Shiga Prefecture's First "Kids Kenko Ambassador" Program Held, Learning with Olympians

Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture (Mayor Noriyoshi Asami) implemented the "Kids Kenko Ambassador Program" in FY2025, in collaboration with Olympians and Paralympians, as an initiative to promote health for children and adults. The purpose of this program, the first of its kind in Shiga Prefecture, is for children to experience the joy and importance of exercise and to spread health awareness to their families and communities.

The lecture was held on December 8, 2025. On that day, Daiki Ogita, an Olympian in track and field (pole vault), and Chinami Shimizu, a Paralympian from Nagahama City (wheelchair basketball), served as instructors, conveying the joy of physical activity and the significance of challenge to the children.

Furthermore, Professor Shuya Kuno of the University of Tsukuba gave a lecture from a specialized perspective on the relationship between exercise and health, emphasizing that "acquiring exercise habits from childhood leads to lifelong health."

This program also emphasizes that children themselves act as "Kenko Ambassadors," taking what they have learned home and conveying it to their guardians and families. It is anticipated as a new approach to health promotion, aiming to raise health awareness across the entire family, starting from the children.

Focus on creating exercise habits for young women

Nagahama City also focuses on creating exercise habits for young women.