Division of Social Sciences and Humanities
Research Division Introduction
There are currently eight projects in the Division of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Of the projects of the IISS, four projects that carry out integrated research with thesocial sciences and natural and life sciences have been transferred to the Division ofSocial Sciences and Humanities.
In fiscal 2016, we recruited new projects and adopted five projects. These nineprojects are all collaborated by researchers from multiple departments and mainly
conduct various policy studies and regional studies. Every project is organized with anemphasis on interdisciplinary and international perspective and is expected to makethe use of and further develop the strength of Kobe University's comprehensivenessand the international tradition.
Projects

02

Project Leader

Research Theme

№

SANKO

Studies on Sustainable Transport

Nobuhiro

Databases for Historical /03Enterprise Documents, and Empirical Studies Based on Imageand Text Data

04

The Research Center for Modern Chinese Studies
Meta-science and Technology Project:05

Methodology, Ethics and Policy from a Comprehensive
Viewpoint

06

Takashi
KAJITANIKai
MATSUDA
TsuyoshiInterdisciplinary Research on Humanities Information:

OKUMURAA New Information Sharing Model for Regional Studies

HiroshiResearch on the Public Policies on Migration,
07

KAMIHIGASHI

Multiculturalization,and Welfare for the Regeneration ofCommunities in European, Asian and Japanese Societies

08

Sustainable Growth Potential of the Market Economy

09

Sustainable Community Development for Poverty Alleviation

1

SAKAI
Kazunari
HAMORI
Shigeyuki
SHIMAMURA
Yasuharu

Studies on Sustainable Transport
Project Leader

SANKO Nobuhiro〜Outline of Research Project〜
This research project explores roads toward sustainable transport, with emphasis on
developing model which will be able to assess related transport policies andinternational comparison studies. Needless to say, a modern and cost-effective
transport system is vital to modern society. We need a transport system which supports
a rich social life and a strong economy, which helps increase prosperity and tackles
social exclusion. We also need a transport system which doesn't damage our health andprovides a better quality of life and environment without passing onto future
generations a poorer world. This is why sustainable transport has become a key conceptof transport policy in many countries. In this research project, we will analyze various
issues in transport policy and regulatory design to realize sustainable transport.

Databases for Historical /Enterprise Documents, andEmpirical Studies Based on Image and Text Data
Project Leader

KAMIHIGASHI Takashi〜Outline of Research Project〜
The Research Institute for Economics and Business Administration possesses uniquearchives containing internal documents from Kanebo and Kanematsu, and is widely
regarded as a research base for databases of historical documents.
On the other hand, recent developments in data science such as deep learning and text
mining have not been fully applied to the analysis of historical documents yet. In thisproject, applying such techniques as well as traditional approaches to historical
documents, we conduct research on historical documents in a way unique to Kobe
University.

2The Research Center for Modern Chinese Studies
Project Leader

KAJITANI Kai〜Outline of Research Project〜
The Research Center for Modern Chinese Studies of Kobe University was established inAugust 2013 as part of the NIHU (National Institutes for the Humanities) project topromote modern area studies. The purpose of the establishment of the ResearchCenter was to collaborate with researchers in other universities and research institutes
who are interested in modern Chinese studies. NIHU is one of inter-university research
institute corporations established in 2004, as a base for promoting joint research inJapan. NIHU consists of six institutions including National Museum of Ethnology,
International Research Center for Japanese Studies, and National Institute for Japanese
language and Linguistics. Since 2006, three regions, (Islamic Region, Modern China, andModern India) were selected as the specific important regions of academic and social
significance for Japan. Several research centers have been established for each area,
and academic networks have been established among universities and research
institutions.
At the beginning of the establishment of the research center, led by Professor Hiroyuki
Kato of the Graduate School of Economics, empirical studies on the contemporary
Chinese economy on the theme of "empirical research on the sustainability of theeconomic system in China: Beyond the double trap" were going.
The purpose of this research was to analyze whether is China's "state capitalism"
sustainable, focusing on the relationship between economic growth and economic
institutions. Based on the hypothesis that the Chinese economy is confined to a"double trap" consisting of the "middle-income trap" and "the transition trap" in order toescape from the "double trap" we investigated empirical analysis and insisted that thepromotion of innovation and the realization of social justice are indispensable.
In August 2016, with the passing of Professor Kato, Kai KAJITANI took over the projectof the Research Center for Modern Chinese Studies. And in March 2016, NIHU's projectfor contemporary Chinese regional research had been completed. In April 2016,
in addition, Organization for Advanced and Integrated research of Kobe University wasestablished, as the predecessor of Kobe University Interfaculty Initiative in the social
Science. In this way, the environment surrounding our research base has significantly
changed.

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In response to these changes, Research Center for Modern Chinese Studies of Kobe
University has been conducting research on the front lines of modern China's history,
politics, and thought studies. We are trying to collaborate beyond faculties. And research
activities are continued for the purpose of cross-sectoral and comprehensive
understanding of modern China.

