Kobe University Newsletter "Kaze"

Vol. 12April 2022

PHOTO ESSAY
Celebrating 120 Years of Student Life at Kobe University
RESEARCH AT KOBE
Reading into the present through research into mysteries
INTERNATIONAL VOICES“COVID-19 has affected my studies in ways that
I could never have imagined”

120 years of Student Life at Kobe
University
Lectures and student activities are key elements of university life. In this photo essay we delve into our 120 years ofhistory to present snapshots of students’ experiences of Kobe University.
Kobe University’s Instagram page is currently running a photo countdown until our foundation day on May 15.
Click here to see the series with professors and students giving their opinions on Kobe University’s good points (inJapanese).

Lectures at Kobe University: Above left: Students listening to American Professor Roy Smith’s lecture on international commerce(1915). Above right: Students taking a class in 1980.
Below left: Students taking a machinery practical at Kobe Technical College (which would eventually merge with other institutions in1949 to form Kobe University) (1928). Below right: A lecture on internal medicine at the former Kobe Medical College (now the Schoolof Medicine at Kobe University) (1960).

About Kobe University’s PR Magazine “Kaze”
Cover photo for Issue 12: cherry blossoms in bloom on Rokko-dai 2nd campus

Why “Kaze”?
Pronounced “Kazé”, the title of this publication means ‘wind’ in Japanese. There are twomain concepts behind this. Firstly, Kobe University’s goal to innovate, creating a windof change. Secondly, our university is located at the foot of Mt Rokkō, an area known
Student Activities at Kobe University: Opposite page top: Students watch a University Festival concert (1978).
Middle left: Japanese archery club members (1932).
Middle right: English dialogue performance at Kobe Higher Commercial School’s 1st foreign languages contest (1907).
Bottom: The University Glee Club sings the school song at the Entrance Ceremony (2001).

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for the invigorating wind of Rokkō-oroshi that blows down from the mountain range.
The calligraphy on the cover of “Kaze” was created by Professor Emeritus UOZUMIKazuaki, a researcher of calligraphy at Kobe University.

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Kobe University Magazine “Kaze”
In this issue...
SPOTLIGHT

100 years of Engineering
at Kobe University

4 100 years of Engineering at Kobe University
To mark the centenary, this spotlight features an interview with the Dean, theGraduate School’s latest research, & messages from students past & present
RESEARCH
9 Reading into the present through research into mysteries
Interview with Researcher UE Akiko about her highly popular article series analyzing
the ‘Demon Slayer’ manga/anime, & her specialization in Germanic folklore
12 Improving physical therapy through skeletal muscle research
Outstanding young researcher award winner MAESHIGE Noriaki introduces his
research
STUDENT FEATURES
13 Kobe University Soccer Club: Tackling Challenges with help from 164 people
How the soccer club became the first student organization at Kobe University to start
their own crowd-funding campaign
15 International Voices: “COVID-19 has affected my studies in ways I could never
have imagined”
We interview exchange students from the Czech Republic and Brazil to find out what
it is like being an international student at Kobe University during a pandemic.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS17 International Collaboration
Kobe University Liaison Office in Seattle holds inaugeral symposium
Horizon Europe round-table meeting held with the EU delegation to Japan
Visit from the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Kobe

Please let us know your thoughts on this issue of Kaze via the following Questionnaire.

Stay connected - search for “Kobe University” on the following platforms:

In December 2021, the Faculty of Engineering celebrated its 100th anniversary. Since its
establishment, it has produced some 30,000 engineers, business people and researchers. Building
upon this continued tradition is the Faculty and Graduate School’s vision for the next 100 years:‘--Engineering Products, Services, and Sustainable Happiness @The Port of Sapience, Kobe--’. In thisspecial feature to mark the centenary, we interview Dean KOIKE Atsushi about the concepts andContact us:

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intl-plan@office.kobe-u.ac.jp(International Affairs Planning Division)ideas behind the vision, find out about the Graduate School’s latest research and hear from somecurrent students and alumni.
04

SPOTLIGHT

Shaping values and fostering creativity:
towards a technology-based sustainable society
Special interview with Professor Koike,
Dean of the Faculty & Graduate School of Engineering

Interviewee Profile

KOIKE Atsushi
Dean of the Faculty & Graduate School of Engineering
Professor,Department of Civil Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering
Dean Koike majored in civil engineering in the Faculty ofEngineering at Gifu University in 1992, going on to complete a
master’s course at the University’s Graduate School ofEngineering in 1994 and a PhD. in 1999. He has held various
positions including assistant researcher at Nagaoka Institute ofTechnology regarding environmental and civil engineering,
visiting researcher at the Netherlands Organisation for Applied
Scientific Research (TNO) and Associate Professor in the
Department of Social Systems Engineering at Tottori University’s Graduate School of Engineering, before becoming a Professor
in the Department of Civil Engineering at Kobe University’s Graduate School of Engineering. He was appointed dean in 2021.
His specialization is infrastructure planning and management.

--Engineering Products, Services, and Sustainable Happiness @The Port of Sapience, Kobe--05

Do you mean value judgement in an ethical sense?

For this to happen, it is important for students to be able to thinkThat’s right. For example, the judgements that are made whenfreely. Students have a tendency to only come up with short-term,

considering the following dilemmas: ‘It’s scientifically correct but

small-scale ideas if they are bound by realistic constraints and target

what about ethically?’ or ‘If this technology worked well for 90% ofvalues. The way of thinking that pushes target values aimed at

the population but caused fatal issues for 10%, what would you

achieving goals is removed from humanity and completelydo?”

