Sports Management

Regular physical activity is widely recognized to have health benefits. Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement that consumes more energy than when at rest and may be categorized into work-related physical activity, physical activity during travel, leisure time physical activity and so forth. Leisure-time physical activity includes exercise and sports. Exercise is defined as physical activity undertaken in a planned and deliberate manner with the aim of maintaining or enhancing physical fitness (e.g., walking or jogging). Sport is defined as physical activity performed according to common rules, involving competition and requiring relatively high-level skills (e.g., tennis or soccer). Nowadays, it is common to interpret sport in a broad sense, even including physical activity such as going up and down stairs.

When viewed from the perspective of sports medicine and science, sport consists of three elements - intensity, duration and frequency. From the perspective of sports sociology, it can be thought of as comprising “time,” “space” and “companions.” From the perspective of Sport Business Administration, it can be positioned not only as a conventional consumer good but also as an investment good or a public good. In addition, it is important to understand that “having fun” is part of the essence of sport.

Although sport is good for health, overdoing it may be detrimental to health. Even moderate intensity sport can lead to heatstroke and damage your health if you neglect to hydrate frequently and take regular breaks. Sport and medicine are mutually complementary and understanding the bi-directional relationship between sport and medicine enables us to grasp the significance of exercise and physical activity more scientifically. Fundamental theories concerning the phenomena and mechanisms of changes in bodily function and structure associated with physical activity and exercise (exercise physiology, theories from orthopedics and rehabilitation) along with methods for assessing physical function and body composition constitute the minimum required knowledge of sports medicine for those involved with sports.

The environment surrounding sport continues to evolve. The analysis of big data to enhance athlete performance is revolutionizing coaching and training methods, while the development or acquisition of physiological data using engineering expertise is contributing to visualization of conditioning management and recovery strategies. Thus, in the field of scientific research on sports, new value is being created through the integration of foundational disciplines - such as exercise physiology, biomechanics and training science - with data science. The scope of sports science has expanded to include the measurement and evaluation of everyday physical activity and movements of the general public. For example, research is going into health management using wearable devices and analyzing changes in motor function with ageing, with the findings being applied in the fields of health promotion and preventive care. To broadly apply insights gained from sports science - from enhancing athletes’ performance to health promotion for the public - requires interdisciplinary knowledge and actions based on scientific evidence and logical thinking.

Health challenges change with life stages. For example, metabolic syndrome is a concern in middle age while locomotive syndrome and frailty are concerns in old age. Evidence from numerous scientific studies has demonstrated the effectiveness of regular physical activity in addressing these challenges. However, merely presenting evidence does not lead to regular physical activity becoming firmly established. What is required is cultivating personnel with the foundational knowledge needed to approach this at the intrapersonal, interpersonal and community levels, as well as the planning and practical skills leading to adoption at the society level.

According to the White Paper on Leisure (Japan Productivity Center), the sports industry market had grown to exceed ¥6 trillion in 1992 but then entered a period of decline, falling below ¥4 trillion in 2011. However, it has stopped contracting and signs of recovery and growth have been evident since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. The “Third Sport Basic Plan” (Japan Sports Agency) sets the expansion of the sports market as a policy objective. A shortage of management personnel has been identified as a challenge that must be overcome for expansion and further development of the sports industry. There is a need to cultivate personnel who understand the characteristics of sport as a product and are conversant with management theory and scientific methods, i.e., individuals capable of formulating strategies logically and emphasizing the emotional value of sport.

In sports management, we have established a system for educating students in close collaboration with the Sports Medicine Research Center and Institute of Physical Education. By participating in the operational activities of the Sports Medicine Research Center (such as activities in support of athletes belonging to the Keio University Athletic League) and research projects (such as physical activity promotion activities targeting citizens of Fujisawa City, and motion analysis using wearable sensors), students can gain practical experience while undertaking research projects related to such initiatives.

Introductory courses

Course category designed to consolidate foundational knowledge for effective learning and research in specialist areas

Analytical methods courses

Course category designed to provide students with foundational theories and specific methodologies for analysis and interpretation of evidence required for rational decision-making regardless of field

Major field courses

Course category designed to equip students with high-level knowledge and skills in specialist areas

Internship-related courses

Course category designed to achieve synergies between practical education and systematic lectures, in order to acquire a background understanding and foundational knowledge in preparation for internships, as well as to objectify and systemize the knowledge and insights gained through the experience of practical training during internships

Independent research subjects

Courses providing research guidance for preparation of a master’s thesis or research paper equivalent to a master’s thesis

The Graduate School of Health Management offers a diverse range of courses. As long as the graduation requirements are met, the choice of courses is at the student’s discretion. The model curriculum has been created according to research area to assist students in selecting courses. Therefore, the model curriculum does not impose any restraints on course selection. However, when actually enrolling in courses, students need to select their courses after confirming the graduation requirements, such as regarding compulsory courses and required number of credits. Please note that this information is for reference only.

Research supervision and thesis guidance are provided so that, in principle, a doctorate can be obtained at the same time as completing the third year of study.

In the first year, students take advanced subjects (courses to confirm understanding of foundational theory and analytical methodology of empirical research). Throughout the period of their enrollment, they also take joint seminar courses (those centering on research presentations and discussions by enrolled students and researchers or practitioners from within and outside the university).

Graduates of other schools’ master’s programs or those who have worked as professionals for some time since completing this graduate school’s master’s program and are not conversant with the latest theories and analytical methods may supplement their knowledge by taking master’s program courses as advised by their academic advisors.

If permission is given to study at a graduate school overseas, the period of study there may be counted toward the duration of enrollment, but only one year, and credits earned for courses taken may be recognized as joint seminar credits.

Each academic year, students make a report at the interim dissertation evaluation meeting. At the dissertation evaluation committee meeting, in addition to receiving guidance and advice, students’ progress is confirmed and examined.

A degree will be conferred on those who have been enrolled for at least three years (excluding temporary leave of absence) in the doctoral program, have obtained the stipulated credits (4 advanced subject credits, at least 6 joint seminar course credits; total at least 10 credits) and having received necessary guidance in research, have passed the defense of their doctoral dissertation as well as the final examination.

Completion in English only is also possible.

Abstracts of doctoral dissertations and other materials may be viewed at Keio Associated Repository of Academic Resources (KOARA).