Faculty - People | GLOBAL STUDIES

HOME >
People >
Faculty

A

ADACHI, Kenki

Associate Professor
kenadach at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Politics
Research interests: How can we establish and keep order in international society without global government? I examine this difficult proposition by analyzing concrete cases with the use of international political theories. I take up many global issues where non-state actors as well as nation states play important roles in the process of governance. Specifically, I have been working on arms control and disarmament issues, International Criminal Court, and campaigning for access to essential medicines around the world.
Message to students: I hope you have meaningful experiences at Ritsumeikan.
More profile

Associate Professor

AKIBAYASHI, Kozue

Associate Professor
akibaya at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Peace Education, Gender Studies
Research interests: In the field of peace education/study, I have been looking at the military, militarization and demilitarization from a gender perspective. I have conducted action research on women's peace movement in Okinawa and have been involved in international peace movements. My current research interests include sexual violence by the US military and introducing gender perspectives into international peace and security policies.
Message to students: I hope to help all students, especially those who are interested in gender perspectives in international relations. Also, I hope to share information and expertise that I gain from my activities in international peace movements and participation in UN conferences.
More profile

Associate Professor

ANDO, Tsugio

Professor
andotsu at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: American Politics, Political History of the USA
Research interests: The main object of my research is American diplomatic history. Through studying the historical transformation of American liberalistic politics, my aim is to clarify contemporary problems which utilitarian politics of Europe and the United States retains. I also have an interest in the relationship between diplomatic policy and domestic politics from the viewpoint of criticism of hegemonic system, and carrying forward the study of contrasting ideas such as “liberalism and democracy", “isolationism and internationalism", and “appeasement and detterence"
Message to students: Please work on developing the ability to think by yourself about Japanese and International society's future path of advancement by accurately understanding the current Liberal Democratic Party's political ideals, structure and policies.
More profile

Professor

ASAHI, Minoru

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: International Political Economy
Research interests: International Political Economy (IPE) is a social science which studies interaction between politics and the economy. I am very interested in transnational financial conglomerates under the present financial crisis and great depression after the accomplishment of my research on intellectual capital.
Message to students: In my opinion, students are expected to explore academic fields based on their own interest and vigorously pursue it. I advise students first to think what they want to achieve in their school years and then how to accomplish their academic aims.
More profile

Professor

ATAKA, Hiroaki

Associate Professor
ataka at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Political Economy, International Financial Order
Message to students: Know yourself, society, and the world. Curiosity will enrich your life. But first, get interested in something. Also, no matter how small a matter, raising questions is always important. Your heap of thoughts and worries during your student years will later become a huge asset to your future.
More profile

Associate Professor

B

BHANDARI, Surendra Raj

Associate Professor
surendra at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines

International Law

Research interests

International Trade Law, International Business Law

Home country

Nepal

Message to students

I know you are busy. You have signed up for a number of courses. You are trying hard to manage your time. This observation is based on my own experience. I would like to suggest the following six tips:

Please read the text book or handouts referred by your instructor before you go to class. Carefully note down the points that you didn’t understand reading the text book or handouts.
Don’t miss your class. Listen carefully in your class. Perhaps, you will come across the points that you were willing to understand. If not, feel free to ask questions to your instructor. Your problem will be solved.
Form a study group. Study groups are instrumental in many ways. They offer a good opportunity for friendship and networking. They are very useful for discussion and feedback.
Use internet based research. There is a wealth of information. Wikipedia is a great place to start but not to end up.
Develop a habit of reading journal articles, occasional papers, and newspapers. They will help you to keep pace with the current state of affairs and get up-to-date information valuable for your learning.
Please regularly consult with your instructor. You will get helpful feedback from your instructor that will immensely add value in your learning.

I am sure you will improve your learning habits. An important part of what you learn at college is how to learn, so that you can carry that on for the rest of your life. I hope these suggestions will work for you.

