AGU RESEARCH

Culture (History)

※ Video markItems marked with include video content.

  • College of Literature Department of English
  • Published on 2026/05/12
  • Analyzing the "reception" of authors and their works from multiple perspectives, and re-examining the social role of literature.
  • Professor Yuko Matsui
  • Walter Scott was a writer who wielded immense cultural influence in the English-speaking world and Europe during the 19th century. Professor Yuko Matsui attempts to re-evaluate Scott's contemporary significance and re-examine the social role of literature by interpreting how he was "received" by people of his time from various perspectives. Professor Matsui, who advocates the enjoyment of actively interpreting literature, focuses not only on the content written in the works but also on the "unwritten elements" that make up the narratives. Therein lies a perspective for re-examining the challenges of modern society and hints for enriching our lives. (Published in 2026)

  • College of Literature, Department of Comparative Arts
  • Published on 2025/05/19
  • Unveiling the little-known aspects of Kabuki and offering hints for people to live more fulfilling lives.
  • Professor Katsura Sato
  • Professor Katsura Sato conducts historical research on Kabuki, a classical Japanese performing art, focusing primarily on the late Edo period through the Meiji and Taisho eras. While Kabuki, originally aimed at the masses, became more sophisticated over time, she focuses on "Koshibai," which remained a form of entertainment for ordinary people. Furthermore, she delves into the life of Ichikawa Kumehachi, a female Kabuki actress considered the foremost of her time, attempting to unravel the "strength to live" that enabled her to survive adversity. (To be released in 2025)

  • School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Department of International Politics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Analyzing horizontal cooperation among allied nations
    Research that contributes to stability in the Indo-Pacific region
  • Associate Professor Tomohiko Satake
  • In recent years, security cooperation among allies such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea has been strengthened in the Asia-Pacific region, in addition to the bilateral alliance network centered on the United States. Associate Professor Tomohiko Satake studies the structural reasons behind this strengthening of cooperation among allies and its impact on the regional security environment. Amidst increasing instability in the international situation due to events such as the rise of the second Trump administration in the United States, what foreign policy should Japan adopt going forward? This book explores the answer to that question through research on diplomacy in the Asia-Pacific and Indo-Pacific regions. (To be published in 2025)

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Human Rights
  • Posted on 2024/05/17
  • Focusing on the perspective of legal research, tackling the issue of LGBTQ human rights
  • Professor Hiroyuki Taniguchi
  • Professor Hiroyuki Taniguchi is conducting original research from the perspective of international and comparative law, focusing on the role that law should play in LGBTQ human rights issues. Legislation and legal reform are not approaches that can be implemented quickly, but their social impact is limitless. In Japan, the SOGI Awareness Promotion Act came into effect in 2023, attracting attention. Law has the power to change social norms and people's perceptions, not just general legal binding power.

  • School of Business, Department of Marketing
  • Posted on 2024/05/17
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of the distribution system that intertwines economy, society, culture, and history
  • Professor Nobukazu Azuma
  • "Distribution" is a huge social system that connects production and consumption. Professor Nobukazu Azuma has been shedding light on the factors that lead to the creation of distinctive distribution structures in each country and region, taking into account the background of culture, history, society, and economy. In order to unravel the mechanisms of distribution, which are woven together with diverse and complex elements, it is important to find a method that is appropriate for the research subject. For this reason, he is also working on research methods unique to social sciences. Currently, as the representative of a joint research project involving multiple universities in Japan and the UK, he is focusing on a series of research to examine leading theories and hypotheses related to the ocean of distribution as a whole and each part, and to verify them in light of actual distribution phenomena.

  • College of Community Studies, Department of Community Studies
  • Posted on 2024/05/16
  • Considering work-life balance in the era of 100-year life spans
  • Professor Seiko Ogawa
  • Work-life balance means striving for harmony between work and life outside of work, without sacrificing either. It is a concept that cannot be avoided when solving social issues such as the declining birthrate. Professor Ogawa Seiko decided to become a researcher after becoming interested in corporate training during her time as a flight attendant. Rather than pursuing an ideal, she always keeps in mind "research that does not diverge from the real world" and takes the theme of work-life balance seriously.

