Sept. 2024
A Workshop to the Referees in Japan Rugby League One (September 22)
Prof. Masato (Lab Director) was invited to provide a 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
Visitors from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (September 4)
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
The AASP Asian-Pacific Regional Conference at Rikkyo University (August 3-4, 2024)
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
The 11th European Congress on Positive Psychology in Innsbruck, Austria (July 10 – 13)
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
The European Congress of Sport and Exercise Psychology 2024 (FEPSAC 2024) in Innsbruck, Austria (July 15 – 19)
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
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
Professor Cliff MALLETT (University of Queensland) visited Rikkyo University (April 14 – May 4)
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!