More profile

Associate Professor

H

HARA, Takehiko

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: Cultural Anthropology, Japanese Folklore, Latin American History
Research interests: My specialty is cultural anthropology in which field is in South America and Japan. The former is the historical and ethnological research of native lowlanders of Bolivia and Peru. My research especially focuses on Guarani society which has a relation with missionary history of Society of Jesus from 16th century. This theme is connected to the former history of cultural anthropology which was established in Europe and is one of the biggest themes of the history of cultural anthropology.
More profile

Professor

HASSDORF, Wolf Juergen

Associate Professor
hassdorf at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Political Economy, International Monetary Relations and Global Finance, Regional Monetary Integration
Research interests: East Asian monetary cooperation, China in the international political economy of global crisis compared to Germany and the USA in the 1930s
Home country: I am from Germany but studied and worked in England for most of my adult life.
Message to students: IPE is a sub-field of International Relations. It is about the politics of international economic relations. If you agree with me that this aspect of IR is critical in understanding a globalised world, you might like my courses.
More profile

Associate Professor

HATCHER, Pascale Laura

Associate Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: Developmental Studies, International Relations
Research interests: Politics of international aid, global governance and the World Bank, gender violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the International Criminal Court and Africa.
Home country: Canada
Message to students: Travel! Travel! Travel! There’s no course that will teach you as much as a journey to another country. When I was 17 years old, I did an internship in Nicaragua which completely changed my life. I was confronted to issues that I knew little about such as the environmental degradation, war, gender violence, and how they were all closely related to poverty. But I also learned about human perseverance and how friendship really doesn’t care much about what language we speak or where we come from.
More profile

Associate Professor

HAYES, Blake Elaine

Associate Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: Labor Economics, Gender and Science Technology
Research interests: My specialization is in labour economics. I have recently been examining dominant culture and marginalized populations in relation to vertical and horizontal labour segregation. My research interests include sociological factors that impact decision making and perceptions. I have been examining non-dominant groups in segregated market sectors and the reproduction of segregation through structures, power and policies and how these impact educational and employment choices. I am currently researching the role immigration plays in globalization in relation to education and labour markets, and the development of employment and educational policies.
Message to students: I find the area of social science extremely interesting and would like students to gain an interest in exploring how social factors/culture play a role in molding the individual and societies. Understanding one's own cultural context and foreign cultures is crucial to understanding globalization as well as who we are as individuals. I advise students to think about the meaning of their lives and futures on a level that includes their own culture and the broader international context. I encourage students to use multi-media such as the Internet, films, blogs and podcasts in this process in the hope that they can extend their academic experience into life-long learning.
More profile

Associate Professor

HONNA, Jun

Professor
jht20016 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Comparative Politics, Southeast Asian Studies
Research interests: My current research focuses on two subjects. The first is Politics in Indonesia, especially concerning democratization, civil-military relations, electoral politics, local politics and political-crime nexus. The second is Regional Security in Southeast Asia with a particular focus on the state/regional response to non-traditional security issues.
Message to students: Many students in my seminar work on Southeast Asia, but there are also some focusing on politics and security in East Asia. If you are interested in these fields, you are welcome to join our family-like group.
More profile

Professor

HOSHINO, Kaoru

Professor
hoshinok at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Economics, International Finance, Economic and Monetary Integration of EU
Research interests: My research topic is the actual state and background of the financial turmoil and its influence of the real economy in Europe. I think that the causes of the financial turmoil have been attributed to not only the US-led financial globalization, but also the Europe-specific factors including the economic and monetary integration. The financial turmoil has the serious impact on the labor market too in Europe as well as in Japan and the US. So, I am interested in the labor market policy of the EU responding to the increasing unemployment in Europe.
Message to students: Within my area of research, the EU, many types of languages are accepted. However, English is increasing becoming an important common language. With an English-based education in International Relations, I hope all students grab a passport into global society and, after graduation, succeed on the global stage.
More profile

Professor

I

IKEDA, Yoshiko

Associate Professor
y-ikeda at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Intercultural Communication, Comparative Culture, Stereotypes/National Identity, Rhetoric, American Film, Japanese Film, Image, Semiotics
Message to students: Welcome to our Global Studies program. Here you can challenge yourself with a fresh, new program in Kyoto, one of Japan's most traditional cities.
More profile

Associate Professor

INOUE, Junichi

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: Cultural Sociology, German Contemporary Thought, Anti-Jewish Studies
Research interests: I have been studying the critical social theory and antisemitism(Jewish study) of the Frankfurt School. From this field I now think about what the social reason (not Verstand but Verstehen), the social justice and the public sphere mean in the society after Holocaust as a result of European culture. As these cases I analyze phenomena of antisemitism and racism in Europe from the view of historical and social structure. It will construct social philosophy of discrimination and prejudice in the broad sense.
Message to students: University is one step forward in realizing your dream. Young people have a special privilege and duty to use their ability for future society. The fields of the international studies constitute the best area to build the foundation of your future. I hope that you make the most of these transforming four years.
More profile

