AGU RESEARCH

Legal studies

  • Faculty of Law
  • We do not need laws like this!
  • Professor  SUMIYOSHI Masami
  • 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.)
  • Click here for details

  • School of Social Informatics
  • Thinking about Energy
  • Professor ISHIDA Hiroyuki
  • 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.)
  • Click here for details

  • Department of Law
  • The Constitution is the law closest to us
  • Professor TAKASA Tomomi
  • Following the review of the right of collective self-defense, the Constitution has again began attracting attention. Although the ideas in the Constitution are the basis of various laws and closely connected to people’s lives, quite a few people feel that the Constitution does not have much bearing on them. This column will reaffirm the raison d'être and roles of the Constitution. Then, it will consider some familiar issues in view of the Constitution, thereby illustrating that the Constitution is the law closest to us.
    (This column is as of 2014.)
  • Click here for details

  • Faculty of Law
  • Considering Media Ethics and Laws with a Focus on the Leaking of “Off-the-Record” Comments
  • Professor OISHI Yasuhiko
  • “If anyone reported my (“off-the-record”) comments, their organization would be finished.”

    There were a series of “off-the-record” information leaks by news media. After March 11, 2011, journalists seemed to begin raising questions themselves about media ethics in the face of the unprecedented situation caused by the tremendous disaster. What is important about “freedom of expression” not subject to laws and professional “media ethics”?
    (This column is as of 2012.)
  • Click here for details