International Center　

“Know thyself (γνῶθισαυτόν)”
(A maxim said to have been inscribed at the entrance of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi in ancient Greece)

I believe the work of our International Center primarily has three aspects. These are: “sending out,” “welcoming,” and “creating opportunities for encounters (or gatherings).”
First is the aspect of “sending out.” Here, we support students participating in long-term or short-term study abroad programs at partner universities, or language training programs, both academically and in their daily lives. We strongly hope that students will leverage the knowledge and experiences gained through study abroad and training to thrive internationally in the future. Furthermore, many graduates and current students from our university contribute internationally by serving as JICA Overseas Cooperation Volunteers in various countries. Hearing about their achievements fills us with great joy, knowing we can offer our modest support. Furthermore, the Center is also involved in dispatching our university's faculty and staff. In fact, I myself had the opportunity to visit the Lithuanian Sports University, one of our university's partner institutions, in April 2024 (at that time as a faculty member of the center) as part of the Erasmus+ international program implemented by the EU. There, I conducted classes and engaged in international exchange. During that visit, I interacted with sports researchers and practitioners from around the world, engaged in discussions with the former national team coach of Lithuania—a powerhouse in basketball—and visited the memorial museum dedicated to Chiune Sugihara near the campus. These experiences provided me with a truly unique and invaluable learning opportunity. Furthermore, international sports exchanges with our partner universities have become increasingly active in recent years. Our center will continue to provide various forms of support to contribute to the further development of international exchanges in the future.

Additionally, our center's activities also involve the aspect of “welcoming.” Our university welcomes students from various countries who come here as international students. While they experience many enjoyable moments and valuable learning opportunities, they also often feel lost in an unfamiliar cultural environment. I myself faced many difficulties when I studied abroad as an international student. In response to such confusion and challenges, our Center aims to provide empathetic support, carefully considering each individual's situation and background. Also, we serve as the point of contact for welcoming researchers from overseas. Research exchanges with our university faculty and joint research utilizing our facilities will significantly contribute to the advancement of international sports research.

Furthermore, we actively create opportunities for encounters and gatherings. By establishing exchange agreements with overseas universities and research institutions, we foster better environments for students and faculty to study and engage in activities abroad. We also host international events on campus, such as the International Forum, and facilitate connections when international collaborative research projects arise. Moreover, many students participate in the English and Japanese language programs held on campus. This may indicate that the International Center itself functions as a hub where individuals with an international perspective gather. We believe that creating and providing these various spaces and environment will, in turn, serve as opportunities for students and faculty members associated with our university to engage in international activities. In this way, the International Center will continue to explore better directions while supporting our visitors in various ways. We sincerely hope you will make full use of our services.