Greetings
Message for the 72nd Conference
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The 72nd Conference of the Japan Society of Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences
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After 72 years, in 2021 the Japan Society of Physical Education (Nihon Taiiku Gakkai), changed its name to Japan Society of Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences (JSPEHSS or Nihon Taiiku Supotsu Kenko Gakkai) in 2021. As an organization, we have had the aim of maintaining and developing a core commitment to being a genuine academic society that pursues scholarly principles and academic outcomes. These objectives are laid out in Article 3 of the JSPEHSS Constitution which underlines the practical implications of our research endeavors: “We contribute to realizing individual well-being as well as fair cohesive society through various activities related to physical education, sports and health.” To mark its new start, the 71st Conference was organized by the University of Tsukuba in 2021, which took place remotely due to the spread of COVID-19.
Despite facing an unpredictable and dynamic pandemic, we plan to host the 72nd Conference at Juntendo University in a mostly in-person and only partly remote format from August 31st to September 2nd, 2022.
Juntendo University was originally founded as a private medical school in 1838. With its motto “Jin – Benevolence” and the principle of “Fudan Zenshin – Continuously Moving Forward”, it has become a comprehensive health university which offers six undergraduate faculties and three graduate schools as well as six affiliated hospitals.
In addition to the medical sciences considering both the body and the mind of a sick person, the university has focused on the importance of sport sciences which contribute to the maintenance of the healthy mind and body. In 1951 the Faculty of Sport (Taiiku Gakka) was established, while the first privately run graduate school of sport sciences in Japan was added in 1971. Later, the faculty name of “Taiiku” was changed to Health and Sports Science. The Faculty of Health and Sports Science at Juntendo University is leading the fields of sports and health in terms of education and research. Surprisingly, this is the first time that Juntendo University will host the JSPEHSS annual conference.
Since the 71st Conference at Tsukuba University, a new approach has been introduced, whereby current social issues relating to health and sport sciences are selected as common themes. While the vertically divided style of research presentations and symposia in each discipline was traditionally incorporated in the conferences, the new approach made it possible to promote academic research that contributes to society by stimulating inter-disciplinary dialogue and debate. More specifically, we have identified three important social issues to be addressed by five applied areas (sport culture, health and physical education in school, life-long sports, competitive sports, and health and welfare) and have organized symposia and presentations based on this concept. The conference provides an opportunity to integrate our members’ research outcomes. By doing so, we will be able to accelerate theme-oriented academic research and make use of our conference as a platform to disseminate practical and applicable knowledge to society. I believe it is our mission that we strive to realize “desirable society” through sports and physical activities.
Although we may face as-yet unknown challenges in organizing the 72nd Conference, depending on the COVID-19 situation, we greatly appreciate the support and cooperation our members bring to this important and exciting scholarly event.
January 2022