The Asian Platform for Global Sustainability & Transcultural Studies
Kyoto University

AGST Newsletter

Featured in this issue:- International Collaborative Courses at the GSE“Sustainable Industry Development” & “Multiple Perspectives on Management”, and more

- Workshop Report from the GSL- International Collaborative Courses at the GSA“Climate Change, Environment, Agriculture, and Rural Development:
The Growing Interaction and Impact ” & “Rural Sociology: Multiple Crises in Rural Areas ”- AGST Spotlight Interview
Dr. Takuma Melber, Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the Master Transcultural Studies Programme,
Heidelberg University, Germany

Published by The Asian Platform for Global Sustainability & Transcultural Studies (AGST)
Edited by AGST Head Office (Graduate School of Economics)

AGST Newsletter | Spring/Summer 2023

Graduate School of

Economics: International Collaborative CoursesF

rom October to mid-November 2022, Edward Clarence-Smith, asenior advisor on circular economy & green industry, presented
lectures for the course “Sustainable Industry Development” at
Kyoto University by the invitation of Dr. Wanxue Lu, assistant professor at the Graduate School of Economics. Due to the remote teachingfrom Edward Clarence-Smith, the course was provided via Zoom.

Sustainable Industry Development
by Mr. Edward Clarence‐Smith
Senior Advisor to intergovernmental institutions
and the private sector to promote green industry

During the course, there are 16 participantsvarying from undergraduate students to graduate students with different cultural and academic backgrounds. For abetter understanding on the course, Edward Clarence-Smith used the Ellen McArthur Foundation diagram as a
guide, took students through each cycle of a circular economy, and discussed the strategies which the economic
and social actors in that phase can adopt to transit to a circular economy. Moreover, Edward Clarence-Smith explained policies that available for governments to promote the transition, as well as emphasized the role that industry should play in each phase of that process. In addition, to better communicate with students from different research fields and promote
cross-field cooperation, Edward Clarence-Smith gave lectures on a series of cross-cutting issues on Nov. 1st and 8th. Meanwhile, students
are divided into several groups and assigned a product category to work on how to promote the corresponding circular business. On Nov.
15, the last class of this course, each group was required to make a presentation on their project.
I found the group presentation in the last class to be one of the most meaningful parts of this course. Through case studies of 5 different
products including Solar PV panels, Sneakers/Trainers, Shampoo bottles, T-shirts, and Personal Computers, students discussed how thethree general CE strategies (“Narrowing flows”; “Slowing down flows”; “Closing the loops”) are applied to various product categories. Despitethat not all the strategies can be applied to a specific product, through the analysis and discussion, I feel so glad to see students could finallyfind the suitable strategies that make the most sense for each product.
Overall, Edward Clarence-Smith created a challenging but relaxing environment for students to freely share their ideas, ask questions, andcommunicate with members from different academic backgrounds. Through the course, students have a deeper understanding of thegreening of industry and green industries, the two main components of sustainable industrialization and get inspiration for future promotions and applications.

Tang Xiwen
Doctoral student, Graduate School of Economics

Multiple Perspectives on
Management
by Prof. Matthias Kipping
York UniversityProfessor Matthias Kipping from York University, Toronto returned to thephysical classroom this year. Matthias is an expert in the international transfer of managerial knowledge by means of consultancies, consultants, managers, business schools, etc. Matthias has visited Kyoto University on a few previous occasions, all of which have been met with excellent receptions. Matthias' expertise is fully reflected in the course being offered at Kyoto in November 2022.

