YUMOTO Satoshi | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Reasons for Participating in the Program

I decided to join this program because I wanted to step outside the academic setting and use my five senses in thinking about “how to design the next society.” In my seminar, I usually study social design through close readings of the sociologist Sosuke Mita’s works. Textual analysis is fundamental to scholarship, but we often end up chasing concepts and becoming overly intellectual in a way that disconnects us from lived reality. I was also drawn to the prospect of spending a week in shared living, which promised rich, intensive communication and learning with others.

How the Program Helped You Grow

The most significant growth I experienced through the program was being strongly motivated to “think from the field.” At university, I usually deepen my expertise by reading texts and engaging with academic concepts. But there are so many things you simply can’t understand without stepping into real-world settings. The lecturer of this program has spent over twenty years engaged in NPO activities in mountain villages. Through that experience, he has developed a grounded, human, and deeply embodied perspective that I find compelling.
Stepping outside the university—off campus! —and physically engaging - seeing, hearing, and touching - sparked insights that never emerge at a desk. Reading and literature are essential, of course, but I want to keep deepening my inquiry by throwing myself into the unpredictable moments of inspiration that exist only beyond the campus.

Message for Students Interested in The Program

This program is ideal for students interested in social design. It’s also highly recommended for those whose current research doesn’t align perfectly with the program or who are still undecided about their research theme. That’s because the discussions on sites range widely, from nonprofit studies and contemporary social theory to regional revitalization and even theories of selfhood. You’ll either deepen your interests or discover new ones. And in a society as convenient as ours, the experience of sharing living spaces, meals, and daily life under one roof with a dozen peers is truly a rare experience. More than anything, it will become one of the most memorable experiences of your university life.