Professor

ISHIHARA, Naoki

Professor
n-ishi at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Organizations Studies
Research interests: My research interest is in the area of peace activities such as peace-keeping and peace building of international and regional organizations including United Nations. My current study interest also includes the issue of humanitarian assistance with special focus on refugees and internal displaced persons as well as the concept of humanitarian intervention from the perspective of human security. I am also involved in the research project for the development of human resources for international cooperation based on my professional experience with the United Nations.
Message to students: We are living in the world in which rapid globalization is in progress. In order to respond effectively in this constantly changing international environment we have to build and strengthen our capabilities of international cooperation. In this connection the demand for professionals in the area of international cooperation including staff members of the United Nations becomes larger and larger. I strongly hope that you would be one of those who undertake this challenge in the future.
More profile

Professor

ITAKI, Masahiko

Professor
itaki at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International economics
Research interests: Based on my own concept “international surplus capital" which includes bank loan, bond investment, and stock investment, I have conducted a research on historical development of the world economy. I recently have a strong interest in the global financial crisis ignited by the subprime mortgage loan. Dialectics as a basic methodology of social sciences is also my research topic for a long time.
Message to students: Japan has long played the role of an important hub of international trade and investment in Asia. From 2011 and onward our College would like to add to that another role of educational and research center of international relations. I enthusiastically look forward to meeting you and exchanging opinions with you about the future of Asia and the world. I hope that you learn a lot about international economics and properly combine it with political and cultural aspects of international relations, and that you play the role of an indispensable bridge over Japan and your country in the future.
More profile

Professor

K

KA, Go

Professor
gkt02343 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Comparative Culture and Literature of Japan and China
Research interests: I study widely about cultures, societies, politics, economies of Japan and China. I had been seeking for difference and similarity of lifestyles, behavioral patterns, ways of thinking, through observing clothes, food, living, and transportation and also analyzing the possibility of China's hegemony from the viewpoint of military affairs and national identity. Recently my concern is drawn to the establishment of “The Council on East Asian Community", and “The Council on North East Asia", I published two volumes of dissertations as a result of international research project in collaboration.
Message to students: It is essential to master foreign languages to study international relations and now the demand to learn Chinese language is particularly high all over the world. I encourage students to enhance their ability to understand Chinese by reading Chinese literatures carefully and by doing so I hope they will enlarge their scope of seeing the world.
More profile

Professor

KATO, Tsunehiko

Professor
tsunkato at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Black Literature in the UK and the USA
Research interests: I have been in Black Studies in the United States, especially the study of black women novelists such as Toni Morrison, Alice Walker etc., and for the last seven years I have shifted my research interest to Black British authors such as Caryl Phillips.
More profile

Professor

KATSURA, Ryotaro

Professor
katsurar at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Social Welfare, Social Welfare in Asia, Family Welfare Policy, Gerontology, Peace Science, Study on Museum for Peace.
Research interests: My research is on current situation and tasks of the social welfare of Vietnam and Singapore, especially on the system connected with family welfare (family welfare policy) and service (social work). I have a strong interest not only in the narrow sense of the welfare field, but also “Community renovation as an area creation (Machizukuri)" considering the social and cultural conditions in each country of Asia. I also started working on “The research of peace museums in Asian countries and its role in area creation (Machizukuri)".
Message to students: Make up your "Dream", "Time" and "Effort" in your life forever!!
More profile

Professor

KAWAMURA, Ritsuko

Associate Professor
ritsuko at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Rural Sociology, Food Economics
Research interests: Starting from the study of Japanese rural society, I have broadened my perspective towards the world food problems and rural developments, and have been thinking about the meaning of food and agriculture in contemporary society. I am recently involved in the study of food risk. I also have an interest in the use of information-processing technology from the experience in rural survey, thus educational practice applying IT is one of my research themes.
More profile