Throughout the course, we gained a wealth of knowledge about international managerial actors, influences, organizations, and business schools. We started with an introduction on what management really means. There
are different etymologies related to the word, as we found out from international students taking the course. Nonetheless, the overall story eventually pointed us to the fact that there has been an international exchange of managerial practices and meanings which link thesedifferent definitions. The U.S. managerial practices, for example, have been widely adopted by European and Asian countries since the1960s. Thus, international managerial practices have been aligned to some extent.
During the class, we also discussed the differences between early entrepreneurs and managers
since the 1960s, two often distinct categories with some common elements. Discussions were
engaging as we identified both positive and negative aspects of managerial practices over time.
For example, managerial fads or trends were discussed as a way to identify the limitations ofmanagers.
We also learned about historical personalities that have influenced and continue to influence the management world. Personalities, such as
Frederick Taylor and Henri Fayol, Coco Chanel, and Mary Parker Follet, have shaped managerial practices. We have discussed more contemporary entrepreneurs and managers as well, from Steve Jobs to Jack Welch, and their various practices.
Institutions like business schools and their degrees in Master of Business Administration (MBA) have also come to dominate the management field. We discussed how their influence have been felt throughout the world through exchanges of academic actors, research, methods, and managerial know-how. Several of these managerial qualities, such as discipline, responsibility, leadership, and team management,
can also be acquired in other fields, such as the military, raising doubts about the usefulness of these degrees. Nonetheless, the U.S. influence of business schools and their degrees, and teaching methods have also been influencing Japan. We noted that many Japanese universities, including Kyoto, now offer similar MBA programmes, inviting popular management speakers, such as Michael Porter.
Participants were assessed on critical skills, presentation skills, and audience management at the end of the course. The students presented
various managerial techniques and discussed the benefits and drawbacks of different practices. The students explained their selection and
AGST Newsletter | Spring/Summer 2023

answered questions from the audience. This was a great opportunity for everyone to participate and provide an overview of all the aspects
learned throughout the course.
Throughout the course, a variety of perspectives and changing characteristics of the management field were highlighted. As a result of Matthias' facilitation of an informal environment, the audience was active in its participation, and the discussion was stimulating. The fact that
Matthias has a fondness for both Japan and Kyoto University makes me confident we'll welcome him back with another series of engaging
courses in the future.

Adrian Cozmuta
Doctoral student, Graduate School of Economics

The Comparative Development Studies intensive course consisted of 2
blocks: first, lectures were held by Professor Hugh Campbell, a Professor of Sociology, Gender Studies and Criminology, School of Social Sciences, University of Otago in the 6th, 9th, 13th and 16th of December. The second block was taught by dr. Mark Vicol from Wageningen University in the 7th, 10th, 14th and 17th of February. Luckily, the lectures were
hold in person, allowing students and the professors to enjoy the content
more.

Comparative Development Studies
by Prof. Hugh Campbell
University of Otago& Assistant Prof. Mark Vicol
Wageningen University & Research

During both courses, the participating students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in diverse topics and engage in groupconversations. In the first module, Professor Campbell gave a brief, but intense introduction to thetheories, theoretical frameworks, ideologies in the field of social sciences, as well as some real-life
experiences. Some discussion topics were thought-provoking and made all students participate in
the discussions actively. In the second module, Professor Vicol’s
focus was on the political economy of rural livelihoods andagrarian change. Students gained an in-depth insight into the past and current situation of agrarian situations, agrarian change, rural livelihoods etc.
In summary, this opportunity would allow students to gain new knowledge and insights while deepening
their existing knowledge.

Cziczeri Klaudia
Master’s student, Graduate School of Economics

Historical Approaches to Businessand Economics A
by Prof. Stig Tenold
Norwegian School of Economics, NHH& Prof. Andrea Lluch
University of Los Andes and CONICETT

he first thing I would like to do is thank professor Kurosawa Takafumi for putting together this wonderful intensive course and it is anhonor to introduce what we learned from both renowned scholars,
professor Stig Tenold and professor Andrea Lluch, who led this intensive
course.
There were two modules in Historical Approaches to Business and Economics A: professor Stig's lecture on economic history and business history of
the shipping industry itself, and professor Andrea's lecture on Latin American business history and introduction to oral histories.

In the first lecture of professor Stig, we were asked to reconsider the concept of industry and what constitutes the industry with an exampleof shipping industry. For instance, we were asked to think about what is shipping industry, why is shipping an important industry, what
determines the cost of shipping and what kind of elements determine the shipping industry.
Second and third lectures focused on the factors shaping the industry and competition within it using shipping as an example. As part of our discussion, we discussed the long-term
trend of the shipping industry, as well as the structure of international trade, cross-trade,regimes within the industry, regulation, technological innovation, and a specific term, flag of
convenience, derived from an international attribute of the shipping industry.
In contrast to professor Stig's lecture on what is industry and what constitutes it, professor
Andrea's lecture discussed Latin American business history and entrepreneurship. Professor Andrea
pointed out that regional context matters to the business history of Latin America. We were asked tothink about the impact of state-led industrialization, import substitution industrialization, and thehistorical context of market reforms after 1980s. Next, we discussed Business History in Latin America
as an academic discipline, as well as its theoretical and methodological aspects that have largely been
ignored by Western-oriented researchers. Thirdly, family business in Latin America was discussed,
and professor Andrea highlighted the importance of non-market-oriented strategies, i.e., the role ofpartners, government, and reputation. In the last class, professor Andrea introduced an alternative
methodology, an interview, since Latin American firms rarely open their archives for analysis.
I appreciate your active participation and hope more students will attend and participate in AGST's next Historical Approaches to Businessand Economics course.

