AGU Insight -Aoyama Gakuin University

Faculty of Law
We don't need such a law!
Professor Masami Sumiyoshi
In everyday life, not many people have ever thought about the significance of law, asking questions such as "What are laws for?" and "Why do we have these rules?" This column provides an overview of the process of the establishment and development of laws, and uses concrete examples to explain the problems that have arisen as laws have developed and their number has increased. It also examines a society with a minimal number of laws, or a society without laws, to reconsider the significance of law and question its implementation. (Published in 2016)

School of Cultural and Creative Studies
Explore the reality of cities through soundscapes!
Professor Keiko Torigoe
"Soundscape," a compound word made up of "sound," meaning sound, and "scape," meaning scenery or landscape, is a way of thinking that captures scenery from the world of sound and treats the environment as a cultural issue. It does not just value listening to sounds, but seeks to capture the essence of the environment, including not only the visual sense but also the atmosphere and ambience of a place, such as the memories and history of a land that are not bound by form. In this column, we explain what soundscape is, and at the same time, introduce examples of "new urban development" that, through this way of thinking, can lead to environmental planning that values the culture and history of the land, while discussing the significance of the soundscape concept. (Published in 2016)

College of Science and Engineering
Sensor Technology and Possibilities
Professor Yoshito Tobe
A "sensor" is a device that converts the magnitude of force, distance, brightness, and other factors into signals and data and outputs them. With the spread of smartphones, the technology for these sensors has rapidly developed, making it possible to measure things that were previously impossible to measure. In this column, we explain how sensors are used and the role they play, introduce research examples, and consider the future possibilities of sensor research. (Published in 2016)

School of Business
The economics of happiness
Professor Akiko Kamesaka
Economics has developed by focusing discussion on "material and monetary wealth" up until now. However, due to growing discussion that "mental and subjective factors" cannot be ignored when measuring an individual's wealth and happiness, economics has rapidly begun to address the concept of "happiness" in recent years. In this column, we explain why economics has begun to address "happiness," provide examples of analysis on "happiness," and explore the significance and future possibilities of the "economics of happiness." (Published in 2016)

School of Social Informatics
Let's think about energy
Professor Hiroyuki Ishida
We live convenient lives by consuming energy such as electricity, gas, and oil. However, the large-scale power outage caused by the nuclear accident during the Great East Japan Earthquake has likely caused many people to think about energy. In this column, we trace the history of energy use in Japan, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy, which is currently attracting attention, and consider what energy choices are desirable for Japan. (Published in 2016)

College of Economics
Where is the EU heading? - Will the day come when Greece and the UK leave the EU?
Professor Tatsuhiro Nakagawa
Last year, attention was focused on whether Greece would leave the EU following its default on its debt, but this year, the issue of Britain's departure from the EU has now arisen. Attention is now focused on the future of the EU. This column will shed light on the current situation in Greece through the country's modern history, and also explain the background to why Britain is trying to leave the EU. It will also look at what impact the issues of Greece and Britain's departure from the EU have had on the EU, and consider the future shape of the EU based on new developments within the EU. (Published in 2016)

College of Literature
Freedom of Expression in France
Professor Kouichirou Hamano
The attack on the offices of the French weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo took place on January 7, 2015. The demonstration that took place on the 11th, four days after the incident, was meant to commemorate the victims of the incident, but also expressed a strong determination to defend freedom of expression at all costs. Now that a year has passed since the incident, we will return to this series of events and reconsider the historical background of "freedom of expression" in France and the issues it faces in modern France. (Published in 2015)

College of Science and Engineering
The Potential of Nanobiotechnology
Professor Toshiyuki Mitsui
Nanobiotechnology is a new research field born from the fusion of nanotechnology, which allows for free manipulation on the atomic and molecular scale, and biotechnology. In this field, the mechanisms of living organisms are now gradually becoming clearer thanks to the development of scanning probe microscopes, which allow for direct observation of atoms and molecules. When observed at the molecular and atomic level, "the ecological activities of living organisms are perfect, even down to a single cell," without a single error. This column introduces cutting-edge research in nanobiotechnology and explores the mysteries of life and the fascination of unraveling them. (Published in 2015)

College of Literature
Who is history for?
Professor Hiroshi Sakamoto
"Why do we need to study history?" One of the reasons for studying history is to "understand the process and background that led to events occurring in the world today in order to grasp them." However, perhaps the most important reason for studying history is to understand that history is multifaceted and multifaceted, and to reconstruct one's own view of history. In this column, we will use the figure of Cleopatra as an example to show that there are multiple ways of looking at history, and consider the multifaceted nature of history. We will then explore once again the "significance of studying history." (Published in 2015)

