NEWS

New Physical Education Facilities Completed

Update: November 30, 2018

New glass-walled Physical Education CenterNew glass-walled Physical Education Center

The construction of the new physical education facilities, which started in academic year 2017, has been completed and a completion ceremony was held on Thursday, November 29, 2018.

With the completion of these works, ICU has now added a new gymnasium (Physical Education Center A), with an impressive wood design, a pool and roofed tennis courts*, and with the existing gymnasium (Physical Education Center B), the Central Locker Building and Sports Clubhouse also have been further enhanced with the renovation.
*The roofed tennis courts were completed in April 2018.

ICU, based on the belief that health and physical education is indispensable for all-around education, has made health and physical education as a mandatory subject since its foundation. ICU reorganized the health and physical education curriculum in April 2017 and made the class size smaller, thus building a foundation for realizing a higher quality learning. With the completion of the new physical education facilities, it is expected to achieve further strengthening of ICU's health and physical education program which aims to improve not only the athletic abilities but also the wellness (sound and safe physical, mental and social situation) of the students even after graduation.

"These facilities have been built on a new structure, which no one has seen before, and based on the long-standing requests and experiences of the teachers in the health and physical education program and the labor of versatile master craftsmen. You will know the real greatness of these facilities only from now on. We, within God's plan, have great expectations for the future, and along with having hopes and dreams, would like to express our happiness and gratitude at the completion of the new facilities," said Rev. Shoko Kitanaka following a prayer at the completion ceremony.

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Subsequently, in the celebration held after a tour of the interior of the physical education facilities, Kakutaro Kitashiro, Chair of ICU's Board of Trustees, and ICU President Junko Hibiya thanked those involved in the development and construction of the physical education facilities and talked about the importance of health and physical education in the context of the all-around education that ICU aims for as well as the curriculum reorganization carried out last year, while expressing delight at the completion of the excellent facilities that would support ICU's health and physical education.

Also, Professor Emeritus Yoshio Niwa, former professor of physical education at ICU, spoke to those present and reminisced about the history of ICU's facilities starting from the time when he joined the university in 1957, when it had outside volleyball and basketball courts and later in 1972 when the existing physical education center was built. He also talked about how there was a structure for building another facility even at the time of the completion of the existing center in 1972 and expressed his happiness and gratitude at the realization of the long-cherished physical education facilities.

"With the completion of the new facilities, we have more space now and can practice freely and comfortably," said Moe Kusaka (Third year student), chairperson of the Sports Clubhouse Users Committee, on behalf of the students groups who will use the physical education facilities, conveying her happiness.

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At the end of the celebration, Shin Takahashi, Director of the Health and Physical Education Program, thanked the people involved in the development and construction of the facilities. "ICU's health and physical education aims to enrich the life of each and every student and this remains true even now and has not changed," said Takahashi. "In the class, I try to motivate the students who attend every small bit I can, and I feel anyone would be excited just by visiting these facilities. So I am really glad at the completion of these outstanding facilities upon pursuing a liberal arts education at this university. I would like to use these facilities to nurture better students in the future."

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For pictures of the new physical education facilities

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New glass-walled Physical Education Center taking in abundant sunlight
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Entrance
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Entrance
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Mail Court
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Mirrored Studio
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Swimming Pool
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