Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2020

September 2020_TIAS Students Activities_Japan Cricket Association andFukushima Study TourPart I: TIAS - Japan Cricket Association (JCA) Field Visit: Sano International
Cricket Ground, Sano City-Tochigi Prefecture: August 18th, 2020
Day 1: September 21st was the leg 1 as “follow-up, meetings and taking research equipment for
the TIAS 5th Batch – Sport Science and Medicine module – student (Kai Png) on a TIASINTERNSHIP = Research-based 6-weeks internship”. This was the third visit to JCA, which wasinitiated in August (5th and 18th) 2020 between Japan Cricket Association (JCA; Web: www.cricket.or.jp) andTIAS, University of Tsukuba (August 5th) in order to find common interests leading to a long-term academicsport science-related/sport partnership. JCA kindly agreed to take TIAS 5th batch students as Interns, andamong 3 students KAI PNG was the student involved in conducting research. The day at JCA HQ and theSANO INTERNATIONAL CRICKET GROUND was spent by delivering the training fitness measurement
equipmentfortheathletes(cricketers) training program that was being conducted with the Japan Cricket National Team that was visiting
Sano on 21st and 2nd 2020; interacting with JCA Staffs-Coaches and Trainers and Athletes and discussing
the research methods being employed to understand the ‘training program’ for the national team, theissues involved with training, the use of equipment, and the points raised by the trainers. The aim was tobetter understand the coaching-training practices and how to utilize that information in order to develop atraining protocol for not only the national team but also the young cricketers, boys and girls, and the women’steam. Meetings and discussion with the athletes was also undertaken for the same. A follow-up on Kai’s to-dateinternship and challenges was also undertaken and discussion between myself (Rakwal), and Kai (5 th batchstudent) was done for the next day’s measurements and protocols and the follow-up research plan (Title:DevelopmentofJapan
Cricket
Association Physical
Testing
Protocol(u/19): Men andWomen’Research
Plan: The purpose ofthis study is toimplement a short but
accurate
physicaltesting protocol tocricket athletes fordata collection. Data
is to then be analyzed
to understand thelevel of physicalfitness and training
requirements. From
the testing results
trainingandrehabilitation
protocols will bedeveloped for all JCA
athletestohaveaccess to) thereafter;
and also interacted with Alan Curr (via phone) and Dhugal Bedingfield both JCA senior staffs on the progress
and additional works.
Post-internship of the student, we will be working towards a follow-up visit and meetings to discuss theresults and development of the training protocols resources at UT and JCA, respectively; taking into account theviews of the coaches and trainers at JCA. In all a fruitful visit both research-wise, meeting with JCA on-site andtowards developing a long-term cooperation with JCA – for future internships-research-and student
candidates for TIAS2.0.
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Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2020

Part II: FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE (TIAS Study Tour 2020)
The second leg of the business strip was – STUDY TOUR for the TIAS 5th batch students, alongwith faculty to first (Day 2: Sep., 22nd = Iitate-mura; and Day 3: Sep., 23rd = Naraha-machi). Reaching
Iitate-mura on 21st night itself, Prof. Rakwal stayed overnight and meeting with the Guest speaker, Mr.
Nobuyoshi ITO discussing both the translated version of the presentation for the next day, and interacting on
the importance of the study tour for TIAS international student’s in particular. The following morning, Sep 22nd
was spent with the Guest speaker Mr. Ito to discuss again on the time and the plan for movement of site visits,
lecture and discussion.
“EQIPMENT”

Day 2: Iitate-mura (Sep 22nd) was visited with an aim to – “Study Tour is a Unique Experience andchance to see First-hand the Situation following the “3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake” in Tohoku
regions, in particular the Fukushima prefecture also affected by the Nuclear Disaster”. Prof. Rakwal
met (9:45 AM) the students Madei Kan, roadside station, in Iitate-village with the Guest Speaker and Study
Tour Guide - Mr.
ITO,andfollowing
brief
introductions withthe accompanying
faculty – andrevisiting
the<Photos at Iitate-mura,
day’s plans weFukushima-ken, Sep. 22nd>started the tour ofthe village and thedisaster affectedareas within thevillage spendingtime to look at thedamage and therecovery process
bytouring
through the busand stopping at
designated placesin the village(Nagadoro-southern part of the village that is still highly contaminated and out of bounds, Elementary andJunior high schools); at each location, Prof. Rakwal was supporting the translation with other Japanesecolleagues. Practical demonstrations of the on-field radiation levels were given by Ito san, and the student’s saw
the decontamination (and storage) and recovery efforts first-hand. As Prof. Rakwal was working in Iitate since2012 on ‘radiation-related’ project, I explained to the student’s queries on the effects to plant and animallife complementing Ito san’s talk.
The next part (afternoon) was to guide the tour back to the lecture (12 PM onwards) and overnight staylocation – KIKORI (lodge and camping ground area in Iitate). The afternoon saw a long (more than 1 hour2Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2020

powerpoint presentation-with English translation by myself and through English translated slides-as manytechnical terms were being used-followed by discussion with Mr. Ito and the student’s and the faculty). The talk
was a great learning experience for the students and faculty alike – and numerous questions were asked by
the students who were strongly affected by the visit and the talks on how the disaster and resulting
nuclear/radioactive contamination had affected the village and its people. Lunch was taken in conjunction with atalk by the second Guest speaker - Ms. Tomiko WATANABE, who explained about the traditional foods andagriculture practices of Iitate; and her farming experience post-disaster and her current food innovation waswell received. Her focus is on the ‘kabucha-PUMPKIN’ and other vegetables. Wishing the guest speakers
farewell, I took Mr. Ito back to this location (as he accompanied student’s in the since morning) later thatevening; successfully concluding the day’s work. To note radiation levels were well below the normal
background level at KIKORI, and at almost all sites visited expect the areas which were not yet decontaminated;
however at no time was there any risk to the student’s.

