Widespread "Early Onset of Fatigue" Among Japanese Children Requires Attention to Post-School "Growth Environment Based on Class Intervals" for High-Achieving Kids

The Japan Recovery Association (Secretariat: Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative Director: Hideki Katano), in collaboration with Venex Co., Ltd. (Location: Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, President: Taichi Nakamura), a developer of recovery-related services and products, has announced the "Junior Recovery White Paper 2026 Report Vol. 1." This survey focuses on "recovery (rest and anti-fatigue)," a crucial element of health alongside exercise and nutrition, and analyzes the lifestyle, learning, and sports environments of children from kindergarten to high school, as well as their fatigue, sleep, and recovery behaviors. The survey results reveal that fatigue increases with grade level, with the "percentage of children feeling fatigued" rising from 26.6% in kindergarteners to 66.6% in junior high school students and 71.2% in high school students, highlighting the "early onset of fatigue." This white paper analyzes how changes in lifestyle, learning, and sports environments impact children's accumulated fatigue and declining condition, and proposes the importance of a "growth environment based on class intervals after school" for today's junior generation.

"Junior Recovery White Paper 2026 Vol. 1 Analysis Summary"

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Fatigue Status: The percentage of children feeling fatigued increases from 26.6% in kindergarteners to 71.2% in high school students, with approximately 70% experiencing fatigue after puberty, particularly 66.6% in junior high and 71.2% in high school.

Sleep Duration: 37.1% of high school students sleep "6-7 hours," and 14.6% sleep "less than 6 hours." Only 2.4% of high school students manage to get 9 hours or more of sleep.

Bathing Frequency: The percentage of those who "bathe daily" decreases from 76.1% in kindergarteners to 56.6% in high school students, while "mainly showering only" increases to 19.5% among high school students.

Number of Extracurricular Activities: Among mid-elementary school students, 55.2% have "2-3 activities," and 17.7% have "4 or more." In contrast, among high school students, 48.8% have "0 activities" and 42.0% have "1 activity," indicating a concentration of activities.

Sports Activity Days: 30.5% of junior high school students are active "5 days a week," 38.1% of high school students are active "6 days a week," and 9.3% are active "daily." Approximately half of high school students are active 6 days or more per week.

Study Hours: 27.4% of junior high school students study "1-2 hours," while "hardly any" is the most common response for high school students at 41.5%. However, 17.0% of high school students study "2 hours or more," showing a polarization in study habits.

Study Methods: "Studying intensively before tests" was reported by 39.9% of junior high school students and 51.7% of high school students, with over half of high school students adopting a short-term intensive learning style.

Early Onset of Fatigue and the 70% Fatigue Era for High School Students

Fatigue levels among children from kindergarten to high school generally increase with age. In the 2026 survey, only 26.6% of kindergarteners reported feeling any fatigue, while this figure rose significantly to 45.9% for lower elementary, 59.6% for mid-elementary, 61.1% for upper elementary, 66.6% for junior high, and 71.2% for high school students, indicating that a high level of fatigue is becoming the norm after puberty.

Specifically, over 70% of high school students feel fatigued, likely due to the cumulative burden of academics, club activities, entrance exams, smartphone use, and disrupted daily routines. Compared to 2025, the percentage of fatigued students has increased among lower and mid-elementary students and high school students, highlighting both the trend of early onset and persistently high fatigue levels.

Figure 1: Comparison of Percentage of Fatigued Individuals 2025-2026 (Unit: %)

6-7 Hours of Sleep is Most Common for High School Students; Sleep Deprivation Worsens with Grade Progression

Children's sleep duration tends to decrease significantly with age. For kindergarteners, 34.7% sleep "9-10 hours" and 35.5% sleep "10 hours or more," meaning about 70% get sufficient sleep of 9 hours or more. However, sleep duration gradually shortens in elementary school. By upper elementary, 23.6% sleep "7-8 hours," showing early signs of sleep deprivation. In junior high, "7-8 hours" is the most common duration at 41.0%, with 16.4% sleeping "6-7 hours." This trend intensifies in high school, where "6-7 hours" is the most frequent duration at 37.1%, and 14.6% sleep "less than 6 hours," revealing a chronic state of sleep deprivation.