Meta-science and Technology Project:Methodology,
Ethics and Policy from a Comprehensive Viewpoint
Project Leader

MATSUDA Tsuyoshi〜Outline of Research Project〜
This project aims at an advanced interdisciplinary research of humanities and social
science by collaboration of studies of "methodology," "ethics" and "political economy"of science and technology. In this research project, especially on methods of research,values and norms, and factors of politics and economics are focused, because of theirimpacts on contemporary science and technology in our society. Through workshop ofmeta-science and technology (WMST), the ethical and political issues are not only
confined to the risks of environmental and reproductive technologies socially recognized,
but also taken in advance for facing with near future developments of science andtechnology. With both interdisciplinary and international activities, this project contributes
to the promotion of fusion of humanities and social sciences in Kobe University.
The collaboration of this project is executed by three clusters according to the points ofview and disciplines.
【Methodology Cluster 】
Advanced researches are concerning the foundations of social science, humanities andhuman science, in addition to natural science. The objects are experiments, simulations,social investigations, texts interpretation and action research, in order to discuss andraise the problems from the actual contexts of science and technology. As a result,it will also contribute to the improvement of curriculums of both undergraduates andgraduate students for the parts of common education of methodology in future, byconnecting the philosophical justification of pursuing "scientific truths" with social
ethics and legal concerns about it.
【Ethics of Science and Technology Cluster】
Advanced researches are concerning the issues of research as norms of science, laws
and ethics of intellectual properties, ethics of innovative medical cures and cares, publichealth ethics, engineering ethics, information ethics and environmental ethics (the4

institutions and norms of sustainable society). Social efficiency of these researches is
ensured by collaboration of researchers of applied ethics, STS (Science, Technology andSociety), practitioners of science and technology communication, jurists related withintellectual properties and economists studying contemporary industries, in addition to
the experts of science and technology.
【Political Economy Cluster】
The history and the present situation of "Knowledge Based Society" are analyzed on
science and technology from various important aspects, in order to foresee the near
future front constellation of research policy in the circumstance of global competition
among universities and nations. As essential components, this project takes much more
notice on the aspects of both accounts for the stakeholders and outreach activities orcommunications of/with researches, including consumers or citizens with various
attributes as well as on those of policies and economies managed by states andcompanies. As a result, a sort of proposals for concrete cases will be issued for promoting
sound and productive science and technology in our time together with other clusters.
Through these, a step will be made for the development of an advanced interdisciplinary
research of humanities and social science in Kobe University, by making use of thestrength of economics and jurisprudence in this university on the tradition of humanities
about science and technology.

Interdisciplinary Research on Humanities Information:A
New Information Sharing Model for Regional Studies
Project Leader

OKUMURA Hiroshi〜Outline of Research Project〜
Interdisciplinary research and new regional studies intended for nationwide sharing of
humanities information in response to the internationalization of Japanese society andthe aggravating local issues are one of the most urgent tasks for humanists andsociologists in Japan, and social demand is making it more pressing. Kobe University,
which has been promoting pioneering, sustainable research in this field since the Great
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, is our research hub; collaborating with National Institutes for
Humanities, a general research centre for human culture with its researchers working
on new paradigm creation, this project formulates a nationwide sharing model ofhumanities-related information and improve regional studies based upon the model.

5Research projects in this field, with Prof. Okumura its leading researcher, haveawarded several grants, such as Construction of Local Historical Document Studies
based on theory of Historical Materials Preservation at The Time of Large-scale Natural
Disasters (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S), 2009-2013), and Establishment ofLocal Historical Materials Studies: Forming Disaster Subculture in the Post-3/11 World(Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (S), 2013-2017). Moreover, this year NIHU started
transdisciplinary projects with universities and institutions in three sectors as its third
mid-term goal and mid-term plan priority objective, among which is Restoration of Local
Cultures after Social Transformation and Disasters in Japanese Archipelago that has a
lot in common with our project from the beginning. In 2016, our school agreed with
National Museum of Japanese History, an institution belonging to NIHU, to cooperatively
promote the Establishment of General Historical Materials Studies and Development ofFoundation for Research Resources Shared-utilisation, as well as to conduct education
research on the academic process of discovery, preservation, and application of local
historical materials and ways to assess their social value as local historical cultural assets.
There has been no nationwide information-sharing platform for humanists in universities
and organisations in Japan; thus, in partnership with NIHU, NMJH, and National Institutes
for Cultural Heritage which governs national museums and National Research Institutefor Cultural Properties, this project takes the initiative in this field and lays the foundation
for similar platforms for cognate academic bodies in the country. Kobe University has
accumulated a vast amount of domestic, international historical materials since theopening of Kobe Port and the university itself, promoting not only systematic materials
gathering after disasters such as the 1995 earthquake and interdisciplinary studies forfacilitating the collection but also research on historical materials utilisation in local
communities and on its humanistic social implementation. These achievements play a
key role in this project.

