2025
Mar. 2025 (March 30)
Lectures at National Taipei University and Visit to National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) visited at National Taipei University (NTPU), Taiwan from March 23rd to 29th. He delivered lectures to undergraduates enrolling in Leisure and Sport Management and postgraduates enrolling in Business Administration at the College of Business, NTPU. He enjoyed interacting with faculty members, students, and supporting staff very much.
Prof. Masato is very grateful to Dr. Yen-Chun LIN, Dr. Lucy TING, and Dr. Te-Hsin CHANG for her kind arrangements and supports to him and his sons. He also visited National Tsing Hua University on March 28th.
Mar. 2025 (March 23)
Invited Visit to National Taipei University, Taiwan
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was invited by Dr. Yen-Chun Lin to deliver lectures at the College of Business, National Taipei University (NTPU), Taiwan. He stays at NTP from 23rd to 29th March and interacts with faculty members, students, and supporting staff at the Department of Leisure and Sport Management as well as the Department of Business Administration in NTPU.
Feb. 2025 (February 03)
Podcast Interview was Published Online
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was recently interviewed by Mrs. Sayuri HISATOMI (Sayurisense Inc.). He talked about his international experiences over the last 20 years and his research on promoting optimal functioning and well-being. The podcasts are available in Japanese on the websites below.
Jan. 2025 (January 27)
We organized a Lecture and Field Trip for International Students Studying Japanese at Rikkyo University.
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was invited by the Center for Japanese Language Education to provide international students participating in the Short-Term Intensive Japanese Program (SIJP) with a lecture on Japanese culture and society and organize a field trip.
Four lab members (Shun [UG3], Saho [UG3], Miharu [UG2], and Ryohan [UG2]) willingly participated in this event despite the fact that they had examinations on later days.
In the morning, Prof. Masato provided a lecture, entitled “Sports cultures at the Japanese university: Cases of Rikkyo University students.” Shun, Saho, and Miharu made a presentation in English to the audience.
That was great experience for them to to share their sports experiences with the international students.
In the afternoon, we visited the Japan National Stadium and the Tokyo Bay Area to see the legacy of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games conducted in 2021.
We walked or jogged from the Rainbow Bridge to the Ariake Tennis Park and then Urban Sports Park. Shun, Saho, Miharu, and Ryohan guided a difference group during the field trip. Great job, All!
We received very positive feedback on the lecture and field trip from the participants.
The events were huge success, considering that it was the first time for us to organize this kind of events to the SIJP participants.
Thank you very much for your supports and commitment to this event, Shun, Saho, Miharu, and Ryohan!
Without your supports, it was impossible to conduct the event successfully. I am very proud of each of you!
Jan. 2025 (January 03)
Two Lab Members ran the 101st Hakone Ekiden for Rikkyo University!
‘EKIDEN’ is a long-distance road relay developed in Japan. One of the most popular ekiden races is the Hakone Ekiden, a two-day event at the New Year (Jan. 2 and 3), consisting of 10 sections (217.1km). T to share their sports experiences with the international students.
In the afternoon, we visited the Japan National Stadium and the Tokyo Bay Area to see the legacy of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Shun (Undergraduate Year 3) and Sota (Undergraduate Year 2) ran this most prestigious ekiden race on behalf of Rikkyo University Ekiden Team. This is great honor for them!
Shun overcame many challenges and adversities to run the race. We are very proud of your dedication and determination, Shun and Sota!
2024
Dec. 2024 (December 19)
Acceptance of an Abstract Submitted to the 9th World Congress on Positive Psychology!
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) submitted an abstract to the 9th International Positive Psychology Association (IPPA) World Congress 2025.
It was confirmed on December 19 that the abstract has been accepted for inclusion in the program as a 12 Minute Oral Presentation.
The title of the abstract is ‘Lifestyle behaviors associated with learning motivation in Japanese primary school students.‘
Prof. Masato will make an oral presentation at the 9th IPPA World Congress in Brisbane (Australia) in July 2025!
Dec. 2024 (December 19)
19 Undergraduates (Year 2) Joining to the Human Thriving Lab in April, 2025!
A total of 19 students (Year 2) have determined to join the Human Thriving Lab for next academic year. This is great news!
We (Saho, Shun, Prof. Masato) had a brief meeting with 14 of them on December 19.
We are very much looking forward to studying and working on research projects with all the 19 students in 2025!
Dec. 2024 (December 1)
The 3nd Workshop to the Referees in Japan Rugby League One
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was invited to provide the 3rd workshop to the Referees who serve for Japan Rugby League One.
Nov. 2024 (November 17)
Meeting with Mr. Azhar Yusof, (Head, CoachSG at Sport Singapore)
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) had a meeting with Mr. Azhar Yusof. He is the Head of CoachSG at Sport Singapore and a World Rugby Master Trainer.
Mr. Azhar is an ex-colleague for Prof. Masato at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Prof. Masato learnt a lot from Mr. Azhar about the challenges rugby referees face in the match.
