AGU RESEARCH

International society

  • School of Cultural and Creative Studies
  • 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.)
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  • 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.)
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  • School of Global Studies and Collaboration
  • Peacebuilding of hearts and minds
  • Professor FUKUSHIMA Akiko
  • 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.)
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  • College of Literature
  • Freedom of Expression in France
  • Professor HAMANO Koichiro
  • 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.)
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