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A special lecture was held in Department of Business Administration by the President and CEO of Tokyo Hachioji Beatrains.Hachioji Campus

On Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Associate Professor Toshio Kumai of the Department of Business Department of Business Administration Faculty of Economics Teikyo University, taught a lecture entitled "Management of a Professional Sports Team - Tokyo Hachioji Beetrains -" as part of his "Sports Management I" course. The lecture featured Mr. Ryo Takamatsu, President and CEO of THT Management Co., Ltd., which operates the professional basketball club Tokyo Hachioji Beetrains.

The first half of the lecture provided an overview of the basketball industry and the trends in the B.League. The B.League, which has been gaining increasing attention in Japan in recent years, will be transitioning to a new system from the next season, where clubs will be evaluated not only on their athletic performance but also on their business foundations, such as revenue, attendance figures, and arena facilities. The Tokyo Hachioji BeeTrains have decided to join "B.LEAGUE ONE" under the new system, and it was explained that balancing strengthening athletic performance with sound management is essential for the management of professional sports clubs.

In the second half, Mr. Takamatsu spoke about the club's management reconstruction efforts after taking office. At the time of his appointment, the club was burdened with approximately 280 million yen in debt. To improve its management, he actively disclosed the club's financial situation to the community and sponsors, emphasizing "transparency of information," while also steadily building up community-based activities such as local cleaning activities, school visits, and broadcasting on community radio. As a result, the club achieved profitability within a year, and subsequently, with investment from companies in Hachioji City, it was rebuilt to the point of eliminating its debt. Based on the philosophies of "giving children dreams and a future" and "revitalizing Hachioji through basketball," this was an opportunity to learn about how to run a sports business that balances club management with community contribution.

Students who attended the lecture commented: "I was impressed by the story of how they regained trust by openly disclosing their financial situation. I learned that honesty leads to trust." "The phrase 'you don't wait for the right timing, you create it yourself' resonated with me. I learned the importance of taking action without fear of failure." "Through the lecture, I became interested in the Tokyo Hachioji Beat Trains. I definitely want to go see a game." After the lecture, there was a lively Q&A session, and many expressions of gratitude and feedback were received in reaction papers. Moving forward, our university will continue to provide opportunities for Practical learning education as outlined in Educational Guidelines, and support the growth of students by incorporating the knowledge of those who are active on the front lines of society.

Click here for more details about Associate Professor Toshio Kumai
Click here for details on Department of Business Administration in the Faculty Faculty of Economics
Click here for details about Tokyo Hachioji B-Trains
Click here for more details about the B.LEAGUE.

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