Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies(TIAS) http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/

University of Tsukuba https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/

2017 TIAS Study Tour (Hiroshima, Kobe)

1. Itinerary

From 4th February 2017 to 7th February 2017 / 4 days

2. Participant

TIAS professors, researchers, students (16 people)

3. The Objective

Learn about the state-of-the-art of Japanese sport science and the history of inflow of modern sport in Japan,

moreover learn about the Shinto culture in Japan, the past-as an atomic bombed country, and the memory of

the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake.

4. Activity report

Day 1: 4th February, Saturday Tokyo → Hiroshima → Miyajima

Weather: sunny

We gathered at Tokyo Station at 9 AM and left for Hiroshima by Shinkansen departing at 9:30. The Tokaido

Shinkansen opening at the time of the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964, students were showing an interest in the

history and technology.

Arrived at Hiroshima station past 2 PM, we took a bus from there and moved to Miyajimaguchi. Inside the bus,

the tour guide introduced the history of Hiroshima and the professional sports team based in Hiroshima. In

Miyajima, we worshiped at Itsukushima Shrine and learned about Shinto culture in Japan by tour guide.

The approach to the Itsukushima Shrine Itsukushima Shrine “Torii”

Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies(TIAS) http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/

University of Tsukuba https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/

Day 2: 5th February, Sunday Hiroshima → Kobe

Weather: Cloudy / rain

Leaving the hotel at 9 AM, we went to the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

and heard about the experiences from the A - bomb victim” Hibakusya”. From the students, questions such as

"What should we inherit in the future?" were asked, and the lecturer gave a strong and impressive message

that "I would like you to take your country what you've heard today, and want you to spread it.”

After that, students visited the Peace Memorial Museum and learned about the history of Hiroshima as a

bombed city, the history of Japan and the misery of the atomic bomb.

After that, we prayed to the memorial monument and visited the A - Bomb Dome.

In the afternoon, we went to the Mazda Stadium and learned about Japanese professional baseball business

in recent years.

Ms. Keio Ogura / Representative Cenotaph A-bomb victims

Hiroshima interpreter group for peace

A - Bomb Dome Mazda Stadium

Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies(TIAS) http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/

University of Tsukuba https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/

Day 3: 6th February, Monday Kobe

Weather: Clear after rain

In the morning students visited the port area of Kobe. After climbed Kobe Port Tower, learned about the damage

of the Great Hanshin-Awaji earthquake at the Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park. In the afternoon, visited

the Kitano Ijinn-kan (former foreign residences) with the guidance of the volunteer guide. We learned about the

history of Kobe, the history of Japan after the opening of the country to the world in the late Edo period, the

relationship with other countries at the time (and its influence up to today), and so on.

Kobe Port Tower Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park

Kitano Ijinn-kan

Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies(TIAS) http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/

University of Tsukuba https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/

Day 4: 7th February, Tuesday Kobe → Tokyo

Weather: Cloudy

Leaving the hotel at 9 AM and visited “ASICS sports engineering laboratory”. After visiting the outside laboratory

area with the guide of Mr. Masako Kosaka of TIAS (1st batch student), went to the laboratory. In the laboratory,

students observed the latest equipment related to product development of ASICS and learned about the

company's latest technology.

In the afternoon, moved to the Kobe Regatta and Athletic Club and got a lecture the theme of "Kobe and Modern

Sports - Popularization by Europeans and Americans and Popularization among Hanshin" by Mr. Masamitsu

Takagi, Secretary General of the Kobe Foreign Residents Study Group.

It seems to be a very meaningful day for students to learn about the state-of-the-art of Japanese sport science

and to learn about the influx of modern sports in Japan and its social background.

ASICS sports engineering laboratory Mr. Tsuyoshi Nishiwaki / director

Measurement of foot

Tsukuba International Academy for Sport Studies(TIAS) http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/

University of Tsukuba https://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/

Mr. Masamitsu Takagi, Secretary General of the Kobe Foreign Residents Study Group.

5. Summary

The study tour of this time was very meaningful for the TIAS 2nd batch students, and even so for professors and

researchers. In Hiroshima, students learned about war, the misery of the atomic bomb, and seems to have

deeply thought about the meaning of learning in Japan, the only atomic bombed country, the possibility of sport

for peace building. In Kobe, students learned about state-of-the-art of Japanese sport science and Japanese

sport culture.

As an issue, students did not have enough preliminary knowledge of history of Hiroshima / Kobe , sports history

in Japan, and Japanese professional and sports situation. From next time on, it was felt that there should be

an increase in the time of pre-learning and be able to be having a systematic learning chance. In addition,

students want to touch on the history of sport in Japan, the situation of professional sports, etc., in the ordinary

lecture.