Oct. 2024 (October 26)
The 2nd Workshop to the Referees in Japan Rugby League One
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was invited to provide the 2nd workshop to the Referees who serve for Japan Rugby League One.
Sept. 2024 (September 22)
The 1st Workshop to the Referees in Japan Rugby League One
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was invited to provide the 1st workshop to the Referees who serve for Japan Rugby League One. He was very impressed by referee’s hard work and dedication for their loved sport and Japan Rugby.
Sept. 2024 (September 4)
Visitors from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
We had visitors from the Physical Education & Sports Science (PESS) Academic Group, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Prof. Masato (Lab Director) hosted them at Rikkyo University.
They visited Rikkyo University and Waseda University on their way to attend the inaugural Global Sport University Network Summit, which is held at the University of Oregon on September 12-13, 2024.
Aug. 2024 (August 3-4, 2024)
The AASP Asian-Pacific Regional Conference at Rikkyo University
Dr. Masato Kawabata (Lab Director) and Dr. Kaori Araki obtained a fund from the Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) to organize a regional conference for students. We hosted the AASP Asian-Pacific Regional Conference at Rikkyo University, Japan, on August 3rd and 4th, 2024. This is the first time that the AASP regional conference was held in Asia.
Japanese postgraduate students at several universities across Japan worked hard to organize this regional conference. It was a great learning opportunity for them to organize an international conference in which an official language was English.
Thank you very much for the organizing committee members (Dr. Kaori Araki, Dr. Susumu Iwasaki), the Project Members, and Ms. Karen Ho as a Keynote Speaker!! Your contributions to the conference are much appreciated!!
July 2024 (July 10 – 13)
The 11th European Congress on Positive Psychology in Innsbruck, Austria
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) talked as a panelist (a Co-Editor) in the special session by the Journal of Happiness Studies on July 12th and made an oral presentation on my flow research on July 13th.
July 2024 (July 15 – 19)
The European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology 2024 (FEPSAC 2024) in Innsbruck, Austria
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) made a poster presentation at the conference. It was great pleasure for him to catch up with friends, mentors, and well-known researchers in the field of sport and exercise psychology.
June 2024 (June 28)
A research paper was featured by The Science News!
A research paper led by Prof. Masato (Lab Director) on a hybrid trial of Square Stepping Exercise (SSE) has been published in BMC Geriatrics in April 2024 (DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04904-7).
The research paper was featured by The Science News in Japan. This research was conducted with Ms. Gun Su Ren and Prof. Annabel Chen when Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was at the PESS Academic Group, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. We are glad to see that the research was featured in Japan.
Apr. – May 2024 (April 14 – May 4)
Professor Cliff MALLETT (University of Queensland) visited Rikkyo University
We are very honored to have Prof. Cliff MALLETT at the College of Sport and Wellness, Rikkyo University from April 14 to May 4, 2024. He is a Full Professor at School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences in the University of Queensland, Australia. Prof. Cliff is the first invited professor since the college was established at Rikkyo University in 2023. Prof. Masato and two undergraduate lab members (Shun and Saho) hosted Prof. Cliff.
Prof. Cliff gave three great talks to faculty staff, students, and the public at Rikkyo University. Many people attended his lectures in person and online.
The titles of his lectures to students and the public were as follows:
- ‘Positive Coaching Strategies’ on April 26
- ‘Serial Winning Coaches: Striving & Becoming… Surviving…Thriving’ on April 27
Thank you very much for your inspiring talks, Prof. Cliff!
We learned a lot from you!
Apr. 2024
A research paper led by Prof. Masato (Lab Director) on a hybrid trial of Square Stepping Exercise (SSE) has been published in BMC Geriatrics.
In this study, we found that hybrid SSE was effective in enhancing cognitive, physical, psychological, and group functioning in sedentary older adults. The findings of this study are crucial to provide older adults with a safe rand efficient option to exercise.
Prof. Masato led the exercise intervention project when he was at the Physical Education and Sports Science (PESS) Academic Group at National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
The study was a great collaborative research project by the PESS AG, the Centre for Research and Development in Learning (CRADLE), and ActiveSG. The study was started at the beginning of 2020. We encountered so many challenges caused by Covid-19. However, we overcame those challenges by creating innovative approaches and helping each other.
We thank all participants for their time. Without their voluntary participations, this study would not have been possible. Appreciation also goes to ActiveSG for their assistance in the coordination of the sessions, and the research assistants who assisted in some of the screening and assessments conducted for the participants.
This study was financially supported by Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund Tier 2 Grant (Project No.: MOE2019-T2-1-019). The publication cost of this paper was supported by a research fund I had received from Rikkyo University, Japan. The published paper is also featured on the website of Rikkyo University (https://lnkd.in/gFcw8Ame).
Apr. 2024
The Human Thriving Lab has three new members in 2024!
1 Postgraduate: Mr. Tsutomu OKADA (Master of Arts, Year 1)
2 Undergraduates: Ms. Saho BABA (Year 3) and Mr. Shun NAGAI (Year 3)
Very welcome to the Human Thriving Lab, Tsutomu, Saho, and Shun!