In such situations, I cannot say that engineers would

disregards the individual. This is even more of an issue nowadays. To

necessarily remember their obligations. Therefore, it is vital tofreely come up with ideas it is extremely important to be aware ofthoroughly teach the processes that will enable them to make thedisparities between the main aim and the target values and to always

As the dean, what are your thoughts on the Faculty’s 100th anniversary?

correct judgement when faced with such a dilemma.

I feel proud of our solid century of history. Kobe University’s Faculty of Engineering produces outstanding individuals and is highly

To this end, ‘engineer ethics’ is part of the curriculum. In theseevaluated thanks to the efforts of our faculty and graduates. I feel it is my great duty to draw upon this tradition and make new strides.

classes, students look at past cases, such as space shuttle accidents,

What is the meaning behind the 100th anniversary vision of the Graduate School and Faculty of Engineering?

and examine what caused them. The value judgements involve

Our vision is: --Engineering Products, Services, and Sustainable Happiness @The Port of Sapience, Kobe--both ethical issues and philosophical issues. The impact of science

approach things from a broad perspective. I would like for the Facultyof Engineering to become an ‘intellectual hub’ through theimplementation of our education philosophy of ‘shaping values byfostering creativity’.

In the past, engineering was the field that supported Japan’s manufacturing industry, which in turn contributed to the growth of our strong

What is the appeal of the Faculty of Engineering for highand technology grows stronger every day, and as a result, an school students going on to university?

economy. Therefore the main goal of education and research at our faculty and graduate school was to train engineers. Japan’s industrial

increasing number of situations require engineers to give their

There are many outstanding students in Kobe University’s Faculty ofstructure subsequently changed and now the service sector accounts for over 60% of the country’s GDP. The importance of manufacturing

opinion and make decisions in regards to problems facing society.

Engineering. To enable their talents to flourish in a highly creative

hasn’t changed, rather the fusion of manufacturing with service aspects in new fields, as well as how to make the best use of products have

Engineers’ efforts to tackle issues relating to value judgement is amanner, each individual student in the faculty thoroughly considers

become the main topics of engineering research. It is vital not just to produce things but to make the best out of them and ultimately

topic that is covered by the 100th Anniversary Vision’s Action Plan.

consider how they will contribute to people’s welfare. I drew up this vision while thinking about the education and research that the next

Should society’s needs be prioritized above all else?

100 years will produce.

But the needs of society are constantly changing and ‘user needs’

what he/she wants to do. We welcome students who wish to use
their ideas to make the world a better place.

So it is important to think about what kind of society we should create.

What is the appeal of the Faculty and Graduate School of
do not equal ‘society’s needs’. For example, continuing the Engineering for international students?

It is. University education in engineering gives back to society in the form of science and technology. Science is about looking at various

production of (conventional) cars to meet users’ needs will

At present, about 300 overseas students study in either the Graduate

phenomena in society and discovering their universal principles. When these principles are applied to society, it is engineering’s job toexacerbate global warming. In other words, engineers need the

School or the Faculty of Engineering at Kobe University. Fostering

manipulate these principles so that they suit the various types of people who make up society. For example, in the medical field when abackground knowledge and ability to consider the needs of society

globally oriented human resources is one of the key missions of Kobe

new method of treatment is developed, it must be appropriately prescribed to the patients. In this way, there are engineers who are likebefore contemplating those of the user. Without this grounding,

University and we place great importance on internationalization in

local medical practitioners. New science and technology can be applied to various problems in society and this can help people andthere is a danger that engineers may have an ‘if there is user

all Engineering disciplines. The Faculty and Graduate School offer an

improve their wellbeing, hence the ‘Happiness’ part of our vision.

demand, we’ll make it’ attitude. Engineering’s role is to look at how

excellent research and educational environment and heartily

Therefore, students of engineering have a duty to not only study science and technology but to understand the impact that this technology

society is in the present and to contribute a vision of the kind of

welcome students from all over the world, especially those who wish

has on society. Consequently, we have chosen ‘cultivation’ as one of the themes for our subsequent education. In my mind, this ‘cultivation’society that can be realized through scientific and engineering

to take on the challenge of exploring new corridors and fields in

is tied to the ‘ability to make value judgements’.

techniques.

engineering, and who share our vision.

06

Messages from current students

SPOTLIGHT

I want to contribute to society by creating things
year, Department of Chemical Science
KAWASAKI Yuta (3rdand Engineering, Faculty of Engineering)Complete automation of machining can save small factories
Assistant Professor NISHIDA Isamu(Graduate School of Engineering)
The vehicles, machines and devices that we use in our daily lives (such as smartphones,

For the University entrance exam, I was

Congratulations to Kobe University’s Faculty of Engineering on its 100th

unsure whether to choose the Faculty ofanniversary. I am honored to be a current student during thisScience or Faculty of Engineering. In the

momentous year.

end I decided to pick the Faculty ofI have been interested in making and creating things since I was small. I

computers, cars and airplanes) use a great number of machined components. From theEngineering because I want to contributebody of a smartphone to the turbine blades of airplane engines, these components are cut

to society by creating things. Now, I am

out of lumps of metals, such as aluminium alloy.

studying diverse fields related to bothorganic and inorganic chemistry. In the 3rd

The majority of metal products are cut and manufactured by numerical control (NC)year we also do experiments, which allows

machines. These machines have an endmill that contains a cutting blade and rotates at

Honored to be a student as the Faculty turns 100(4th year, Department of Architecture,
HIROTA Kana
Faculty of Engineering)

decided to enter the Department of Architecture in the Faculty ofEngineering because I particularly wanted to learn about architecture.
In university classes, the design assignments left the biggest impression
on me. Balancing assignments, part-time jobs and student club activities
was tough, and sometimes I had to stay up all night. Doing a design

high speeds. Information about the path that the endmill will take is generated in advance

us to put what we learned in years 1 to 3
into practice. In the 4th year we will be assigned to a laboratory, so(NC program), and material is removed (cut) by moving the tool in accordance with thiseveryone is conducting experiments everyday while thinking about

enjoyable. I think the interesting aspect of design assignments is turning

path information.

