Japan’s WorldSkills legacy continues as host of WorldSkills Competition 2028

Over five decades ago, WorldSkills Japan made history by hosting the first ever WorldSkills Competition outside of Europe. International Vocational Training Competition Tokyo 1970 was also the first event to be staged in an Asian country. The 19th International Vocational Training Competition was held at Yoyogi National Gymnasium, where Competitors from 16 countries and regions took part, showcasing their talents across 30 skill competitions.

Held at a time when Japan was going through a period of rapid transformation and modernization, the Competition had a strong theme of skills for advancement. Guests at the Opening Ceremony were greeted by Mr Ken’ichiro Komai, Chairman of the Competition Organizing Committee. His words demonstrated strong belief in the power of skills and predicted great things for the WorldSkills community.

He said, “In this age of unprecedented progress, we hope we will be good friends, good neighbours, and good collaborators with each other. We believe this Competition will constitute a momentum for hope and that our movement for promoting vocational skills will continue to make great strides in its progress with every passing year.”

At the time, International Vocational Training Competition Tokyo 1970 was described as the “biggest leap so far” for WorldSkills, marking the beginning of Asia’s sustained involvement in the global skills movement and the transformation of the Competition into a truly global event.

Following the success of Tokyo 1970, WorldSkills Japan has gone on to host two more successful events – International Vocational Training Competition Osaka 1985 and WorldSkills Shizuoka 2007. Each event has mirrored the social, industrial, and technological developments of the time.

As new digital solutions emerged in the 1980s, so International Vocational Training Competition Osaka 1985 was the first Competition to trial the 500-point marking system alongside the computer-based Competition Information System (CIS). The aim was to make scoring more transparent and consistent across judges, and its principles still underpin the marking and CIS used today.

WorldSkills Shizuoka 2007 was hosted under the banner of “Releasing the full WorldSkills potential”, urging guests to consider the impact of the organization beyond the event. Jack Dusseldorp, President of WorldSkills at the time, reflected, “WorldSkills has a larger purpose that transcends the mechanics of the Competition. Together we seek to enrich the lives of growing numbers of young people and enable the professionals and experts in the world of skills to grow though international cooperation and collaboration.”

At WorldSkills Shizuoka 2007 this spirit of collaboration was evident in the launch of “One School One Country” (OSOC) where the teams from the participating countries and regions were paired with local Japanese schools. Students learnt about the opportunities provided by skills, while schools and Competitors shared insights about what it is like to live, study, and work in another country. OSOC has continued to be a much-loved feature at WorldSkills Competitions, deepening connections and celebrating the importance of cultural exchange.

So, how does WorldSkills Japan plan to build on this rich history at WorldSkills Aichi 2028?

The 49th WorldSkills Competition will take place in Aichi on 15–20 November 2028 in Aichi, the heartland of Japanese manufacturing. WorldSkills Japan has pledged to mobilize 300,000 visitors to the event, including a large number of students to inspire the next generation. During the bid, Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister of Japan, expressed the importance of investing in skilled youth saying, “Recently I had an opportunity to talk with some Champions. I was deeply impressed by young people boldly opening up the future of skills. The government of Japan is ready to support the WorldSkills Competition.”

As much as WorldSkills Japan will be building on an impressive historic legacy, it will also be championing skills for a more prosperous and resilient future.

David Hoey, CEO of WorldSkills International, reflects, “International Vocational Training Competition Tokyo 1970 was more than just a geographic milestone. It marked the beginning of our evolution into a true global movement, a global stage for skills. Marking our 75th anniversary and looking ahead to our next Competitions, we must remember how important skills are in uniting people and shaping the future of our industries and societies.”His words echo the message from Dr B Palomares, President of the International Organising Council, who spoke at International Vocational Training Competition Tokyo 1970. He said, “We keep working because we know that a well-trained youth, aware of its mission in life and capable of doing a well-done job, is a warranty of a bright individual and collective future.”

You can learn more about past Competitions through our WorldSkills Museum Archive, as well as updates on preparations for WorldSkills Aichi 2028.