The concept of ‘physical fitness’ was not popular in the development of health idea in pre-modern Japan. Yojo was the fundamental idea for preserving health and prolonging one’s life before Meiji restoration. It is traditional concept which has influenced people attempt to improve their health and total quality of life in Asian societies. During the Edo period(1603-1867), publications of Yojo-ron gradually increased. <br>　The new government established in Meiji era adopted the concept of Eisei（it is the meaning of ‘hygiene’） instead of Yojo . Under the idea of hygiene, physical fitness was considered as a concept of indicating how the people were able to work. In the later of Meiji Period, principles of Yojo and Eisei were extended to include the affairs of society and state. ITO.Shigeru, wrote a text on Yojo titled The Philosophy of Yojo(Yojo Tetsugaku). Ito earnestly stated in his writings that the national government had to perform the ‘Yojo of the state (Kokka no Yojo)’. GOTO.Shinpei, the director of Bureau of Hygiene, originated the theory of health care and health administration for the fulfillment of ‘Fukoku Kyohei’ (national prosperity and strength) in one of his main works The principle of Hygiene for the state (Kokka-Eisei-Genri) with the backing of strong political power. The basic principles of hygiene during the Meiji Period were based primarily on social Darwinism and social revolution theory. <br>　On the other hand, the aspect of thinking about the entire people’s health became an opportunity to receive the idea of social hygiene that purposed to make their health levels equal. TERUOKA.Gito, pointed out the necessity of fulfillment of labor’s fitness power from view point of development as industrial country. Under the World War Ⅱ, Teruoka had recognized that labors were resources of the nation and insisted physical fitness of labors was also military power in Japan. <br>　The change of mainstream from social hygiene to public health in Japan was influenced with the public health policy of the United States basically gave priority to preventive medicine and health education. The characteristics gradually developed to the movement of ‘health promotion’ as the international movement of public health. Under the situation, the problem of physical fitness have been individualized toward the context of prevention of life style related diseases and personal active life. It is essential to reconsider the social and cultural aspects of physical fitness under such the circumstance.