which research group they’d like to continue working with.

ideas that only exist inside your head into reality. Through classes, I

The majority of our classes have been held online due to the coronavirus
restrictions, which means we have many assignments, so I am always busy

developed an even deeper interest in the architecture of small scalebuildings like houses.

with daily experiment reports and class assignments (laughs). Recently I

Consequently, I will start working at ahave been visiting different laboratories to try to find one that suits me bylabor in addition to machining knowledge. In other words, evencompany that renovates houses next year.

observing them in person. I would like to join a laboratory that matches

I want to work hard at creating plans thatmachining that appears to have achieved automation at first glance

my future aim, which is to tackle environmental issues such as water andenergy shortages.

suit each customer’s individual needs.

requires manual preparation to implement it. At present, complete

At a glance, manufacturing using NC machine tools seems to be
automated, however, generating the pathway information for the toolthat gives instructions to the machine requires a large amount of time andFaculty of Engineering will continue toold. Over the course of a century, engineers have been studying at Kobe

supplied to the market in large quantities, such as smartphone and car

develop.

and then going on to contribute to society. This continuation reallyparts, the time and labor to generate the tool’s path information is only

appeals to me personally, and I hope to become one of those engineers.

required once to produce hundreds of NC machine tools. In this case, theMessages from graduates

percentage of man-hours required for the preparation of a single
However, in small local factories it is not uncommon for only one

In conclusion, I hope that Kobe University’s

I think it is genuinely amazing that the Faculty of Engineering is 100 years

automation still doesn’t exist. For components of the same shape that arecomponent can perhaps be ignored.

assignment for the first time was very difficult, however I also found it

Components produced in order to gather representative
manufacturing data

You will definitely be able to use what you have learned
OHTAKA Eri

component to be manufactured. In such cases, it is not unusual for it totake 60 minutes (of labor) to generate the tool’s path information and 10

Nippon Koei Co., Ltd.

(2021 Civil Engineering major, Graduate School of Engineering)High quality work requires physics, math & thinking skills
Electric Corporation
NAGAO Atsushi Yaskawa(2018 Mechanical Engineering major, Graduate School of Engineering)

I would like to offer my heartfelt

I left Kansai to work for a company in Fukuoka Prefecture that makes robots

minutes for the automated manufacture by the machine. Furthermore, acongratulations to Kobe University’s Faculty

and have been working in the industrial technology section for 4 years. I

limited number of engineers have the experience required to create theof Engineering on its 100th anniversary.

think that many people who work for a manufacturer want to do productmachine path and there is currently a shortage of human resources with

I entered the Faculty of Engineering in 2014

design. However, you have opportunities to do mechanical design even inthese skills.

but the memories that really stand out are

the industrial technology section and on top of that it’s fun because you

my days in the laboratory from 4th year

have lots of creative freedom! As a designer I am still learning, but when I

onwards. There were times when mylook back on my student days, I think that the three years I was assigned toAchieving the global SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) for
sustainable industry requires not only a rethinking of the ways of doing

professor got cross because my seminarthings that have depended upon people up until now. It is also necessary
to establish new manufacturing methods that make full use of computerand IoT technologies.

Fully automated generation of tool pathway information

In my research, I am working on a system that enables the programming of the tool’s pathway information to be completely automated. It
only requires the user to enter the product’s 3D digital information (i.e. its CAD (Computer Aided Design) model). Currently, we analyze the
CAD model specifications, determine the information for each area that should be removed, select the tools for manufacturing each area,

presentation was disappointing, or I worried

addition to being able to freely use test equipment and simulation

all day because my research was notprogressing, and I spent many long mornings in the laboratory. However,software, my logic was objectively evaluated at weekly meetings andAsics
regulardebriefing sessions.

I was able to overcome these difficulties thanks to the professors who

At the time I was in the yacht club and was always being scolded by an

spoke frankly and gave me guidance, and my friends in the laboratory

associate professor for spending too much time on club activities.

who all worked hard together.
My work now involves conducting surveys, analysis and planning in order

determine the machining conditions, the machining order and other such preparation tasks. I am working on implementing automation by

to develop railways in developing countries. My daily tasks require

incorporating software that can make these high level judgements currently made by experienced engineers. In this way, machining thatthinking and analytical skills as well as communication skills. I realized thatcan be automated could be entrusted to the system, enabling experienced engineers to concentrate on higher added value machining. It isthese skills were cultivated through my research activities at university.

important for people and systems to coexist, utilizing their respective strengths.

Current students do not yet know what their future has in store but I think

To get this system implemented into society, we have set up a university-launched venture company, BESTOWS Co. Ltd., which is also
working on technology transfers. I hope that this will enable research achievements to be implemented in society and that the proceedsfrom this can be reinvested in the university to improve the research environment, which will allow new research to be conducted. I am
striving each day to make this virtuous cycle a reality.

a laboratory provided me with an excellent chance to hone my skills. In

there will definitely be situations where they can utilize what they havelearned at the Faculty of Engineering. I hope that they can haveconfidence in themselves now and tackle the studying and research tasks
that are in front of them.

07

However, I’m really glad now that I went on to graduate school and I’m very
grateful for my professors. The quality ofengineering graduates’ work depends ontheirknowledgeofphysics

andmathematics and their thinking skills.
Regardless of whether your research topic isniche or plain, your thinking skills will
gradually evolve if you focus on the issue at
hand and work on steadily resolving it.
Students, please make good use of theuniversity environment and embrace it.

