Effective planning is essential when hosting summer outdoor sports events to protect athletes from heat-related illnesses such as heatstroke. In a recent study, a team led by PhD student Hiroki Yamaguchi of the Graduate School of Health and Sports Science and Professor Kojiro Ishii of the Faculty of Health and Sports Science developed a system that converts environmental heat measurements into practical estimates of low-risk playing time and operational indicators useful for organizing and managing tournaments.

Reference

Yamaguchi H, Mori T, Hanano H, Oishi K, Ikeue K, Omichi C and Ishii K (2026) Operational margin of high-school tennis tournaments under heat constraints: a wet-bulb globe temperature-based scenario analysis. Front. Sports Act. Living 8:1914945.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2026.1914945

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-109/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1148460

Image title: Overview of the proposed framework for heat-informed tournament design
Image caption: This novel approach will help make informed decisions in tournament management to mitigate heat-related risks.
Image credit: Hiroki Yamaguchi from Doshisha University, Japan
License type: Original content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be used without permission

(Thumbnail) 
Image title: Tennis championships in Japan during peak summers
Image caption: To mitigate heat-related risks among competitive athletes, researchers propose a novel framework for better for heat-informed tournament design.
Image credit: EaglebrookSchool via Flickr from Openverse
Image link: https://openverse.org/image/3ee5c47a-e200-44e3-9e83-6f975d22fb71?q=Eaglebrook-School-Spring-2014-Athletics20140409_5478&p=1  
License type: CC BY 2.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.

While modern education remains largely driven by technological rationality—prioritizing measurable metrics, control, forecasting, and efficiency—recent research proposes a radically different vision. Professor Fumio Ono from the Faculty of Global and Regional Studies introduces a "philosophy of pathos," framing human suffering, fragility, and unpredictability as vital components of the learning process. Grounded in Japanese philosophical traditions that bridge Eastern and Western thought, the study leverages the "knowledge of pathos" and "logic of lemma" to transform how educational systems engage with crisis, trauma, and ambiguity.

Reference

Ono, F. (2026). Conceptualizing a philosophy of education in response to suffering experiences: Technological rationality, logic of lemma, and the philosophy of pathos. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 1–18.
https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2026.2725071

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-108/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1148032

Title: Rethinking Our Relationship with the World
Caption: A coastal landscape of Minamata city, Japan at sunset. The image reflects the study’s call for an approach to education that recognizes uncertainty, vulnerability and the complex relationship between people and the world around them.
Credit: Professor Fumio Ono from Doshisha University
Image source link: Not applicable
License type: Original content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be used without permission

Synthetic dyes in industrial wastewater can threaten aquatic ecosystems and human health. A research group from the Faculty of Science and Engineering at Doshisha University, including Mr. Asif Ali, a PhD student and MEXT Scholar, developed a green, single-step co-pyrolysis method for converting bullrush agricultural waste into a zero-valent copper nanoparticle-enhanced bullrush activated carbon (ZVCu@BAC) composite. The material removed both cationic and anionic dyes in laboratory tests, while its preliminary production cost of ~¥1,800 JPY/kg and regeneration performance highlight its potential for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Reference

Asif Ali, Michiaki Matsumoto, Yoshiro Tahara, Green fabrication of copper nanoparticle-enhanced bullrush-derived activated carbon via single-step pyrolysis for broad-spectrum adsorption and simultaneous removal of cationic and anionic dyes, Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 2026
Article: 124521, Volume: Volume 14, Issue 5
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2026.124521

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-107/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1145335

Image Title: Synthetic dye contaminants in industrial wastewater are leading to an ecological crisis
Image Caption: Researchers report an ecofriendly, single-step co-pyrolysis process for preparing ZVCu@BAC composite from bullrush weed biomass and copper precursor that can effectively remove synthetic dye contaminants from industrial wastewater.
Image Credit: zim2411 from Openverse
Image Source Link: https://openverse.org/image/daa0873c-48a8-4e80-b3b4-abe4d2be34b5?q=dirty+water&p=8
License type: CC BY-SA 2.0.
Credit statement: Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.