  • School of Global Studies and Collaboration, Department of Global Studies and Collaboration
  • Posted on 2024/05/10
  • Pursuing reconciliation based on individual trust for sustainable peace
  • Professor Naoko Kumagai
  • Even after a ceasefire is once agreed upon around the world, there are many cases in which conflicts and clashes break out again. Professor Naoko Kumagai is researching the necessary conditions for such conflicts in the international community to reach "reconciliation," exploring the meaning of apology, forgiveness, memory, compensation, justice, and more. Referring to past cases in East Asia and Europe, she has been searching for a way to restore trust between victims and perpetrators. In order to overcome negative emotions and build sustainable peace, it is necessary to face history squarely and listen to the inner voice of each party involved.

  • School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Department of International Economics
    ​
  • What impact do differences in living environments have on children's development?
    Contributing to the realization of a sustainable society through both education and research
  • Associate Professor Seung-Gyu Sim
  • Associate Professor Seung-Gyu Sim has been researching the impact of differences in living environments on development through surveys and analysis of children who live in environments other than the home they were born into. He says that empathy for others, a positive way of thinking, and the ability to see things from a broad perspective are all essential elements for realizing a sustainable society, and are fostered through good relationships with those around us and education. He himself aims to make further contributions to society through his daily guidance of students and specialized research into child development.
    (Released in 2023)

  • College of Community Studies,
    Department of Community Studies
  • From "sensitivity" and "intuition"
    We aim to unravel the state of education and society and resolve issues.
  • Professor Hiroshi Nishijima
  • Sociology of education considers education in society. By considering the relationship between education and society through themes such as music education, the approach spreads beyond time and region, and how we should approach academic studies. The attitude also emerges.
    (Released in 2023)

  • College of Literature, Department of Japanese Language and Literature
  • Utilizing cutting-edge computer technology
    Understanding with Data Science
    The mysterious world of classical languages
  • Professor Yasuhiro Kondo
  • The idea of "integration of humanities and sciences," which transcends the boundaries between the humanities and sciences and involves learning across both academic fields, is now becoming more widespread in the field of education. Professor Yasuhiro Kondo of the Department of Japanese Literature, Faculty of Letters, was one of the earliest researchers to focus on computer-based research into Japanese language since the 1970s, and has truly put the integration of humanities and sciences into practice. He has continued his research to unravel the mysteries of the oldest classical languages using cutting-edge computer technology. What kind of talent and creativity does Professor Kondo envision as being required for humanities research in the future? (Published in 2022)

  • School of Global Studies and Collaboration, Department of Global Studies and Collaboration
  • Mexico's economy falls into the "middle-income trap."
    We will consider the regional disparities and poverty issues.
  • Associate Professor Kaoko Sakikawa
  • Associate Professor Kaoko Sakikawa encountered Spanish language and development economics during her undergraduate years, and began researching development issues in Latin America at our graduate school. After studying abroad at the Mexican Graduate School, she developed a strong interest in the issues of inequality and poverty in the Mexican economy, and has been working on research based on three pillars: economic theory, empirical evidence, and national characteristics. Looking back on her own journey, in which she has continued to take on challenges driven by curiosity and energy, she offers her support to all students with promising futures.
    (Published in 2022)

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Human Rights
  • Exploring LGBTQ human rights issues from the field of law, with a focus on legal interpretation.
    ​
  • Professor Hiroyuki Taniguchi
  • Serious discussions on LGBTQ human rights issues began in Europe in the 1980s and spread globally, but the situation in Japan is still far from ideal. Professor Hiroyuki Taniguchi is addressing this issue from the perspective of legal interpretation, conducting research on the influence of international human rights norms on Japanese legal interpretation, keeping in mind its historical and social connections. Not only for LGBTQ issues, but for human rights issues in general, viewing them solely from the perspective of individual awareness and feelings will lead us further away from fundamental solutions. What perspective should we adopt?
    (Published in 2022)

  • College of Community Studies
  • What is the purpose of a museum?
    Understanding from people, history and background
  • Associate Professor Masanori Oki
  • From around 2000, local governments began to merge and close public museums against the backdrop of worsening finances and other factors. This prompted people to question the purpose of museums and their significance. Associate Professor Oki Masanori, who specializes in museology, explains the importance of museums in discovering and evaluating cultural resources, and providing local residents with a place for intellectual activity. We will consider the value of museums in the present and future by unraveling the history of museums established by philanthropists in modern Japan and the aspirations and history that have been passed down to the present day. (Published in 2021)

