Akishima City formulated the Healthy Akishima 21 (II) plan in 2016, and the Healthy Akishima 21 (II-2H) follow-up plan in 2020.
The physical activity and exercise program targets were (1) to increase the number of people who consciously move their bodies on a daily basis and engage in regular exercise, and (2) to raise awareness about exercise in the local community by creating an environment that encourages people to exercise. The city has been promoting various measures in order to achieve these two goals.
One of these measures was a set of walking-related initiatives that included creating a walking map and holding walking workshops. The idea was to encourage people to make purposeful walking part of their daily routines and engage in more everyday physical activity.
| Akishima Walking Map | |
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We created the Akishima Walking Map in the hopes of providing residents with a useful tool for increasing their mental and physical fitness as well as preventing lifestyle diseases.
・The map features ten routes that showcase the highlights of Akishima, from easy beginner routes to 10-km courses that span the entire city.
・The maps were distributed at various locations, including the Aipokku Health and Welfare Center, the general information desk at the Akishima City Office, the General Sports Center, and the Akishima Tourist Information Office. 
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| Walking workshops | |
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The city also held workshops led by fitness educators to teach proper walking technique and form with the goal of preventing lifestyle diseases. Participants learned that incorporating proper walking into their daily routines could help them stay fit, lose weight, or prevent or reduce physical symptoms such as back and knee pain.
■2021 activities 《Dates》September 22, 2021 and October 14, 2021 《Target participants》 Local residents 《Details》 Learn low-impact walking techniques and use the walking map to walk for about an hour. 《Number of participants》 19 |
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| The Iki-iki Health Points Program/Iki-iki Health Points Program for Seniors is Available Now | |
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In 2015, we launched the Akishima Iki-iki Health Points Program with the goal of making every part of Akishima—our people, our community, and our natural environment—strong, healthy, and energetic. One health initiative that people could use to accumulate points was to walk the routes presented in the Akishima Walking Map.
■2021 activities 《Schedule》Ten months between May 1, 2021 and the end of February 2022 《Target participants》 The program was open to Akishima residents of all ages, as well as people who work or go to school in the city. A senior-focused version of the program was launched in 2021, targeting Akishima residents and workers 65 and older. 《Points program》 ・Participants used point cards to keep track of their points ・Points were awarded through a variety of health-promoting activities, including sports participation, getting health checkups, and participating in neighborhood activities or city-sponsored events. ・Accumulated points could be used to enter a gift drawing. 
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Walking workshops