Study History in a Multifaceted Manner to Learn about Human Wisdom and Knowledge
Professor SAKAMOTO Hiroshi
Some say that human beings have been doing the same things over and over throughout our long history and we can therefore learn lessons by studying the past. Others say, in accordance with the Judeo-Christian way of thinking, that human beings are making progress in a linear manner. Professor Sakamoto will talk about ...
(Opened in January 2020)
Understanding the Messages of the Artistic Programs of Olympic Opening Ceremonies
Professor IIZASA Sayoko
The Olympic and Paralympic Games open with a grand opening ceremony. In addition to the parade of athletes, the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, and other rituals, recent opening ceremonies also feature an artistic program, which is staged as a great show event. One thing that particularly interests me as a researcher specializing in multicultural society studies is that these artistic programs have been focusing on the harmony of different cultures and races. This column looks into the artistic programs of the Sydney, London, and Rio de Janeiro games and how they dealt with the issue of diversity and coexistence.
(This column is as of 2019.)
Professional Graduate School of International Management
Training Business Leaders to Be Well-Versed in Corporate Ethics
Professor TAKAHASHI Fumio
Now in the 21st century, corporate scandals are never-ending. Professor Fumio Takahashi is committed to developing humble leaders who are rich in humanity. Corporations should not ...
(Mar.2019)
Professional Graduate School of International Management
Human Resources Practices are embedded in Society
Professor SUDA Toshiko
Human resources (HR) practices tend to be regarded as something relevant only to those working for corporations, but in fact they directly affect each and every one of us in society, including people who are not in the labor force.
Keywords in contemporary society, such as childcare leave, scholarships, and job hopping can also be illuminated from the perspective of HR strategies.
How do the Japanese HR strategies—long-term employment, seniority system, and gender-segregated employment practices—affect society? What changes are needed going forward?
(This column is as of 2019.)
In conlifct resolution and peacebuilding, physical approaches such as political and economic approaches are often emphasized and elaborated. Nevertheless, in order to consolidate peace after peace accords, it is essential to build peace in hearts and minds of people who once fought against each other. Shapend animosity against each other over conflicts must be ameriolated.
In peacebuilding the international community focuses on peacebuilding from political and economic means. Cultural aspects have not been addressed in depth, Nevertheless in order to consolidate peace in conflict ridden areas to prevent recurrence of conflicts, it is essential to build peace in hearts and minds of people who once fought against each other.
In this column, I share cases of sports and music to illustrate how post-conflict communities can bridge the cleavage made over conflicts and consider how such activities can contribute to peacebuilding processes.
(This column is as of 2018.)
College of Education, Psychology and Human Studies
Let’s Practice Philosophy
Professor IRIFUJI Motoyoshi
“What’s the use of philosophy?” I have been asked this kind of question numerous times. Questioners ask such questions based on the premise that they have some kind of criteria for ascertaining whether something is useful or not and are capable of judging my answer according to the criteria. However, philosophy is a discipline that starts with the question, “Are you really in a position to judge whether something is useful or not?” In this column, I will show you how philosophy is practiced while exploring what uses it has.
(This column is as of 2018.)
Regional economics—Considering economics from the perspective of “space”
Professor SUDA Masaya
When you hear the term “regional economics,” you may think that it refers to an academic discipline that examines the economy of a specific region. However, this is not the case. Regional economics is a discipline that adds the element of “space” to the theory of economics in order to consider in concrete terms what measures need to be taken against diverse economic issues that we face in reality. In this column, I will introduce to you the basics of regional economics by highlighting several economic activities, while considering where they take place or should take place.
(This column is as of 2018.)
We often think that art works are objects of appreciation as items of beauty. However, many of the art works prior to the Modern Age are rooted in the daily lives and religious faith of people, and images associated with such art works invoked reverence, awe, mesmerism and many other emotions of viewers, in addition to offering aesthetic value. This column introduces the appeal of appreciating Renaissance art while highlighting the images ingrained in people’s lives in those days.
(This column is as of 2018.)
Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, College of Science and Engineering
Photochromism Supports Our Lives
Professor ABE Jiro
High-speed photochromic molecules constitute an innovative optical functional material. These molecules instantly change color when exposed to light, but the color immediately disappears ...