A team of researchers led by Professor Tatsuya Hojo of the Faculty of Health and Sports Science has reported that just 10 minutes of ultrasound stimulation can reduce stiffness in the soleus, a deep calf muscle that is difficult to target using conventional interventions. Because passive muscle stiffness is associated with an increased risk of muscle strain injuries, these findings provide new insight into a simple, non-invasive approach for managing stiffness in deep muscles and may contribute to future strategies for sports injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Reference
Tomohiro Umeda, Kaho Sugiyama, Hanaka Hirasawa, Ryosei Sakurada, Taku Wakahara, Tatsuya Hojo, The effects of ultrasound stimulation on passive muscle stiffness of triceps surae, Journal of Biomechanics, Volume 206, 2026
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2026.113502

Image title: Ultrasound stimulation reduces passive stiffness in the deep soleus muscle
Image caption: Ultrasound stimulation was applied to the calf for 10 minutes, and passive muscle stiffness was assessed using shear wave velocity. The study compared the superficial medial gastrocnemius (MG) and deeper soleus (SOL) muscles. Passive muscle stiffness decreased in the SOL after ultrasound stimulation, while no significant change was observed in the MG.
Image credit: Mr. Tomohiro Umeda from Doshisha University, Japan 
Image link: N/A
License type: Original content
Usage restriction: Credit must be given to the creator.

A research team at the Acoustic Navigation Research Center, Doshisha University, including Dr. Soshi Yoshida, has found that greater Japanese horseshoe bats modify the frequency of their constant-frequency (CF) echolocation calls when mixed with a population using a different CF, eventually converging on the same frequency.The study fills an important gap in research on population mixing of CF bats, providing more information to species behaviorists, robotics engineers, and other innovators working on biomimetics and bio-inspired technologies.


Reference

Haruhito Matsumoto, Soshi Yoshida, Shizuko Hiryu, Greater Japanese horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus nippon) gradually converge their echolocation call frequency to colony members,Journal of Comparative Physiology A, 2026
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00359-026-01821-5

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-105/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1137476

Image title: Images of the greater Japanese horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus nippon) in flight.
Image caption: New research reveals that mixed wild- and captive-populations of the greater Japanese horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus nippon) display frequency convergence behaviors in a major echolocation frequency, thereby reducing acoustic interference from members of the same colony and improving species sensing.
Image Credit: Photo by Soshi Yoshida, used with permission
Image link: Original Content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be used without permission

Hearing loss affects communication, learning, independence, and social well-being. While cochlear implants have transformed treatment for severe hearing impairment, they require surgery and are often associated with post-operative complications. They also rely on electrical stimulation, which can limit their precision. Researchers are therefore exploring whether applying optical neural stimulation through brain-machine interfaces can mitigate these limitations. However, the effect of laser stimulation applied through the tympanic membrane is largely understudied.A research team led by Prof. Kohta I. Kobayasi of the Faculty of Life and Medical Sciences and Dr. Yuta Tamai of the Acoustic Navigation Research Center, Doshisha University, demonstrated for the first time that trans-tympanic infrared laser stimulation of the cochlea evokes reliable auditory-guided behaviour in awake Mongolian gerbils without the need for genetic modification or invasive surgical implantation.

Reference

Yuta Tamai, Miku Uenaka, Aya Okamoto, Yuki Ito, Kaito Fukada, Ayase Kawasaki, Takaki Shintani, Riko Nakagawa, Koji Toda, Shizuko Hiryu, Kohta I. Kobayasi, Optical induction of auditory perception via cochlear stimulation in Mongolian gerbils without genetic modification,iScience, 2026 
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2026.116588

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-104/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1136516

Image title: Trans-tympanic Infrared Laser Stimulation Evokes Auditory-Like Perception in Mongolian Gerbils 
Image caption: Top: Gerbils learned that both sound (blue) and laser stimulation (red) predicted a water reward, with similar learning curves. Middle: Loud background noise weakened responses driven by both sound (blue) and laser stimulation (red), suggesting that the laser signal was linked to hearing. Bottom: Gerbils trained with sound also responded to laser stimulation, suggesting that laser stimulation created a sound-like sensation.
Image credit: Dr. Yuta Tamai and Professor Kohta I. Kobayasi from Doshisha University, Japan 
Image source link: https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(26)01963-2?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS2589004226019632%3Fshowall%3Dtrue
License type: CC BY 4.0
Usage restriction: Credit must be given to the creator.

　We are pleased to announce that a paper presenting research on the transformable lunar rover “Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2),” also known as “SORA-Q,” has been featured on the cover of and published in the international journal Science Robotics on June 10, 2026 (June 11, 3:00 AM Japan Standard Time).

Title ：

From ball to rover: Transformable palm-sized rover SORA-Q for autonomous lunar exploration

Journal ：

Science Robotics

DOI ：

10.1126/scirobotics.aec8039

Key points

Overview

　LEV-2 was separated from the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) in January 2024 and successfully reached the lunar surface. After landing, it automatically deployed and transformed from a spherical shape (approximately 8 cm in diameter) into a mobile configuration. It successfully captured images while traversing the surface and transmitted the acquired data wirelessly to the other rover LEV-1. All these operations were performed autonomously without intervention from ground control.
　This study proposes mechanical design and autonomous control technology to overcome the limitations in mobility and computational capability inherent in small robots and demonstrates their effectiveness on the lunar surface.

