Following the explosive growth of soccer in the 1990’s and the successful World Cup in Japan, Dr Herbert Moorhouse, Director of the Centre fro Football Research at the University of Glasgow, was invited to Japan in 2004 to conduct a series of discussions on financial, organisational and social aspects of the sport with professional managers, academics and officials. Dr Moorhouse’s work has been translated into Japanese and his field is one of a range in which Glasgow continues to develop its links with Japan.

Aspire (Association for spinal injury research rehabilitation and reintegration) sent a team of four electric wheelchair users and their carers to Japan for the Electric Wheelchair Football Japan Tour. Jenny Salter of Aspire writes, "The trip was clearly a great success and very beneficial for the participants. The team, coach and representative from the England Federation of Disability Sport have learned a lot from the Japanese players. All this will improve the game here in the UK in the future. The players have had an experience of a lifetime that has enriched their lives and given them more self-confidence for the future."

"The visit of the team from Japan and the return visit of the representative team from GB proved a victory for cultural integration. During the event at Oxford, there were 5 British teams staying in the same accommodation as the team from Japan. Within minutes of arrival the under-13 boys were playing together and learning each other's language. In Japan the boys and girls who travelled with team GB had the experience of their life, not only playing baseball against many nationalities but also living with different Japanese families on the 10 day trip."


Baseball-Softball UK Youth Exchange