Baick Kyuhyun
Doctoral student, Graduate School of Economics
AGST Newsletter | Spring/Summer 2023

Graduate School ofLetters: Workshop ReportThe one-week Heidelberg University and Strasbourg University
Heidelberg University and Strasworkshop, alongside the Symposium for Transcultural Studbourg University Workshop Report
ies—Construction and Contestation: Counterculturality fromTranscultural Perspectives, provided an exhilarating opportunity totranscend both geographical and disciplinary boundaries. Meeting thefaculty and students from Japan and around the world in person was apleasure after my more than half a year staying in Germany. The workshop offered also an invaluable opportunity to practice mobility andborder-crossing amidst the ongoing pandemic. Presenting in two different locations throughout the workshop was a rewarding experiencethat has significant implications for my research, career, and personal growth.
Under the theme of Intersectionality, this workshop offered a platform for diverse talks, research, andexchanges that put intersectionality into practice. The presentations of other students provided avaluable opportunity to deepen my understanding of Japan as multicultural society and apply transcultural lens and perspectives into my research pivoting at Japan. The regional focuses of other participants were also stimulating and enlightening, transcending geographical and temporal boundaries
and taking me to a transcultural journey beyond my discipline. The workshop led to a reflexive andmethodological rethinking, particularly in my understanding of international students as highly mobile subjects and how macro mobility structures direct our mobility and border-crossing.
The immersive experience of border crossing at the workshop was particularly engaging. Participants
were not limited to the conference room but had to navigate themselves under constant changes inlocations, cultural and linguistic environments. This unique and challenging experience helped me to cultivate a deeper understanding ofborder crossing and mobility, which has significant implications for future research and practice. Among the presentations, I was particularlyinterested in those addressing social issues in Japan, such as international marriage, "hafu" as the children of Japanese and non-Japanese,
Ainu ethnic minority, comfort women, and others. The breadth and depth of the presentations in the field of sociology were awe-inspiring in
the way they not only used easy-to-understand language to familiarize a general audience with the common debates on those issues, but also
engaged scholars and students with an abundance of academic sources and vivid depictions.
Although I had participated and presented my research at the 15th Next-Generation Global Workshop
last September, the Heidelberg-Strasbourg workshop marked my first time presenting in person andtraveling to present. I felt thrilled and encouraged to present my recent research on Chinese Juku inJapan and receive many critical remarks directly from the audience. The setting to present both in
Heidelberg and Strasbourg also rendered it possible for me to adopt the suggestions from the firstpresentation and include them in my research for the later session. The comments from Prof. BjöreOle Kamm and Prof. Kjell Ericson were extremely helpful for me to develop my research from the perspectives of the higher education industry in Japan in general, and how specific procedures and settings, such as AAO in Kyoto University, play a role in the application and admission of prospective
students from China.
I feel indebted to the faculty of JDTS to make this workshop possible especially Prof. Björe-Ole Kamm and Prof. Kjell Ericson who have guided and accompanied us throughout the whole workshop and tour between Heidelberg and Strasbourg. The unique experience was not rendered possible without active participation of students from Kyoto University whose company I appreciate a lot. Many thanks to the faculty
and students from Strasbourg University with their organization, participation and help in visits and the conference session in Strasbourg.
Also I would like show my appreciation to Prof. Takahiro Yamamoto, Prof. Wikke Jansen and the Fachschaft who jointly offered a uniquelearning opportunity in the Symposium for Transcultural studies and marked the start of our workshop. I also want to thank Nozawa-san for
all the logistics and administrative issues back in Japan. The workshop came as an enjoyable and eye-opening journey thanks to all the efforts
from people of varied geographical bases, academic focuses, as well as identity & intersectionality, which indeed manifest the transcultural
aspects of the whole program.
Looking forwards to the next reunion back in Japan.
CHEN Qingzhe
Master’s Student, Graduate School of Letters

