Nippon Sport Science University

What Nippon Sport Science University does

Nippon Sport Science University is the operating entity of the Educational Foundation of Nippon Sport Science University (学校法人日本体育大学 / Gakkō Hōjin Nihon Taiiku Daigaku), a private Japanese educational foundation established in 1891 in Tokyo's Ushigome district and continuously operating for over 130 years. The foundation runs a vertically integrated multi-school group centered on a sports-science university with three faculties — Physical Education (体育学部), Healthcare and Medical Sciences (保健医療学部), and Sports Management (スポーツマネジメント学部) — delivering undergraduate and graduate programs in athletic training, sports medicine, rehabilitation, judo therapy, emergency medicine, and sports business, with clinical training conducted at the affiliated Sports Cure Center (Yokohama / Kenshidai). Beyond the university, the group includes five affiliated high schools (Ebara, Sakura, Kashiwa, Hamamatsu), a junior-high and middle-school pair (Sakura, Hamamatsu), a kindergarten (Nittai Kindergarten), a special-needs support high school in Abashiri, Hokkaido, and a vocational medical college offering judo therapy (整復医療学科) and dental hygiene (口腔衛生学科) programs that feed licensed practitioners into Japanese healthcare.

The foundation's business model is a hybrid of tuition, sponsorship, donations, real estate monetization, and clinical services. Tuition flows in from direct enrollment at the Tokyo Setagaya and Yokohama Kenshidai campuses and the ten K-12/vocational affiliates; this is supplemented by a wholly-owned services subsidiary (Nittai Service Co., established 2010 with full foundation capital), branded corporate sports sponsorships (FIELDS Corporation for the women's soccer team "Nittai Fields Yokohama," and Alinamin Pharmaceutical for the men's ekiden road-relay team, both signed in 2015 and 2025 respectively), a 60-year ground lease to Hulic Co. for a nursing home / daycare / clinic facility on the former Fukasawa dormitory site, donation programs (Shishinokai alumni council, 125th-anniversary fund), and a joint para-athlete scholarship with the Nippon Foundation. Research collaboration with consumer-goods firms (e.g., Meiji Co. on high-cacao-chocolate impact on arterial stiffness) generates additional commercial and academic outputs.

The foundation's distribution surface spans direct enrollment across its two university campuses, a 10-school feeder network across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Shizuoka, and Hokkaido, an affiliated orthopedic clinic serving students/faculty/community, an expanding web of 88 municipal cooperation agreements (体育・スポーツ振興) by March 2026, and seven international academic exchange agreements with institutions including Korea National Sport University, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Linnaeus University (Sweden), Tsinghua University, University of Santo Tomas (Philippines), and De La Salle University (Philippines). The foundation tracks approximately 80,000 alumni, maintains a Guinness World Record-recognized traditional cheer ("Essassa" / エッサッサ, established 1926) as a brand anchor, and was awarded a Tokyo 2025 World Athletics Certificate of Appreciation for volunteer first-responder contributions to the championships.

Name

Nippon Sport Science University

Legal name

学校法人日本体育大学 (Educational Foundation of Nippon Sport Science University)

Website

https://gaku-nittai.ac.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nippon Sport Science University operates the sports-science university and ten affiliated schools of the Educational Foundation of Nippon Sport Science University, a private Japanese educational foundation founded in 1891 that serves students from kindergarten through graduate level across sports science, health, and medical disciplines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Sports Science)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

College/University Athletic Departments & Varsity Programs (MPAKACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

University/College Club Sports Programs (MPAKACAK), Club Sports Programs (EDALAIAB), National Collegiate Governing Bodies (e.g., NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA/USCAA) (MPAKACAC), Interscholastic Athletics (Varsity/JV Teams) (EDAJAJAA)

Keywords

• Sports science education
• Physical education programs
• Athletic training courses
• Higher education services
• Vocational medical training

Headquarters

HQ city

Setagaya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

学校法人日本体育大学 (Educational Foundation of Nippon Sport Science University) operates a comprehensive sports science educational group spanning a four-year university with three faculties (Physical Education, Healthcare and Medical Sciences, and Sports Management), a vocational medical college offering judo therapy and dental hygiene programs, a sports cure center/orthopedic clinic, five affiliated high schools, a junior high school, a special needs support school in Hokkaido, a kindergarten, and a wholly-owned commercial services subsidiary. The group delivers sports-focused academic programs, clinical training, athletic club systems, and Olympic athlete development to students from kindergarten through graduate school.

