{"id":44702,"date":"2018-07-13T10:19:50","date_gmt":"2018-07-13T01:19:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/weekly\/?p=44702"},"modified":"2018-08-06T10:49:34","modified_gmt":"2018-08-06T01:49:34","slug":"tatsuki-machida1st-part3%e3%80%80initial-impressions-upon-entering-academia-the-intimidation-and-depth-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.waseda.jp\/inst\/weekly\/feature-en\/2018\/07\/13\/44702\/","title":{"rendered":"Tatsuki Machida[1st part]#3\u3000Initial impressions upon entering academia The intimidation and depth research"},"content":{"rendered":"

#3\u3000Initial impressions upon entering academia
\nThe intimidation and depth of research<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u30fcAfter graduating from Kansai University\u2019s School of Humanities you decided to enroll in Waseda University\u2019s Graduate School of Sports Sciences. Why did you choose Waseda? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Machida: There was no sport management graduate course at Kansai University when I decided to pursue graduate studies. As I prepared for my post-retirement career, I learned that Waseda University\u2019s Graduate School of Sports Sciences was one of the top sports sciences programs in the country, which is one of the reasons I decided to enroll.<\/p>\n

I specialize in sports which incorporate music, such as figure skating, rhythmic gymnastics, and artistic swimming. I\u2019ve coined these sports \u201cartistic sports.\u201d To become a specialist of these sports one must not only conduct general sports research but also become familiar with a wide range of artistic fields.<\/p>\n

In addition to its strong presence in sports sciences, Waseda University, with its Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum, has conducted troves of performing arts research, making it the perfect fit for my research.<\/p>\n

\u30fcSo your decision was partly because Waseda is strong in both sports and the arts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Machida: Yes. While completing my master\u2019s I attended a class on dance theory taught by aesthetics scholar Akira Amagasaki (former visiting scholar at the Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum) at the Graduate School of Letters, Arts, and Sciences. That class, taught by Amagasaki, a leader of performing arts research, was an invaluable experience for me and my research.<\/p>\n

\u30fcWhat is the topic of your research? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Machida: I want to focus on phenomena peculiar to artistic sports, and pursue interdisciplinary research. One topic is the problem of copyright. Figure skating deals with various creative properties, including music, clothing, and choreography. I want to explore the best ways to manage these copyrights.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

I also want to investigate how one should manage figure skating choreography once it becomes a copyright. It\u2019s this kind of relationship between sports and intellectual property rights which I am researching from a legal perspective.<\/p>\n

The problem of decreasing skating rinks I mentioned previously must be approached from the perspectives of sports economics and industry, and the drop in age of skaters and the problems concerning eating disorders must be addressed from a multitude of perspectives, such as those of sports medicine, nutritional science, and psychology.<\/p>\n

\u30fcIt has been three years since you begun your research. What are your impressions so far? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Machida: I\u2019m truly happy I decided to pursue the path of a researcher. With that said, after completing my master\u2019s and starting my PhD program, the more I research the more keenly I feel the \u201cintimidation\u201d and \u201cdepth\u201d which accompanies it.<\/p>\n

\u30fcThe \u201cintimidation\u201d and \u201cdepth\u201d? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Machida: Undergraduate and master\u2019s students are primarily focused on acquiring knowledge but once they enter a PhD track and begin to present their research at academic conferences each statement they make can impact society. Half-baked claims or statements can\u2019t be considered research accomplishments. I am constantly reminded of the importance of humility in academia.<\/p>\n

\u30fcAnd the \u201cdepth\u201d?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Machida: Research does not have an end goal<\/strong>. When one feels they\u2019ve come closer to solving a problem they are immediately confronted with a new issue. The world of research has no final destination and the diversity and possibilities are never ending.<\/strong> Unlike athletes who are limited by the physical limitations of their bodies, researchers deepen their research the older they get. I find this particularly appealing.<\/p>\n

\u30fcHow many other researchers aim to become specialists of artistic sports? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Machida: There is already research on the mental and physical aspects of artistic sports, but there is barely any research concerning management. I hope to open up this field.<\/p>\n

\u30fcAs a researcher you intend to step into unexplored territory.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Machida: However, one must not forget that even unexplored fields exist within an academic structure and framework. It\u2019s because those who came before us laid the academic foundations that we can pursue our own research. I intend to go forward with this in mind.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Profile:<\/p>\n

Tatsuki Machida<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tatsuki Machida is a second-year PhD student at Waseda University\u2019s Graduate School of Sports Sciences. He was born in Kanagawa Prefecture in 1990 and graduated from Kansai University\u2019s School of Humanities. In 2006 Machida placed first at the Japan Junior Figure Skating Championships. He won his first victory as a senior athlete at the 2012 Grand Prix Series and went on to win a total of four victories. At the February 2014 Sochi Olympics he placed 5th<\/sup> in the free group and individual competitions. Machida won a silver medal at the World Figure Skating Championships held in March of the same year, trailing only 0.33 points behind Yuzuru Hanyu. He has been called a \u201cphilosopher on ice\u201d because of the emotional depth of his expressive abilities and his unique worldview. Machida retired from competitive skating following the December 2014 Japan Figure Skating Championships. Presently he conducts research as a Waseda University graduate student.\u00a0 His research interests include sports management, sports culture theory, sports economy, and physical performance art theory.\u00a0 He received top awards at the 2017 Japanese Society of Management for Physical Sport and Education and Japan Association for Cultural Economics. He is active as a lecturer at Keio University and Hosei University, a professional figure skater, choreographer, and commentator.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Interviewer: Yuta Hagiwara <\/strong><\/p>\n

Yuta Hagiwara was born in 1983. He is a producer, playwright, writer, and leader of Kamome Machine. He began his theatrical activities as a student at Waseda University.\u00a0\u00a0 He has won several awards including the 13th<\/sup> AAF Drama Award from the Aichi Arts Revitalization Initiative, the 2016 Toga Theatre Contest top producer award, and the top award at the Asakusa Kid Hongyo Reading Impressions Contest. He has appeared in Kamome Machine works as well as plays by Natsuko Tezuka.<\/p>\n

Photography: Hajime Kato<\/strong><\/p>\n

Editor: Camp Masaru Yokota<\/strong><\/p>\n

Interview and photography assistance: Waseda University Tsubouchi Memorial Theatre Museum <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

English translation: Joachim Muntal<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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