Research on the Public Policies on Migration,
Multiculturalization,and Welfare for the Regeneration ofCommunities in European, Asian and Japanese Societies
Project Leader

SAKAI Kazunari〜Outline of Research Project〜
In this research, "exploration of various problems due to intensified modern migration are
creating on a global scale" is a main and pressing issue, and its purpose is to establish anddevelop an international center of an advanced research, "immigration research" located6

in the boundary area of humanities and social sciences.
(1) Research ThemeIn the modern society, there are fears which concern the rise of social, political andeconomic instability within the receiving society due to intensified migration, divisions in
the local community due to the advancement of multiculturalization, and an erosion of
citizens' sense of solidarity with one another, which is critical for welfare redistribution
and which is leading to fluctuations in the welfare state. Coupled with the long-term
population dynamics of an aging society and declining birth rate, these three societal
changes not only threaten the stability and maintenance of a developed society but also
confront us with serious concerns about the human rights and welfare of migrants andtheir families.
The rise of populist groups that advocate anti-immigration in the EU countries can besaid to be one of its reflections. This project responds to the needs of modern society andpromotes advanced research that leads to social contribution on this subject (Figure 1).

(2) Establishment of Research Center by an International Research Network"Research on the Public Policies on Migration, Multiculturalization and Welfare for the
Regeneration of Communities in European, Asian and Japanese Societies" of Graduate
School of Intercultural Studies, Kobe University, has been adopted as the Core-to-Core
Program (A: Advanced Research Networks) by the Japan Society for the Promotion of
Science (2016-2020). It is divided into six joint research groups and promotesinterdisciplinary research collaboration from multiple viewpoints.

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① Borders and Human Rights for Migrants② Governance on Migration③ Intimacy/Publicness beyond Borders④ Localized Multiculturalism and Nationalism⑤ Cultural Policies about Immigration and Refugee⑥ Migration Dynamics and Adaptation to Host Societies
Based on this research project, we are working closely with not only major research
institutes in Japan but also with research centers in the EU and Asia including the various
departments of humanities and social sciences of Kobe university.
With regard to the problems that large-scale contemporary migration is causing in various
parts of the world, leading researchers from each country are working on joint researchacross research areas and borders (Figure 2).

We hold international symposium or workshops every year (average two times) aroundthe world, and through mutual research presentations and joint discussions, we will
pursue the issue of "What kind of knowledge and policies are needed in order forcontemporary society of Japan, EU, Asia, and so on to construct sustainable and safe
living areas under globalization and intensified migration" (Figure 3).

8(3) Goals of Research Aimed at the Future
In a contemporary society, social, political and economic upheavals, such as the rapid
increase in migration and multiculturalization worldwide, are no longer within the scopeof joint research at the national level. Rather, rapid joint research and discussions byinternational research networks that encompass both sending and receiving societies
are needed.

Sustainable Growth Potential of the Market Economy
Project Leader

HAMORI Shigeyuki〜Outline of Research Project〜
In traditional economics, economic growth is considered to be the source of individual
wealth and therefore a high-priority policy issue. However, today's society faces a variety
of problems and constraints that impede economic growth, and thus there is some doubt
over the sustainability of economic growth.
The first concern is the exposure of economic growth to external risks such as natural
disasters, pandemics, and financial crises. Some examples are earthquakes and tsunamis,
new strains of influenzas and other Infectious Diseases, the financial crisis of 2007-2008,
and the European debt crisis. In particular, economic globalization has brought theeconomies of different countries closer, and these issues have become vitally important.

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A second concern relates to food and environmental constraints. Population growth indeveloping countries has led to shortages of resources such as food, water, and energy;
moreover, the environmental damage due to industrialization in China and other emerging
countries has become a serious problem.
The third concern is the burden of overpopulation and over-industrialization.
The accumulation of people and industries in some cities has a positive side, acting as
the main engine to drive economic growth, but also has several negative effects.
The purpose of this research project is to examine whether sustainable economic growth
can be achieved under these constraints. It is a joint effort between an economics
researcher and an information technology researcher, using data science to tackle theproblem. With the socio-analytic strengths of economics and data manipulation of
information technology, one can use Big Data to visualize data to create value.
These two functions are important factors in research that are in great demand today,and form the main characteristics of this research project.
Specifically, this study involves the following tasks.
・ We analyze environmental and energy issues from the perspective of sustainablegrowth potential.
・ We analyze population and food issues in terms of sustainable growth potential.
・ We analyze issues of poverty and disparity in developing countries from theperspective of sustainable growth potential.
・ We visualize the risks associated with external shocks (mainly ﬁnancial risk) and
use them in economic analysis.

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