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Bringing joy to all people, I want to become someone who can support others.

College of Health and Welfare

Qualifications and Occupations

You can acquire a wide range of qualifications and licenses, including national certifications, to build a career as a health and welfare professional. We offer a support system that allows each individual to aim for success at their own pace, including on-the-job training to enhance practical skills and courses to prepare for qualification exams.

Licenses and qualifications that can be obtained

J. F. Oberlin University Ekiden Team Coach

Images of Wataru Sato

Workplace: J. F. Oberlin University Ekiden Team Coach
College of Health and Welfare Graduation in March 2026

Wataru SatoMr. Miss.

Aiming for their first appearance in the Hakone Ekiden
A dream that I started walking again with my juniors

I was approached by the general manager, Shinyaka Stefan, and I went on to Obirin. Although I had some frustrations in the ekiden club, those four years were irreplaceable, as I learned the joy of "running for others" while aiming for my dream Hakone Ekiden. In College of Health and Welfare, I realized many things that led to improved performance, and I felt that my student life allowed me to fully devote myself to both club activities and studies.
After graduating, I had planned to become a teacher in Hokkaido, but after receiving an invitation from Coach Kazuki Yamaji, I decided to become a coach in my fourth year. Currently, I am focusing on training instruction and scouting, and I am developing younger players from a different perspective than when I was a player.
The knowledge I gained in my academic studies and teacher training programs, including sports coaching, has been invaluable in my role as a coach, such as by incorporating digital data into my coaching. In 2026, more than 20 first-year students joined the team, further strengthening our roster and making participation in the Hakone Ekiden, which once seemed like a distant goal, within reach. The strong camaraderie among the players, regardless of seniority, and the ability to work together as a team towards our goals are hallmarks of the Obirin University Ekiden team. Moving forward, we will strive to become a team loved by other students and the community, working hard with the players to secure a spot in the Hakone Ekiden main race.

Profile

He began track and field in high school and entered J. F. Oberlin University through scouting. In the ekiden team, he gained achievements such as participating in the Hakone Ekiden qualifiers from his second year, and served as captain in his fourth year. Alongside track and field, he took a teacher training course at university and obtained a teaching license. He also devoted himself to academics, including conducting research on track and field jogging, and was selected as an outstanding GPA student for the 2025 academic year. Invited by coach Kazuki Yamaji to become a coach of the ekiden team after graduation. In addition to coaching athletes and scouting activities, he is also involved in academic support and community contribution activities for the club.

Social worker (mental health social worker)

Images of Momoka Degawa

Workplace: Eda Memorial Hospital, Meihokai Medical Corporation /
Medical Consultation Office (Psychiatric Day Care Department) /
College of Health and Welfare Graduated March 2021

Momoka DegawaMr. Miss.

With personalized support tailored to each user
Building lasting trust

Psychiatric day care centers cater to individuals with mental illnesses who are receiving outpatient treatment at a psychiatric clinic. One of their main roles is to help them establish a regular daily routine and prepare for employment. We plan and implement daily programs, considering how to address the specific challenges each user faces. We strive to create a safe and secure environment for our users, focusing on providing continuous, trustworthy support. Introducing them to welfare programs offered by local governments and other organizations is also an important part of our work. I believe that my broad studies in mental health, social work, psychology, and social welfare systems during university have significantly contributed to my current work.
What impressed me about College of Health and Welfare 's learning was that during the field training, I was able to experience various workplaces such as local governments, medical institutions, and employment support facilities. Seeing the stage where mental health social workers are active during the pre-visit internship helped me concretely envision my career and found a rewarding workplace. The professors are very kind, and the relatively small mental health and welfare major offers a home-like and comfortable learning environment. Having colleagues to encourage me at any time, even during national exams and job hunting, encouraged me to keep working hard.

Profile

During high school, seeing classmates struggling with interpersonal relationships and mental health sparked her interest in social work. After completing practical training at university, she decided to pursue a career in healthcare and joined the IMS Group, a medical corporation that operates healthcare facilities and welfare institutions. She worked as a mental health social worker in the acute psychiatric ward at Eda Memorial Hospital, and later moved to psychiatric day care. From her third year, she attended a vocational school alongside her work, obtaining a social worker qualification, and aiming to become a social worker who can support a wider range of people, including children and the elderly.