AGST Top Global Course
It is a pleasure to announce that seven students completed the AGST Top Global Course on March 24, 2023. They
come from the Graduate School of Economics, Graduate School of Letters and the Graduate School of Agriculture.
This brings the total number of students that have completed the programme to 64 since it was launched in March2017. More information about this programme can be found here.
AGST Newsletter | Spring/Summer 2023

Graduate School of

Agriculture: International Collaborative Courses

I

n February, Dr. Witsanu Attavanich, an Associate Professor in the Departmentof Economics at Kasetsart University, taught a fascinating course on Climate
Change, Environment, Agriculture, and Rural Development. The course attracted a diverse group of students from Japan, China, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Nigeria, creating a highly multinational environment that provided anenriching experience for all participants. The course was conducted face-to-face,providing an added advantage of in-person interaction that enhanced the learning
experience for all the students.

Climate Change, Environment,
Agriculture, and Rural Development: The Growing Interaction
and Impact
by Dr. Witsanu Attavanich
Kasetsart University

The purpose of the course was to educate students about the impact of climatechange on agriculture and the environment, and to provide solutions for foodwaste reduction, non-market valuation for natural resources, and the evaluation of programs and policies. Dr. Attavanich successfully achieved
these objectives by using many case studies such as one that illustrated the impact of climate change on sugarcane production in Thailand andthe US grain transport and many more, as well as discussing the challenges and opportunities for reducing food waste.
Furthermore, the course delved into ecosystem services valuation and methods for measuring their value using meta-analysis. Students learned
about the total economic value of natural resources and the environment, as well as methods for non-market valuation. Dr. Attavanich also
provided insights on how to evaluate programs and policies using the rural income diagnostic framework and its application.
Throughout the course, Dr. Attavanich encouraged students to think critically about each method,
its features, and shortcomings in real-world applications. He provided research articles and casestudies for each topic to gain a better understanding of their application in the real world.
The course was interactive, and Dr. Attavanich facilitated participatory classes that allowed students to share their perspectives and ideas, further enriching their learning experience. His teaching style was simple, easy-to-understand, and engaging, making it easy for students to follow andstay engaged.

The course was an excellent learning opportunity and is highly recommended to anyone interested in environmental sustainability. Dr. Attavanich's knowledge and passion for the subject matter were impressive, and the course was informative and easy to understand. Students left
the course feeling more confident and motivated to contribute to the fight against climate change.
Hassan Sulaiman
Master’s Student, Graduate School of Agriculture

Rural Sociology: Multiple
Crises in Rural Areasby Prof. Claudia Neu
University of GöttingenIt was an excellent intensive lecture course to gain an overview of global issues in ruralsociology and to consider commonalities and differences with Japan. In the lectures,
we have learned and discussed various topics about rural sociology, such as indicatorsof rural areas/ rural identity/ social cohesion/ demographic change/ gender inequality/ future prediction…

As an individual woman living in a rural community in Hokkaido, participating in the"Local vitalization cooperator program" started in 2009 by the government to tackle depopulation in rural areas, demographic change, and gender inequality are very familiar
issues. How can small-scale farmers (both men and women) become independent, leading to increased sustainable agriculture and improved
depopulation? These are problems that I have been always considering since I moved to Hokkaido. The lectures gave me an awareness thatlearning from cases in overseas communities and disseminating Hokkaido cases overseas could be effective, deepening measures to improveissues that can be shared.
It was very interesting to discuss the future predictions of rural society, dividing the class into
two groups “utopia” and “distopia”. The future of rural society is subject to many factors, including changing demographics, technology, globalization, and environmental concerns. Therefore,predictions vary widely, with several proposed models to describe potential outcomes. Amongthese, we discussed Rural Stations, Farming cities, Rural Ghettos, Rural Niches, Rural Continuums, and some more. Some of these predictions are already happening, but it may depend on theregion whether the phenomenon accelerates or another emerges. In the case of Japan, it seems
unlikely that a rural ghetto will occur, but for example, rural stations might be more likely to happen or accelerate. Rural stations are known for
their high levels of mechanization and specialization, which have led to increased productivity and efficiency. However, there are concerns
about the environmental and social impacts of these large-scale agro-industries. I am personally concerned about turning Japanese farmland
into rural stations, although the scale might differ from overseas.
To address these issues, it is necessary to explore alternative models, which prioritize local needs and are more adaptable to changing circumstances. It is also important to find more measures for supporting small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs. Although there are many perspectives
to approach this issue, I hope that my research on the "Local Vitalization Cooperator program" will contribute even a little to it.
Saki Teraoka
Doctoral Student, Graduate School of Agriculture
AGST Newsletter | Spring/Summer 2023