Associate Professor

KIMIJIMA, Akihiko

Professor
kimijima at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Constitutional Law, Peace Studies
Research interests: My research interest is to explore constitution and constitutionalism from the perspectives of international politics, international relations, and peace studies. Particularly I have revisited the pacifism of the Japanese Constitution in relation to peace studies and NGO activities, and in the context of East Asian politics. My recent research topic is global constitutionalism. I am involved in NGO activities myself. Every year I nominate a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Message to students: The College of International Relations is where we accurately grasp the global society in its totality, analyze its features, and seek our ways to transform it into a more just, peaceful, and sustainable one. I approach these tasks from the perspectives of constitution, constitutionalism, and peace studies. I look forward to working with you on these projects in my lectures and seminars.
More profile

Professor

KIYOMOTO, Osami

Professor
okt21994 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Media and International Society Studies, European Studies
Research interests: My main area of study is supposed to be media theory and information related subjects since I am from journalism. But, I do more works on European and South-east Asian political development as I have long experience of reporting on international political scenes. Among those of my works, historical and quite experimental process of European integration is of my major interest.
Message to students: In this globalized world, it is quite exciting and challenging for students to explore academic perspectives on many themes. Personally, I hope students can cultivate and mobilize more interdisciplinary knowledge in order to analyze themes from a wider scope, sometimes stepping out of established paradigm.
More profile

Professor

KOYAMA, Masahisa

Professor
m-koyama at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Development strategies and financial system development on the transitional economies in ASEAN (Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar
Research interests: Focusing on Mekong Basin region such as Vietnam and Lao PDR, my research objective is a development issue in transition countries toward market-based economy. Development is a comprehensive concept which includes not only a physical infrastructure, but also the establishment of institutions and human resource development. And it will be accompanied with the change of traditional social structure and natural environment. I would like to examine an ideal sustainable development that is beyond generation in consideration of diversity of developing countries.
Message to students: Global Studies is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program relevant to students who will global leaders in a variety of fields. I believe GS could be a cutting edge program in this area. We are looking forward to your participation in a multi-cultural environment.
More profile

Professor

M

MASUDA, Minoru

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: History of International Relations, in particular, Histories of the UK-USA Relations, European Integration, and Disintegration of Empire
Research interests: My main research interest includes the following subjects; International history of the Twentieth Century, especially: the history of Anglo-American and European-American relations, the history of European integration and the history of Imperial disintegration. What I aim to do in my research is to reconstruct the process of the making of contemporary Western society in political and economic sense, using archival materials as primary sources.
Message to students: Kyoto is one of only a few world cities where 1200+ years of old culture and 21st century new culture coexist. Students enrolled in the Global Studies Major program can tackle various global issues in a historic city surrounded by many world heritage sites, an experience unattainable anywhere else. As a staff member of the College of International Relations at Ritsumeikan University, I am looking forward to meeting students from all over the globe.
More profile

Professor

MATSUDA, Masahiko

Associate Professor
matsu at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Agricultural Ecology, Agriculture and Rural Development
Research interests: I am interested in agricultural ecology and rural development. Main research sites are in Southeast Asia, especially in Myanmar. I study dynamics of human-nature interaction under recent changes of social and natural environments, and I try to contribute toward sustainable agriculture and appropriate development for local people.
Message to students: I hope you will finish your thesis with a lot of satisfaction and spend your time and energy for your research work as much as possible. I also try to do my best to support your research, even if the topic is a little far from my fields.
More profile

Associate Professor

MATSUSHITA, Kiyoshi

Professor
kmt07145 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Politics of Developing Countries
Research interests: My subject of research in general is comparative political sociology in developing countries. My recent interests are in the issue of social movement democracy, governance, and anti-global movement in developing countries. I assign myself to integrate each topics and investigate the new establishment of governance towards post-neoliberalism in the developing countries.
More profile

Professor

MINAMIKAWA, Fuminori

Associate Professor
fuminori at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines

Sociology (Ethnicity, Immigration Studies, International Sociology, Historical Sociology, Urban Sociology,…)

American Studies (Japanese American Studies, Asian American Studies, Race Studies, Social History,…)

Research interests

Historical sociology of Japanese ethnicity in American society
Concept of ethnicity in comparative/intellectual sociology
Modern Japanese international mobility and Japanese American society