08.

RESEARCH AT KOBE

Reading into the present through research into
mysteries
You are also conducting interview surveys on folklore?
I am carrying out interviews but my main focus is conducting research on narrative conventions by analysing the story within the writing.
Within writings that are a record of what the author heard from the storyteller, I analyze the characteristics of the flow of the narrative. From
this it is possible to pick out where the storyteller’s misunderstandings or dreams, or even their own visions and ideas are mixed into thenarrative. It is possible to analyze whether or not these aspects were intentionally added.
Whether what is written down is true or not is very important for me. In my research, I ask ‘What elements can we use to verify things that areunconfirmed, such as the supernatural?’ and ‘What sort of elements should be included for the text to be inherited as fact?’ Therefore, I would
say that my research is predominantly research into literary texts, as opposed to interview surveys.

How exactly do you analyze texts?
All elements that appear in a story or written passage, for example ‘night’, ‘hill road’, ‘funeral’ and ‘light’ etc. are called motifs. When the
combination of motifs or how the motifs are linked together is unnatural, it can be inferred that the text has inconsistencies such as dreams or
fabrication that were added in. From this, it is possible to ascertain whether the level of facticity is high or low. Despite finding combinationsof motifs that I haven’t encountered before, I get excited when I come across a text that can be judged to have a high level of facticity.

The Demon Slayer character analysis series has been accessed over 4 million times
What made you decide to start writing about Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba?
A while ago, I started up a Kobe University research group on folklore and legends with two other people in the Research Center for
Promoting Intercultural Studies. Our group is called Shinshinshin for short* (*this is a pun on the kanji character 神 which is the first characterin both 神戸 (Kobe), myth (神話)) and mythology research group (神話学研究会). We conduct collaborative research into the connections
between pop culture and mythology.
I was already interested in Demon Slayer but when it became really popular, many negative articles appeared in magazines and on the internet

The manga and anime series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has become a social phenomenon in Japanand English translations have also been widely distributed overseas. Researcher UE Akiko (ResearchInstitute for Promoting Intercultural Studies; PROMIS) continues to publish a series of articles analyzing themain characters on the news and media website AERA dot, which have received an impressive number ofhits (over 4 million). She specializes in researching myths, legends (e.g. German sage) and Germanic folklore
and is particularly well-versed in tales, superstitions and legends concerning the strange and mysterious.
We asked her about the significance of applying mythology research methods to the analysis of current pop
culture and what can be discovered through this process.

fight to the romanticization of the kamikaze attacks during World War 2. Upon re-examining the story, I came to the conclusion that this series
does not have such a political meaning nor does it glorify war, so it is my own incentive to communicate my opinion to readers.

So, you became a writer for AERA dot.?
I had asked a number of media companies if I could write about Demon Slayer for them. The editor at AERA dot understands my desire to turnthe focus back on the manga itself and allows me to write freely. By this, I don’t mean that I suddenly started writing a critique of the politicalinterpretations of Demon Slayer; rather I beganwith character analyses. Then after a number of
my articles had been published, I presented myinterpretation that Demon Slayer does not glorify

Exploring the processes by which uncertain mysterious
phenomena are inherited as fact

Why did you decide to research German folklore?
When I was a student, I became interested in a story from Uji Shuiwar.

What is your main area of research?

Monogatari (a 13th century collection of Japanese tales) about the

How was the series of articles received?

discovery of a corpse that hasn’t decayed. While searching for thisThe predicted number of page views for suchparticular story, I stumbled across an anthology of German legends.

internet media articles is generally 1 million.

From this point onwards, the relationship between the supernatural

However, the very first article exceeded 1 million

and the corporeal became one of my research topics. For example,

views and subsequent articles in the series also

there are supernatural beings that have a body, such as demons,received this level of response. As I developed

and those who don’t, such as ghosts.

this irregular serial, more and more people

If something has a body then it makes sense that there would belearned that I was writing about Demon Slayer

My specialization is 19th century Germanic folklore and I am
conducting research that encompasses folklore studies andliterature. In particular, the main focus of my research is the threemajor works by the Brothers Grimm; which are Grimms Märchen(Grimms’ Fairytales), Deutsche Sagen (German Legends) and
Deutsche Mythologie (Teutonic Mythology), the latter of which wascompiled by the older brother Jacob.
Within this, I would say that even within the Brothers Grimm myspecialization is anthologies of legends. In legends, real place names
appear and some of the characters are real people, so there is a09

about the series. For example, misguided criticisms linking the way that the young main characters are not afraid to throw away their lives andaccounts about sightings. It should be impossible to really see
ghosts and other creatures that don’t have a body. So I am intrigued
as to why so many people witnessed similar things and why thesenarratives have much in common. I term mysterious phenomena instrong overlap with historical fact. However, in many cases only

these stories ‘怪異’ ( ‘kaii’ ‘supernatural’), and those who cause thesefragments remain, so they are not fully developed stories. It isprecisely for that reason that they are important materials forsupernatural happenings ‘怪異体‘(‘kaiitai’ ‘supernatural beings’).
Gods and Buddha are also included in this definition, so I may get

researchers because they are considered unadulterated.

told off (laughs)!

Asics

and my articles continued to receive an unusuallyhigh level of views.
When the second series of the anime was firstbroadcast, I started to receive between 2 million
to 4 million hits. Each article has a comments
section where many readers leave comments andI read them all.

Researcher Ue has edited an anthology of creation myths called ‘See thebeginning from world myths’ . Alongside illustrations by ABE Kaita, 20 experts
introduce myths about the world’s beginning.

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RESEARCH AT KOBE
‘Kimetsu no Yawa’
Analyzing Demon Slayer through essays on its characters

Are popular culture, myths and legends normallyresearched side by side like this?

