毎年運動する

Using this phrase is incredibly straightforward. You start with the time word 毎年 (maitoshi) and follow it immediately with the verb 運動する (undō suru). In Japanese, you don't necessarily need a particle between the time and the action. If you want to be more polite—say, talking to a teacher—you would change it to 毎年運動します. If you want to express that you *try* to do it, you can say 毎年運動するようにしています. It’s like a Lego set; you can snap different endings onto the verb to change the vibe.

This is the perfect phrase for "resolution season." When everyone is talking about their goals for the coming year, this phrase fits right in. It’s also very common during annual health checkups. In Japan, many companies require a 人間ドック (Ningen Dock), a comprehensive health exam. When the doctor asks about your habits, this is a great way to show you are proactive. You might also use it when signing up for a yearly gym membership or chatting with family about staying healthy as you get older.

Be careful not to mix up 毎年 (maitoshi) with 毎日 (mainichi). If you tell your trainer you exercise 毎年, they might think you only show up once a year! That would be a very slow way to get fit. Also, don't use this for specific, one-time events like a marathon happening tomorrow. This phrase is for the recurring, annual habit. Using it for a single event would sound like you plan to run that specific race every single year for the rest of your life (which is impressive, but maybe not what you meant!).

Japan has a deep cultural appreciation for collective health. You might see groups of people doing ラジオ体操 (Radio Taiso) or radio calisthenics. These are often performed daily, but they are a huge part of the annual summer tradition for kids. There is even a national holiday called スポーツの日 (Sports Day) in October. It commemorates the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and encourages everyone to enjoy sports. Many people use this specific day to kick off their 毎年運動する habit. It’s a nation-wide nudge to get off the couch!

If you are a bit of a procrastinator, you might say 毎年、運動を始めます (I start exercising every year). This is a relatable way to joke about resolutions that only last a week. If you are a fitness pro, you’d say 毎年、運動を続けています (I continue to exercise every year). You can also swap 運動 (undō) for スポーツ (supōtsu) if you specifically play games like tennis or soccer. For a more formal setting, you might hear 年次 (nenji) used for "annual," but for daily life, 毎年 is the gold standard.