Two Japanese students are wrapping up a two-week visit to the University of Arkansas, where they had the opportunity to help the athletic training and coaching staff prepare for fall football practice.

Jeff Bonacci, a clinical assistant professor of kinesiology who directs the athletic training education program in the College of Education and Health Professions, has developed a relationship with Waseda University and Sophia University, both in Tokyo, over the past several years. He arranged for Waseda students Takaaki Kodani and Norihiro Matsuda to come to Fayetteville to get some experience with the Razorback football program.

Several graduates of Japanese universities have completed the entry-level master’s degree athletic training education program at Arkansas. One is now a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut, which is ranked by the National Academy of Kinesiology as the top-ranked kinesiology program in the country. Another operates a clinic in Tokyo that offers a patented therapeutic technique called Rolfing.

Kodani and Matsuda got a sneak preview of the new Fred W. Smith Football Center, helping the football staff get equipment and supplies ready for practice. They also learned about various modes of treatment and procedures for athletes. Kodani and Matsuda said the new football practice facility was quite impressive.

The team reported for the 2013 preseason camp Sunday, attending meetings in the new football center. The Razorbacks open the season Aug. 31 at home against Louisiana-Lafayette.

Both Japanese students have visited the United States before and said they are interested in working with college sports teams in the future. They stayed at the Northwest Quad residential complex while on campus.

Bonacci credited Matt Summers, director of athletic training, for assisting with the experience for the students.

“Our graduate athletic training education program paid for the students to stay on campus, but the visit would not have been possible, or nearly as valuable an experience for them, if it weren’t for the assistance of the athletic department and Matt Summers, in particular,” Bonacci said.