WCA 10th Anniversary
305 WCA Graduates in 10 Years!
Reflecting on the Milestone of the 10th WCA
The academy, targeting women coaches in the sport field, began for the first time in Japan in September 2015 in Karuizawa. Karuizawa, the only town in Japan to host both the Summer (1964 Tokyo Olympics) and Winter (1998 Nagano Olympics) Olympics, was chosen as the location for this pioneering initiative with the hope that participants would soar as unique, irreplaceable individuals.
Ten years have passed since then. A total of 305 WCA graduates are now making significant contributions across the sport industry, both domestically and internationally.
*Initially, the Academy was designed for Women Coaches, but recognizing the need to encompass women leaders in the sport field, its name was changed to “Women Leaders Academy” from 2024, while retaining the abbreviation WCA.
Message on the 10th anniversary ★ﾟ｡･.｡*☆ﾟ｡･.｡
The WCA has produced 305 graduates so far, including three who have become national-level head coaches: Ai Sugiyama from Tennis (1st graduate), Maki Tsukada from Judo (1st graduate), and Yukie Nakayama from Clay Shooting (2nd graduate) as of 2024.Looking ahead, WCA aspires to nurture more individuals who will follow in their footsteps, emerging as leaders both in Japan and globally, contributing to the further development of sport culture. This requires the WCA faculty and staff to embody a spirit of constant advancement. Etsuko Ogasawara Ph.D.
In 2014, during my participation in the NCAA Women Coaches Academy in the United States, I strongly felt that “bringing this program to Japan is our mission!” At the same time, I realized the importance of Japanese coaches acquiring knowledge in medicine and nutrition, unlike in the U.S., where such expertise is typically provided by specialized staff.The WCA incorporates unique lectures tailored to Japanese culture and education. By learning the latest knowledge and information at WCA and applying it in their respective fields, participants can create environments that support athletes’ well-being and maximum performance. Natsue Koikawa Ph.D.
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10 Years of WCA ★ﾟ｡･.｡*☆ﾟ｡･.｡
In September 2015, participants from across the nation gathered in Karuizawa for the inaugural WCA. Many shared the realities of the Japanese sport field, such as unequal treatment compared to men and unique challenges faced by female coaches. Even ten years later, not all these issues have been resolved, and new challenges continue to emerge with the changing times.
This academy offers a three-day intensive residential training program with a curriculum that integrates perspectives essential for female leaders and coaches, as well as education and training based on scientific research. As Japan’s only initiative supporting women leaders and coaches, it has been held continuously for a decade.
In 2018, the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) was commissioned to implement the “Women’s Sports Promotion Project / Fostering Women Boards in Sports Organizations (Japan Sports Agency)”, and the Japanese Center for Research on Women in Sport was re-commissioned and implement the WCA as a model project. This led to many female executives and leaders actively participating in the academy, representing various organizations and groups.
With each iteration, there is a growing trend of women from various roles in sport participating, ranging from grassroots to elite levels such as physical therapists, certified sports nutritionists, and staff members supporting local club teams and event operations, among others.
What Online Sessions Revealed
While WCA had been held consistently, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 brought about a “crisis of cancellation.” However, by adopting an online format with various innovative techniques, participants’ enthusiasm for learning and lecturers’ passionate teachings created a synergistic effect comparable to in-person sessions.
Despite being forced to hold the program online for two years in 2020 and 2021, over 30 participants attended each year, maintaining the bonds formed through WCA.
The Chemistry of Karuizawa’s Three Days
WCA is a residential training program held in a safe, women-only environment, allowing participants to focus intensively on lectures.
Participants from diverse backgrounds find unique opportunities to share, understand, and connect in ways only women can.By spending these meaningful moments together, they recognize, influence, and foster camaraderie with one another.
As lecturers often say, “WCA is a place where all graduates can come home.”
The Future of WCA and Its Graduates
Two significant milestones emerged from the first WCA.
One was the naming of the WCA mascot bear “Pola bear” through a vote by the 1st Cohort.
The other was the “Karuizawa Declaration” for “Tokyo 2020”. This was spontaneously generated by the participants and lecturers, and the idea was to move towards the development of Japanese sport with the aim of having “women as coaches in all women’s sports events” at Tokyo 2020, which will be hosted by our own country.
From the following year (the second session) onwards, this “Karuizawa Declaration” is updated into individual “Action Plan”, in which each person declares what they feel they should do to contribute to the Japanese sport field, based on their understanding and sharing of this “Karuizawa Declaration”.
The subsequent success of graduates is sometimes reported in the media, and sometimes through reports at the annual “Follow-up Seminars”, which are exclusively for WCA graduates.
Graduates continue to update their skills and continue to shine as “special gold”.
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Graduate Network ★ﾟ｡･.｡*☆ﾟ｡･.｡
WCA Graduates Across the Nation
WCA has welcomed participants from across Japan, from Hokkaido to Okinawa, with diverse affiliations, roles, and professions (see figure right). Some join seeking networking opportunities and mentors. To foster connections beyond graduation years, WCA holds annual “Follow-up Seminars” where graduates and lecturers reunite.
Maximizing the WCA Network
In 2024, the 10th anniversary of WCA, a reunion-like event titled “WCA 10th Anniversary Alumni Meeting” was held on November 2 in Ochanomizu, Tokyo, and online, bringing together graduates from the 1st to the 10th graduates. This celebratory event marked the highest alumni turnout in follow-up history, with graduates from all sessions participating onsite and online. Lecturers, both international and Japanese, joined, adding to the lively atmosphere.
Throughout the day, participants discussed their challenges and goals, exchanged ideas during group discussions, and forged new connections with graduates from nearby regions. The venue was abuzz with cheerful conversations, and attendees relished reconnecting with their peers.
Moving forward, in alignment with JCRWS’ mission to foster and research women leaders and coaches, WCA aims to continue supporting the unyielding dreams and goals of female leaders and coaches, symbolized by the “Polaris (North Star)” in the WCA logo.