Sports and Academics Are Connected

I have been playing rugby since I was little, and with the motto of excelling in both academics and sports, I also prioritized my studies during high school. I kept this mindset when I went on to university, and I chose Keio University as a top-level institution for both academics and rugby.

I chose SFC because it offers an environment where I can learn many different things at the same time, without being confined to a single field. It allows for flexibility if the direction of my studies changes, and I was drawn to that freedom and wanted to study at SFC. Another appeal was the large number of people who are leaders in society and at the forefront of their respective fields.

As I continued to play rugby, I became interested in studying communication in sports. I wanted to learn more about methods for improving efficiency. So, on the recommendation of a senior student, I joined the research group of Professor Yuko Shoji, whose "Sports Communication" class I connected with.

Currently, I am researching the second careers of rugby players. I began researching this topic after Professor Shoji's research group received a request from a company with a top league rugby team to "think about second careers." Since I myself was aiming to play rugby as a company employee after graduation, I decided to pursue it as someone who would be directly involved.

In the semi-professional environment of the top rugby league, many issues have come to light. For example, how to contribute to the workplace and job skills after retirement. Additionally, programs related to second careers are not functioning effectively. In my research, I am identifying the current problems through interviews and surveys with players, while also exploring approaches to find solutions.

The Keio University Athletic Association Rugby Football Club is Japan's first rugby team and celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2019. When I joined, I felt very honored to be able to play rugby for the club with the deepest history, and I dreamed of becoming the best in Japan while wearing the traditional black and yellow (kokko) jersey.

I believe my strength as a player is my ability to make solid physical contact in every situation. However, rugby is not just about tackling; running and passing are also important, and it requires split-second decisions. While rugby has a strong impression of being a collision sport, it is actually a detailed sport that requires a lot of thinking.

In my fourth year, I was appointed captain. At that time, I was thinking about how I wanted to use my ability to "get people involved" to bring the team together. I had always enjoyed observing people, but the experience of being captain made me observe them more and talk to them more. It was difficult to unite a team of about 140 members, each with different values, but I feel that I learned a great deal from it.

Also, at the 2019 Rugby World Cup held in Japan, I strongly felt the importance of conviction. It is because everyone continues to believe that it shows in each and every play. I believe that bonds are formed because we are teammates who have shared the same goals.

After graduation, I will continue to play rugby in the top league as a working adult. However, rather than putting rugby first, as someone who has dedicated myself to sports while valuing my studies at Keio University, I want to first contribute properly to my company. On top of that, I want to challenge myself to see how far I can go on the front lines of rugby.

I believe that sports and academics are connected. I have realized that when I am motivated in my studies, I can also be motivated in sports. Therefore, I decide my own guiding principles for learning. I proactively take classes that I think sound interesting. If you study what you are interested in, your heart will be in it, and I think if you have the motivation, you can naturally concentrate.

When you try to learn on your own initiative, you start to take your own approach. Doing so broadens your perspective, brings new things you want to do, and reveals new problems. I'm sure there are people who are currently playing sports and are thinking of continuing in university, but if you enter SFC, I hope you will value the motivation to proactively engage not only in sports but also in your studies, rather than being passive.

Keio University Athletic Association Rugby Football Club: Member Introduction "Yuta Kurihara"

4years. #UniversitySports: Keio Rugby's 120th Captain is the Passionate Yuta Kurihara