History of Japan Women's College of Physical Education

"Women's sports should be elegant and feminine, producing healthy mothers," said Tokuyo Nikaido, the founder of the Nikaido Taisojuku (Nikaido Gymnastic Private School), which was the forerunner of the Japan Women's College of Physical Education. In 1913, Nikaido went to the UK, a country of advanced sports at that time, and studied for 2 years at King's Field College. During her stay in the UK, she found her mission in life to be a sports educator. After returning to Japan, Nikaido founded Nikaido Taisojuku believing in, "Women's sports by women". Adopting the philosophies of the schools at which she had studied in the UK, she formed her own educational philosophy: "To achieve the ideal of women's sports which combine both strength and elegance, the school needs to take an holistic approach to education and a broad perspective of people's lives, including food, clothing and shelter, to raise an elite". Nikaido's philosophy was for producing outstanding teachers of physical education, and the philosophy has been passed on to today's students. Nikaido Taisojuku produced 500 up-and-coming teachers of physical education within 4 years of its foundation, and the superb sprinter Kinue Hitomi, Japan's first female Olympic medalist in the Taisho Era, was one of the graduates. Japan Women's College of Physical Education has been nurtured by these proud traditions.