Outstanding Young Researcher Award Winner: Assistant Professor MAESHIGE Noriaki

The original definition of ‘mythology’ (神話) is ‘tales of the gods’.

2006-2010: Rehabilitation specialist at Doi Hospital (Hyogo Prefecture): Clinical research on ultrasound for
bedsores/in vitro research on ultrasound therapy targeting fibroblasts.
2011-2013: Researcher in the Division of Metabolism and Disease, Department of Biophysics, Kobe University
Graduate School of Health Sciences. In Professor USAMI Makoto’s lab, he researched strategies to suppress
exaggerated immune response and liver function impairment caused by fatty acids.
2014 onwards: Assistant professor of rehabilitation, Kobe University Graduate School of Health Sciences.
Working with Professor FUJINO Hidemi’s lab to research the effectiveness of physical and nutrition-based
therapies for skeletal muscle.
2018: Visiting researcher at the Department of Genetics and Complex Disorders (now the Department of
Molecular Metabolism), Harvard School of Public Health. In Dr. Tiffany Horng and Dr. Zhi-min Yuan’slaboratories, he conducted research into skeletal muscle-mediated macrophage polarization and metabolic
regulation.

The mythology genre of literature also includes legends about
heroes. In myths and legends there is a common theme of saving
something or someone, be it a country, a land, a specific group, or
children. Therefore, there are many researchers who consider thatworks of fiction that contain a hero character can also be considereda kind of myth. However, there is a divide between researchers who
approach mythology as being closely related to history, and thoseresearchers who do not.
I think the fact that the field of mythology is so extensive andbroad-ranging is a feature of recent research in this area. For
example, conducting mythology research from the perspective ofsocial studies or intellectual history, or looking at mythology
through anime, manga or film studies. It is very refreshing when
research on mythology advances through various mediums andfields and the conclusions come together.

How does your research on Demon Slayer link back into
your specialization in researching mythology and thesupernatural?
A clear motif is the requirements to defeat a demon in Demon
Slayer. For example, demons can only be defeated with a Nichirin
Blade, which absorbs sunlight and the characters use awisteria-based poison to weaken them. This aspect of using
resources from the natural world and drawing upon strength foundin nature is present in ancient myths and legends. In addition, manyof the main characters are children who don’t have any parents andthis mirrors one of the common traits of heroes in legends.

What understanding can you gain from thecommonalities between stories written by modern
authors and ancient myths?
I think we can get closer to answering questions such as ‘What did
people of that time find aspirational?’ and ‘What did they want to be
saved from?” Of course, the themes vary depending on the work but
it is possible to find commonalities between them that are related
to the period. I think that what people want from mythology issome kind of ideal or rescue: ‘I want to be like that.’ or ‘I want to be
saved like that’.

Interviewee Profile

11

Improving physical therapy throughskeletal muscle research

Research Ue’s Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba character
analysis essays, which have been published on AERA dot.
since December 2020, are now available in book format.
Trending on social media when it was published, this bookcontains improved versions of articles from the popular serial
that have been highly evaluated by fans of Demon Slayer, as
well as some new character analyses. It reveals hidden aspects
behind the characters’ dialogues and behaviour. (Publishedby Fusosha, 1500yen (plus tax))

You have been analyzing works by modern authors to
discover what people’s wants and ideals are today.
Could you tell us about your upcoming research
activities?

Every year, Kobe University presents the Outstanding Young Researcher Awards to recognize the achievements of up-and-coming researchers andto motivate them in the hope that they will play a significant role as research leaders in the future. Five recipients were presented with these awards
in 2021, with Assistant Professor MAESHIGE Noriaki receiving the President’s Award. We asked him to give an overview of his work.
transplants from either lab-grown cultures or other people.
Now I am conducting miRNA sequence analyses and metabolic analyses ofConcentration (*107 particles/ml)

Searching myths for people’s ideals and ideas ofsalvation

UltrasoundControlexosomes and the interior of recipient cells to understand their mechanisms. I
have also started to develop biomarkers that indicate muscle health.
At the same time, I am focusing on advancing physical therapy, which is part ofrehabilitation processes, with particular emphasis on ultrasound. Ultrasoundpromotes cavitation in the tissue that it illuminates, which can induce various
cellular reactions. I previously published research on the use ofmoderate-intensity (0.5W/cm2) ultrasound for the treatment of bedsores andthis has subsequently contributed to recommended treatment guidelines both

Size (nm)in Japan and abroad. Furthermore, using a probe with a highly uniform acoustic

Promoting the secretion of muscle-derived exosomes using high-intensity ultrasoundoutput that was developed by a Japanese manufacturer of physical therapy

Now, I am researching myths about plants. This is also related to the

As a rehabilitation specialist (physiotherapist/occupational

machines, it was possible to conduct a high-intensity ultrasound that didn’t

body. Based on research conducted by a history of medicine

therapist), I have been striving to develop a method of

cause cell damage. I published a paper on the varied effects that could berectifying or supplementing the body’s immune systemachieved using this ultrasound.

using skeletal muscle. Skeletal muscle is not only responsible

One of these applications is to detect the stimulated release of exosomes fromfor producing movement; it also functions as a secretorymuscle. This was shown to be effective in studies using cultured myotubes andorgan that influences various biological processes

the skeletal muscle of mice, so the current goal is to try to develop ultrasoundthroughout the body. However, it is not clear how we cancapable of comprehensive irradiation so that it can be used on human skeletal

apply this knowledge to the management and prevention ofmuscle. We are at the stage where we have finished making a prototype

diseases that affect skeletal muscle.

accuracy so as not to mislead regarding the medicinal effects ofmachine.

