We will cover a variety of themes that correspond to the global and complex modern economic conditions.
Specialized field
Local Autonomy Law, Administrative Law, Public Policy Theory, Local Administration Theory, Regional Planning Theory, Risk Management
Main research contents
Research on practical issues surrounding the central government and local governments (as a doctor of law), and research on political and local autonomy in the United Kingdom (as an Emeritus Fellow of Birmingham)
Seminar introduction
First, We will learn about the politics in the UK, especially the authority, governance structure, resident autonomy, and finance of local governments that develop a wide range of policies, such as education, welfare, the environment, and industry and exceed the scale of national expenditure while hearing from the profeccer who had worked as a government administrator. Then, under the theme of "challenging civil servants who live for the people," we will visit Utsunomiya City Fire Department, Tochigi Prefectural Office, Jichi Medical University, Utsunomiya City Council, Motegi Town, Ashikaga Bank, etc. The seminer students will contact with people working on the front lines of their hometown and exchange opinions with one's dreams and hope. We also have debate exercises and speech contests to train our students to express their opinions accurately.
A city is a place where many diverse people gather. However, the neighbors or the people who pass each other in the city are all strangers, and the relationships are usually weak. It is, in a sense, very mysterious and unnatural that many people who have no relationship gather together. We will study the social mechanism of the city that makes such a situation possible. The key is a public space where an unspecified number of people gather. What makes a public space possible? By elucidating the various mechanisms that exist there, we will try to gain a deeper understanding of the urban society in which we live. Through such learning, we aim to acquire the wisdom to create an attractive and lively public space.
Research on environmental issues and economy, energy issues and economy, renewable energy, etc.
Laboratory introduction
At Ohira Seminar, seminar students play a central role in researching environmental and energy issues. They will decide research themes based on the interests of seminar students, compile papers, and make a presentaion. When proceeding with research, we focus on local initiatives. For example, we are conscious of what we can do in the region and what kind of efforts can contribute to the region for global problems such as global warming. In addition, we plan to proceed with research on renewable energy in Fukushima Prefecture, which is making various efforts as a "pioneer of renewable energy", and study local efforts through fieldwork.
Sustainable town development utilizing tourism in depopulating areas
Laboratory introduction
At this seminar, we will research to energize the area through tourism. At the beginning of the semester, the seminer students select the target area and conduct fieldwork multiple times to extract problems and issues that the area has. Based on the results, we will implement measures that the seminer students can take the initiative in. In this seminar, the seminer students are divided into teams to clarify the division of roles, and the project is systematically proceeded under each leader. In fact, while changing the direction according to the issues in the region or suffering from the project not progressing well, we always stop and discuss. From these experiences, we aim not only to acquire knowledge of tourism or town development, but also to acquire the skills that is required from society, such as team building or project management.
Financial situation, financial system, and issues of local public bodies under national finance
Laboratory introduction
In this seminar, while confirming Japan's national financial system and issues, we will learn about the relationship with local public finance and the financial situation of the local government in which we live, and voluntarily discover problems that the region has and seek solutions. In order to achieve such goals, we basically read texts and make presentations, conduct group surveys, and search materials in libraries and computer classrooms. By proceeding with joint activities and individual work at the same time, we will solidify and deepen individual ideas while enjoying teamwork. If necessary, check how to make a resume, how to make a presentation, and how to write a report / impression. Overall, we will consider the issues of interest of the seminar participants and proceed with the exercises in a way that can draw interest.
History of Economic and Social Thought / Western Economic History
Main research contents
Pursuing the diversity of companies and social organizations based on the case study of France during the interwar period
Laboratory introduction
The specialty of the professer is the history of Western economic and economic and social thought centered on interwar France. The seminer students will experience the field of community activities (volunteer or social business), and learn about various problems in the community (declining birthrate and aging population or depopulation). In addition, the seminer students will understand how to interact with society in a different way from office workers and civil servants, that is, "diversity of social participation." Specifically, with the cooperation of several NPOs in Tochigi Prefecture, the seminer students will perticipate in the events and consider the method that young people, including university students, are more active in community activities through group-style presentations. They also share the findings gained from them and propose and disseminate it both inside and outside the university.
Agricultural, mountain and fishing villages, social research
Main research contents
Research on the actual situation of farming, mountain and fishing village society
Laboratory introduction
I think that there are many people who are reluctant or anxious about the field survey. However, I think that by actually visiting the site and considering what we have seen and heard, we can learn many important things in living in modern society. I myself have learned a lot about how to think about things and how to communicate while visiting the site and conducting interviews. The Department of Regional Economics is in a very favorable environment in terms of both theory and practice when conducting field surveys. In this seminar, we aim to deepen our understanding of the actual situation of farming, mountain and fishing village society by conducting surveys in Nakagawa Town, Tochigi Prefecture. Through the experiences in this seminar, I expect to develop human resources who voluntarily tackle regional issues.
Domestic population movement centered on young people, and regional revitalization utilizing local resources
Laboratory introduction
In most of Japan's rural areas, population decline and aging are progressing, which is one of the factors that cause the local economy to decline. A major factor is the outflow of young people due to further education and employment. The extent to which young people remain in a region can be said to be one indicator of the future potential of the region. In this seminar, we will consider what solutions are needed to encourage young people to remain in their hometowns, including U-turns. On the other hand, there are also cases in Japan where local resources are utilized to revitalize the region, and such efforts are thought to have the potential to encourage young people to remain in the region in the future. From this perspective, in this seminar, students will set their own regional issues and conduct research to derive solutions.
In this laboratory, we mainly study urban space and disaster damage, support, reconstruction, and disaster prevention issues, with the basic theme of "community and safety." It has been pointed out that there are limitations to responding to recent disasters, which have become more frequent and complex, using traditional concepts and frameworks. Looking ahead, there is a demand for the construction of "Social Technology" as an approach from a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates natural science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences. As a concrete methodology for this, we place importance on both the attitude of "Think and say it with Map and Data" and the practice of "Walking, Seeing, and Thinking."
Solving local issues through innovation and business planning techniques
Laboratory introduction
The external environment surrounding the region is undergoing major changes, including a declining birthrate and aging population, and digital transformation. Following precedent will only lead to an increased sense of stagnation. In this seminar, with the theme of "Designing Innovations to Invigorate Local Communities," students will explore the causes of problems faced by local communities and local businesses, and learn methodologies for devising solutions through group exercises. Students will develop the ability to identify problems, the creativity to solve them, the communication skills to collaborate with others, and the tenacity to see them through. In addition, by conducting field studies and joint workshops with social entrepreneurs, businesses, and local governments working on local issues, we aim to equip students with practical skills based on the "here and now, reality."
