NEWS NEWS Pick up the Latest News of Toyo University NEWS 01 Athletic Clubs Activity Report From the Men’s and Women’s Soccer Clubs Eight Players Were Given Offers from Professional and Amateur Soccer Clubs Eight Toyo University students (four players from the men’s soccer club and four from the women’s soccer club) signed contracts with professional and amateur soccer teams. They will be joining their teams from the 2021 season. Please look forward to seeing them play on this new stage. Takeru Itakura Ryota Ichihara Haruka Kuwabara Naoki Tsuchida Faculty of International Faculty of International Faculty of International Faculty of International Tourism Management Tourism Management Tourism Management Tourism Management Vanraure Hachinohe FC. IMABARI UD Llanera Verspah OITA Football Club （J3 LEAGUE） （Spain/Campeonato （Japan Football League） （J3 LEAGUE） Nacional de Liga de Tercera División） Rio Ouchi Mariko Kubo Mayu Tsuneda Nana Tsuneda Faculty of Food and Faculty of Food and Faculty of Food and Faculty of Food and Nutritional Sciences Nutritional Sciences Nutritional Sciences Nutritional Sciences Sanfrecce Hiroshima OMIYA ARDIJA VENTUS IGA FC KUNOICHI MIE IGA FC KUNOICHI MIE （WE League） （WE League） （Nadeshiko League （Nadeshiko League Division 1） Division 1） Rio Shirai and Natsumi Sakai Finished First in a Total of Four Races The Unforgettable 96th Japan National Swimming Championship The postponed 96th Japan National Swimming Championship scheduled to be held in April 2020 was held between December 3 to 6, 2020. The venue was the Tokyo Aquatics Center, which is the planned venue for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics. For Toyo University Swimming Club, after Rio Shirai (3rd year student, Department of International Tourism Management, Faculty of International Tourism Management) took first place in the women’s 200m freestyle on the second day, Natsumi Sakai (1st year student, Department of Business Law, Faculty of Law) also finished first in the women’s Rio Shirai Natsumi Sakai 100m backstroke. Both athletes did not stop there, with Sakai taking first place in the women’s 100m freestyle on the third day, and on the fourth day, Sakai took first place and Photo:Shota Ouchi / PHOTO KISHIMOTO Shirai second in the Women’s 200m backstroke, giving Toyo a one-two finish. The Toyo University Swimming Club showed their prowess over the four days of the tournament, with other swimmers awarded third-place finishes and setting personal bests. The Women’s Track and Field Club Long-Distance Division Fought Hard in the All-Japan Invitational University Women’s Ekiden The All-Japan Invitational University Women’s Ekiden (Mt. Fuji Women’s Ekiden) was held on December 30, 2020, with 21 universities, including Toyo University participating. The course is a seven-section (43.4km) rolling course through the foothills of Mt. Fuji with an elevation range of 174m connecting Fujinomiya City and Fuji City in Shizuoka Prefecture. The course is famous for its seventh section. It is a harsh section like no other, with tough hill climbs continuing from three kilometers after receiving the sash. The team aimed for a best-ever ranking inside the top 8, and Mei Shimozato (1st year student, Department of Food and Life Sciences, Faculty of Food and Nutritional Sciences) ran a section ranking 9th in the sixth section, but unfortunately, finished Section 6, Mei Shimozato 13th. With people refraining from cheering from the roadside, the team gave it their all, turning the primarily SNS cheering into strength. TOYO UNIVERSITY NEWS No.261 19 NEWS NEWS Pick up the Latest News of Toyo University NEWS N E W S 05 Students' Language Learning Outcomes Showcased 02 Toyo University Priority Research Promotion Program: at the AY 2020 English Speech Contest and AY 2021 Research Project was Decided the Japanese Presentation Contest The 6th English Speech Contest and the 3rd Japanese Presentation Contest were held At Toyo University, we have established the "Priority Research Promotion Program" Projects selected for AY 2019 and 2020 online on January 9, 2021, and January 23, 2021 respectively. Both contests are for subsidy program for projects to promote cutting-edge and original research that will non-native speakers of the target language. The contests are held to showcase students' daily Priority improve the university's brand and contribute to the solution of global issues. For AY Name of research project Research study outcomes and allow for friendly competition between students from different Issues 2021, "High-performance and Sustainable Manufacturing by utilizing biomimetics," faculties. This year, despite the difficult topic of proposing solutions to the novel that will address ❺ of the eight priority research issues and "A study to implement Research