTEC. The massive exhibition, running from July 30 to August 1, 2025, showcased why Japan has emerged as a driving force in the global fitness landscape and as a crucial gateway to the Asian market.

Hosted and organized by Tsuyoshi Sasaki, CEO of TSO International, SPORTEC is Japan’s largest sports industry exhibition, bringing together over 450 companies and government organizations from around the world. The event included 530 exhibition booths spread across three halls that maintained packed crowds during the entire three days. In addition to the trade show, SPORTEC serves as a business platform where key public and private decision-makers gather to network and promote a shared vision of health through fitness and sports.

HFA Asia-Pacific Director Sean Tan, who attended the event shortly after appearing at the 2025 ChinaFit/HFA Management Forum, praised Sasaki and his team, saying, “Everything was meticulously planned for, and executed with classic Japanese precision.”

Japan Makes Its Case as an Industry Powerhouse

A highlight of the event was a session featuring Tan and Masaaki Yoshida, chairman and executive director of the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) of Japan. Their discussion focused on Japan’s position as an emerging power in the global fitness market, despite having relatively modest penetration rates compared to Western countries.

Japan’s fitness boom includes more than 2,200 Anytime Fitness facilities, 2,100 Curves locations, and 1,800 ChocoZAP facilities. These figures represent not just market penetration but successful adaptation of international fitness concepts patterned to Japanese consumer preferences and lifestyles.

Japan’s approach to fitness is particularly noteworthy given its aging population. According to the World Economic Forum, almost a third of Japan’s population is over 65 years old and more than 10% is aged 80 or older.

Honoring Toshikazu Saito with the John Holsinger Global Leader Award

One of SPORTEC’s most memorable moments was the presentation of the third HFA John Holsinger Global Leader Award to Toshikazu Saito, founding chairman of Renaissance Inc., one of Japan’s largest gym groups by revenue. Saito had been announced the recipient of the award at The HFA Show 2025 on March 13 but was unable to travel to Las Vegas to receive it in person.

Saito’s journey from chemical engineer in Zurich to fitness industry pioneer exemplifies the innovative spirit driving Japan’s fitness sector. Inspired by German writer Goethe and Renaissance art masters during his time in Europe, particularly Botticelli’s Primavera and Leonardo da Vinci’s works, Saito founded Renaissance 45 years ago with a philosophy that balanced work with play—revolutionary in Japan’s work-intensive culture. Under his leadership, Renaissance grew from a single tennis club to a fitness empire generating over ¥63.7 billion (approximately $442 million) in revenue across more than 140 company-operated clubs.

Now honorary chairman of the company, Saito recently handed the reins to incoming Renaissance President Misao Kochizuki. It was Kochizuki who appeared on behalf of Saito in Las Vegas on March 13 at The HFA Show 2025.