The Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science (KRS) welcomed seven undergraduate students and two faculty members, Professor Naoto Shoji and Professor Yuki Kubota, from the Department of Health and Sport Sciences, School of Health Sciences at Asahi University, Japan, for its sixth annual Asahi University Health Science Program from August 30 to September 7, 2026.
During their stay, the students visited KRS classes, including courses related to physical education and strength and conditioning, where they interacted with UH Mānoa students and experienced the academic environment of KRS firsthand. The students also gained exposure to the collegiate sport environment at an NCAA Division I institution. They observed team practices, football athletic training room operations, and the roles of athletic trainers in supporting student-athletes. Beyond these educational experiences, they also had the opportunity to enjoy UH women’s volleyball and football games, giving them a chance to experience the energy and excitement of collegiate athletics in Hawaiʻi.
The group also visited Ānuenue School, a Hawaiian language immersion school, where they learned about Hawaiian culture, language, and education. Throughout the week, the Asahi students developed friendships with KRS students through classroom interactions and a get-together luncheon, creating opportunities for students from both universities to learn from one another, share their cultures, and build lasting connections.
At the program’s closing ceremony, Dean Nathan Murata and KRS Chair Erin Centeio presented certificates of completion, and each Asahi student delivered an individual speech reflecting on what they had learned and experienced during their time in Hawaiʻi. Program coordinator Dr. Yukiya Oba noted that, over the past six years, the program has continued to grow into a meaningful academic and cultural exchange that gives Japanese students an opportunity to experience American higher education, sport, and athletic training firsthand while also enriching the KRS community through international interaction, friendship, and shared learning.
