Chapter 15: The Digital Transformation of Health and Fitness Clubs in Japan

In Japan, the economic damage due to COVID-19 is significant since it suggests a long-term economic recovery. Given this economic reality, digital technology has become an element increasingly present in contemporary societies, with the concept of ‘Society 5.0’ emerging as a new strategic and national political initiative. ‘Society 5.0’ is defined as a human-centred society that achieves both economic development and resolution of social issues through a system that highly integrates cyber space (virtual space) and physical space (real space). In addition, the Japanese government recently formulated its ‘Basic Policy for Reforms towards the Realization of Digital Society’ (ratified in the Cabinet on 25 December 2020), which accelerates the digital transformation of whole activities in social and economic fields in order to resolve the many social issues that Japan has been facing while also promoting future economic growth (Digital Agency, 2021). To realise these strategies, the Digital Agency was established in the Cabinet on 1 September 2021. In order to aim for a new post-corona society, the government is promoting digital transformation (DX) and aiming to realise a digital society. DX which works to transform business models, both public and private, has become a keyword for the transformation required of all organisations.