[Faculty of Modern Social Studies] Project-Based Learning (PBL) class conducted by Yuichi Takeuchi of "PSI Counseling Room"

On June 17th, in the "Media and Social Design Workshop I" (taught by Associate Professor Yasutaka Ito), we invited Yuichi Takeuchi, representative of "PSI Counseling Room," which practices creating safe spaces through sports, as a guest Lecturer. Mr. Takeuchi gave a lecture on "homelessness" and "social withdrawal" from his own perspective based on his involvement with the Homeless World Cup.

This seminar serves as the culmination of the preparation for obtaining the "Social Researcher" qualification certified by the Japan Association for Social Research. It allows students to put into practice the entire process of social research, utilizing the social research skills they have learned in lectures. This year, we are tackling the issue of "social exclusion and inclusion" as a PBL (Problem-Based Learning) type class. As part of this, in the spring semester classes, we welcomed Mr. Nakamachi from "Sodateage Net Connections Osaka," Mr. Takano from "Big Issue Japan" and vendor Mr. M, and finally, Mr. Takeuchi as our guest Lecturer.

The "Homeless World Cup" is a street soccer world tournament held annually since 2003, where homeless people can participate as players "only once in their lifetime." Mr. Takeuchi served as the project manager for the Japanese national team in 2024, and he spoke mainly about his observations at the 2023 tournament held in Sacramento, USA, and his research trip to the Netherlands. Before the lecture, as an icebreaker, the students were divided into groups of four or five and played a simple game. It was an experiential workshop that encouraged them to "think about how to do it, rather than why it can't be done."

Students shared insights such as, "I realized that sports are important because they allow people to forget about a person's social background and find meaning in life," "It was fascinating to see homeless people fighting for their country from a new perspective," and "I thought it was good that soccer provides a place where people who are withdrawn or homeless can naturally connect. Hearing about how judging people by their appearance creates boundaries made me realize that a society where that mindset disappears is desirable."

Furthermore, Mr. Takeuchi touched upon the existence of "student homelessness," a term unfamiliar in Japan, and shared his own insights upon learning about it. He concluded his lecture by telling the students, "I want you to question the definition itself. Even in the age of AI, there are many things for which there are no answers. There is no one to create those answers. If you think about what you can do to change something, you might just see a change. Find what you find interesting and live your life to the fullest."

After the lecture, some participants shared comments such as, "I learned a word that doesn't exist in Japan, 'student homelessness,' and I realized that there must be people in that situation in Japan, but the term isn't widely known," "I realized that there are problems around us that aren't recognized as problems simply because there's no definition," and "I understood that the reason the homeless population in Japan is decreasing is because it's changing into forms that aren't visible on the surface, such as living in internet cafes, constantly moving from place to place, and social withdrawal. I think it's important to re-examine definitions and perceptions, and to learn by referring to examples from overseas."

Associate Professor Ito said, "We collaborated with three organizations at the forefront of social inclusion in the Hanshin area to conduct a special lecture on the theme of 'social exclusion and inclusion.' I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who spoke about their real-world experiences in supporting young people who are socially withdrawn, truant, or homeless."

"By hearing firsthand accounts from those on the ground, the students significantly increased their understanding of social issues that they had previously overlooked. I feel that a strong sense of responsibility has blossomed within them regarding what they can do to create a desirable society. From here, we will move into a more practical phase of activity, and the next step will be social research such as fieldwork and interviews. We hope to translate the insights gained in the classroom into concrete actions and deepen our learning further, ultimately compiling a powerful proposal for social inclusion into our final report," he said, reflecting on the guest speaker's lecture.

In the fall semester's "Media and Social Design Workshop II," students will conduct fieldwork in real-world settings and interviews with support providers, aiming to complete a research report through data analysis and consideration. I look forward to seeing the students' growth.

(Source: Faculty of Modern Social Studies)