※English ver. is below
2025年10月1日から3日に開催された筑波会議2025において、筑波大学人文社会系の篠原翼助教が代表を務めるEスポーツ・ビデオゲームリサーチグループは、10月1日13時30分から16時30分にパブリックセッション「Shaping Tomorrow: Transformative Power of Esports and Video Games in Society」を主催した。本セッションには、Tobias Scholz准教授（アグデル大学）、岡本紗代氏（Gaku）、John Price氏（オハイオ州立大学Eスポーツ・マネージャー）、松井崇准教授（筑波大学体育系）、Yaewon Jin助教（梨花女子大学校）、Cem Abanzir講師（マンチェスター首都大学）、Rune Anderson准教授（アグデル大学）が登壇した。議論では、eスポーツが持つ競技性に加え、その教育的価値、コミュニティ形成への貢献、さらには少子高齢化社会への対応可能性など、eスポーツの社会的意義の多様な側面が活発に論じられた。また、2026年9月に篠原助教がメインオーガナイザーを務める国際会議「Esports Research Network Conference 2026」が公式に告知された。本パブリックセッションの録画は，こちらから拝聴することができる。https://youtu.be/5eYgXnTG0mk?si=fcCWV_0omZFyzTDf
Report on the Tsukuba Conference 2025 - Jointly organised by the Esports and Video Game Research Group and the Esports Research Network
The Tsukuba Conference 2025, held from 1 to 3 October 2025, included a public session on esports organised by the Esports and Video Game Research Group, led by Prof Dr Tsubasa Shinohara (Assistant Professor, University of Tsukuba, Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences). The session, entitled “Shaping Tomorrow: The Transformative Power of Esports and Video Games in Society”, took place on 1 October from 13:30 to 16:30.
The panel featured contributions from Prof Dr Tobias Scholz (Associate Professor, University of Agder / Founding Chairperson, Esports Research Network), Ms Sayo Okamoto (Gaku), Dr John Price (Esports Manager, Ohio State University), Prof Dr Takashi Matsui (Associate Professor, University of Tsukuba, Institute of Health and Sports Sciences), Prof Dr Yaewon Jin (Assistant Professor, Ewha Womans University), Dr Cem Abanzir (Lecturer, Manchester Metropolitan University), and Prof Rune Anderson (Associate Professor, University of Agder).
The session was marked by lively discussions on the broader societal value of esports. Speakers highlighted not only its competitive aspects, but also its educational significance, its role in fostering community, and its potential to address challenges in ageing societies with declining birth rates.
During the session, the official announcement was also made for the Esports Research Network Conference 2026, which will be hosted by Assistant Professor Dr Tsubasa Shinohara as the main organiser in September 2026.
You can have access to the recording here: https://youtu.be/5eYgXnTG0mk?si=fcCWV_0omZFyzTDf
