Schools & Study

The Women's Long-Distance Relay Race (Ekiden) Club actively participates not only in long-distance relay races (known as "ekiden"), or track events, but also in the Kobe Marathon, Osaka International Women's Marathon and more. The club is at the national level, and participates in the National University Women's Long-Distance Relay Race Championships and the National University Women's Selection Long-Distance Relay Race. The club is also active is volunteering and giving back to the community via participation in posture and balance classes in Kobe City and Hyogo Prefecture, and in instructing middle and high school students in running practice sessions, and more.

Our table tennis club meets once a week, for both basic and applied practice, which we also combine with practice using machines and large balls. We also participate in championships like the Kobe City League. Our members are close-knit, regardless of grade level, and we try to make practice fun. We also do our best to have practice on days when it's easiest for all of us to get together, according to everyone's schedules, so it's easy to participate in the club while studying or having a part-time job. We welcome not only experienced table tennis players, but first-timers, too!

The Japanese Culture Circle currently has a membership of 50 people, and about half of those members are international students. Our main activities are calligraphy, tea ceremony, ikebana (flower arrangement) and the study of other traditional Japanese culture, all while actively interacting with the international student body. Our on-school activities include calligraphy performances on stage during the Tanabata Festival or the school's Shinkoku Festival, food stalls at Christmas services, and appearances at local events like the Kobe Minato Festival or HAPPINESS Concert.

The RYUKA International Student Club has a membership of about 200 Japanese and international students, and puts on a large number of international exchange events throughout the year. In previous years, in June, the international students put on a "World Festival," our October Halloween event brought participants from the community around the university. We participated in the school festival in November, and twice a year we organize an international exchange bus tour to study Japanese culture, interact with local high school students, and strive to improve our communication skills through other events.