Preschool teacher

Images of Misa Nagao

Workplace: Certified Childcare Center Masawa Kindergarten /
College of Health and Welfare Graduated March 2024

Nagao MisaMr. Miss.

College of Health and Welfare The warm environment
He taught me the joy of learning childcare.

I was never particularly good at studying until high school, but I really enjoyed studying early childhood education when I started university. I realized how interesting it is to learn about a field that interests me, and the more I learned, the stronger my desire to become an early childhood educator became.
I was impressed by inclusive childcare, which considers differences in disability and nationality, and by visiting various childcare sites in Professor Hiroaki Sono 's seminar, I learned about diverse childcare styles and developed a perspective to concretely envision my own career. Connections with universities and teachers remain valuable assets, and students sometimes visit universities for "Childcare Fairs," where they plan and run childcare programs. Interacting with classmates who have gone on to different schools or industries provides new opportunities for stimulation.
The two-year-old children I currently teach are interested in even the smallest things, like fallen leaves and the shadows of the sun, and they expand their play around with them. Seeing their perspectives is a valuable learning experience for me as a childcare worker. My goal going forward is to become better at understanding children's words and feelings. In the future, I hope to continue exploring the charm and rewards of childcare, with an eye towards working overseas.

Profile

While starting to seriously aim to become a nursery teacher after experiencing a workplace in junior high school, his experience in elementary school in the Netherlands sparked his interest in global learning, leading him to enter J. F. Oberlin University. In her second year, she started working part-time at Showa Kindergarten through a university introduction, and now teaches a class for two-year-olds. One of my current goals is to experience overseas childcare settings. Incidentally, after studying in the same school as his twin sister Minami, he still works at the same Showa Kindergarten.

Graduate student

Images of Mion Tsubokura

Affiliation: J. F. Oberlin University Graduate School/
J. F. Oberlin University Graduate School International Graduate School of Advance MA Program in International Studies
Psychology Practice Research Degree Program: Positive Psychology Field
Master's Program 2 years /
College of Health and Welfare Graduate in March 2024

Mion TsubokuraMr. Miss.

The joy of pursuing your own interests
The research environment in the undergraduate program taught me this.

Unlike my undergraduate graduation thesis, the biggest reward for me in graduate school is being able to work on a research topic of my own choosing. In my undergraduate studies, I cultivated the fundamentals required for research, such as research methods and logical thinking, under Professor Matsuda Chapman Yoriko. Research was challenging but interesting, but to be honest, I was never satisfied with my graduation thesis. I had decided to go to graduate school a long time ago, so I developed my master's thesis topic based on my experience as the vice-chairperson of the university festival committee during my undergraduate studies.
The current study analyzes the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities during university and the active participation of new employees, based on a survey of about 300 people. College of Health and Welfare not only had the graduation thesis but also many opportunities to write reports in daily classes, which taught me the appeal of research. After completing graduate school, I plan to find a job, but I will continue my research in psychology. And although I know it's tough, I want to someday advance to the doctoral program and resume research at the university. I think I was able to set such a goal because I watched the backs of the teachers who helped me at J. F. Oberlin University.

Profile

Since childhood, I have loved dramas, and I admired the researchers and psychology I saw there. J. F. Oberlin University While enrolled, I belonged to Professor Yoriko Matsuda Chapman's lab and wrote my graduation thesis on mindset and lifelong learning. After entering graduate school, I continued my studies under Professor Matsuda, researching the relationship between extracurricular activities at university and the proactive behavior of new employees from the perspective of company adaptation, and worked on writing my master's thesis. After completing graduate school, I plan to work at a foreign insurance company.

High school teacher

Images of Yoshiki Takahashi

Workplace: Kanagawa Prefectural Tsukui High School (part-time course) /
College of Health and Welfare Graduated in March 2019

Yoshiki TakahashiMr. Miss.

Lessons I learned from my university mentor
The goal is to pass this on to the next generation.

