On August 2, 2025, under clear summer skies, the Boccia Tournament 2025 was held at Yagami Campus. Children who use wheelchairs, their parents, as well as some students and faculty staffs, came together to compete in this parasports event. It marked the first joint event organized by Keio University Faculty of Science and Technology’s KeiDGs Working Group (a DEI committee), the nonprofit organization “ZEN” (which supports the independence of children with disabilities), and “GO BEYOND” (a student group at Sophia University that promotes parasports).

As the 9 a.m. start time approached, children, parents, students, faculties, as well as ZEN’s Representative Director and parasport athlete Hiroshi Nojima, gathered in the gymnasium.

For the opening ceremony, Professor Kenjiro Takemura (Chair of KeiDGs and a faculty member in the Department of Mechanical Engineering) delivered welcome remarks. Following that, members of Sophia University’s GO BEYOND introduced the rules of Boccia.

Boccia’s rules are straightforward. Players split into two teams and take turns throwing six balls per team in each “end,” aiming for the white target ball (the jack). This tournament used six ends per match. Often described as “curling on the ground,” Boccia awards points to the team whose balls land closest to the jack, with scores reflecting both proximity and number of closer balls. Recognized as an official Paralympic sport, Boccia can be enjoyed by people of all ages and abilities, regardless of physical strength or disability.

To start, the students from GO BEYOND demonstrated how to throw the ball. Rather than just tossing it, they showed advanced techniques such as knocking away the jack or an opponent’s ball to quickly turn the game around. Each skillful shot drew cheers from the crowd. The advice they shared was: “Work out your strategy together and play as a team”.

With excitement and fighting spirit building, the opening pitch began. ZEN’s Representative Director Mr. Nojima tossed a red Boccia ball high into the air, officially kicking off the tournament. This year’s tournament welcomed 48 participants for a round-robin league consisting of eight mixed teams of six members. Age, gender, and background varied widely, creating truly diverse lineups. After introductions, team members held strategy meetings, discussing who would throw and in what order.

Once the games began, cheers and shouts of encouragement echoed through the hall, quickly filling it with energy. Each child found his own unique playing style. Some carefully adjusted their wheelchairs to line up the shot before throwing, while others relied on instinct, stepping up and tossing in one swift motion. The teams seemed to bond right away—celebrating good plays with high fives and offering encouragement after missed shots.

One of Boccia’s charms is that true skill only reveals itself once play begins. A young child might outwit adults with clever strategy, while someone who usually struggles with sports might turn out to have hidden talent. It’s a game where anyone has a chance to become the “hero of the day”.

Kotaro (17), who broke into smiles and fist pumps every time he made a good throw, shared: “My teammates’ cheers pushed me forward, and I kept pulling off miracle shots. It was fun when we discussed our strategy and I managed to throw it exactly as planned.”

After finishing the first four matches of the morning, it was time for lunch. Teams and friends gathered at YIL, the Faculty of Science and Technology’s innovation hub, to enjoy their boxed lunches. Some used the time to refine strategies or reflect on the morning games, while others chatted excitedly about summer vacation plans or school life.

During the afternoon matches, each team began to develop its own style, with signature plays and winning patterns emerging. Teamwork grew stronger and play became even more dynamic.

Hiyori (19), who carefully threw each ball with a focused expression, is a devoted Boccia fan. “I just started playing this year and even have my own ball now. The university students on my team are also 19 years old, so chatting with them between games is really fun”, she said with a shy smile.

All eight teams played energetically until the final match concluded at 4 pm. The team with the highest points was declared the winner, and during the awards ceremony, Mr. Nojima presented certificates to the top three teams.

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers for Team E, the champions of this inaugural Boccia tournament. Team member Sawako explained their secret to victory: “We didn’t rely on tricks like knocking away the opponent’s balls—we competed head-on. Instead, we came up with a strategy to surround the jack with our own balls.”

Kota, a first-year master’s student at Keio, reflected on the day’s matches: “I was amazed by the children’s passion. I played Boccia once back in fourth grade of elementary school, but today the court somehow looked smaller than it did back then. The kids who faced off against adults today were incredible. Usually, the Faculty of Science and Technology is quiet, but this summer day it was alive with cheers and excitement.”

Haruka, a second-year master’s student at Keio who played on the same team, shared: “I realized that everyone can come together and enjoy themselves, regardless of age, physical ability, or disability. I helped some of the children move around, and I saw how challenging things like bathrooms and stairs can be. Today brought many moments of awareness and discovery for me.”

After the intense tournament ended, participants set out on a campus tour.

First stop was the Test Field at Professor Ishigami’s laboratory in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, where research on field robotics is conducted. The lab recreates a simulated lunar surface using four tons of sand to develop exploration robots for space missions. Children were captivated by quadruped robots that could leap and even move as if dancing, exclaiming, “Amazing!” “It looks alive!” “I want to go to the moon too!”

At the Manufacturing Center in Building 34, they showcased the powered wheelchair that competed in CYBATHLON, an international competition aiming to merge persons with disabilities and technology. This “super machine” earned third place in the worldwide ranking.

The tour concluded with a commemorative photo in front of the YAGAMI ART WALL—a mural envisioning the future campus, created by students and faculty of the Faculty of Science and Technology. By the time the children grow up, parts of that vision may already have come true.

Boccia Tournament 2025 brought together people of various generations, affiliations, diverse backgrounds and positions to enjoy the day together. Both adults and children made the most of their summer vacation in what proved to be a deeply fulfilling day.

We formed our group in 2018, inspired by the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, and have since worked to promote a society of inclusion through parasports.

The appeal of parasports is that anyone can take part and celebrate each other, regardless of disability, age, gender, nationality, or race.

Among these sports, Boccia is especially fun: a game anyone can join and improve at. Today, we were thrilled to play with all of you here at Keio University’s Faculty of Science and Technology. We hope you’ll enjoy parasports with us again soon!

Hiroshi Nojima (Representative Director, ZEN) × Professor Genya Ishigami (Department of Mechanical Engineering)
We spoke with the two who planned the joint hosting of the Boccia Tournament.

Nojima: I first met Ishigami-san in 2018, when his lab built the powered wheelchair that I used in the CYBATHLON competition.

Ishigami: Since then, my family and I have been participating in events organized by Nojima-san. 

Nojima: Yagami Campus is such a wonderful setting, and through sports the children get to interact with university students and faculty. I was convinced this would be the best summer vacation experience for the children.
For people with disabilities to live happily in society, communication skills are extremely important. It takes extra courage to ask someone for help with things you cannot do yourself, or to seek assistance when you are in trouble.
If you can develop that ability, it becomes easier to find your own path in society—and most importantly, life becomes more enjoyable. I do this work because I want children from a young age to have experiences of connecting heart-to-heart with many different people through parasports.

Ishigami: The children’s smiles instantly opened our hearts. Normally, you’d never imagine faculty and students high-fiving each other like that. But when someone with a disability is part of the group, it seems to make it easier for everyone to express their empathy openly. I was reminded again that parasports have the power to unite people’s hearts.

Nojima: Parasports have the power to liberate both mind and body. If this connection continues to grow, I believe the world will become a place where people with and without disabilities can all live more freely.

Ishigami: It was a day where everyone displayed their strengths and enjoyed being together. I hope many more people can experience this same joy. Let’s definitely keep this going!