Product overview

Nippon Sport Science University is a comprehensive sports science educational institution with a multi-school group structure. The university operates a central university with three faculties (Physical Education, Healthcare & Medical Sciences, and Sports Management), a vocational medical college offering judo therapy and dental hygiene programs, and a sports cure center that functions as both a clinical training facility and community health service. The group also encompasses five affiliated high schools and one junior high/high school, one special needs support school in Hokkaido, and one kindergarten, all sharing the Nittai brand. A wholly-owned service subsidiary supports group operations, and a para-athlete scholarship program administered jointly with the Japan Foundation supports student athletes. The various schools offer field learning programs, agricultural education, and international exchange initiatives as distinguishing features.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 日体魂: University spirit/mascot representing the core values of Nippon Sport Science University
• エッサッサ

Products and services

• Nippon Sport Science University (日本体育大学) - Faculty of Physical Education / Healthcare and Medical Sciences / Sports Management A comprehensive sports science university offering undergraduate and graduate programs across three faculties: Physical Education (体育学部), Healthcare and Medical Sciences (保健医療学部), and Sports Management (スポーツマネジメント学部). Disciplines include athletic training, sports medicine, rehabilitation, judo therapy, emergency medicine, and sports business, with campus locations in Tokyo Setagaya and Yokohama Kenshidai.
• Nippon Sport Science University Vocational Medical College (日本体育大学医療専門学校) A vocational medical college offering programs in judo therapy (柔道整復学科) and dental hygiene (口腔衛生学科), with clinical training conducted at affiliated sports cure centers. Targets students seeking careers in sports medicine and rehabilitation.
• Nippon Sport Science University Sports Cure Center Yokohama / Kenshidai Orthopedic Clinic (日本体育大学スポーツキュアセンター横浜・健志台接骨院) An affiliated sports medicine and orthopedic clinic operating as a clinical training facility for the Healthcare and Medical Sciences Department, providing sports injury treatment and rehabilitation services to students, faculty, and the local community.
• Nippon Sport Science University Affiliated High Support School (日本体育大学附属高等支援学校) A special needs support high school located in Abashiri, Hokkaido, offering sports education, agricultural training, and field learning programs for students with disabilities.
• Nippon Sport Science University Ebara High School (日本体育大学荏原高等学校) A co-educational high school in Tokyo with athletic programs including ski, judo, track and field, baseball, soccer, and swimming.
• Nippon Sport Science University Ohka High School and Junior High School (日本体育大学桜華高等学校・桜華中学校) A private all-girls high school and junior high school in Tokyo with international exchange programs, academic courses, and sports programs.
• Nippon Sport Science University Kashiwa High School (日本体育大学柏高等学校)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, moderate and minor.