Details

1. Background

　To date, lunar and Mars exploration missions have relied on large, highly capable rovers; however, these systems have posed significant challenges in terms of development and launch cost. In contrast, small rovers offer the advantage of being deployable at lower cost, but they face substantial limitations in mobility, computational capability, and power. In particular, on soft terrain of the lunar surface, small wheels are prone to sinking, making traversal difficult. Moreover, in communication-constrained environments, autonomous capability is essential, as rovers must operate without relying on continuous ground control. Against this background, there has been a growing need for compact robots that combine high mobility and advanced autonomy.

2. Results

The following results were obtained through in-situ operations on the lunar surface. A new lunar image is also released.

3. Prospects

These results represent an important step in demonstrating the feasibility of space exploration using small robotic systems. Looking ahead, the following developments are expected:

　The technologies and insights gained from this study are expected to contribute not only to future lunar and Mars exploration, but also to the expansion of human presence in space.

Paper Information

Journal ：

Science Robotics

DOI ：

10.1126/scirobotics.aec8039

Title ：

From ball to rover: Transformable palm-sized rover SORA-Q for autonomous lunar exploration

Authors ：

D. Hirano^1,2, M. Inazawa², M. Sutoh¹, M. Nagata³, Y. Yoneda⁴, K. Watanabe⁵, H. Sawada¹, G. Sakoda³, S. Abe⁶, S. Homma⁶

Related Links

(JAXA)

For more details

Title: A collage of images related to Japanese migration to Canada with the title of the essay in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia
Image Credit: Created by Masumi Izumi from Doshisha UniversityPhotograph of the Vancouver Asahi players in 1915. Photographer: unknown. Photograph of Mikio and Kazuko Ibuki in the Slocan internment camp, BC. Courtesy of Mikio Ibuki. Photograph of an internment camp for Japanese Canadians. Photographer: Jack Long. Photograph of the plaque of the Tashme internment camp. Photographer: Masumi Izumi Photograph of Japanese Canadian cultural activists (Mayumi Takasaki, Tamio Wakayama, and Rick Shiomi with Masumi Izumi). Photographer: Emily Anderson. Photograph of the Nikkei Legacy Park, Greenwood, BC. Photographer: Masumi Izumi.
Image Type: Original content
Usage restrictions: No derivatives or adaptations of the work are permitted. Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted.

Animals such as bats rely on sound for navigation and locating prey. However, they must distinguish between important signals and surrounding noise. A research group from Doshisha University, including Dr. Soshi Yoshida, now report that greater Japanese horseshoe bats actively create a “silent spectral window” through ultrasonic frequency control, which allows them to clearly detect echoes from their prey against the background clutter. This strategy not only stabilizes echoes but also suppresses environmental noise, inspiring future noise cancellation technologies.

Reference

Soshi Yoshida, Haruhito Mastumoto, Kohta I. Kobayasi, Shizuko Hiryu, Horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus nippon) suppress clutter noise through echolocation frequency control to detect prey, Communications Biology, 2026
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10217-9

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Initiatives and Development, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-100/

Title: How Bats Respond to Artificial Echo Sounds
Caption: The figure shows A. Experimental system for virtual echo indication and B. Presentation of Doppler-shifted virtual echoes and corresponding bat responses
Credit: Soshi Yoshida from Doshisha University
Image source link: Not applicable
License type: Original content
Usage restrictions: Cannot be used without permission

Edited by Nobuko Kawashima, Global Film Policies: New Perspectives examines how film policy is rapidly evolving beyond its traditional focus on public support for film production. Through diverse international case studies, the volume explores how contemporary film policy intersects areas such as technology regulation, labor, trade, tourism, and urban branding. It also offers new perspectives on how globalization, digitalization, streaming platforms, and the post-pandemic media environment are reshaping the governance of film industries around the world.

Reference
Ruby Cheung, John Hill, Nobuko Kawashima, Paul McDonald, Global Film Policies -New Perspectives-, Routledge, (2025). 
https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003171287

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-99/

 

(Summary)
While language education is critical for the social integration of foreign residents, Japan’s system remains heavily dependent on volunteer labor. New research by Associate Professor Bettina Gildenhard, from the Faculty of Global Communications, examines the intersection of national policy and local practice within these volunteer-led Japanese language programs. Through policy analysis and field research, the study concludes that this reliance fosters a "semi-professional" environment, which not only impacts educational quality but also risks stifling the potential of both the volunteers and the residents they serve.