In recent years, research has focused on the applications ofthese plants.

extracellular vesicles, in particular exosomes, which are

Skeletal muscle is an organ that makes a wide range of contributions to people’s
daily activities and health. Therefore, the overall aim is to develop highly versatile

In relation to pop culture, an academic symposium on the creation

secreted by various types of cell. Treatment applications are

and effective rehabilitation technology at Kobe University and broadcast thisof myth-like stories in the manga/anime series JoJo’s Bizarre

being developed for mesenchymal stem cell-derived

development to the world.

Adventure and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba was recently hosted

exosomes with anti-inflammatory properties. Interestingly,

by PROMIS on February 27, 2022. I was happy that the event was

the muscle-derived exosomes secreted by cultured

attended by members of the public, including fans of both series.

myotubes suppress the excessive inflammatory reactions

research center in Germany, I am looking at old superstitious beliefs
about consuming certain plants to cure certain illnesses, and theactual medicinal plants that were used. In my research, I am
focussing on plants that actually have a medicinal effect as well as
those that have myth-like stories about them. In comparing
fairytales with scientific documents, I am maintaining scientificcaused by macrophages. These exosomes can also be used

UE AKIKO(Researcher, Institute for Promoting Intercultural Studies ; PROMIS)

to curb the proliferation of prostate cancer cells. I madeBorn in Shingu City in Wakayama Prefecture, she obtained her bachelors in Japanese language and Japanese culture from the Faculty of Literature
at Osaka City University, going on to obtain her master’s at the same university’s Graduate School of Literature. Subsequently she completed her
PhD. at Kobe University’s Graduate School of Intercultural Studies. In 2016, she was awarded the Sumisei Woman Researcher Encouragement Prize,
which aims to support female researchers with child rearing. Her areas of specialization include Germanic folklore, legends (e.g. German sage),
mythology and botanical folklore She has an irregular serialized column on Japanese popular culture, which is published on the website of theJapanese-language magazine ‘AERA’ (AERA dot.)

overseas dispatch system for young researcher education).

Development of treatment and disease prevention techniques by controlling the production of skeletal
muscle exosomes inside the body.

Therapeutic organ
Skeletal muscle

Bacterium

Dendritic
cellthese two discoveries when I was an exchange researcher at

Anti-microbial
Prevent/
ameliorate
pneumonia

the Harvard School of Public Health (through the long-term
Targeted manipulation of skeletal muscle activity by thetherapist or patient through methods such as physicaltherapy or exercise can be extremely beneficial. It can makeit easier for skeletal muscle to function as a secretory organ,
and furthermore, it can reduce the need for skeletal muscle

Anti-inflammatory
Ameliorate
arteriosclerosis
Prevent diabetes

CancerActivatemusclemetabolism

Exosomesecretion

Macrophage

Absoption
by recipient

Copy of metabolism between different tupes of cell

Anti-cancer
Suppress cancer
proliferation
Prevent
reoccurence
Suppress recipient
function

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Kobe University Soccer Club:

Kobe University Soccer Club website:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kobe_un_ftbl

Tackling challenges with help from164 people

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kobeuniv.football

What is the Soccer Club’s strength?
Mori: Our skills as an organization. Of course we put 100% into our practises and matches but
even on the operations side, every member is aware of their contributions and I feel that this is
Kobe University Soccer Club’s strength.

What made you decide to try crowdfunding?
Mori: We decided to try crowdfunding because our long-term vision is to be promoted to division
1 of the Kansai Students’ Soccer League and we didn’t want our practice opportunities to be
reduced due to the coronavirus. Normally, we use the soccer ground on Tsurukabuto 1st campus,
however usage of university grounds was restricted based on Hyogo Prefecture’s measuresagainst the coronavirus, which meant we had to use off-campus grounds more frequently. We

Interviewer SHIBUYA Yuiof the Student PR Team
(2nd year Graduate School of
Human Development andEnvironment)

appealed for donations to compensate for the cost of renting off-campus grounds for the second
semester league practice.
Kuriyama: League matches are played on artificial grass, however the Kobe University Soccer clubhas to share the campus’s artificial pitch with another club, therefore there is a limit on how often
we can use it. On a natural pitch, pass accuracy decreases and we cannot practice some types oftrapping. Therefore it’s better for us to frequently rent an off-campus artificial pitch so that we canpractice in similar conditions to the actual matches.

Sumida: The soccer club management first discussed crowdfunding over 2 years ago. We submitted apetition to the university to allow student clubs to conduct their own crowdfunding campaigns and asystem to enable clubs to do this was set up in spring 2021. This motion was started by the soccer club,
so of course we wanted to be the first to do a crowdfunding campaign. We were absolutely
determined to succeed and set a precedent, and the University staff members kindly helped us out
with this. I am really grateful that we were able to achieve our goal.

Vice Captain KURIYAMA Takaki(3rd year Faculty of Economics)

Captain MORI Keita(4th year Faculty of Economics)

You have already reached your third goal of 2 million yen. How do you feel
about that now?
Mori: To be honest, I was surprised because we
received donations much more quickly than expected.

In 2021, the Soccer club became the first organization at Kobe University to run a student-led crowdfunding campaign,
successfully raising 2,487,000yen. This was 3.5 times more than their original goal. We interviewed Team Captain MORI
Keita, Vice-captain KURIYAMA Takaki and Manager SUMIDA Yuki．

Many of our donors are young club alumni and people
from our parents’ generation, so I really feel like there
is a lot of support from those close to the club. It
was sobering to find out that all these people
wanted to donate to us.