More profile

Professor

MINAMINO, Yasuyoshi

yasumino at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Comparative Politics, Politics, Anglo-Irish Political History
Courses and Seminars: Master's Program Seminar, Docoral Program Research Guidance
Research interests: My project is comparative politics, Anglo-Irish political history. The aims of my research are to make clear the nature of political power, its legitimacy and nationalism in Northern Ireland, and to examine the political and international consequence of world of nation-states. Currently, the centre part of my research is to examine a structure of political violence in Northern Ireland and to rethink activities, organisation and background of the Irish Volunteers (1913) as a movement of Irish political nationalism in the early 20th century.
Message to students: In my opinion, graduate students are expected to find a research topic based on their own interest and intensively study it. It is important to think what they want to achieve in this master's course and to have theoretical and logical thinking.
More profile

Professor

MIYAKE, Masataka

masa at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Linguistics
Research interests: My field of research is linguistics, in particular the clarification of the species-specific innate language faculty. The language faculty is one of the characteristic features of the human brain. Linguistics has therefore become an interdisciplinary research field along with brain neurology, biology, psychology and cognitive science. In addition to the naturalistic approach, I am also interested in the external, socio-cultural aspects of language, as empirical factors also have a significant bearing on language use and acquisition.
More profile

Professor

MORIOKA, Masashi

Professor
morioka at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Economic Theory and Thought
Research interests: My research subject is to investigate the mechanism of reproduction and growth in capitalist economy from the viewpoint of asymmetric relations between buyers and sellers, where sellers compete for demand and buyers have freedom to choice within their income. I am also interested in the theoretical and historical study on causes of the failure of socialism.
Message to students: Welcome to the Global Study Program! Let's create together a new style of study in Japanese universities!
More profile

Professor

MOOREHEAD, Robert Steven

Associate Professor
robertsm at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Sociology, International Migration, Race, Ethnicity, Community and Urban Sociology, Education
Research interests: Immigrant incorporation in Japan, the United States, and other countries.
Home country: USA
Message to students: I am passionate about sociology, because it lets us see the world around us in new ways and it helps us better understand inequality in our social world. I hope to share this passion with my students, to encourage them to re-examine the social world, and to use their sociological imaginations to push for a more just society. I advise students to be open to new ideas, to ask many questions, to overcome barriers of culture and language, and to constantly nurture their desire for knowledge.
More profile

Associate Professor

MUN, Gyong Su

Professor
mung at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Politics, Contemporary History of Korea
Research interests: I am carrying out my research on modern Korea and its political society. My interests however sidetrack often, towards Japan-Korea relations, North Korea, Cheju island, foreign residents in Japan, national status, and resident self-governance. It is hard to state the focal point. I then try to deepen the various issues of Korea evolving around concepts of civil society and public nature.
More profile

Professor

N

NAGASU, Masashi

Professor
mnt23131 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Development Cooperation
Research interests: Since I worked long as a practitioner of development assistance, I have knowledge in practice and theory of project analysis. Also since I worked for several bilateral and multilateral donor agencies, I am also familiar with the donor system. Theses areas are the basis of my teaching and research. Presently, I am interested in “rights-based approach to development" from a critical perspective.
Message to students: Development cooperation has been one of the hottest international issues in the first decade of the 21st century. No single day exists where newspapers fail to print an article on the topic, discussion being sharply divided between approval and disapproval. But how many authors of such articles actually understand the practice of international cooperation? Productive opinions can be obtained only from correct understanding of reality. Please come study with me about the real picture of development cooperation!
More profile

Professor

NAKAGAWA, Ryoji

Professor
mt20014 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Development Economics, Chinese Economy
Research interests: My research focus for the last ten years has been on the development model and its problems in Chinese IT industry. The results were published as a book titled “Chinese IT Industry: its Role on the Transformation of Chinese Economic Development Mode" (Minerva Publishing, Co., Ltd) in 2007. I am also interested in the multinationalization of Chinese companies, so-called “Going-Out" and co-edited with Prof. Tomoo MARUKAWA: “Multinational Corporations from China"(Doyukan) in 2008.
More profile

Professor

NAKAGAWA, Ryohei

Lecturer
rnak at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Japanese Economy
Message to students: I encourage you to always cherish the relationships you have with others during and beyond your student years. Devote your life to building knowledge and various experiences and use these assets for the sake of relationships with others. If you can do this, your fears about the world will vanish. Put yourself first.
More profile

Lecturer

NAKAMOTO, Maoko

Associate Professor
mnt20025 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Comparative Culture, History
Research interests: Through the modern and contemporary history of Alsace region which is located in the border between France and Germany, I carry my research on languages (issues on minor languages or enforcement of the nation) and people (the relations between the creation of ethnic identity and nation status).
More profile

Associate Professor

NAKANO, Masahiro

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines

American Studies, Human Geography

Research interests

Studies for suburbia in the USA. Suburbia is a kind of symbol which expresses American dream. It is a core space not only in American economy, society but also in culture. So through analysis of suburbia and its myth, I would try to make clear the characteristics of American Society and its problematique by using historical, geographical and cultural context.
Through the landscape and scenery as presentation, I would study the periodical changes of value, idea and ideology.

