May 31, 2018

Japanese Communist Party lawmaker Hatano Kimie on May 30 at a House of Representatives Education Committee meeting brought up issues concerning school club activities which are attracting public attention following an incident in which a Nihon University (Nichidai) football player deliberately made an illegal tackle.

The incident occurred on May 6. In a game against Kwansei Gakuin University, a Nichidai linebacker tackled the Kwansei quarterback in an extremely hazardous way that caused serious injury. The Kantoh Collegiate Football Association recently published an investigation report which acknowledges that some of Nichidai American football coaches gave the player implicit instructions to injure the Kwansei QB.

In the Lower House committee meeting, Hatano said that the incident highlights the necessity to think again what after-school club activities are all about. She noted that guidelines for those who supervise after-school sports clubs, which was compiled by the Education Ministry in May 2013, underscores the importance of fostering independence in students.

Hatano said, “School club activities are basically aimed at helping students become autonomous. In this regard, the need for the Education Ministry is to establish a policy regarding after-school sports clubs grounded in the promotion of students’ autonomy and independence.”

Education Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa in response said that students join after-school clubs on their own and that these clubs are important as they provide good educational opportunities outside classrooms.