Mr. Ryoichi Akamatsu (2nd year student, Subject-Integrated Education, the Graduate School of Education) finished third at the male high jump category (record: 216cm) at The 6th Japan-China-Korea Athetic Meet held in Kimchon, South Korea on June 15, 2019.

The competition is held to enhance the levels of athletic skills of youth in Japan, China and South Korea, and also to facilitate exchanges among young athletes. Only two Japanese (one was Mr. Akamatsu) were chosen to compete at the male high jump category for the 6th competition.

Mr. Akamatsu also finished seventh at the male high jump (record: 220cm) at the 103rd Japan National Championships (a preliminary competition for the 2019 JAAF* World Championships in Doha) in Fukuoka Prefecture starting from June 27, 2019.

Mr. Akamatsu and Assistant Professor Ryohei Hayashi (Mr. Akamatsu's supervisor) visited the Office of President to report his victories to President Hisataka Moriwaki on June 28.

"I attended the 6th athletic meet to represent Japan for the first time. I was truly looking forward to my attendance and resolved to win a gold, so my record at the meet was something I was not expecting. I would like to continue to practice hard to clear my goal of 230cm in the near future." said Mr. Akamatsu to the president. President praised his two great victories and gave the following words of encouragement: "Your excellent performance as a representative of Japan impressed us all. I hope you keep on working hard in your study and club activities."

Mr. Akamatsu is currently working on his master's thesis to increase individual power of competition. In this regard, he is both conducting his research and engaging in practices.

Mr. Akamatsu is going to take part in The 88th Emperor's Cup for Japan Student Athletics Interscholastic Championships (Japan Intercollegiate Track & Field Games) held in Gifu in September 2019. Please join us to wish him the best of luck!

JAAF*: Japan Association of Athletics Federations