Middlesex Wanderers
　Middlesex Wanderers, the British amateur selection, visited　Japan and　played　four friendly matches in May. They lost the opening match 2-1 to the Japan All Stars at the National Stadium in Tokyo, won the second match 2-1 over the same opponents, also in Tokyo, and drew 1-1 with Yanmar Diesel of Osaka at Kobe. They also drew their final match, 3-3, against Mitsubishi of Tokyo.

　Asian Youth Tournament
　The 11th Asian Youth Football Tournament was held in Bangkok from April 15th to 30th, the Championship being shared by Thailand and　Burma, who　played　to　a draw in the final after extra-time.
　Japan sent a high school selection consisting of 18 players to the Tournament　and advanced to　the　quarter-finals.　This was a satisfactory　display, because　all　of　the players were under　18 years of age,　whilst　most of the other competing teams included players up to the age of 20.

　Football in Schools
　“To see the future is　easy　but　to know the past is difficult”. This statement is no paradox when we relate it to the development of football in Japan.　It is apparent that football will become one of the major sports in this coutry in the near future, but the causes of the current increase in players and spectators are not altogether clear.
　Some said that the Olympic Games in Tokyo five years ago was the turning point. About a half million people who were not familiar with football saw the games of the Olympic football tournament at that time. Others pointed out that Mr. Dettmar Cramer of west Germany, who had worked as a national coach prior to the Tokyo Olympics made a great contribution towards the revolutionary change in Japanese football.
　Whilst these reasons are valid, the foundation for the subsequent development was established six years before the Tokyo Olympics. In 1958 the Ministry of Education changed the courses of study in schools, and football was adopted as one of the subjects of physical education. Since then, football has been taught in all primary, middle and high schools throughout Japan. In primary and middle schools, football is the only outdoor ball game to be taught as a part of the　regular　school　curriculum.　In high? schools, teachers can select　rugby football as an outdoor ball game if they wish.
　Following　the　decision of　the Ministy, the　Football　Association　of　Japan　took effective measures immediately. ?An annual coaching　course　for　school　teachers was established and has since been held every summer　from　1958.　Tournaments　and Courses　for　students　in normal　colleges followed from 1959, with all expenses being covered by the Association.
　The results of these measures were remarkable. Now, almost every boy and girl in Japan knows the game, and the number of clubs in middle schools has overtaken base-ball in many districts. The high school football clubs which compete for the National Championship sponsored　by the Association has increased from about 700 in 1958 to 2,000 in 1969.

■