Why did you decide to join Kobe University Soccer Club?
Mori: I joined because Kobe University Soccer Club is like a hybrid of a private university club and a national university club. It has a highly
experienced coach, however this is not normally the case with national universities. The club combines the kind of strengths that private

What are your future goals andaspirations?
Mori: Last season, we stayed in division 2, so weuniversities have with the strengths of national universities, where each member of the club contributes towards its activities in various ways.

are putting together a team with the aim of(In addition to players, the club also has both male and female support staff and managers ). Therefore I joined the club because I thought itgetting into division 1 in 2022 and beyond. On thewould be the best place to thoroughly learn soccer skills.

management side as well, this brought home to all

Kuriyama: I received acceptance offers from other universities, however I have always played soccer and was wondering whether I would

members the extent of the support that our club is capable

be able to continue to do so at university. I also chose Kobe University because I wanted to expand my horizons.

of receiving. Therefore I’d like us to actively make plans with

Sumida: I have been the club manager for 4 years because I like management. We manage every aspect of running the club ourselves, so

former members and local people, increase the opportunities forever since I was a first year student I have been doing a job which has responsibilities. The students in the club were responsible for all of thepeople to learn more about our club, and make the club evencrowdfunding campaign arrangements. We really value the donations we received and will do our best to put them to good use.

bigger.
Kuriyama: As for me, I joined the club when I was a

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What are the Soccer Club’s motto and three values?

freshman with the aim of getting to division 1 and have

Mori: The team motto for this season is ‘Learn Soccer, Learn From Soccer’ and our 3 values are: ‘Selfless achievement’, ‘Do your best’ andbeen working hard to achieve this. Kobe University‘Never give up’. We are different from leading private schools because there is no athletics-based admission system at Kobe University ; all

Soccer club has made it into division 1 before, and wethe members decided to join the club on their own volition. We run the club independently so we have to grow as people, not just improve

have the tactics and motivation to raise our standing.

our soccer skills. These are the kind of values we have.

I’d like us to develop a solid foundation for next year.

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International Voices“COVID-19 has affected my studies in ways that I could never haveimagined”
International students at Kobe University talk about their experience of the pandemic
Why did you decide to come to Japan/Kobe
University?

What are some good things about your life or studies
during the pandemic?

Kristyna: I graduated Japanese studies from Charles University in Prague.

Kristyna: Considering the global pandemic, I was very lucky that I was able to

I then realized that I wanted to continue with Japanese linguistics andtravel to Japan so I could take classes on Japan time. Until then I was attending

focus specifically on Japanese phonetics and phonology. It is still anclasses mostly during the night (Central European Time), which was quite

understudied field in the Czech Republic, so I decided Io apply for the

stressful. I was taking some very interesting lectures and seminars and attended

MEXT scholarship to study it in Japan. I found a professor here at Kobe

phonological conferences hosted by renowned professors. None of this would

University whose interests matched mine and who was willing to take mehave been possible without this scholarship.

under his guidance.
Pedro: I first decided that I wanted come to Japan when I was about 14

Pedro: The only good thing that comes to mind is the fact that I don’t need to go

years old. At that time, I was fascinated by economics and how the world
revolves around it. I came across a book which explained how Japan wasable to overcome the aftermath of WWII to achieve explosive economic
growth in the postwar period. Thanks to this book, I became interested inJapan and eventually decided that I wanted to study here. I chose Kobe
University because I thought I could study exactly what I wanted to learn
here and encounter new ways of thinking.

How has the pandemic affected your studies?
Kristyna: Normally, we would be meeting at weekly lessons but this was
not possible due to the strengthened pandemic restrictions. I was

Kristyna Metlickova(Czech Republic)
Department of Linguistics,
Faculty of Lettersspending most of my time studying at home. I felt comfortable with all my
online lectures. All my lecturers were trying their best to provide quality
lessons. They supported and encouraged us as much as they could.
Pedro: Coronavirus has affected my studies in ways that I could never haveimagined. When coronavirus started, I was still in Brazil preparing to cometo Japan. The pandemic delayed my coming to Japan so I had to study

Any bad points?
Pedro: Most of the bad points are related to the fact that I cannot meet many
people or hang out with friends. Sometimes it feels quite lonely.

Unfortunately, many new international students haven’t
been able to enter Japan due to the border restrictions. Do
you have a message or any words of encouragement forthese students?
Kristyna: I myself have many friends who could not enter Japan with me inautumn last year. I hope the situation will get better very soon so that anyone who
is interested in studying in Japan can enter the country.
Pedro: Due to the pandemic, I had to wait around 6 months to come to Japan. I
felt very anxious during this time, especially about my future. I couldn’t help but
worry that I might not be able to come to Japan at all and this feeling was
unbearable.

Pedro Henrique Brandao Vieira(Brazil)
Department of Global Cultures,
Faculty of Global Human Sciences

So, I understand how these students are feeling right now. The only thing that I

online while living in Brazil. I was taking classes at another Japanese university and my classes were conducted on Japan time. This meantcan say is that eventually it will work out. You will need to struggle now, but the compensation in the future will be much greater.

that I had to attend classes at 2 or 3am in Brazil. After the classes I would sleep briefly and then get up to go to work in the morning. After

What do you want to do when the restrictions lift or after the pandemic?

coming to Japan, I also had to take classes online instead of in person due to the coronavirus restrictions. I had to do a lot of self-study because
I find it harder to focus during online classes.

How has the coronavirus affected your life in Japan?
Kristyna: This is not my first time in Japan, but it has been quite a while since I last came here. I would have probably adapted more quickly
to the new environment if it had not been for the pandemic. I often found myself struggling to find a healthy daily routine that would help
to stimulate my productivity. I missed having direct contact with people a lot and could not help but feel a bit disconnected from otherstudents. It took me a great deal of time to figure out how I should tackle these new needs – how to manage my time, remain calm and keep
track of my goals.
Pedro: It has restricted what I can do in Japan. Due to the coronavirus, I tried not to go out or travel, however as a consequence I found it
hard to make many friends. But thinking about it in a positive way, I was able to start many things that I have always wanted to do, for example
going to the gym and writing books.

