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On March 2, Waseda University announced the formation of a partnership with athletic equipment company ASICS. The signing ceremony was held at Okuma Kaikan, where University President Kamata and ASICS CEO Motoi Oyama discussed what the partnership entails for the future of Waseda and Japan sports.

Youichi Shimada, University Executive Vice President

“We believe the advancement of university sports spurs progress throughout all of Japanese sports. We are partnering to promote athletic research and development, train global leaders, and raise the bar of athletic competition. Waseda sports has a history of producing exceptional athletes and also of inspiring spectators and instilling hope. As the world of sports continues to progress at an incredible rate, we are grateful to ASICS for helping us further advance our athletic initiatives.”

Motoi Oyama, ASICS CEO

“Partnering with an elite institution like Waseda University, which is widely known for producing exceptional athletes, is evidence of the longevity of our brand, and assurance that we will continue to produce new value for customers. Goals of this partnership include strengthening local communities and training talent, but we also hope to industrialize the world of university sports. For example, in the US, university sports is not only popular among students, but also among local residents. They are so popular in fact that their popularity rivals that of professional sports. We hope to contribute to local communities by not only training talent, but also strengthening the presence of university sports. We believe the improved presence of university sports will spur progress throughout the entire sports world.”

Kaoru Kamata, University President

“Waseda sports began in 1883, when Waseda University’s predecessor, Tokyo College, held its first athletic meet. In 1895, the university established the Waseda Clubhouse,  predecessor to Waseda’s Athletic Center, which was established shortly after in 1897. When tracing the development of sports in Japan, it is apparent that athletic activities of universities such as Waseda and Keio University play a major supporting role. I believe our Athletic Center carries great responsibility in further advancing Japanese sports.

Today, our Athletic Center is comprised of 44 sports clubs and 2,500 members. We also have sports science undergraduate and graduate schools where we conduct research and education in sports medicine and other fields. Okuma Shigenobu once said, “Even if athletics gets in the way of academics, it is only temporary, and is not an issue as long as they succeed in the end. The discipline that one acquires through sports is valuable throughout one’s life.” In FY2014, the university established the Waseda Athlete Program, where student athletes receive support necessary for academic and athletic success. Today’s partnership with worldwide athletic equipment company ASICS will lead to invaluable opportunities to develop university sports even further. I strongly believe that this collaboration will benefit local communities, Japan, the sports industry, and the international community.”

Following the signing ceremony was a group discussion with coaches from Waseda’s respective running, soccer, tennis, and rugby clubs and faculty from the Faculty of Sport Sciences.

From left to right: Professor Yoshiyuki Mano, running coach Yutaka Sagara, tennis coach Toshihisa Tsuchihashi, men’s soccer coach Satoshi Koga, women’s soccer coach Hiroki Fukushima, and rugby coach Daigo Yamashita