Reference
Gildenhard, B. (2026). Volunteering in local Japanese classes – insights into a microcosm between personal initiatives, national language policies and the quest for professionalism. Japan Forum, 1–25.
https://doi.org/10.1080/09555803.2026.2656200

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University.
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-98/

This achievement has also been featured in “EurekAlert!”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1127643

Title: How volunteers are shaping language education in Japan
Caption: Study shows the potential and limitations of local Japanese classes run by volunteers.
Credit: Goryukaku from Wikimedia Commons
Image source link: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GlobALS_learner_with_daughter_attending_ALS_class.jpg
icense type: CC BY-SA 3.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under same terms.

Japanese Religious Life Is Rooted More in Culture and Practice Than in Formal Belief

Japan is often described as a highly secular country, yet millions who identify as “nonreligious,” participate in Shinto and Buddhist rituals. To shed light on this paradox, a research team led by Koki Shimizu, Assistant Professor of the Faculty of Social Studies at Doshisha University, analyzed data from a nationally representative survey, examining religious identity, ritual participation, and beliefs simultaneously. Their findings reveal that religiosity in Japan is rooted in cultural habits and inherited traditions, and that small changes in question wording can dramatically shift the estimates of how religious the population.

Reference
Koki Shimizu, Yoshihide Sakurai, Ambiguous Boundaries of Religious Belief, Behavior, and Belonging in Japan: A Descriptive Analysis of Plural and Cultural Religiosity, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 2026 
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.70065

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University. 
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-97/

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1127242

Title: Population distribution in Japan based on religious identity
Caption: A recent study explores the plural, layered, and culturally rooted aspects of religion in Japan. This graphical representation shows the population distribution of Japanese people across different religious and nonreligious domains.
Credit: Assistant Professor Koki Shimizu from Doshisha University, Japan
Image link: https://doi.org/10.1111/jssr.70065
Image license: CC-BY 4.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator.

In classrooms teaching English as foreign language, a supportive environment improves learners’ psychological motivation and willingness to communicate

Students learning English as a foreign language are often hesitant to communicate, which can delay the achievement of their learning goals. Professor Yoshiyuki Nakata and his research group have found that classroom support from teachers, peers, and learners themselves plays a crucial role in enhancing learners’ willingness to communicate in English. Their study further provides actionable insights into meeting learners’ psychological needs and creating supportive classroom environments, thereby promoting more effective English language learning.


Reference
Yoshiyuki Nakata, Andrew J. Martin, Yuichi Suzuki, Xuesong (Andy) Gao, Students' willingness to communicate in the foreign language learning classroom: Exploring the roles of classroom support and psychological needs satisfaction, British Journal of Educational Psychology, 2026 
DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.70070

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University. 
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-96/

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!
URL https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1124604

Mutual interests among media, government, and industry, not just cultural conformity, sustained silence around a major sexual abuse case

Professor Yukiko Nishikawa examines why longstanding allegations of sexual abuse against Johnny Kitagawa, the founder of Johnny & Associates, went largely unaddressed even as the agency became a dominant force in Japan’s entertainment industry from the 1970s onward. In her new study, she argues that this prolonged silence reflected a “conspiracy of silence” sustained by interconnected media, institutional, and cultural dynamics. Her analysis highlights forms of structural complicity and underscores the need for systemic reforms to prevent similar failures in the future.

Reference
Nishikawa, Y. (2026). The architecture of complicity: Media, power and conspiracy of silence in the Johnny Kitagawa sexual abuse case. Japan Forum, 1-23.
DOI 10.1080/09555803.2026.2639988

For more details, please see the website of Organization for Research Innovation, Doshisha University. 
https://research.doshisha.ac.jp/news/news-detail-95/

This achievement has also been featured in the “EurekAlert!.”
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1122320

Image title: Media and celebrity culture in Japan
Image caption: The relationship and complicity between the government, media organizations, and talent agencies has been identified as a key structural factor in the suppression of abuse allegations in the Japanese entertainment industry.
Image credit: interiot at Wikimedia Commons
Image source:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Street_photo_session_with_underground_idol,_in_Akihabara_pedestrian_zone_(2006-07-09_00.19.38_by_interiot).jpg  
License type: CC BY SA 2.0
Usage restrictions: Credit must be given to the creator. Adaptations must be shared under the same terms.