sport Archives

Challenging established theory: History of Japanese basketball

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Following the discovery of an intriguing photo of a basketball hoop, Professor Tetsuji Kakiyama began his investigations into the history of basketball. His work questions current theories and suggests that basketball was introduced to girls Japan six years earlier than for boys.

Basketball was introduced to Japan as early as 1902 as a sport in mission schools, according to new research by Dr Tetsuji Kakiyama, Professor of Sports and Health Sciences of Fukuoka University, Japan. His research overthrows established theories about the transfer of the game to Japan and shows how basketball was first played by girls in Japan who were taught […]

The benefits of exercise programmes for pre-school children with autism spectrum disorders

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Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) see the world differently and can find it hard to interact with both their environment and other people. Sport has many benefits for mental and physical health, and therefore Kelong Cai, of Yangzhou University, hypothesised that sport may offer a novel therapy for pre-school children with ASD. He implemented a 12-week mini-basketball programme for […]