Some months ago Dr Ian
Brittain and I decided to apply to the ESRC’s Japan: UK networking grant scheme
because we wanted to be able to familiarise ourselves with the work of Japanese
scholars in the field of Paralympics and disability sport. Writing the
successful bid in late 2019 I was, admittedly, quite ignorant to the vagaries
of Japanese culture and to its academic practices and traditions. For that
reason when we planned the first of two reciprocal networking visits I was
eager to learn more and avail myself of the opportunity to be educated about
all things Japan – especially in relation to the upcoming 2020 Olympic and
Paralympic Games.
I was not to be disappointed. I found that I was more naive and ignorant of
Japanese life than I’d expected. For example, I now appreciate the importance
of being on time and ‘being the same’ as features of Japanese working life. I
now know that not all Japanese children or adults are digital innovators or
early adopters and that the education system continues to rely on analogue
technologies in many places.
More importantly, in the course of five intense days in March, I learned that
the position of people with disabilities in Japan is still a cause for concern
– that the forthcoming hosting of the Paralympic Games may do little to address
the lack of coaches with the right skill sets, or the teachers with the time or
resources to teach their pupils about social models of disability.
Visiting higher education partners in the UK, I also learned that we have some
exceptional work taking place educating PE teachers, coaches and volunteers
about the importance of sport and physical activity in the UK. We heard about
how students at University of Worcester studying PE or sport coaching have
understanding of the needs of people with a disability built into their degree
programmes. But that work is underfunded, government support is fragile and the
legacy of the 2012 Paralympic Games is precarious. Though ‘apparently’ some way
ahead of the situation in Japan, there is little reason for celebration in the
UK post-2012.
Finally, what I took most from the week was the reminder from Dr Gyozo Molnar (see
image above) that we have a great responsibility as researchers working in and
studying disability sport to operate with humility, foreground accountability
and recognise power relations in our research.