Figure 2: Weekday Sleep Duration (Unit: %)

Showering Becomes Dominant for High School Students; Daily Bathing Habits Significantly Decline

Regarding bathing frequency, the proportion of those who "bathe daily" decreases with age, showing a trend towards a shower-centric lifestyle. For kindergarteners, 76.1% and for lower elementary students, 76.3% reported "bathing daily," indicating relatively stable bathing habits in younger age groups.

However, this figure drops to 68.4% for junior high students and further to 56.6% for high school students. Conversely, the proportion of those who "mainly shower only (bathe less than once a week)" increases from 4.6% for kindergarteners to 12.8% for junior high students and 19.5% for high school students, revealing that about one in five high school students rarely use a bathtub.

Figure 3: Bathing Frequency (Unit: %)

Wide Range of Experiences in Elementary School; Multiple Extracurricular Activities Become Normal; a Period Requiring Balance Between Activity and Recovery

Children's extracurricular activity numbers (including club activities) show significant differences by age group. While "0 activities" is most common for kindergarteners at 43.2%, the proportion of elementary school students participating in multiple activities increases sharply. Particularly among mid-elementary students, 28.5% have "2 activities" and 26.7% have "3 activities," with 17.7% having "4 or more," indicating that many children are engaged in multiple activities concurrently.

For upper elementary students, "2 activities" is also the most common at 30.7%, suggesting they combine activities like cram school, sports, and cultural pursuits. However, in junior high school, "1 activity" becomes the most common at 44.6%, and for high school students, "0 activities" accounts for 48.8% and "1 activity" for 42.0%, showing a trend of significantly fewer activities.

Figure 4: Number of Extracurricular Activities (Unit: %) *Includes club activities

Sharp Increase in Activity 5+ Days a Week from Junior High; About Half of High School Students Active 6+ Days a Week

Activity days for sports-related extracurricular activities and club activities tend to increase significantly with grade level. For kindergarteners, "1 day a week" is most common at 62.5%, indicating relatively low-frequency activities. In elementary school, activity days gradually increase, with upper elementary students showing a trend towards higher frequency, with 20.5% active "4 days a week" and 21.7% active "5 days a week."

Furthermore, in junior high school, "5 days a week" is the most common at 30.5%, with 21.0% active "4 days a week," meaning an increasing number of students spend most of the week on activities. This trend is even more pronounced in high school, where "6 days a week" is the most common at 38.1%, and 9.3% are active "daily." This reveals that approximately half of high school students engage in sports activities 6 days or more per week.

Figure 5: Sports Extracurricular Activity Days (Unit: %)

Study Hours Increase in Elementary School; Polarization of Long Study Hours in Junior High and High School

Children's study hours change significantly with grade progression, with a trend towards longer hours and polarization observed particularly from junior high school onwards. While "hardly any" accounts for 72.2% of kindergarteners, "30 minutes or less" is most common for elementary students, at 47.8% for lower elementary and 41.9% for mid-elementary, suggesting the formation of daily home study habits. For upper elementary students, study hours are lengthening, with 22.5% studying "1-2 hours" and 11.8% studying "2 hours or more." In junior high school, "1-2 hours" is the most common at 27.4%, with 12.8% studying "2-3 hours." For high school students, "hardly any" is the most frequent response at 41.5%, but 22.0% study "1-2 hours" and 17.0% study "2 hours or more," indicating a polarization between those who don't study and those who study for long hours.

Figure 6: Outside-Class Study Hours (Unit: %)

Intensive Test Preparation Becomes Mainstream for Junior High and High School Students; Gap with Daily Study Habits Widens

Study methods show significant differences by grade level. For kindergarteners and elementary school students, "no specific time is set" is the most common response, accounting for 29.3% of kindergarteners, 52.7% of lower elementary, and 46.6% of mid-elementary students, suggesting that learning styles are not yet fixed.

However, from around mid-elementary school, the number of children who devise their own study habits, such as "studying for 10-15 minutes in the morning" or "studying all at once on weekends," gradually increases. Furthermore, in junior high school, "studying intensively before tests" accounts for 39.9%, and in high school, it reaches 51.7%, with the "cramming style before exams" becoming mainstream.

Additionally, for high school students, 14.1% study "with friends," and 11.7% "utilize spare time," while 37.1% have "no specific time set," indicating individual differences and polarization in learning methods.

Figure 7: Study Time Strategies (Unit: %)

[Junior Recovery Survey Overview]

Period: March 31 - April 17, 2026

Method: Internet Survey

Target Audience: Parents registered on the school operation DX platform "Sgrum" and "Rakuraku Renraku Net."

