About

The Master’s program aims to educate and train personnel who will contribute to the world using their knowledge and skills in sport, physical education and health. The 21st century has seen repeated ethnic, religious and political unrest as well as natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions that led to human suffering, large scale migration, and an increased number of persons living in refugee camps. The need to deal with these issues using the knowledge of health, sport, and physical education is critically important. The fun of learning during physical activity and play exposes children to the joy of life, teaches human rights and equality for both men and women, and provides hope for life. Japan’s physical education and health education are the foundation of an active and healthy life, and disseminating pedagogically trained instructors and its systems to countries in need is one of the important contributions this program makes to the world. Over the past 10 years, our graduates have joined NGO/NPO organizations, private companies, or become university faculty via the acquisition of a PhD. We hope that our students will learn International Development and Peace through Sport (IDS), obtain practical skills, and actively contribute to the global society.

Satoshi SHIMIZU, Ph.D.
Chairperson, Master’s Program in International Development and Peace through Sport
Professor, University of Tsukuba

At present, expectations and interest regarding the utility of sports in education, physical training, health promotion, industry, events, tourism, environment, policy, international politics are diverse. Accordingly, approaches to scientific research on sports also vary. Under these circumstances, this joint major in “International Development and Peace through Sport” is receiving a lot of attention as an academic field exploring the additional value of sports.

The usefulness and importance of development through sports (regional and international development) has already been recognized. On the other hand, it is necessary to consider how to engage in development from the standpoint of sports specialization and issues in development and aid. Essentially, it is important to deepen our understanding of body movement culture in various countries and regions. In the future, various research derived from the discourse regarding the association of sports with development and development via sports will allow an associated body of knowledge to be built up and clarified.

The University of Tsukuba, the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, and the Japan Sport Council established the Master’s Program in International Development and Peace through Sport in Japan. The aim of its establishment is to develop human resources capable of being active internationally by acquiring expert knowledge and practical skills related to development through sports concurrently with the research capacity to analyze, verify and solve problems scientifically. Through these education and research activities, students will contribute to the enhancement and development of education and research in the field of sports science. I would like to pursue the new possibilities of sports science in this “International Development and Peace through Sports” program with students, graduate students, and staff.

Chair, the Joint Master’s Program in International Development and Peace through Sport,
Dr. Rie Yamada, National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya

The Japan Sport Council (JSC) collaborates with the University of Tsukuba and the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya in launching the joint master’s program in International Development and Peace through Sport which develops human recourses to promote international exchange and contribution through sport.

The article 2 of the basic act on sports which was enforced in 2011 states that promoting international exchange and contribution in sport is one of the basic principles, and article 19 stipulates to take appropriate measures to those. In addition, the sport basic plan developed the next year also specifies advancing personnel and material international exchange and contribution in sport. Under this circumstances, the University of Tsukuba and the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Kanoya, national universities in physical education and sport, play an important role in implementing sport policy of our country, and the joint master’s program in collaboration between the JSC and two universities is highly anticipated.

Sport greatly contributes to issues in the diverse and complex international community, and the United Nations and sport sector have been actively promoting peacebuilding and development assistance in developing countries through sport. In order to further these initiatives, it is desired to have personnel with a competency to comprehend global issues broadly and scientifically, practical skills to contribute to the global society and research capacity. The joint master’s program will certainly cope with the expectation of the international community in nurturing human recourses, and this program is placed as an important initiative to fulfill our role in the world.

As an only independent administrative institution in sport in Japan, the JSC　strives to achieve sport nation. We have dispatched an officer to the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace and have been engaging in building international partnerships and developing resources in sport. We hope that these opportunities will be effectively utilized in the joint master’s program.

President, Japan Sport Council
 Satoshi Ashidate