International Research Center for Sport and Gender Equality （SGE）
NEWS
About the Center
The International Research Center for Sport and Gender Equality (SGE) will study the role and potential of sports in achieving gender equality and international cooperation and collaboration while aiming to make an international academic contribution to this field. We will particularly focus on issues related to gender and sexuality in the field of 'Sport for Development and Peace (SDP),' where sports are utilized as a tool for international development and peace. Until now, sports have strongly defined the normative gender binary of modern society. However, in recent years in the world of sports, there has been an active movement internationally to realize the remarkable success of women and the realization of diverse sexualities. Our center aims to be a research base in Japan for sports and gender/sexuality research, where research is progressing internationally in conjunction with these new trends in the sports world. We will continue our research to redefine the role of sports as a tool and platform for promoting diversity in gender and sexuality. We will specially focus on cooperating with the ASEAN countries and East Asian countries and regions, to actively promote gender equality through sports while adjusting to the cultural and social uniqueness of Asia.
What is “Sport for Development and Peace (SDP)”?
In the 2000s, the concept of "Sport for Development and Peace (SDP)," which seeks to utilize sports as a tool for addressing international issues, garnered attention primarily from international sports organizations such as the United Nations and the IOC. The role of sport in contributing to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has been actively debated up to now. In Japan, internationally contributing activities through sports have also taken off with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games as the catalyst, under the initiative of the 'Sports for Tomorrow.' However, the SDP field has faced criticisms of being influenced by the values of advanced countries in the northern hemisphere, particularly from Europe and North America. Regional imbalances have also been observed, with not many cases and studies from East Asia and Southeast Asia being accumulated. It is believed that it is necessary to accumulate research to redefine the way sports should be used, adjusting to the cultural and social characteristics of Asia.
Introduction of research activities
Our research center will be engaging in the following activities: (1) international academic promotion through collaboration with ASEAN countries, East Asian countries and other regions; (2) publication of research results; (3) collection and reporting of research-related materials;(4) workshops, lectures, symposiums etc. (5) training of researchers, etc.