Respondents: 518 kindergarteners, 414 lower elementary students, 554 mid-elementary students, 560 upper elementary students, 766 junior high school students, 410 high school students.

*About "Sgrum" for Survey Cooperation

"Sgrum," developed by Euphoria Co., Ltd., is an operational management app for schools and club activities used by approximately 2,000 organizations (as of July 2025), primarily sports organizations, extracurricular classes, municipalities, and comprehensive community sports clubs. It is utilized by schools and academies of over 40 professional sports organizations in Japan as a communication app connecting instructors and parents. Based on its communication function, it offers services necessary for school operations, such as "online payment (credit card/convenience store payment)" for tuition collection and a "merchandise sales function" for selling goods and uniforms within teams, all within a single app.

Details here: https://service.sgrum.com

*About "Rakuraku Renraku Net +" for Survey Cooperation

"Rakuraku Renraku Net + (Plus)," developed by Euphoria Co., Ltd., is a group communication service (app) with approximately 700,000 registered users (as of November 30, 2025) participating in sports teams, school club activities, circles, and PTA activities nationwide. It is equipped with various functions to streamline communication in group activities, such as "mass announcements," "schedule coordination," and "attendance confirmation."

Details here: https://www.ra9plus.jp/

[About Venex Co., Ltd.]

Focusing on "rest," a key element for health alongside "exercise" and "nutrition," Venex develops, manufactures, and sells recovery support products, primarily specialized rest wear, and conducts research, awareness activities, services, and development related to recovery. The company started as a manufacturer of nursing care products, developing and selling a "bedsore prevention mattress." Currently, it develops products related to recovery based on sleep science.

With the concept of "maximizing the self-healing power inherent in humans," the wear developed through a collaborative project between Tokai University, Kanagawa Prefecture, and the company, emphasizes evidence-based (scientific) and safety-conscious development. Since its launch in February 2010 as "specialized rest wear," it has been favored by many, including athletes and sports professionals representing Japan, for its support in fatigue recovery and restful sleep. The company now offers a wide range of products sold in major department stores and online shops nationwide. The series has achieved cumulative sales of 2.5 million units (as of mid-June 2026), making it a hit product.

[Venex Co., Ltd. Overview]

Company Name: Venex Co., Ltd.

Representative: Taichi Nakamura, Representative Director

Location: 4F Asaoka Bldg., 4-4-13 Nakamachi, Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture 243-0018

Phone: 046-200-9288

Established: September 30, 2005

Business Activities: Development, manufacturing, and sales of recovery support products.

Research, awareness activities, services, and development related to recovery.

Homepage: https://www.venex-j.co.jp/

[Japan Recovery Association Overview]

Location: 4F Asaoka Bldg., 4-4-13 Nakamachi, Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture

President: Yasuyoshi Watanabe (Professor, Special Appointment, Graduate School of Science and Technology Innovation, Kobe University; Professor Emeritus, RIKEN; Advisor, Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University; Professor Emeritus, Osaka City University; Chairman, Japan Society of Fatigue; Chairman, Japan Brain Power Development Association; CEO, Integrated Health Science Co., Ltd.)

Vice President: Kei Mizuno (Professor, Special Appointment, Graduate School of Science and Technology Innovation, Kobe University; Visiting Senior Researcher, Center for Bioscience Research and Innovation, RIKEN; Specially Appointed Professor/Deputy Director, Center for Health Science Innovation, Osaka Metropolitan University; Director, Japan Society of Fatigue)

Advisors: Yasuo Otani (Chairman, Kanagawa University of Health and Welfare; Former Special Advisor to the Cabinet Office)

Hideaki Matsuki (Professor Emeritus, Tokai University; Director, Japan Council for Quality Health Care)

Shoki Tazawa (Former Professor, School of Health Sciences, Tokai University)

Representative Director: Hideki Katano, Ph.D. (Medicine) (Visiting Researcher, Hakujikai Geriatric Research Institute; Advisor, Genki Vital Academy)

Affiliation: Genki Vital Academy (Germany)

URL: https://www.recovery.or.jp/

[Definition of Recovery]

Recovery is the restoration of diminished functions of physical and mental activity, and the replenishment of vitality, which is a physiological and psychological resource, in preparation for the next activity.

<Contact for Media Inquiries>

Japan Recovery Association

Email: info@recovery.or.jp