on Contributing to the reconstruction of global coronavirus pandemic and societal issues, we had successive presentations in logical and cooperation by proposing sustainable infrastructure advanced science on extremophiles in society to achieve the SDGs ― Extremophiles × -Production of “infrastructure Option” and “Economic / ❶・❹ fluent English and Japanese. Anne Akiyoshi won the English Speech Contest (Department SDGs × Toyo Grand Design 2020-2024―" that will address ❸ and ❺, were newly Social Evaluation Application”- of Regional Development Studies, Faculty of Global and Regional Studies, 1st year selected. The research period is for three years from April 2021. Enhancement of human security through improvement student), and Robert Bajracharya won the Japanese Presentation Contest (Department of of living environment in developing countries ―TOYO ❺ International Tourism Studies, Faculty of International Tourism Studies, 2nd year Priority Research Issues SDGs Global 2020-2030-2037― student). Robert commented that "It is an honor everyone recognized my ideas on the ❶Research to restore global harmony; ❷Research related to digital transformation (DX) including innovation in Winner of the Japanese Speech Contest Toward the World Philosophy for the 22th Century information and communications technology such as IoT, big data, AI, the data economy, and Fintech; ❸Leading ❽ theme of rethinking education in developing countries." With the declaration of the state Robert Bajracharya research in advanced nations such as in the fields of medical and health welfare, food environment, and life sciences of emergency, the contest's date and method changed at the last minute. However, by from the perspective of promoting welfare reform and the extending healthy life expectancy; ❹Creative development The study on human values and support systems for the connected society ❸・❽ virtue of holding the contest online, it was watched by more people than ever before. of the innovation ability of industry, and innovative research into social systems to enhance this; ❺Research that contributes to the achievement of SDGs, or research that has themes related to the achievement of the same goals; Development of multilevel research to harness support Research that contributes to the enhancement of various types of education in the post-corona era; Research to ❻ ❼ technologies for athletes and health care support for enhance individuality and brand power as a university with a view to the 150th anniversary of Toyo University; ❽ elderly people ~Collaborative research organization for ❸ Humanities research on philosophy, ethics and culture to address the above issues ❶ through ❼ social implementation~ NEWS N E W S 06 03 The Symposium to Explore the Future of Regional Areas Through Quality Assurance Forum Industry-Government-Academic Cooperation: “The Vitality of East Tokyo and the Challenge of Local SMEs.” “To Ensure the Growth of Every Student” On December 17, 2020, Toyo University and The Tokyo Higashi Shinkin Bank jointly On December 11, 2020, the Quality Assurance Forum for faculty and staff held the “Vitality” of East Tokyo and the Challenge of Local SMEs,” an online symposium members was held as an opportunity to deepen understanding of quality sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. On the day, Professor Satoshi Yamamoto assurance systems for education, research activities, and university management. (Deputy Director of the Industry-Government-Academia Partnership Center) was the In the first half of the plenary session, President Etsuko Yaguchi gave a talk coordinator, and CEOs of regional SMEs participated in panel discussions. They spoke titled “The Direction Toyo University Should Take: To Ensure the Growth of about the difficulties of continuing business amidst the novel coronavirus pandemic and Each Student,” then the Director of the Office for University Evaluation how to proceed positively with business amidst this situation. In addition, the participants, explained “ The Future Evaluation Cycle: Connected with Self-Assessment including students, were given a strong message about the “importance of challenge,” and and Evaluation, Medium-Term Planning, and Other Evaluation Activities.” detailed answers were given to questions that were submitted in advance. In the second half, discussions were held in the three groups, “Departments and Graduate Schools,” “University-Wide Committees,” and “University Panelists Management and Finance.” This was a valuable opportunity for faculty and staff Mr. Takeshi Tsuchimura (Senior Director, Commerce and Industry Division, Bureau of Industrial and Labor Affairs, Tokyo Metoropolitan Government), members to share various issues with each other. Ms. Yumi Akao (Representative Director and Chairman,