  • School of Global Studies and Collaboration
  • How will the Internet change language, opinion, and society?
  • Professor Eiichirou Kabashima
  • Printed communication, which first appeared in the late 1400s, has grown over the past 500 years alongside the major media in society, including newspapers, books, and magazines. However, with the rise of the Internet in the mid-1990s, a major change occurred. This was not just a shift in media, from paper to electronic, and from analog to digital, but a major change that shook up the words and thoughts we use. Here, we discuss with Professor Kabashima of the Faculty of Global Studies, who specializes in media industry theory, what this once-in-500-year change from print to the Internet was, and how it has changed our words and thoughts. (Published in 2021)

  • College of Literature
  • A journey into the heart of literati painting
  • Associate Professor Sachiko Idemitsu
  • Literati paintings are works of art consisting of poetry, calligraphy, and paintings that began to be created by bureaucrats and other intellectuals during the Tang and Song dynasties in China in their spare time from official duties. Many of them lost factional struggles at court and, despite their ideals as politicians, had to step down from the political stage for one reason or another. When Chinese literati paintings, which express the frustration and regret of these intellectuals (literati), were introduced to Japan in the mid-Edo period, they developed in their own way in the salons of cultural figures who admired China. Here, we will explore the generous and free creativity that flows through them, while interpreting the thoughts that famous Japanese artists such as Ike Taiga, Yosa Buson, and Sengai, who were greatly influenced by literati paintings, put into their works. We would also like to consider the role of art and museums during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Published in 2020)

  • College of Literature Department of English
  • Published on 2026/05/12
  • Analyzing the "reception" of authors and their works from multiple perspectives, and re-examining the social role of literature.
  • Professor Yuko Matsui

  • College of Literature, Department of Comparative Arts
  • Published on 2025/05/19
  • Unveiling the little-known aspects of Kabuki and offering hints for people to live more fulfilling lives.
  • Professor Katsura Sato

  • School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Department of International Politics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Analyzing horizontal cooperation among allied nations
    Research that contributes to stability in the Indo-Pacific region
  • Associate Professor Tomohiko Satake

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Human Rights
  • Posted on 2024/05/17
  • Focusing on the perspective of legal research, tackling the issue of LGBTQ human rights
  • Professor Hiroyuki Taniguchi

  • School of Business, Department of Marketing
  • Posted on 2024/05/17
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of the distribution system that intertwines economy, society, culture, and history
  • Professor Nobukazu Azuma

  • College of Community Studies, Department of Community Studies
  • Posted on 2024/05/16
  • Considering work-life balance in the era of 100-year life spans
  • Professor Seiko Ogawa

  • School of Global Studies and Collaboration, Department of Global Studies and Collaboration
  • Posted on 2024/05/10
  • Pursuing reconciliation based on individual trust for sustainable peace
  • Professor Naoko Kumagai

  • School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, Department of International Economics
    ​
  • What impact do differences in living environments have on children's development?
    Contributing to the realization of a sustainable society through both education and research
  • Associate Professor Seung-Gyu Sim

  • College of Community Studies,
    Department of Community Studies
  • From "sensitivity" and "intuition"
    We aim to unravel the state of education and society and resolve issues.
  • Professor Hiroshi Nishijima

  • College of Literature, Department of Japanese Language and Literature
  • Utilizing cutting-edge computer technology
    Understanding with Data Science
    The mysterious world of classical languages
  • Professor Yasuhiro Kondo

  • School of Global Studies and Collaboration, Department of Global Studies and Collaboration
  • Mexico's economy falls into the "middle-income trap."
    We will consider the regional disparities and poverty issues.
  • Associate Professor Kaoko Sakikawa

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Human Rights
  • Exploring LGBTQ human rights issues from the field of law, with a focus on legal interpretation.
    ​
  • Professor Hiroyuki Taniguchi

  • College of Community Studies
  • What is the purpose of a museum?
    Understanding from people, history and background
  • Associate Professor Masanori Oki

  • School of Global Studies and Collaboration
  • How will the Internet change language, opinion, and society?
  • Professor Eiichirou Kabashima

  • College of Literature
  • A journey into the heart of literati painting
  • Associate Professor Sachiko Idemitsu
↑