In recent years, the way university sports are conducted has been under discussion. In particular, there is some concern about the balance between studies and competitive activities, which is important when considering the future of university sports in Japan. As no previous research has focused on sports recommendation admissions to universities in Japan, the present study first attempted to clarify the way in which this system has developed.<br>  The following findings were obtained:<br>  1. In Japan, even before the recommendation admission system was officially approved, athletes had been given preferential treatment in entrance examinations, which was not disclosed to the public or stipulated in application guides.<br>  2. Soon after the recommendation admission system was officially approved, campus disputes worsened, which caused the preferential admission treatment of athletes to be severely criticized, making it difficult to continue with the conventional system any longer. Accordingly, during the period from the late 1960s to the early 1970s, universities abolished the preferential treatment given to athletes in entrance examinations.<br>  3. Since the recommendation admission system was officially approved in 1967, the faculties of physical education at private universities, among others, started to actively admit athletes based on recommendation. These physical education faculties selected students based on physical skill tests to secure competent athletes. Thus, by matching the admission policy of the faculty with the sporting abilities of athletes, universities were able to secure competent athletes without having to impose a special admission quota for athletes.<br>  4. In the 1980s, private universities played a leading role in conducting entrance examinations with a special admission quota for athletes. Waseda University launched the Special Selection System for Physical Education Major, which introduced a special admission quota for athletes, specified the athletic events and performances, and made the selection process widely known to the public. In conducting this selection, however, the university faced a dilemma of whether or not to employ it as the system for strengthening their sports teams.<br>  5. In 1987, the Ad Hoc Council on Education, an advisory body of the Japanese Government on education, recommended that assessment of sports activities be taken into consideration in entrance examinations. The 1989, the Guidelines for University Entrance Examination, revised in accordance with the Council's recommendation, listed “adequate assessment of activities in sports, culture, etc.” as a selection method for university admission for the first time.<br>