More profile

Professor

NAKATO, Sachio

Professor
snakato at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Political Economy
Research interests: I had been carrying out my study in Japan-U.S. Trade conflict. BSE, Japan-U.S. economy conflict, and Korea-U.S. FTA have emerged as issues, and I have interests in these economy conflicts together with the U.S. trade policy. My interests have broadened too far that I am also interested in international relations surrounding North Korea. I am looking at many cases from the perspective of international political economics.
Message to students: Welcome to Ritsumeikan!
More profile

Professor

NAKATSUJI, Keiji

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: History of International Relations, International Political Economy
Research interests: My research has been mostly on international relations in the East Asia after the WWII. The security in the region was an important issue during the Cold War. Thus I conducted researches on Taiwan Straight Crises and Korean War. Concerning the East Asia after the Cold War, no one can pass over the economic rise of East Asian countries. My main current research subject is therefore “International negotiations concerning China's accession to WTO".
More profile

Professor

NISHIMURA, Tomoaki

Professor
ntomoaki at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Law, International Environmental Law
Research interests: I have been carrying out my research in the legal system on Multilateral Environmental Agreements such as Kyoto Protocol and Convention on Biological Diversity. Now, the main subject of my study is International Sustainable Development Law. I am interested in how the sovereign States are trying to fill the gap between ideal and reality to secure global interests for the whole international community including global environmental protection and human rights for future-generations.
Message to students: International Society is never anarchy, but it does not mean that this has the same order as the domestic. In my opinion, studying International Relations without knowing international law would be like crossing the ocean without having the sea chart. Why not study international law and find a new 'route' in your study of International Relations?
More profile

Professor

O

OGI, Hirofumi

Professor
hot02245 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Overseas Chinese Studies
Research interests: My study has been on transformation of identity in ethnic Chinese society evolving around Chinese education, Chinese literature and Chinese culture of Chinese society in South East Asia especially in Singapore and Malaysia. I am now studying the new Chinese immigrants' trend and the ethnic Chinese network which spread all over the world after the economic reforms in Mainland China since 1979. I also have interests in popular culture of East Asia, food culture, and identity of Taiwan society.
Message to students: Study involves "enjoyment" and "hardship" of learning. A master's course at our graduate school will give you a space for self-development and great opportunities to develop your potentialities. I hope that your study at Ritsumeikan will lead you to bear fruit.
More profile

Professor

OIKAWA, Masahiro

Professor
oikawa at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: American Studies, Debate Education, Intercultural Communication
Research interests: The area of my interest is American literature as part of American studies. I have been studying modern American dramatists by analyzing their plays to search for “Americanness" from cultural and social perspectives. In addition, I have an interest in debate as part of English education, and intercultural communication as well.
Message to students: I enjoy discussions and even debates on international and controversial issues with students from abroad. Why don't you join us?
More profile

Professor

OKADA, Shigeyuki

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: International Journalism and Media Studies
Research interests: I have been examining the historical developments, current problems and future challenges faced by print and new media, including the Internet, making use of my many years of experience as a staff writer, foreign correspondent and editor. I am interested in how the framework of international politics has changed in the wake of the end of the Cold War and the 9/11 terrorist attacks, as well as the development of communication tools made possible by information technology.
Message to students: Let us study Japan and world from your unique perspective of International journalism!
More profile

Professor

OKUDA, Hiroshi

Professor
okudah at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: International Finance
Research interests: My study is on various topics such as currencies of dollar, euro, yen, yuan, foreign investment, and various issues related with development finance of developing countries (e.g. emerging markets, currency crisis in developing countries, and IMF and World Bank). These researches are carried along with the theme of “transition of dollar structure".
Message to students: Because you will come all the way to Japan, I encourage all students to study Japanese. If you know Japanese, I believe you can better understand areas such as Japanese politics and culture. For example, “I" in Japanese has many forms such as “watashi," “boku," “uchi," “jibun" and so on, each with its own special attributes.
More profile

