About

What is 1252 Project?

1252 Project is an educational program that addresses various menstrual issues faced by female athletes. Partnering with top athletes, medical facilities, and educational fields, we aim to help students to gain the right information, advisory, and guidance about menstrual problems.

An athlete’s body needs appropriate conditioning to perform at its best during seasonal games and competitions. However, approximately 12 weeks out of 52 weeks (one year) of a female athlete’s body suffer from various menstrual symptoms that affect their performance.

Because the menstrual cycle and how it effects the body differ from person to person, this issue has been a “problem to be solved secretly and individually” for a long time. With the help of top athletes and experts in the medical and education fields, we will create an educational platform to gain the right information, advisory, and guidance about menstrual problems tailored for athletes.

We plan to provide online and on-site classes and seminars.

Our goal is to ensure that all female student athletes have accurate knowledge, access to support, and are able to lead a competitive life that allows them to reach their full potential.

Topics

1252 Project selected for an “Ignite365” Award, one of the initial five projects selected worldwide, representing Asia as part of Olympism365 Innovation Hub – a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee, Beyond Sport & Women Win.

Happy International Women’s Day (From 1252 leader Hanae Ito)

1252 Project was featured in the web magazine “ mi-mollet”

1252 Project was published in “Sports Navi”

1252 Project was introduced in “The Hokkaido Shimbun”

1252 Project was introduced in “The Asahi Shimbun Digital”

We Are Partnering with the University of Tokyo Hospital.

Members

1252 Project Leader

Hanae Ito

When I was a teenager competing on Japan’s national swimming team, my period was just “something that naturally came every month”.
I hadn’t thought about how it could affect my performance or mental health, I had no idea about PMS or PMDD, nor was I aware of the existence of the pill, its side effects, its safety, or how overseas athletes were using it with such control. I never thought that I would have regrets when I reached the Olympic stage.
When I think about it now, I feel that it was because at the time, there was no place that I could go to learn about menstruation nor anyone I could ask for advice.
For that reason, I want all female student athletes to know more about the topic.
Moreover, I would like mentors and male athletes to have the right knowledge too.

The University of Tokyo Hospital Assistant Professor
Department of Women’s Health and Obstetrics
Female Athlete Outpatient Physician

Sayaka Nose

There are still many students today who face issues particular to women, such as menstrual pain, premenstrual syndrome, and amenorrhea, but they cannot tell people around them about it. Having accurate medical knowledge from your teenage years, and being able to recognize abnormalities early and take action yourself, is important when considering conditioning for sports.

We, obstetricians and gynecologists, in cooperation with those supporting the athletes, will provide guidance from a specialist’s standpoint to help female athletes be able to perform at their best.

Be a part of our team

We are recruiting schools and teams that support the 1252 cause!

By listening to the voices of female students, the 1252 Project hopes to find new solutions to the various menstrual challenges that female athletes face.
The voices of female student athletes and mentors are essential to the activities of this project.
We are currently looking for schools that can serve as model teams/support schools for our project to get feedback from female students and mentors through surveys, on-site classes, and online sessions. We are currently looking for schools that can serve as model teams/support schools for our project to get feedback from female students and mentors through surveys, on-site classes, and online sessions.
We will work with model teams/support schools (junior and senior high schools/universities) in:
・Conducting awareness survey questionnaires for students and mentors
・Conducting 1252 Project seminars/classes by top athletes and medical professionals, etc.

You can apply as any group, such as a school, team, club, etc.
For students, please apply after consulting with your coaches, school teachers, or school officials.
*Applications from countries outside of Japan are also welcome, but it may require some time to deliver our online seminars in English.
Please contact us if you would like to apply as a model team/support school, would like to know more about our project’s activities, or have any questions.