(Mar.2018)
College of Education, Psychology and Human Studies
Senior high school development―key to regional revitalization
Professor HIDA Daijirou
In Japan, amid mounting concerns over the ongoing depopulation trend and the resultant decline of community functions, regional revitalization issues are becoming the subject of vigorous public discussions. Among others, recent attention has been focused on efforts aimed at building a “decentralized autonomous society” (where each region pursues self-directed development initiatives utilizing local resources and promoting local strengths). This column discusses the potential of education services as a strong instrument of regional revitalization. In particular, it aims to highlight how local senior high school education services can play a key role in facilitating regional revitalization, introducing a project promoted in Shimane Prefecture to revamp senior high school services in remote island/rural areas in order to be able to create more attractive schools for the purpose.
(This column is as of 2017.)
Today, based on a one-dimensional judgment as to whether a study benefits the world, practical science is valued while the humanities including literature are slighted, and the very raison d'être of the humanities is questioned. This column illustrates the meaningfulness of studying the humanities by citing literature as an example and explains the attractions of literature and the value of reading.
(This column is as of 2017.)
Not many of us have questioned the raison d'être of the law, asking ourselves “What purpose does the law serve?” or “Why does a rule like this exist?” This column will give an overview of the process of the formulation and development of the law and consider the issues caused by the increase in the number of laws resulting in the development of the law. Then, through envisaging a society where the number of laws is limited to a minimum or where the law does not exist, the raison d'être of the law and its implementation will be reconsidered.
(This column is as of 2016.)
Let Us Explore Urban Environment through Soundscapes!
Professor TORIGOE Keiko
“Soundscape” is a word coined by combining “sound” and “(land)scape.” The soundscape concept is an approach that involves combining landscapes with surrounding sounds in order to regard the environment composed of aural cultures. Moreover, the concept values the memories that people have about a place, its history, other intangible and non-visual elements, and atmosphere or ambience as the essential elements of the place. In this column, I will offer explanations about the concept and show its significance by introducing examples of new-type community development projects that lead to the protection of the local environment including its culture and history.
(This column is as of 2016.)
A sensor is a device that converts the magnitude of force, distance or luminance into signals and data as outputs. Thanks to the spread of smartphones, the development of sensor technologies has been rapidly progressing and has enabled us to measure objects once deemed impossible to measure. This column describes how sensors are used and what roles they are playing. While showing some study cases, it explores the future possibilities of sensor research.
(This column is as of 2016.)
We lead a convenient life by consuming electricity, gas, oil, and other energies. However, there must be many people who began to think about energy after the outbreak of the large-scale power outage caused by the nuclear power accident that followed the Great East Japan Earthquake. This column traces back the history of energy usage in Japan and explores desirable energy choices for the nation, while referring to the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy, which is currently drawing attention.
(This column is as of 2016.)
There was a terrorist attack at the office of the French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo on January 7, 2015. On January 11, four days after the occurrence of the incident, demonstrations were held to mourn for the victims and to show a strong commitment to protecting the freedom of expression. Now, one year after the incident, let us look back on the incident and what happened subsequently, examine the historical background for the freedom of expression in France and related issues in the country.
(This column is as of 2015.)
Nanobiotechnology is a new research field that has emerged as a fusion of nanotechnology, a technology used to manipulate matter as desired at the scale of atoms and molecules, and biotechnology. In this field, thanks to the development of the scanning probe microscope, which enables direct observation of molecules and atoms, the mechanism of living organisms is gradually being elucidated. When observed at the molecular and atomic level, biological systems of living organisms, including the structure of a cell, are found to be perfect, without any errors. This column introduces the latest trend in research in the field of nanobiotechnology while also talking about the mysteriousness of life and the fun of clarifying that mystery.
(This column is as of 2015.)
“Why do we need to learn history?” One of the objectives of learning history is to understand developments prior to and the background of an event that is currently occurring in the world, in order to get a better picture of it. However, I believe that it is essential in history study to understand that history is multifaceted and diverse in nature and to reconstruct one’s own historical perspective. Taking the example of images of Cleopatra, this column aims to show that there are multiple ways of looking at history and considers the multifaceted nature of history. Then we explore the significance of learning history.
(This column is as of 2015.)