Professor

OSHIMA, Kenichi

Professor
oshima at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Environmental Economics and Policy, Environmental and Energy Policy
Research interests: My research is on energy use and environmental issues based on environmental economics. The recent subject of research is diffusion policy of renewable energy. I also carry out my study on energy issues in Asia, environmental issues caused by military activities, and climate policy by local governments.
More profile

Professor

S

SATO, Makoto

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: Political Sociology
Research interests: The starting point of my research is African Studies centering on Southern African region from the political and sociological viewpoints. Gradually I expanded my interests towards development studies in general, social development in particular. I also have studied social economy in Europe and international migration. Recently I am interested in peace and conflict issues, in the dimensions of structural violence and human security. In the field of international relations theories I have just started reviewing the thought of English School.
Message to students: A variety of students with different social backgrounds and academic disciplines have participated in my classes. You would learn a lot from your fellow students as well as from the supervisor. It is also expected that through actively participating in the class the students would not only learn many topics directly related to the class but also master basic methodology of social sciences and practical skills of academic essay writing.
More profile

Professor

SUECHIKA, Kota

Associate Professor
suechika at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Middle Eastern Studies, International Politics, Comparative Politics
Research interests: My specialization is Middle Eastern studies, International Relations, and comparative politics. I especially focus on contemporary Islamic political thought and movement, and try to reconsider the dynamics of the on-going IR through the analysis of them. To build “better" international society in the 21st century, we have to think over the significance of “Islam" (and being Islamic) in contemporary world.
Message to students: In my seminars, we spend most of the time on discussions and debates. However, they are not limited to the Middle Eastern or Islamic affairs but open to wide range of topics related to the students' own interest. Students need “output" as well as “input" by developing their own critical thinking and output ideas.
More profile

Associate Professor

T

TAKAHASHI, Nobuaki

Professor

Research specialties and disciplines: Studies of Japanese economy, Economic policy, Macro economics
Research interests: It is my belief to study Japanese economy deeply and widely. Deeply means to question the theme he/she has an interest as much hard as he/she can, and widely is to get further into areas other than one's specialization without hesitation. My recent concern is in justice, exclusion, and various problems on poverty.
Message to students: All of us living on this earth share a mission to solve common challenges and overcome differences. Never give up when you face difficult problems. Do not forget that you have many friends who are also facing the same challenges. Our challenge is to create a new way to study peace-building. We should analyze the causes of continuing conflicts and poverty for global peace. Do your best!
More profile

Professor

TAKEUCHI, Takao

Professor
taketaka at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Sociology, East Asian Studies
Research interests: By focusing on the social change of local community, I am working on an empirical research through the fieldwork of social change in a broad sense in East Asia, especially in Japan and South East Asia. Industrialization is rapidly developing in the East Asia and there is a big change in local communities as a result. I specifically analyze the change of the relationship between rural community and city, and families as a most basic cluster.
More profile

Professor

TAN-TANGBAU, Stan BH

Associate Professor
stantan at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Politics/Area Studies
Research interests: Ecological and Cultural Transformation in the Southeast Asian Massif/Asian Ethnography of the Peoples in the Southeast Asian Massif/All things about Vietnam & Yunnan/Guangxi
Home country: Singapore
Message to students: Trained as a ‘political scientist’ who became a ‘Vietnamologist’, my research direction has continued to mutate over the last fifteen years into an eclecticism of environmental study, ethnography & even Jazz biography! I have been researching about Vietnam, specifically about political & social change in the uplands. Since 1997, I ventured into research on Southwestern China and other parts of the Southeast Asian Massif in recent years. Currently, I am involved in two projects. One, being a more personal one, is the biography of a pioneering Jazz musician in Vietnam, maestro Quyen Van Minh, who is also a very close friend of mine. The other, which is a long term public project with the Kachin/Jingpo/Singpho peoples, involves the development of Life Stories as a medium of social/environmental/spiritual analysis and social activism. I am a practitioner of research-led-teaching, so do let me know if you like to find out more about my research projects. I have followed set paths and ventured on tangents in my career. It has been a life less ordinary. Every step of the way was illuminating, and has continued to be so. My advice to students is, ‘learn your craft well, but let not conventions trap the free spirit in you!’
More profile

