The Japan Sports Association held a press conference announcing the start of applications for the Japan Fair Play Awards 2015-16.

On July 9, the Japan Sports Association held a press conference at the Akihabara UDX Theater in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, ahead of the call for entries for the "Japan Fair Play Awards 2015-16."

The award solicits stories of fair play witnessed or experienced in sports from the general public and selects outstanding entries. The grand prize-winning story will be adapted into a manga for publication in the association's "Fair Play News." Plans also include creating a movie version for promotional use at sporting events.

Executive Director Masafumi Izumi, speaking at the event, stated, "We want to welcome guests from around the world to Japan in 2020 (when the Olympics and Paralympics are held), a society overflowing with fair play."

Following this, Fair Play Ambassadors singer-songwriter Naoto Inti Raymi and Barcelona Olympics women's marathon silver medalist Yuko Arimori, along with support group representative and former beach volleyball player Kentaro Asahi of the Athlete Society, took the stage. Each shared memorable fair play episodes they had experienced.

The association has been running its "Revitalize Japan with Fair Play" campaign since 2011 and continues its activities this year under the slogan "Aim for 1 Million Fair Play Declarations!" Naoto stated, "Let me make this declaration right here and now," signed the Fair Play Declaration document prepared on stage, and then passionately performed his song "Brave," offered as the Fair Play support song. He commented, "I've continued playing soccer and still hold the desire to play in the World Cup. This song embodies both that feeling as an athlete and the feelings of the supporters cheering us on. It's a song of courage and a song of battle."

The application period for the "Japan Fair Play Awards 2015-16" is from July 10 to October 30, 2015, for the first half, and from November 1, 2015, to March 31, 2016, for the second half. The Grand Prize winner will be announced on July 10, 2016.