NAMBU Kotaro | Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Reason Why You Decided to Apply

I am currently studying the theory of the public sphere written by Jürgen Habermas in my seminar. As a person who studies the public sphere that aims for symbiosis through dialogue between people with different interests, I found this program very attractive to learn from the lecturers' accumulated experience in the field and to think about “symbiosis with others”. I also applied for the program because I wanted to make use of the experience of using all five senses through a week of communal living and practical training, not only in my own research but also in my own way of life.

What do you hope to gain from participating in the program and how will you apply it to your future undergraduate studies or career?

The first thing I took away was the perspective of the “irreplaceable stranger with a visible face. For me, who had lived only in cities, strangers were “strangers” and “scenery”. However, living with others in the field does not mean living with “strangers” protected by universal human rights, but living together with irreplaceable, face to face strangers. The perspective and sense of “living with others” from the perspective of the field, which is not a theory, gave me an opportunity to reconsider my way of life in the future.

Message for Students Interested in The Program

For those of you who have lived in AP House and Beppu City, a small place where students from all over the world gather, “coexistence” and “others” are issues that are close to your hearts. The week of deepening your understanding of these issues from unusual perspectives through classes, practical training, and discussions with your fellow students and professors will be an asset to your life. I hope you to participate in this program with a pure, honest, greedy, and critical attitude toward learning, and I know you will acquire something worth in your life.