AGU RESEARCH

Columns that reveal the world
- Getting up close and personal with the researchers -

In the world we live in,
From issues close to us to issues that affect all of humanity,
There are many different problems.
The current situation and truth that are surprisingly unknown,
Our proud faculty members offer interesting insights
We will reveal it.

※ Video markItems marked with include video content.

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Law
  • Published on 2026/03/09
  • The law is for the people—challenging transparency in contracts, a frontier in civil law research.
  • Associate Professor Naoya Sakamaki
  • When we enter into a contract, do we truly understand all of its terms? In today's world, where online services and contracts based on terms and conditions are widespread, the issue of "contractual transparency," where consumers are forced to enter into contracts they don't fully understand, is a major challenge. Associate Professor Shuya Sakamaki is conducting research on the need for contractual transparency in consumer contracts from the perspective of civil law, which deals with contract rules and other related matters. Through comparative analysis with French law, he is re-examining existing interpretations and working towards the realization of a just society by constructing a new logic that corrects the disparity between businesses and consumers. (Published in 2026)

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Published on 2026/03/04
  • We will use technology that allows us to freely control heat to support innovation in diverse fields.
  • Professor Koji Fumoto
  • In response to the increasingly serious thermal problems associated with high-performance electronic devices and built-in systems, Professor Koji Fumoto continues his research into "thermal management" (thermal control) to dissipate heat. His invention of an aluminum "super-thermal-conducting heat pipe" boasts 500 to 1000 times the heat transport performance of conventional pipes and is attracting global attention as a cutting-edge technology that will contribute to technological innovation in various fields. Its gravity-independent properties also suggest potential for space applications. Furthermore, he is exploring medical applications such as "magnetic hyperthermia," which uses nanoparticles to heat only cancer cells. (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)

  • School of International Politics, Economics and Communication Department of International Politics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Unraveling the causal relationships of conflicts and wars, and deriving logic that can be applied to similar cases.
  • Professor Yasuhiro Izumikawa
  • International relations theory is the study that seeks to understand the causes of repeated conflicts and wars in humankind, and the reasons why various actors cooperate across national borders. Professor Yasuhiro Izumikawa has focused on alliance politics and adversarial relationships between nations since his time studying in the United States, and has continued his research from various perspectives to this day. Amidst the rapidly changing situations in Europe, the United States, and East Asia, his research is attracting considerable attention from overseas.
    (To be released in 2025)

  • Faculty of Social Informatics Department of Social Informatics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Combining insights from sociology and information science, we tackle complex social problems.
  • Associate Professor Shinya Obayashi
  • "Social dilemmas" refer to the phenomenon where rational choices made by people can actually lead to undesirable situations for society. This topic is closely related to everyday issues such as energy conservation in the middle of summer. Associate Professor Shinya Obayashi is conducting research on these social dilemmas from the perspective of "computational social science," an interdisciplinary field of study. He is investigating cases using a sociological approach while utilizing computational technology and big data for analysis, working to elucidate the mechanisms of their occurrence and methods of avoidance. (Published in 2025)

  • Faculty of Education and Human Sciences Department of Education
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • From a perspective only available by being on the ground, this book questions the state of higher education in Japan.
  • Professor Yumiko Sugitani
  • Professor Yumiko Sugitani, specializing in higher education theory and educational sociology, is immersed in the university setting, her research subject, and actively teaches numerous courses and seminars. From her position as a university faculty member, she grasps various issues in the educational field and continuously observes and analyzes the realities through her daily interactions with students. Furthermore, through a wide range of research activities and social contributions, including participation in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology councils and joint surveys with companies, she explores the future of higher education in Japan. (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.

  • Faculty of Business Administration, 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.

  • Faculty of Community and Human Sciences Department of Community and Human Sciences
  • 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.

  • Faculty of Global and Social Coexistence Department of Global and Social Coexistence
  • 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.

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Human Rights
  • Posted on 2024/05/01
  • International human rights law protects all people on the planet.
    What are the challenges facing Japan in promoting human rights?
  • Professor Hae Bong Shin
  • "Human rights" are fundamental values shared by the international community, and are a theme of great social significance that is also aligned with the SDGs' philosophy of "leaving no one behind." It is also a practical academic field that is directly linked to our daily lives, in that it cultivates an attitude of respecting the rights of others while protecting one's own rights. Professor Hae Bong Shin is exploring and examining measures to promote the protection of human rights in Japan from a legal perspective, making full use of comparative law with other countries.

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Information Technology
  • Posted on 2023/05/19
  • From the movement of objects to the style of an artist, CG technology can be used to reproduce things with greater precision
  • Professor Yonghao Yue
  • CG is a technology that reproduces and visualizes the movement and appearance of real-world objects, and is widely used in the production of movies and animations. Professor Yonghao Yue has achieved results in simulating the optical phenomenon that sunlight causes to reach our eyes and the movement of materials with diverse properties, and is working hard on research every day to reproduce even more complex movements. In recent years, he has also been working on a project to reproduce the painting styles of artists, and the day when we can see Van Gogh-style animations may be approaching.