AGST Spotlight Interview

Q2: Did you find any differences between educational
environment Kyoto University and Heidelberg University?

Dr. Takuma Melber
Senior Lecturer and Coordinator of the MasterTranscultural Studies Programme, Heidelberg
University, Germany+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++T

he joint degree master program in Transcultural
Studies constitute a new research field in the humanities and social sciences that seeks to address the challenges posed by global connectivity to existing disciplines
and frames of knowledge. In Japan, Kyoto University has
instituted the first and until now only major in the country
for this area of study, which is also the first international
joint degree in the humanities.
The study program is situated at two partner institutions,
the Graduate School of Letters (GSL) of Kyoto University
and the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural
Studies (HCTS) of Heidelberg
University.
Buildingonthestrengths of both institutions, this jointly conducted graduate program offers students
access to an interdisciplinary field in the humanities and social sciences to study and research transcultural dynamics between andwithin Asia and Europe
in a global context.

In March 2023, we invited Dr. Takuma Melber, who teaches
at the Heidelberg Centre for Transcultural Studies (HCTS),
our partner institution, to give an intensive course entitled“The Memory of the Second World War in Asia and Europe”
as part of the Course on Asian Transcultural Studies (CATS).
Q1: How was your experience teaching to students in
Kyoto University?
Dr. Melber: It was a great pleasure giving a course about‘The Memory of the Second World War in Asia and Europe’at Kyoto University. It was the first time that I offered thisclass as a compact course and the students impressed me
how enthusiastically they have been attending each and every session of the course. To be truly honest, it was a very intensive but also very productive time for me, too. I reallyenjoyed teaching and we all – students and me included –learned a lot by exchanging our thoughts and opinions basedon the readings and further material.

Dr. Melber: I gave thecourse mentioned above
during the official lecturefree period at Kyoto University. No surprise, it wascomparatively quiet on
campus – so in that sense
it was the same situation
as in Heidelberg duringlecture-free period times.
One important point interms of my own research was that I got access at Kyoto University to sources, which we are unable to look up at Western Universities, meaning many sources – in my case material related with Japan’s wartime history – stored physically in
Kyoto University’s libraries. It would be great if I could get achance in the future for making a similar teaching and research experience in Kyoto – then maybe during a regular
lecture-period?
Q3: You have been teaching in M.A. Transcultural
Studies (MATS) Program since 2016. What do you like
about the program?
Dr. Melber: I enjoy most the interdisciplinary and international approach of the MA Transcultural Studies. Students
as well as teachers from different national as well as academic backgrounds are shaping the program continuously and
we are proud that we have been able to establish Transcultural Studies as an academic field at our prestigious University in Heidelberg – the MA Transcultural Studies exists now
for more than 10 years! Of course, I am also considering thesmoothly running Kyoto & Heidelberg Joint Degree Masterof Arts in Transcultural Studies (JDTS) and the regular exchange with our most important partner, Kyoto University,
as a story of success. I hope that we keep going the exchangewith Kyōdai, which goes beyond a solely students’ level,
meaning exchanging teaching staff-members and working
together in transcultural research projects.
Q4: Please let us know about your future professional
projects and academic perspective/goals.
Dr. Melber: At the moment, Professor Kerstin von Lingen(University of Vienna) and I are working on an editedvolume (in German language) on ‘Asia as War Theatre’ in an
epoch-spanning and transnational perspective. Furthermore,
I am continuing my research on the history of both World
Wars as well as German Colonial History in the Asia-Pacificregion. My current main project is research on the history ofGerman POWs (prisoners of war) in Japan, 1914-1920 – a story, still widely unknown in Germany.

AGST Newsletter | Spring/Summer 2023

Wako Asato
Associate Professor,
Graduate School of Letters