March 14th, 2024

Donations made by Mukogawa Women's University students in aid of the Noto Peninsula earthquake victims were sent to the affected areas.

On 13th of March, members of the Alumni Association's General Affairs Committee and Brown Rice Volunteers presented the donations collected by students of the University to support the areas affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake that occurred on 1st of January this year, through the Japanese Red Cross Society.

The General Affairs Committee and Brown Rice Volunteers jointly organized the fundraising campaign for the university's students, faculty and staff. The students started the fundraising on 10th of January with a desire to provide as much support as possible to those affected by the disaster.

Students have been calling for donations on the Main Campus during the morning commute hours and during lunch breaks, and have placed donation boxes at various campuses, including Kamikokoshien Campus (School of Architecture) and Hamakoshien Campus (School of Pharmacy) to raise support.

Fund raising was also conducted at the 6th Mukojo Smile Fest at LaLaport Koshien on the 17th to the 18th of February, where many people turned up to show support.

On the day, General Affairs Committee Chair Mai Sogo (2nd year, Japanese Language and Literature) and Brown Rice volunteers Yuka Kanno (2nd year, Food and Nutrition) and Mitsuki Fujimori (2nd year, Food and Nutrition) counted the donations and transferred a total of 387,372 yen to the 'Japan Red Cross 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake Disaster Relief Donation'.

Donation activities to support the Noto Peninsula earthquake victims will continue in the years ahead. Ms. Sogo, Ms. Kanno and Ms. Fujimori says: 'We will continue to provide support so that the people in the affected areas can return to their former way of life as soon as possible."

March 13th, 2024

Third-year students of the Department of Education, International Education Course undertook fieldwork training in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from 25th of February to 3rd of March.

International education fieldwork is a pillar of learning in the International Education Course, and the International Education Fieldwork IV provides a program to experience education overseas.

After arriving in the country, students carried out fieldwork at a primary school (Le Duc Tho Elementary School). They also interacted and exchanged ideas with students from Ho Chi Minh City University of Education and the Japanese School of Ho Chi Minh City.

Students commented: 'I was overwhelmed by the high level of teaching offered in Vietnam, as I saw that they are more advanced in the field of education in comparison to Japan', 'I felt that the students are aware that they want to work abroad and that they want to make their country a better one, and that their education is in line with their ideas', and 'The fieldwork gave me the opportunity to learn and gain new perspectives at the same time'.

March 12th, 2024

The 2023 'Chancellor's Award' presentation ceremony was held.

On the morning of March 12th, the award ceremony for the Chancellor Ogawara Award, which recognizes students who have achieved outstanding results in national and world-class competitions in extracurricular sports and cultural activities, was held in the Global Studio of the Central Library on the Main Campus, where the recipients were presented with certificates and prizes by Chancellor Ryo Ogawara.

Following the ceremony, a sit-down discussion was held between the chancellor and the 17 participants, who shared their expereiences of the competition that led to the award, their aspirations for the future, and how their practices on daily probed to achieve excellent results. After listening to the students' comments, Chancellr Ogawara commented: 'Listening to you all, I understand how hard you work on your studies and extra-curricular activities on a regular basis, and I am impressed by your attitude. I hope that you will continue to have confidence in your self-improvement in the future".

On behalf of the award winners, Yuko Niwa (1st year master's student, Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences) from the Taekwondo Club said: 'I am honored to receive the award in this way and feel as if my efforts up to now have been acknowledged. I believe that not only I, but also all the award winners have made a lot of effort. I will never forget to thank you and will continue to work hard in the future".

This was followed by a Celebration Dance performance by the Baton Cheerleading Club, who congratulated those present.

March 11th, 2024

A product by the School of Business Administration's industry-academia collaboration with Berne Corporation, 'A Bite of Strawberry Cheesecake', goes on sale.

In a class in the Department of Business Administration, Marketing Research (Prof Chieko Takahashi), students planned a series of sweets targeting Generation Z with the cooperation of Patisserie Berne (Berne Co., Ltd.) in Nishinomiya City. The students' ideas were arranged by Berne and commercialized. The product, a 'Bite of Strawberry Cheesecake' (250 yen), will be sold exclusively at Bern directly-operated shops from 10th of March.

 Students taking a marketing research course were given a product theme by Berne - "sweets and birthday cakes targeted at Generation Z girls that can be eaten easily at university" - and worked in groups to come up with a product plan. The students conducted online questionnaires and group interviews with their classmates and friends to formulate a proposal for a product that would be a hit for Generation Z girls, which they presented to Bern's president Yoichi Kuramoto at two presentation meetings.

 The 'Bite of Strawberry Cheesecake' was based on the 'Stick-shaped White Gateau Chocolat with Strawberry Jam' proposed by a group of five students, and was made into a prototype at Nishinomiya Bern, which was then adapted into a cheesecake.

March 7th, 2024

Four members of the University's dance club participated in a dance camp at the National University of the Arts, Taiwan (TNUA) from 25th of February to the 2nd of March.

The four were invited to this dance camp after being selected through a video screening and performance screening for the 'Za Koenji Dance Award II' (to be held on 7th of April), where dancers from Taiwan and Japan gather to submit their works.

The camp was held for the purpose of joint rehearsals with TNUA students who will also perform in the 'Za Koenji Dance Award', as well as for the purpose of exchanges between Taiwan and Japan. The students polished their performances and inspired each other to improve their skills in preparation for the presentation of results on the final day of the camp. During their stay, the four students of MWU also attended various classes with TNUA students in ballet, tai chi, modern dance and Taiwanese folk dance in order to improve their understanding and skills in dance.

March 6th, 2024

Hina Fujiki (4th year, Health and Sports Science) won the 95th Miyasama Ski Tournament International Competition (organized by the Sapporo Ski Federation and Hokkaido Ski Federation) held on 3rd of March at Bankei Ski Resort in Sapporo. She was named the overall winner of the Asia Cup and earned the right to compete in the World Cup next season.

The Asia Cup is an international competition recognized by the International Ski and Snowboard Federation and is held between the continents of Japan, Korea and China. The overall winner is awarded the right to compete in the World Cup the following season.

Ms. Fujiki says: "I am happy to have earned the right to compete in the World Cup, which was my goal. I will continue to train hard and practice so that I can ski on a world-class level."

This spring, Ms. Fujiki will continue her studies at the University's Graduate School of Health and Sport Sciences in the Master's Course.