NEWS

ICU Students win the First Prize at International Humanitarian Law Role Play Competition

Update: November 6, 2025

From right to left: Buckle, Ishioka, Inoue, and the judgeFrom right to left: Buckle, Ishioka, Inoue, and the judge

The ICU team, consisting of three members, Saori Ishioka (4th year student, College of Liberal Arts, Major: Law), Ryo Inoue (4th year student, College of Liberal Arts, Major: International Relations, Minor: Law), and Eleanor Kate Buckle (an One-Year-Regular student from The University of Sheffield, UK), won the first prize at the International Humanitarian Law Role-Playing Competition held at the University of Tokyo's Komaba Campus on November 1, 2025. The event was organized by International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Delegation to Japan, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo "Human Security" Program (HSP); and was supported by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan Federation of Bar Associations, Japanese Red Cross Society, Ministry of Defense, Japan Self-Defense Forces, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo Institute for Advanced Global Studies (IAGS) Center for Sustainable Peace Studies.

This competition, designed to simulate debates and negotiations using knowledge of international humanitarian law, involved participants assuming assigned roles – such as humanitarian aid organizations, civilians, and armed groups – under various fictional scenarios of armed conflict. It deepened their understanding of the theory and practice of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).

The winning ICU team earned the right to compete in the globally renowned Concours Jean-Pictet. We look forward to their continued success.

Comments by Students:

Saori Ishioka
I feel deeply honoured to have won the competition.
First of all, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the competition organisers, my teammates, and Professor Matsuda and my seniors who informed us of the opportunity.
So far, I have studied humanitarian law as an academic discipline. Through this competition, I was able to experience how that knowledge can be applied in real-world situations. By simulating legal advice on military decision-making under combat conditions and humanitarian law-based responses to individuals detained, I gained a profound appreciation that humanitarian law is not merely a framework, but a force capable of safeguarding human life and dignity.
At the competition, our multifaceted perspectives, drawing on backgrounds in political science and international relations, and our teamwork were key factors in the success. I believe the interdisciplinary and proactive learning experience unique to ICU has honed my practical skills.
For the international competition, I intend to prepare thoroughly to perform to an even higher standard.

Eleanor Kate Buckle
I am truly grateful to have been granted this incredible opportunity to participate in this competition. As an exchange student at ICU, this experience allowed me to meet some amazing people and create lasting memories that I will cherish even after returning to my home university. I would like to thank Professor Hiromichi Matsuda and the ICU seniors for their support and guidance, and my brilliant teammates who made this such a memorable experience!

Ryo Inoue
In this competition, we tackled issues like the legality of a fictional military attack or treatment of detainees in a civil war. We had to really get into character as well. Although I had doubts about my scholastic understanding of International Humanitarian Law, or my role-playing skills, thanks to my two amazing teammates, we were able to get the first place. I would like to thank Professor Hiromichi Matsuda for his guidance and for telling us about the competition in the first place. I would also like to extend my gratitude to my seniors for giving us advice. What a feeling, being a champion!

Comments by Associate Professor Hiromichi Matsuda:

The International Humanitarian Law Role-Play Competition is a valuable active learning opportunity that allows students to acquire a balanced understanding of theory and practice. In the 2025 academic year, students enrolled in the "Public Law" course took the initiative in their participation. The ICU team had already achieved outstanding results at the international competition held in France (Award Announcement - May 2019), and this time too, they demonstrated the outcomes of a world-class liberal arts education. Moving forward, I aim to continue exploring "legal education within the liberal arts" by supporting students' proactive learning.
ICU Researchers Information System: Hiromichi Matsuda