20 Years of Keio University Athletic Association LEAP: Celebrating the 20th Anniversary Ceremony

2024/05/27

LEAP (Leadership Education Athlete Program) is a unique jitsugaku (science) seminar introduced to the Keio University Athletic Association. It was founded by the late Mr. Shigen Nakano (former Chairman of the Mita Skating Club, Class of 1952), who taught that leadership is not an innate ability but a skill that can be developed. Within the Skating Team, Mr. Nakano had been conducting training under the name IST (internship training) since 1999, ahead of the rest of the Athletic Association. Later, at the request of the Juku Athletic Association, Mr. Nakano founded LEAP. Lectures for all Athletic Association students began in 2003 with the aim of strengthening the Juku Athletic Association through leadership training and cultivating leaders who would become pioneers in society. Currently, professional instructors and a secretariat selected from alumni of various clubs, along with student instructors and a secretariat trained through a unique educational program, provide lectures to approximately 150 to 200 members from 43 Athletic Association clubs annually. To date, a total of over 4,000 Athletic Association students have taken the course.

In LEAP, students learn about the skills and mindsets for exercising leadership through mutual communication, focusing on group discussions and the personal experiences of professional and student instructors (seniors). Specifically, it provides opportunities to acquire systematic knowledge of the 10 skills necessary for leadership and management: creativity development, planning, organizing, time management, delegation, control, problem-solving, communication, motivation, and leadership.

Athletic Association students who take the course can achieve the ideal of being "outstanding in both academics and athletics" by practicing this knowledge and these skills within their club activities. Furthermore, by gaining practical experience, they can maximize the strengths and skills cultivated through club activities from the moment they enter society. In this way, activities that perfectly align with Keio University's spirit of "learning while teaching, teaching while learning" have taken root throughout the Juku Athletic Association.

LEAP's activities reached their 20th anniversary in the 2023 academic year. On Sunday, February 4, 2024, we held the Keio University Athletic Association LEAP 20th Anniversary Ceremony and Celebration, welcoming approximately 200 stakeholders, including members of the Juku Athletic Association, Mita Athletic Association, senior organizations of various clubs, and Athletic Association students.

The commemorative ceremony opened at the Fujiwara Hiroshi Hall on the Hiyoshi Campus with an opening movie introducing the history and activities of LEAP. Following the Rendition of Alma Mater "The Juku-ka", I gave a greeting as the representative of LEAP, followed by a greeting from Mr. Tsuyoshi Nagano (Chairman of the Board, Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc.) representing the LEAP organizers. Additionally, representing the guests, we received a video message from President Itoh, and words of congratulation and encouragement from Vice-President Keita Yamauchi and Mr. Toshihisa Nagura, President of the Mita Athletic Association.

Afterward, Mr. Yuta Okayama (American Football Team, Class of 2004), a first-term instructor, reported on LEAP's progress to date and its future prospects.

As the main event of the ceremony, a panel discussion titled "The Role of LEAP in Supporting the Athletic Association" was held. We invited Mr. Yoshinori Yamada (Junko Baseball Mita-kai, Class of 1969), Ms. Satoko Kobayashi (Mita Fencing Club, Class of 1978), and Mr. Bunsho Go (3rd-term instructor, Mita Skating Club, Class of 2006) as panelists, and I served as the moderator.

Mr. Yamada spoke from the perspective of a senior organization about the viewpoints from which they develop human resources and how they utilize LEAP. Ms. Kobayashi attended the LEAP training for directors and coaches held by the founder, Mr. Nakano, in 2003. She spoke from an instructor's perspective on how she applies the skills and knowledge gained through LEAP to her coaching at the fencing clubs of the Keio Futsubu School, high school, and university. Finally, Mr. Go, who worked for a major trading company after graduation and later studied at Harvard Business School, spoke from the perspective of an Athletic Association student on how he utilized the skills and knowledge cultivated through club activities and LEAP instructor work to advance his career as a professional. I believe the attendees were able to form a concrete image of not only the significance of LEAP's activities but also how experience in the Athletic Association is useful in society. The ceremony concluded its first half with a rendition of "Wakaki-chi" led by the Keio University Cheerleading Team.

Next, the venue was moved to the Faculty Lounge on the Hiyoshi Campus for a celebration party.

To begin, Mr. Yuki Takao (Archery Club, Class of 2009), who will take over as the representative of LEAP from me in the 2024 academic year, gave a greeting and declared the changes that LEAP will challenge itself with moving forward. Then, Professor Emeritus Naoki Watanabe gave a greeting on behalf of the LEAP organizers, and Mr. Jun Komotori, a Director of the Athletic Association, gave a toast on behalf of the guests.

Furthermore, Mr. Hiroshi Nishioka, former President of the Mita Athletic Association, who was very helpful during the founding of LEAP, spoke about his thoughts at the time and the personality of the founder, Mr. Nakano.

During the social hour, we received words of encouragement from many people. The leadership training based on "learning while teaching, teaching while learning"—unique to the Juku Athletic Association—began when the strength of many people from the Juku Athletic Association and Mita Athletic Association was added to founder Mr. Nakano's passionate desire to support his juniors. With so many stakeholders participating in this 20th-anniversary ceremony and celebration, I felt that a new stage for LEAP had opened.

Afterward, there was a greeting from Mr. Ryoga Noda (Swimming Team, Hayama Division), who will serve as the head of the Athletic Association Headquarters for the 2024 academic year, and a closing greeting from Mr. Kiichiro Masuda (Advisor to the Mita Athletic Association), a LEAP organizer.

In this way, the Keio University Athletic Association LEAP 20th Anniversary Ceremony and Celebration was a great success with the support of many people. All of us involved in LEAP will continue these meaningful activities unique to the Juku Athletic Association, supporting the growth of Athletic Association students and contributing to the development of the Juku Athletic Association.