The National Agency for the Advancement of Sports and Health, an independent administrative corporation that sells soccer lottery tickets, has its back against the wall due to sluggish sales and hopes to sow the seeds of recovery in the next fiscal year.
It began selling lottery tickets in fiscal 2001 with the aim of getting revenue resources to support sports in Japan under a tieup contract with Resona Bank. But with the termination of the contract this month, it has outlined its own plan to sell new "mini-toto" lottery tickets and other tickets at convenience stores.
In appealing for the need for lottery tickets to promote sports at a center-sponsored party in Tokyo last month, Kenji Kosaka, minister of education, culture, sports, science and technology, cited the poor showing by Japanese athletes at the Turin Games.
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