<Photos at (on the way-in bus) KIKORI Iitate-mura, Fukushima-ken, Sep. 22nd>

The post-lecture and discussion on Iitate was shifted to the preparation of the next day program-Olympic
Education Class at the Naraha Junior High School, and Profs. Sanada and Obayashi – along with otherfaculty (Profs. Lyras and Haggis and Researcher Kajita) – and student’s held a preparation workshopand guidance for the next day. The student’s continued till night to prepare the class materials andpresentations. Despite the long day and hard schedule, the student’s had a good chance to experience Japaneseculture experience, the ‘onsen’ at KIKORI.

Day 3: Naraha-machi=J-village and Naraha Junior High School (Sep 23rd) – was visited with an aim
to – “know the other side of the recovery process through J-village – home to the FOOTBALLNational Training Center (NTC-) – and junior high school and elementary (6 th grade) school
students through Olympic education class”. Leaving then next day early morning, 8 AM, we departed
KIKORI for Naraha-machi, arriving 9:45 AM to the location; the students observed the ‘recovery highway’ in3

Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2020

which they were travelling and the on-going decontamination process and reconstruction throughout the way. Ialso took radiation reading to see ‘hot spots’ as were also marked at the monitoring stations. Arriving at Jvillage we were welcomed by Mr. Nobuo SHIMAZAKI of J-Village who coordinated the visit bypresenting a TALK on the J-village history and background including its use in the cleaning operations forthe nuclear accident, just 12 kms away. The state of art automatic temperature recording entry system was aunique experience, and good to know how the current Covid-19 pandemic was being seriously understood andprecautions were being taken, including for the visitors. Following the eye-opening presentation and the current
status of the J-village (also start point of the Torch Relay for the Tokyo 2020 Games) we embarked on thetour of the facilities – the multiple main grounds-where the management of the grounds was explained
thoroughly- and to the indoor football pitch-an all-weather enclosed football ground was a state of the art
facility, and the student’s loved it. After a detailed explanation for about 1 hour, we stopped for a wonderfultraditional Japanese lunch at the cafeteria for the J-village, which was another great experience in Japaneseculture-cuisine for the students. I also supported the emergency issues of the students.

<Photos at J-village-Fukushima-ken, Sep. 23rd>

Following this we departed the J-village to the Junior High School about 15 minutes away, and were welcomedby the School Principal and Staffs, Mayor of Naraha-machi, and Fukushima Prefectural Government –Olympic and Paralympic Games Promotion Unit-Educational Supervisor. Profs. Sanada and Obayashi
coordinated the event with the school together with Prof. Alexis Lyras and TIAS 5th students Takafumi(Japan), Jorge (Peru) and Eranga (Sri Lanka) comprising the main presenters – on the OLMYPIC FLAME.
The presentation included a message from the IOC President Thomas Bach to the student’s – delivered
through Prof. Sanada, and which was warmly welcomed by the participants. It was also announced by theMayor that Naraha-machi to be the host town for Greece, which gave the students great interest to know more
about the Olympic history, and which was delivered by the 3-student group - who had this March visited theFlame Ceremony in Olympia and recounted their experiences. MCs for the session were the Junior HighSchool Students and they handed the mike to Prof. Obayashi who talked about Jigoro Kano and Olympic
movement, and introduced some cultural-language aspects of Greek words along with their pronunciations andJapanese pronunciation similarities with student’s repeating after Prof. Lyras. The students also presented their4

Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2020

interests on Olympism and the meaning of the ‘flame’. Following this the session moved to the second partwhich was a join-activity of creating a cheering item for the Tokyo 2020 Games and Relay with all the TIAS
students, and writing a message on them - this was greatly enjoyed by the school children giving a chance
to interact in English with theinternational students, who also
experienced the Junior High Schoolfor the first time. I was supporting
the video recording and discussing
along with taking care of the<Photos at Naraha
Junior Highstudents and discussing with theSchoolschool and Fukushima prefecture
Fukushima-ken,staffs on the value of such
Sep. 23rd>
exchange and internationalization.
With a closing note of thanks by
the representative student’s theday came to an end, the room wasreverted back to its original
position by re-arranging chairs andtables-all participants including
TIAS student’s helped in-and we
departed back for University ofTsukuba.

「オリンピックと聖火」特別講義レポートが届きました！2020 年 10 月 15 日 ;https://education.tokyo2020.org/jp/news/2020101501.html?fbclid=IwAR19p0iyokgvzrqhfTrvEAQ0OE-eS851KQRj7gaOD7QizvtTHb3IcGMPchg
Thank you JCA (Sano-shi, TOCHIGI), Iitate mura-J-village-Naraha machi (FUKUSHIMA), andTIAS, especially the Office Staffs for great support. Thanks to all students and Faculty for theexcellent learnings and interactions.
2020.10.07
Dr. Randeep RAKWAL, Ph.D.
Professor,
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
TIAS - Global Sport Innovation Bldg., Room 403, UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA,
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan
Email - plantproteomics@gmail.com - rakwal.randeep.fu@u.tsukuba.ac.jp (office)
Mobile – (+81) 090-1853-7875 / Office phone – (+81)029-853-2681
Website: http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp / http://www.trios.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/researcher/0000003045
LINKS: http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/

https://cricket.or.jp/en/ https://cnic.jp/english/?p=4851 https://www.fuku-girl.jp/member.php?id=23 https://www.iitatesora.net/fukushimasymposium/fukushima2013 https://www.meti.go.jp/english/earthquake/fukushima2020/iitate.html https://j-village.jp/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naraha,_Fukushima

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