午夜剧场

Established in 1959, the 午夜剧场 Student Health Care Mutual Aid Association (Gakuseikenpo) is a mutual aid association aimed at "maintaining and promoting student health and providing mutual relief for illnesses and injuries." Its activities are broadly divided into two categories based on the spirit of mutual aid: "medical care benefits projects" and "prevention benefits projects." It is operated using membership fees paid by members (students) as its financial resource. All activities are implemented with the approval of the Board of Directors, which is responsible for decision-making. A unique feature of the association is that not only university faculty and staff but also student members serve as directors, allowing student voices to be directly reflected in its management.

The "medical care benefits project" subsidizes a portion of the medical expenses incurred by members when they receive treatment at insurance-covered medical institutions. When the association was first established, the focus was primarily on providing financial assistance to those suffering from tuberculosis. However, as time passed, the types of diseases diversified and the environment changed to allow for advanced treatments. Consequently, in recent years, the total amount of subsidized medical expenses has remained high, becoming a factor that pressures the association's finances. To ensure the long-term and stable continuation of the project, system reforms have been implemented, such as excluding dental treatment from coverage.

On the other hand, activities aimed at health promotion and disease prevention are known as "prevention benefits projects." Among these projects, the contracted ryokan system (a system that allows for the inexpensive use of lodging facilities) has a long history; at one time, the association even had contracts with minshuku (guesthouses) in Okinawa Prefecture. Additionally, the "Umi-no-Ie" (Onjuku Coast) and "Ski House" (Myoko Kogen), which were operated with generous support from the inns, were projects used by many members every year and enjoyed long-standing popularity. Currently, there are contracts with 14 inns in the Kanto-Koshinetsu region, and the number of users remains high.

Next is the "Student Health Care Training Room" in Hiyoshi, which opened in 1989 as a fitness facility. The usage fee is 200 yen per visit (unchanged since its opening), and users can receive training guidance from on-site trainers. Special events are also held to motivate members to start training.

The daily activities of the Student Health Care are carried out by the "Student Health Care Committee," a student organization. The "100-yen breakfast," which has recently been implemented at many universities, is said to have started in October 2006 when this committee conducted it as a pilot project for a free breakfast program. Currently, it is held regularly at the Hiyoshi Campus, and at SFC, a "Kitchen Car Collaboration Project" has begun to support lunch costs. Furthermore, at the Mita Festival, projects such as physical fitness tests and "skin age measurements" are held every year. Through these and various other activities, the association supports the health of its members.

(Nobuhito Kaku, Manager, Office of Student Services)