I serve as a homeroom teacher for second-year students, while also teaching health and physical education and advising the badminton club. Students at part-time high schools often face difficulties due to their family environment or interpersonal relationships. I work with school counselors and other educational counselors to support these students. My experience studying psychology and coaching at university has been helpful in interacting with students, and they are gradually becoming more open in expressing their feelings.
At university, I was especially memorable to meet two respected mentors: Professor Yuki Yamaguchi, whom I had been in charge of teaching since my first year, and Professor Kenta Wakamatsu, who was in charge of my seminar. It was Ms. Yamaguchi who taught me how to view PE classes, not just based on whether you can or cannot exercise. And from Professor Wakamatsu, who is still energetic in obtaining qualifications and conducting research, I learned about the attitude of taking on any challenge. I'm not the type to be good at PE or have achieved results in club activities. Even so, I was able to experience small successes in class, feel growth, and turn them into confidence. I want to create such moments with as many students as possible and pass on that joy to the next generation.

Profile

Wanting to share experiences that help children feel growth and gain confidence through club activities and physical education classes, J. F. Oberlin University began aiming to become a physical education teacher in earnest while still enrolled. After graduating from university, he worked for one year as a part-time lecturer, then was hired as a public school teacher in Kanagawa Prefecture and worked for five years at Atsugi Nishi High School. In April 2025, he transferred to the part-time course at Tsukui High School. His older brother, three years his senior, is also a graduate of College of Health and Welfare and works as a physical education teacher at a public high school in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Social worker (certified social worker)

Images of Naoko Kido

Workplace: Tama City Council of Social Welfare /
Tama Volunteer & Civic Activity Support Center /
College of Health and Welfare Graduated in March 2023

Naoko KidoMr. Miss.

To give shape to the aspirations of the local people
I will do my best at what I can do.

Until high school, I lived a life devoted solely to cheerleading, and before entering university, I struggled with what I wanted to do. What came to mind were the memories of all the hard work he had done for the team. Thinking that maybe I liked helping others, I decided to pursue a career in welfare, and decided to enroll in J. F. Oberlin University, a strong cheerleading team.
My current job involves working with local volunteers to create a better community. It's important to collaborate with various people rather than doing everything ourselves, and this is something I learned from gaining experience in many different fields and meeting diverse people at university. It's similar to the "teamwork" approach in cheerleading. Our public relations work also aims to get more people involved in community activities, and recently we launched a new media outlet for students called "Tamabora KODOMO Newspaper."
Looking back, I entered the world of social welfare with a strong motivation, but my current job, which involves "giving shape to the compassion of many people," is incredibly rewarding. I am deeply grateful to the teachers who supported my career at the Social Welfare Council. From now on, I want to reach out to more people in the community and create a region where many people, from children to the elderly, can participate in creating a better environment.

Profile

Through cheerleading activities I started in elementary school, I felt a sense of fulfillment in supporting those around me. That experience sparked his interest in the welfare field and led him to attend College of Health and Welfare. Listening to a staff member from the Social Welfare Council who participated as a guest speaker in class became the catalyst for my current career. Currently, I am in a department that broadly supports local volunteer groups and civic activity groups, collaborating with students, volunteer groups, and government agencies to handle Events planning, producing PR magazines, and managing social media.

Preschool teacher

Images of Minami Nagao

Workplace: Certified Childcare Center Masawa Kindergarten /
College of Health and Welfare Graduated March 2024

Minami NagaoMr. Miss.

Based on the diverse childcare practices I learned about at university.
To childcare providers who can inspire children's motivation

I first encountered Masakazu Kindergarten, where I currently work, when it was introduced to me by the university as a part-time job that would allow me to gain practical experience during my second year. I was able to apply the knowledge and theories I learned at university to actual work at the kindergarten, and resolve any problems or questions I had on the job through university classes. This cycle of studying and practicing at both the university and the kindergarten became an important learning experience that deepened my understanding of childcare.
Since joining the kindergarten, I have been in charge of the 5-year-old class for two consecutive years. Seiwa Kindergarten is characterized by its emphasis on hands-on experience in a rich natural environment. Through various activities such as experiencing rice cultivation from planting to milling, brainstorming cooking methods for bayberries and gooseberries picked in the schoolyard, and working on woodworking projects, I have also developed the ability to draw out what the children want to do.
Under the guidance of a teacher I could consult about anything, I learned child-centered childcare and various forms of play at university, and these experiences are proving invaluable in my daily work. Now in my second year as a childcare teacher, the range of activities I can try with the children has expanded. I look forward to coming to the kindergarten every day, wondering, "What shall I do with the children today?", and the more experience I gain, the more I love my job as a childcare worker.

