Faculty of Physical Education

The Faculty of Physical Education trains outstanding athletes and coaches for national and international competitions, the Olympics, and the world of professional sports, and also trains emergency medical technicians and gymnasts for children. It is a major force supporting the development of sports in Japan.

Since its founding in 1958, the Faculty of Physical Education has sent many talented athletes to national and international competitions, the Olympics, and the world of professional sports. With progress of the aging society and increasing public interest in personal health, the role played by sports and physical education has increased. In response to these social needs, we have built state-of-the-art facilities and in the year 2000 created two new departments: the Department of Martial Arts and the Department of Sport and Medical Science. The former is aimed at training martial arts instructors who can employ the spirit of the martial arts to counter the deepened spiritual ruining of contemporary society; the latter to train students highly skilled in the emergency medical technology needed to cope with our aging population. The department of Sport Education for Children, founded in 2008, rear future excellent gymnasts for children.From its earliest days the Faculty of Physical Education has had, as its goal, the fostering of a balance of “spirit, skills, and physical fitness” and instilling its graduates with “the spirit of fair play.” On our green and spacious Tama and Machida Campuses we train lifelong sports leaders who can comprehensively integrate sports and health sciences.

We aim at training individuals who, through physical education and sports, can act as the standard-bearers of a healthy, happy society and contribute to the international community.

In accordance with the Kokushikan Universites tradition of unity of the martial and literary arts, students of physical education and sports are encouraged to master the etiquette and rules of the game and acquire broader specialized knowledge and advanced skills. Fostering martial arts characters in physical education and sports and the promotion of scholarly research, our goal is to train sound minds and healthy bodies. The Faculty of Physical Education not only trains athletes and coaching staff for activities in the front ranks of sports, and many of the physical education instructors teaching in secondary schools; it also teaches talented individuals to play leading roles in bringing sports and physical education to local communities and disseminate knowledge of emergency medical care. Our goal is to train them to respond to the changing needs of society, promoting the development of an advanced emergency medical system, acting as the standard bearers of a healthy, felicitous society, and contributing to the international community.

The Department of Physical Education trains outstanding coaches and managers and world-class athletes in both the theory and practice of sports at state-of-the-art facilities. More than ever, sports are acclaimed as a way of promoting health, and in response to this, the department is engaged in scientific research in disciplines such as sports medicine, health science, and ergonomics, and its application to the real world of sports. Many of our students also pursued coursework in foreign languages and information technology, fostering well-rounded individuals who can meet the challenges of globalization and the information society, and are active as educational specialists and adult physical education instructors.

The “spirit of the martial arts” combines rich spirituality with lofty ethics. In this department, students acquire this spirit, which serves as a support in dealing with the complex problems of contemporary society, and cultivate leadership abilities responsive to the needs of our time. The diverse course of study ranges from traditional “kata”(form) practice to advanced training systems backed by modern sports medicine. While honing their martial arts techniques and competitive abilities, students also master methods of martial arts instructions. We foster individuals who can contribute to Japanese society and also serve as bridges between Japan and other countries as international volunteers and overseas martial arts instructors.

Development of Japan’s system of emergency medical care is an urgent matter, and in response to this, Kokushikan University created the first department at a four-year university in Japan enabling students to earn national accreditation as emergency medical technicians. On-campus training with the latest equipment, is supplemented by practical ambulances and hospital training with the cooperation of capital sphere major hospital and the Tokyo Fire Department, giving students experience with real-life emergency situations. Equipped with this knowledge of emergency medicine, including disaster relief and medical aid, graduates play active roles in a number of fields, including medicine, education, and social welfare.

In recent years, advances in globalization and relentless technological innovation have brought rapid change and created difficulties in predicting the future. The growing trend toward an older population with fewer childbirths, environmental issues and other problems have surfaced, and it has become increasingly necessary to develop students’ abilities and skills to open their way toward their future in their lives and society. Also, many different problems regarding school life have been identified, including the deterioration of academic skills and physical strength, bullying and the refusal to attend school, among others. The pursuit of better education for children is taking on greater importance.
To nurture the attitude of always continuing to learn, to foresee changes like these and to solve the array of problems facing schools, the Children’s Sports Education Department mainly focuses on physical education and sports in its curriculum and aims to develop expert elementary school teachers well equipped as educators and with practical skills for teaching specific subjects.