It is generally regarded that islander pupils are more physically developed than urbanized ones which tendency was also proved by the census performed in this study. Factors that may stimulate
physical developments of island pupils were hypothetically ascribed to: 1) motivations for physical activities stimulated by islander lifestyles or 2) lifestyles despite motivations. To test the hypothesis
we have conducted a questionnaire survey to quantify i.e. to scale motivations (with reference to lifestyles) as well as a physical ability census for elementary school pupils of an island-based
elementary school Hiroshima Prefecture Japan. The census and questionnaire showed that no clear positive relationships between physical abilities and motivations scales as reported in previous
studies. The results may suggest two alternate hypotheses that: 1) physical abilities and motivation scales are inter-reversely correlated particularly for elder pupils; or 2) islander less-convenient
lifestyles force children to develop physically irrespective of willingness to physical load in their daily lives. The latter is supported by the observation that physical abilities are improved with the
increase in school year grades i.e. the duration of time spent in the islander community.