Study Tour in Fukushima Sat. 14 – Sun.15 March, 2026

Two 5th-batch and seven 6th-batch students from TIAS2.0, along with one student each from the Master’s Program in Physical Education and the Doctoral Program in Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences, conducted a study tour in Fukushima Prefecture. They were accompanied by Program Chair Koyo Fukasawa, Professor Randeep Rakwal, and Mr. Yoshitaka Komatsu from the Bureau of Global Initiatives.

The tour was organized to reaffirm the legacy of Tokyo 2020 as the “Reconstruction Olympics” and to provide an opportunity to witness the current state of Fukushima 15 years after the disaster. Through local testimonies and site visits, the students experienced the sheer scale of the earthquake and tsunami damage firsthand. They were also able to vividly conceptualize the “invisible” threat of radiation, gaining a deeper understanding that goes beyond what can be perceived by the senses. Moreover, it was an opportunity, a chance to ‘think deeply’ for both International and Japanese students for cross-cultural communications, not only among themselves but with people involved in various aspects of post-disaster recovery efforts, including researchers, journalists, and villagers/farmers who were demonstrating resilience and hope for the future.