Japan’s consumer safety watchdog called for the creation of industrywide standards for personal trainers in a report Wednesday, after finding that accidents during one-on-one fitness instruction are on the rise.
The report, published by the Consumer Safety Investigation Commission, said businesses and industry groups should systematize the knowledge, skills and experience required of trainers, as the rapid spread of personal training among general consumers has outpaced safety practices.
According to the report, there were 196 recorded accidents involving personal training between January 2019 and December 2025, with 44 recorded in 2025. Injuries requiring at least one month of treatment accounted for 41% of the total, at 81 cases, the commission said.