School of Social Informatics
Can computers improve your writing?
Professor Hiroshige Inazumi
With concerns being raised that university students' "ability to understand and compose texts" is declining, many universities now offer courses on "how to write reports and papers." However, due to the personnel burden involved, few universities also offer practical instruction in writing. This led to the launch of the "Japanese Expression Method Development Project," which aims to improve students' ability to express themselves in writing using tools that utilize computer natural language processing technology. Can computers improve writing skills? Utilizing existing research findings and technology, the project aims to tackle the challenge of improving students' ability to express themselves in writing. (Published in 2015)

College of Education, Psychology and Human Studies
Does paying attention to your appearance improve communication?
Professor Kenji Endo
You may feel rebellious when you hear that "appearance is everything," but other people can only "guess" what's going on inside of us. Therefore, if you want to build good relationships (communication) with others, you will have no choice but to pay attention to "appearance," which is an important factor in judging people.
This column focuses on "appearance," one of the non-verbal means of communication, and uses multiple data to consider how others react to "changes in appearance," exploring the "just right appearance" for building better relationships with others. (Published in 2015)

School of Business
Exploring better relationships between companies and people in organizations
Professor Masaru Yamashita
After the war, Japanese companies grew by employees sharing the ideals and values of management and taking pride in the company they work for. However, as society became more affluent and people's reasons for working became more diverse, such as "for self-actualization" or "to receive a salary," the bubble economy collapsed and companies lost their strength. Furthermore, the half-hearted introduction of a performance-based system worsened the relationship between individuals and companies, accelerating the weakening of companies. It is the people who work there that support a company. In this column, we consider how to rebuild the relationship between companies and the people who work there so that struggling Japanese companies can regain their strength, and discuss a new relationship between organizations and individuals that is suited to the Japanese corporate culture. (Published in 2015)

College of Economics
Will "Hometown Tax" Save Local Governments?
Professor Emeritus Isao Horiba
"Hometown tax" has been widely introduced in the media as a good deal and a tax-saving measure, since individuals who donate more than 2,000 yen to any local government (prefecture, city, town, or village) can receive resident and income tax deductions and also receive generous perks. But are there only benefits to hometown tax? In this column, we will explain how the system works, while also examining the negative aspects of hometown tax that are rarely discussed on television or in magazines, and take a fresh look at the hometown tax system. (Published in 2015)

Graduate School of International Management
Will the railroad survive?
Professor Yoshitaka Fukui
There has been a lot of talk about railways lately, with last year marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen, the Hokuriku Shinkansen opening on March 14th this year, and construction of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen scheduled to begin this summer. However, with the population declining and transportation volume decreasing, is it really necessary to further develop and improve railways across Japan? This column looks squarely at the current state of railways and considers the future of railways. (Published in 2015)

School of International Politics, Economics and Communication
How to improve your communication skills
Professor Kiyoko Sueda
"Communication skills" have been ranked number one for the 10th consecutive year as an important factor in recruitment selection, and communication skills are becoming increasingly important these days. What can we do to improve our communication skills?
In this column, we will delve into the essence of communication and explain what true "communication skills" are. (Published in 2015)

Faculty of Law
The Constitution is the Law We Are Most Familiar With
Professor Tomomi Takasa
The "review of the right of collective self-defense" has brought renewed attention to the existence of the "Constitution." In fact, the "ideas of the Constitution" are the basis for various laws and are closely related to our daily lives, but there are probably many people who feel that the Constitution "doesn't have much to do with me." In this column, we will reaffirm the reason for the Constitution's existence and its role. And by considering the issues around us in light of the Constitution, we hope to realize that the Constitution is "the law that is closest to us." (Published in 2014)

College of Literature
Now it's Shakespeare!
Professor Yasuo Sakuma
Shakespeare is a playwright whose name is probably well known to everyone. He was born and active in the 16th century, but over 400 years have passed since then, and his works are still being performed in countries around the world. What kind of person was Shakespeare, who wrote works that have remained popular throughout the ages? What is the appeal of his works? This column explores Shakespeare's character and the appeal of his works. (Published in 2014)

School of Cultural and Creative Studies
"Ubiquitous time-space information revolution" opens up a new future for humanity
Professor Atsuyuki Okabe
We can now know the "exact time" anywhere, anytime. And thanks to the development of "spatial information technology," which began with the Global Positioning System (GPS) at the end of the 20th century, we are now on the verge of achieving "accurate spatial awareness." In this column, we look back on the history of the development of "time and spatial information," and consider what kind of future awaits us when we are able to accurately grasp "time" and "space." We consider the innovations that will be brought about by the "spatio-temporal information revolution." (Published in 2014)

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Items marked with include video content.