Profile

Born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, I have had many opportunities to interact with relatives and neighborhood children since I was little, and as soon as I could remember, I aimed for work related to children. While looking for her desired school to experience life in Tokyo when entering university, she was drawn to the environment where teachers could learn in a homely manner, and the ability to obtain both a Type 1 kindergarten teacher license and a childcare worker qualification, so she entered J. F. Oberlin University. After joining Showa Kindergarten, she served as the homeroom teacher for the 5-year-old class for two consecutive years.

Learning in the undergraduate program

3 Area ・6 Learning in Majors

"Health and Sports," "Welfare and Psychology," and "Childcare" are three fields of learning (Area) that support lifelong mental and physical health and improve quality of life. Within these fields of study (Area), six specialized fields (majors) are arranged to deepen learning in each Area. Additionally, by crossing the three Area and learning broadly, students gain a broad professional perspective.

Health & Sports Area

  • A glimpse into a class in the Health Sciences program.

    Health Sciences Major

    We aim to study health psychology, health education, and public health Area, and to acquire specialized knowledge that enables each individual, including the elderly and people with disabilities, to maintain and improve their health.

    View details
  • A look at the Sports Science major

    Sports Science Major

    We study conditioning, high performance, sports business, and sports policy Area, nurturing individuals who want to enjoy, support, and master sports.

    View details

Welfare & Psychology Area

  • A glimpse into the Social Welfare major

    Major in Social Welfare

    This program focuses on providing specialized training in welfare systems and support methods for individuals who have difficulty meeting their own daily needs, such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, with the goal of obtaining the "Certified Social Worker" qualification.

    View details
  • Scenes from the Mental Health and Welfare Studies program

    Major in Mental Health and Welfare

    You will learn about promoting the well-being of people with mental health problems and supporting the improvement of mental health for all. Upon completion of the required courses, you will be eligible to take the "Certified Mental Health Social Worker" examination.

    View details
  • A look at the Practical Psychology major

    Practical Psychology Major

    This program combines psychology with studies in "health" and "welfare" to teach practical approaches useful for interpersonal support. It includes a curriculum for becoming a "certified psychologist," and students can also aim for internal advancement to graduate school.

    View details

Childcare Area

  • Scenes from the Early Childhood Education major

    Early Childhood Education Major

    Students will broadly study adjacent Area and acquire expertise to support children and parents both physically and mentally. Additionally, through regional and international exchanges, students deepen multicultural understanding and learn childcare that respects diversity.

    View details

The appeal and features of the school

Utilizing the major/minor system to broaden practical skills as a professional.

From the fall semester of the second year onward, students can deepen their expertise by combining their majors with minor majors in addition to their major. Additionally, we enable learning that transcends Area and majors, fostering broad perspectives and multifaceted viewpoints. Through these studies, we nurture professionals who promote health and welfare demanded in the new era.

A group photo of students studying various majors.

To broaden one's perspective while enhancing one's expertise.
Major/Minor System

A scene of providing meals to local children.

A place for practical and experiential learning

A career advisor assisting students.

Comprehensive qualification acquisition and career support

Strengths of the academic group

News

2026.8.30
"Childcare Fair" and "Kenpuku Cafeteria" to be held on the same day, September 12th (Sat) - Connecting the community with universities and students, fostering new encounters and interactions.
2026.7.24
[Class Introduction] Introduction to the Basic Education Subject College of Health and Welfare 'Basic Seminar Major Special Session'
2026.7.1
[Symposium] A Community-Based Inclusive Society: Thinking About Welfare Work from a Young Person's Perspective Why did you choose a career in welfare? What do you find interesting about it?
2026.6.23
College of Health and Welfare was featured on TV Kanagawa.
List of Past News

Outlook for the academic group

College of Health and Welfare

すべての人の
豊かな日々を
かなえるために To make fulfilling days for all people a reality

In College of Health and Welfare 3 Area 6 majors, students acquire professional knowledge and skills to contribute to health and welfare through their respective specialties. A curriculum that connects theory and practice, flexible and broad learning through a major-minor system, an experience-focused learning environment centered on hands-on practice, and interaction through group work and discussion promote a learning cycle. We nurture the ability of each individual to proactively contribute to the realization of a healthy and prosperous society.

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Basic information

Qualifications and licenses that can be obtained
Message from the Dean of the Faculty
Strengths of the academic group
List of teachers
Three policies
Learning environment (Machida Campus)