STEP Taking on Challenges Through Questions That Shape the Future

Rather than simply being swayed by wins and losses, I want to make better use of our team’s abilities for society. By leveraging APU’s strengths in English proficiency and international diversity, I aim to create a sports environment that everyone can enjoy.

It is one of the sports that will become an official event at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Flag football is a non-contact version of American football, where a tackle is made by removing a flag attached to an opponent’s waist. Because it helps develop not only physical fitness but also critical thinking and communication skills, it can be enjoyed regardless of age or athletic ability, and it has even been introduced into elementary school classes. When I entered APU, there was no existing club, so I thought, “Why not start one myself?”

I played American football in junior high and high school, and it was a sport I truly loved, but I wasn’t comfortable with tackling. That’s when I discovered flag football and found it very appealing. As for our club activities, we practice twice a week for about two hours at Shoningahama Park, although the schedule may vary depending on the 4 to 5 tournaments we have each year. In terms of performance, we have ranked as high as second place in Kyushu. We also place a strong emphasis on promoting our activities through social media, aiming to become “the coolest and most active Instagram account at APU”!

Since the club was founded during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the biggest challenges at the beginning was recruiting members. That’s why we focused on sharing information through social media, as well as promoting the club through orientation events and word of mouth, which gradually increased awareness. What made me happiest was seeing the team grow—not just in size, but also in strength—as more members began to show leadership alongside me. It was also rewarding to see everyone enjoying practice with smiles on their faces. Additionally, I was especially glad when a senior member told me, “Thank you for creating an environment where we can feel passionate again.”

In November 2023, we launched a class for elementary school students that combines flag football and English. By adding the unique strengths of APU students—English proficiency and international diversity—we wanted children to develop proactive communication skills. Behind this initiative was a question that arose as our team improved: Is it enough to remain self-contained, simply experiencing the ups and downs of winning and losing? This led me to think about how we could contribute to society in a more meaningful way.

The elementary school program is still in its early stages, but we have received strong support from the manager of Beppu Arena, who is not only the venue provider but also my part-time employer. With their help, we are moving forward with procedures such as distributing information to local elementary schools. In addition, our members have been asking for support through their various part-time workplaces, and I truly appreciate the warm sense of community in Beppu that makes this possible. I was especially encouraged when I heard that a child who attended our first trial session became very fond of flag football and kept talking about it even after returning home. It gave me a strong sense of both joy and accomplishment.

I have retired as a flag football player and have passed on my role as representative. Going forward, I will stay involved in a coaching capacity. My vision for the period until I return to university in six months is to create a running community that is accessible and welcoming to everyone. I am currently working on ideas for activities that make people want to run together. My goal of staying involved in sports throughout my life and creating spaces that bring joy to others has also been strongly influenced by what I learned at APU, particularly in tourism studies—hospitality marketing, or how to create experiences that truly move and inspire people.