  • Faculty of Social Informatics Department of Social Informatics
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of people's financial behavior and stabilizing financial markets
  • Professor Hirotaka Fushiya
  • In financial markets, mimicking and following the buying and selling of others can sometimes become widespread. This can cause stock prices to fluctuate wildly beyond the appropriate range, destabilizing the market. Professor Fushiya Hirotaka considers financial market movements as being divided into long-term trends and short-term uncertainties, and continues his research to keep the uncertainty caused by following-up behavior within an appropriate range, thereby contributing to the stabilization of financial markets. Stochastic differential equations are used for this purpose, and are expected to be applied not only to finance but also to predicting trends in various social and natural phenomena.
    (Released in 2023)

  • Faculty of Business Administration, Department of Business Administration
  • Present accurate and objective information to encourage appropriate decision-making throughout society
  • Professor Masuo Araki
  • "Official statistics" are statistical surveys compiled by national and local governments. They are literally big data collected through meticulous preparation and a huge amount of work, and are required to accurately reflect the realities of society. Professor Araki has participated in government committees to ensure the accuracy and objectivity of the data used in various decision-making processes, and has been involved in a wide range of work, from designing surveys to analyzing the resulting data. By presenting objective numerical data as evidence, he encourages constructive discussion in society.
    (Released in 2023)

  • Faculty of Education and Human Sciences Department of Psychology
  • Focusing on the reactions of the brain and body, we capture the "emotions" that are not expressed in words and actions.
  • Associate Professor Izumi Matsuda
  • Psychophysiology is a field that seeks to understand the "movements of the mind" from physiological responses such as brain waves and heart rate. Associate Professor Izumi Matsuda has been involved in research into polygraph tests at the National Research Institute of Police Science for many years, contributing to the advancement of scientific investigations. Using the knowledge and skills she has acquired there, she continues to take on the challenge of unraveling the physiological aspects of the human mind more broadly. As times change, research subjects become more diverse, and new research methods are born as technology advances, expanding the possibilities of psychophysiology in many directions.
    (Released in 2023)

  • School of International Politics and Economics
    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)

  • Faculty of Business Administration, Department of Business Administration
  • Turning expertise into social benefit.
    Exploring data science to create more value
  • Associate Professor Ibuki Hoshina
  • Statistical modeling is a method of deriving mathematical models from data that represent the structure behind the data, which can be used to predict and interpret various phenomena. Associate Professor Hoshina is working on developing new methods that apply existing theories, aiming for more accurate predictions and more versatile models. By taking advantage of the strengths of theoretical research and introducing methods to society that allow for error-free data analysis even without specialized knowledge, he looks toward a future in which anyone can make the most of the benefits that data science brings.
    (Released in 2023)
※ Video markItems marked with include video content.

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Law
  • Published on 2026/03/09
  • The law is for the people—challenging transparency in contracts, a frontier in civil law research.
  • Associate Professor Naoya Sakamaki

  • College of Science and Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering
  • Published on 2026/03/04
  • We will use technology that allows us to freely control heat to support innovation in diverse fields.
  • Professor Koji Fumoto

  • 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

  • School of International Politics, Economics and Communication Department of International Politics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Unraveling the causal relationships of conflicts and wars, and deriving logic that can be applied to similar cases.
  • Professor Yasuhiro Izumikawa

  • Faculty of Social Informatics Department of Social Informatics
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • Combining insights from sociology and information science, we tackle complex social problems.
  • Associate Professor Shinya Obayashi

  • Faculty of Education and Human Sciences Department of Education
  • Published on 2025/05/16
  • From a perspective only available by being on the ground, this book questions the state of higher education in Japan.
  • Professor Yumiko Sugitani

  • 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

  • Faculty of Business Administration, 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

  • Faculty of Community and Human Sciences Department of Community and Human Sciences
  • Posted on 2024/05/16
  • Considering work-life balance in the era of 100-year life spans
  • Professor Seiko Ogawa

  • Faculty of Global and Social Coexistence Department of Global and Social Coexistence
  • Posted on 2024/05/10
  • Pursuing reconciliation based on individual trust for sustainable peace
  • Professor Naoko Kumagai

  • Faculty of Law, Department of Human Rights
  • Posted on 2024/05/01
  • International human rights law protects all people on the planet.
    What are the challenges facing Japan in promoting human rights?
  • Professor Hae Bong Shin

  • Faculty of Science and Engineering, Department of Information Technology
  • Posted on 2023/05/19
  • From the movement of objects to the style of an artist, CG technology can be used to reproduce things with greater precision
  • Professor Yonghao Yue

  • Faculty of Social Informatics Department of Social Informatics
  • Unraveling the mechanisms of people's financial behavior and stabilizing financial markets
  • Professor Hirotaka Fushiya

  • Faculty of Business Administration, Department of Business Administration
  • Present accurate and objective information to encourage appropriate decision-making throughout society
  • Professor Masuo Araki

  • Faculty of Education and Human Sciences Department of Psychology
  • Focusing on the reactions of the brain and body, we capture the "emotions" that are not expressed in words and actions.
  • Associate Professor Izumi Matsuda

  • School of International Politics and Economics
    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

  • Faculty of Business Administration, Department of Business Administration
  • Turning expertise into social benefit.
    Exploring data science to create more value
  • Associate Professor Ibuki Hoshina
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