What are your classes like now?
Kristyna: I can still request an online consultation with my supervisor if needed. However, I hope that classes during the new semester will
be held in person as usual.

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out in order to take classes therefore I can wake up later.

Kristyna: I like travelling, experiencing local cuisine and culture. If I had some spare time, I would definitely go to visit some interesting places
or events in Kansai.
Pedro: I want to go out with some friends, meet new people and just enjoy life.

What do you want to do after you graduate?
Kristyna: My goal is to achieve a high level of proficiency in Japanese phonetics and phonology so I can apply the knowledge in practice andhelp to broaden the general knowledge of the field in the Czech Republic. There is a total of three universities in my country where it is possible
to major Japanese philology. Czech teachers of Japanese language are mostly graduates from these universities. It is thus very important thatthese students are familiar not only with the grammatical and lexical systems of Japanese language, but also its system of sounds andsuprasegmental features on a level that they could pass on to next generation of Japanese language students. I would like to help mycolleagues find aspects of the field that interest them, so that even more Czech university students would continue to study Japanese prosodyin the future. I hope that it will ultimately become an integral part of Japanese studies in the Czech Republic.
Pedro: After graduating I want to create a NGO to help people that cannot afford education. There are 2 main reasons for this.
When I was living in Brazil I struggled a lot due to financial difficulties. There were times when I couldn’t buy a book for my studies, or that I
couldn’t afford to go to the library because I didn’t have enough money for the bus. I know how difficult it is when you cannot study properly

Pedro: Most of my classes are online, with some exceptions. During in person classes, we have to sit some distance away from each other todue to financial difficulties, therefore I want to help others in this situation.
The second reason is that public education in some countries is not ideal. With my NGO, I hope to provide good education for free to thoseprevent infection. But overall, it has been fun taking classes.

who really need it the most. I hope I can achieve my dream and help many people around the world.

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INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
Americas

Kobe University Liaison Office in Seattle holds inaugural symposium
The 1st KULOS Symposium for Development of the Academic

The symposium consisted of two sessions: “Research in Economics”

Relationship between UW and KU: Past, Present and Future" was heldand “Research and Educational Activities in JST-sponsored ROOT

on online on Thursday, March 3 and Friday, March 4, 2022 (PST). This

Program”. On both days, the sessions were followed by lively panel

was the first event held by KULOS (Kobe University Liaison Office indiscussions. There were extensive exchanges of opinions on how the

Seattle), which was established in April 2020 as our first liaison office

University of Washington and Kobe University can strengthen theirlocated on the US mainland.

partnership, as well as talk of holding regular meetings in the future
to facilitate exchange of young researchers.
The event’s closing remarks were given by SHIRAI Yasuhito (Directorof the Office of Americas, Kobe University). He thanked all theparticipants and organizers, and hoped that similar collaborative
events can be held with many different universities worldwide.
The inaugural Seattle symposium gave participants a meaningful
opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas and will contributetowards further developing the relationship between the Universityof Washington and Kobe University.

Horizon Europe round-table meeting held with the EU delegation to Japan

EuropeOn March 16, Kobe University hosted a round-table meeting with theand the HoLM (Holographic Live Imaging & Manipulation) project,

delegation of the EU Delegation to Japan and NCP Japan. This event

which are both actively carrying out joint research with European

was held to promote EU-Japan joint research through Horizon Europe,

research institutions. This event was valuable opportunity to showcase

which is the European Union’s key funding program for research andKobe University's cutting-edge research and promote future

innovation.

collaborations.

The meeting featured presentations on the Horizon Europe framework.

and the benefits of Japanese researchers’ participation, given by Scienceand Technology Advisor Dr. Tom Kuczynski (Delegation of the European
Union to Japan) and Mr. YAMADA Naomichi (NCP for Horizon Europe
in Japan). Their presentations prompted a lively exchange between the
speakers and Kobe University researchers on international joint research
between Japan and Europe.
The delegation also received an overview of Kobe University and its
European exchange activities from Executive Vice Presidents KAWABATA
Toshinori and NAKAMURA Tamotsu. Afterwards, the delegation wasgiven a tour of the Research Center for Membrane and Film Technology

Asia

Visit from the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Kobe
On January 21, President Fujisawa welcomed a visit from theclasses during the pandemic. Next, both parties introduced various

Consul-General of the Republic of Korea in Kobe, Mr. Yang Kee Ho.

examples of cooperation between Japan and South Korea, including

The new Consul-General was welcomed by President Fujisawa, who

academic exchanges with Kobe University’s Korean partner universities

then spoke about his numerous visits to South Korea and his experiences

and collaborations between overseas diplomatic missions andof exchange with Korean universities. This lead to a discussion on both

universities. In 2019, Kobe University and the Consulate-General of thecountries’ border measures against COVID-19 and the conduction of

Republic of Korea in Kobe co-hosted the "Japan-Korea Future Oriented
and Cooperation Seeking Symposium" on the theme of "Aging".
Originally postponed due to the pandemic, the series’ 2nd symposium
will be held in the 2022 fiscal year. This event aims to promote
discussions and idea-sharing regarding the common social issues faced
by Japan and South Korea.
This visit reaffirmed the smooth cooperative relationship between thetwo countries. We hope to work with the Consulate General to further
expand our academic exchange and regional collaborations with Korean
universities and research institutes.

Please let us know your thoughts on this issue of Kaze via the following Questionnaire.

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