• 名城大学 (Meijo University)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprehensive partnership agreement signed on June 20, 2015 between Educational Foundation of Nippon Sport Science University and Educational Foundation of Meijo University. The first such agreement between two educational corporations with universities in Tokyo and Nagoya respectively. No overlapping faculties between the two institutions enabling interdisciplinary collaboration.
• 国立韓国体育大学 (Korea National Sport University)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and sports exchange agreement signed on April 27, 2015 at KNSU Seoul Campus. Aims to conduct joint research projects and exchange faculty, researchers, and undergraduate/graduate students in mutually recognized courses and curricula.
• ハワイ大学マノア校・キネシオロジー＆リハビリテーション学科 (University of Hawaii Manoa - Dept. of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasic agreement for international academic exchange signed March 25, 2015. Limited athletic training exchange currently, with plans to expand to student and faculty exchange programs.
• リンネ大学社会科学学部 (Linnaeus University - Faculty of Social Sciences)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and sports exchange agreement signed June 10, 2015 with Linnaeus University in Sweden, including student exchange programs.
• オレロップ体育学校 (Orebro School of Sport, Denmark)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShort-term academic and sports exchange agreement signed June 18, 2015. Limited to up to 1-month exchanges during summer/spring breaks for sports-focused student exchanges.
• 清華大学 (Tsinghua University, China)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic exchange agreement (MOU) signed June 2025 during NSSU delegation visit to Beijing. NSSU participated in MOA signing ceremony and education system design conference plus international academic forum.
• デ・ラサール大学 (De La Salle University, Philippines)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOA signed October 17, 2025 covering academic research, student exchange, and sports exchange between the two universities. De La Salle University is a leading private university in the Philippines known for business, engineering, and sports programs.
• サントトマス大学 (University of Santo Tomas, Philippines)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOA signed February 19, 2025 for academic research, student exchange, and sports exchange between NSSU and UST in Manila, Philippines.
• フィールズ株式会社 (FIELDS Corporation)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports sponsorship agreement signed June 8, 2015 for the women's soccer team 'Nittai Fields Yokohama'. Fields Corporation provides financial support and Total Workout Premium Management accepts graduates. The university soccer team carries the 'FIELDS' brand on uniforms.
• ヒューリック株式会社 (Hulic Co., Ltd.)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasic agreement signed June 4, 2015 for effective use of the former Fukasawa Girls' Dormitory site. Hulic selected as the operating entity for a 60-year standard land lease to develop a nursing home, daycare, and clinic facility on the property starting January 2016.
• アリナミン製薬株式会社 (Alinamin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)majorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor contract signed July 2025 with the NSSU men's ekiden (road relay) team. Alinamin 's logo will appear on athletes' uniforms as the team's official sponsor.
• 株式会社明治 (Meiji Co., Ltd.)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration between Meiji Co., Ltd. and NSSU Professor Okamoto Takanobu found that consuming high-cacao chocolate before intense resistance training reduces post-exercise arterial stiffness.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Tsukuba: National university with one of Japan's strongest sports science faculties, producing Olympic athletes and offering parallel programs in physical education, health, and coaching — the closest direct academic competitor to NSSU.
• Beijing Sport University: China's flagship state sports university and an NSSU peer in the East Asian sports-science ecosystem, with overlapping programs in athletic training, sports medicine, and competitive athletics development.
• Korea National Sport University (KNSU): Korean national sports university with a similar faculty mix (physical education, sports medicine, sport management) and an existing MOU partner of NSSU. The most direct international counterpart by mission and structure.
• Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences: Japanese prefectural sports university with comparable faculties in physical education, health sciences, and sports management. The closest domestic public-sector peer competing for the same student demographic.
• Nippon Sport Science University (the subject company itself, included for context): NSSU is the anchor. Listed here as a self-reference for orientation only.

Broad incumbents

• Juntendo University: Private university with a strong sports medicine and health science orientation. Competes with NSSU in healthcare and rehabilitation, but is a broader medical school with athletics as one of several pillars.
• Waseda University: Elite private university whose athletic programs (notably rugby, track, and baseball) rival NSSU's competitive pedigree. Overlaps with NSSU on the varsity-sports and physical-education-teacher-training dimensions.

Emerging players

• Loughborough University (UK): Globally recognized sports university consistently ranked among the world's best for sports-related subjects. Relevant peer for benchmarking the international ceiling of the sports-science university model NSSU operates.
• Indiana University (Bloomington): US public university with one of the largest and most successful collegiate athletic programs, including a dedicated School of Public Health with sports science. Useful international benchmark for the varsity-sports-plus-academics model.

Regional players

• Tenri University / Biwako Seikei Sport College: Smaller Japanese private sport-focused college with overlapping programs in athletic training and coaching. Comparable on the sports-instruction dimension though with a narrower faculty mix than NSSU.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeblog.nittai.ac.jp/festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nippon Sport Science University