Associate Professor

TATSUZAWA, Kunihiko

Professor
ktt20015 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Space Law, International Bioethics Law, International Law of Highly Advanced Technology, Law of International Relations, French Public Law and Political Institutions.
Research interests: My researches focus on the following three themes: (1) the change of space law structure with the retrenchment of international public services and the development of private space law, (2) international legal regime of nanotechnology and of biotechnology, (3) the analyses of the global governance and global law with trans-constitutionalism from the viewpoint of autopoiesis.
Message to students: I recommend that you see the world with intellectual curiosity. According to Islamic thought, “learning a scientific matter is better than flattering 100 prayers." Thinking about the future of mankind on the basis of classics in which the wisdom of human beings has been accumulated will promote the progress of mankind.
More profile

Professor

W

WAKANA, Maya Higashi

Professor
maya at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: A Microsociological Approach to British and American Literature
Research interests: Twentieth-century microsociologist Erving Goffman illustrated the stage-like quality of everyday life, that is, that everyday life consists of front-stage and backstage performances, impression management exercises, micropolitical negotiations between various “teams," and the need to avoid embarrassment, for example. I incorporate this microsociological perspective in conducting literary analysis: If life is performed, stage-like, and thereby fictive, then some writers of fiction may be far more sociologically accurate in their depictions of everyday reality than previously understood. My aim is to illustrate how writers such as Henry James, Jane Austen, Edith Wharton, and Nathaniel Hawthorne are still profoundly underrated as social observers/thinkers.
Message to students: I am increasingly discovering that specific knowledge and ideas are both equally important but even then, if I had to choose between the two, I would say that the ideas are the more important. You might have all the information in the world, but without perspectives to arrange them in a meaningful order (or orders) and engage in critical thinking, the information is only information. Ideas are what count. Knowledge can come later. My hope for all students who study at IR is that they experience many moments of discovery and the chance to exclaim, “Eureka!"
More profile

Professor

WASSERMAN, Michel

Professor
wmt02379 at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Comparative Drama, History of Cultural Relations between Japan and the West
Research interests: My major is in the theatrical theory, especially in comparative studies of Western drama and Japanese performing arts. But I do not limit myself to the field of research. For many years I have been absorbed into the stage direction of operas and directed a number of Mozart work stages. I also have academic interests in the political and cultural relations between Japan and the west, and I have published several books in my home country on the reception of western culture in Japan. For the past few years, I have been carrying out a study on the great writer and a former French Ambassador to Japan, Paul Claudel who has attained an unforgettable achievement in the field of France-Japanese political and cultural exchange as a “poet-ambassador" in 1920's.
Message to students: “Japan and the West" deals with the long story of the relationship between Japan and the outside world. Foreign students and Japanese students are welcome, although the course will be given in the English language. Active participation of all is highly recommended, in order to assure a lively study of this subject, essential to Japanese nationals as to Westerners interested in “things Japanese".
More profile

Professor

Y

YAMADA, Hitoshi

Professor
yamadah at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Linguistics, Japanese-language Education
Research interests: Japanese Language Education & Pragmatics, Cross-Cultural Understanding related studies
More profile

Professor

YAMANE, Kazuyo

Associate Professor
ky5131jp at fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: Peace Studies
Research interests: Peace Museums
Message to students: Of course, learning in classes and clubs/circles is important. But what is also important, I think, is active participation in lectures and academic conferences outside of university.
Fortunately, there are many international students on campus so international exchange is possible without going abroad. Being exposed to international students often forces you to reflect on your own country’s history, society, and culture. I hope all students actively interact with international students.
More profile

Associate Professor

YAMASHITA, Norihisa

Professor
norihisa at ir.ritsumei.ac.jp

Research specialties and disciplines: World System Theory, Historical Sociology
Research interests: Based on the World-System perspective, I am analyzing the social fluctuation brought by globalizations from long-term viewpoint. My current research themes are a) socio-cultural study of things to capture the shift of mode of articulation between social system and ecological system (specifically study of wine industry) and b) study of the alteration of the mode of spatial imagination on which the global order of the world-system is (re-)constructed (specifically study on empire).
Message to students: I teach the course "Globalization: Power, Production and Culture", in which we discuss a range of critical approaches to the systemic transformations of International Relations. As a historical sociologist,I welcome students who are interested in (very) long-term social change and trying to understand the current changes in wider and deeper historical perspective.
More profile

Professor