Message from Director of Research Center of Health, Physical Fitness and Sports
On April 1, 2025, I was appointed as Director of the Research Center for Health, Physical Fitness and Sports (shortened to Health & Sports Center, or “Hotai Center” in Japanese). Now, I would like to introduce our center to you.
History and mission of our center
Our center was established in 1975 by merging the Department of Health and Physical Education of the College of General Education with the Health Administration Center. It is not affiliated with any university faculties; rather, it operates as an independent entity.
The University Profile states that our center conducts education and research related to health and sports, as well as specialized work in health management and health promotion for students and staff. Therefore, the primary mission of our center is to contribute to maintaining and promoting the physical and mental health of the members of Nagoya University and, furthermore, the general public.
Our systems and facilities
Our center has two divisions. One is the health science division, composed of nine internists and psychiatrists, along with nurses and technicians at the health management center. Their primary duties include annual health checks, routine medical examinations/consultations, and first aid. Recently the doctors are required to become industrial physicians at the university so that they shall perform safety inspections and stress checks as essential work. The unit building is located in the heart of the university and has been recently renovated.
Another is the Sports Science division. Nine instructors teach health and sports lectures and Sports practice classes while managing and operating sports facilities. Nagoya University boasts many excellent sports facilities for a national university, including an artificial turf field and tennis courts with night lighting, all-weather trucks, etc. All university members are encouraged to increasingly take advantage of these outstanding sports facilities. Exercise is the best way to maintain and promote mental and physical health.
Our research
We also engage in scientific research. We belong to the Graduate School of Medicine or Education and Development as a cooperative course. Our areas of expertise are diverse, including medicine (internal, mental), sports science (physiology, psychology), etc., and many of us are unique. Most graduate students can complete their courses within the designated term of study and receive their degrees. Many of our doctoral graduates have become university faculty. If you are interested in our graduate education, please visit our faculty member’s website. Moreover, despite being a small department at the University, two emeritus professors of our center (Dr. Y. Sato and Dr. M. Miyamura) were awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, which is an honorary medal in Japan, in 2021 and 2022 consecutively.
Our necessity and significance
Our center will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, and we are planning to organize a commemorative event. New departments and centers have been established at the University one after another over the past 50 years, which may diminish our center’s presence at the university. However, mental and physical health should be indispensable for the students who aim to become “Courageous Intellectuals”, as well as for the university staff and faculty who work hard. Moreover, in order to lead a healthy, care-free life in old age, physical fitness from adolescence to middle age should be key. The importance of our center, which supports maintaining and promoting mental and physical health for students, university staff and faculty, has not changed and will not change.
Our challenges
We face various challenges, including the rising number of students and staff experiencing mental health issues, aging sports facilities and increasing maintenance costs. We are working diligently to address these concerns. For the mental health issue, we have established a one-stop consultation service for everything in cooperation with the student counseling center, etc. For the sports facilities, we are exploring partnerships and outsourcing options with the private sector for renovation and management. We greatly appreciate your understanding and support.
