APU RESEARCH SEEDS - Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Language: 日本語
Language: 日本語
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University
Address: 1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita 874-8577 Japan

Cooperating with people throughout society to change Japan and the world for the better.

What kinds of problems are researchers at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) interested in? What kinds of research activities do they pursue?
And how might these activities help address problems in the community and society, and challenges faced by companies, public authorities, and other stakeholders?
This Research Seeds collection provides some answers to these questions.

As the title suggests, these are “seeds” of research that we hope to cultivate through collaborations with industry, academia, and government, so that one day they will bloom as innovations that change society for the better.

APU RESEARCH SEEDS for Social Impact

Matama Beach (Bungotakada City, Oita Prefecture)

The tidal flats of the Matama Coast (Bungotakada City, Oita Prefecture) are a popular sight at sunset. Tidal flats play important roles such as cleansing seawater and maintaining biodiversity, and people have enjoyed their benefits since ancient times.

Mount Yufu (Yufu City, Oita Prefecture)

Controlled burns are conducted annually at Mount Yufu (Yufu City, Oita Prefecture), maintaining and regenerating the extensive grasslands. They are a spring tradition, and one facet of coexistence between humans and nature.

Hakusui Dam (Hakusui Reservoir Weir, Taketa City, Oita Prefecture)

Known as “the most beautiful dam in Japan,” Hakusui Dam (Hakusui Reservoir Dam; Taketa City, Oita Prefecture) was constructed using a special method attuned to the natural environment. The dam continues to provide water for agricultural irrigation in the local area today.

Profiling “seeds” of research at APU, which will change Japan and the world for the better.

INDEX 1. Social Issues
Generating Innovation, Growing Japan’s Economy
Revitalizing Communities, Reforming Public Administration
Achieving Well-being, Inheriting a Free and Peaceful Society
Diversity and Inclusion, Communication and Multicultural Coexistence
INDEX 2. Research Fields
Business / Management
  • Figure
    Staying Ahead of the Curve with Cutting-Edge Marketing Research

    Investigate cutting-edge consumer marketing through the collaboration of companies, students, and university researchers

    ManagementMarketing
    LEE Geunhee
    LEE Geunhee
    Professor, College of International Management
  • Figure
    Instilling the Power of Innovation in Organizations

    Practical research that brings new creativity and growth potential to firms through a fusion of entrepreneurship education and organizational development (OD)

    Management
    MAKINO Emi
    MAKINO Emi
    Associate Professor, College of International Management
  • Figure
    Proposing Strategies in the Context of Asset Value Uncertainty

    Applying experience as a financial markets professional to academic research, proposing corporate strategies and policies to address asset price volatility

    Theoretical economicsFinance
    YAMAKAWA Tetsufumi
    YAMAKAWA Tetsufumi
    Professor, College of International Management
  • Figure
    Integrating All Kinds of Knowledge to Explore the Science of Management

    Identifying new communication theories across academic disciplines, developing "better management," and tackling the issues facing modern society

    ManagementInformation Science
    FUKUYAMA Kimihiro
    FUKUYAMA Kimihiro
    Associate Professor, College of International Management
  • Figure
    Challenging Value Creation to Recover from Japan’s “Lost 30 Years”

    Scientifically elucidating innovation ecosystems and challenging to create new value through diversity and new combinations

    Business ManagementSocial Systems Engineering
    FUJITA Masanori
    FUJITA Masanori
    Professor, College of International Management
  • Figure
    Strengthening Japan’s Drug Discovery Capabilities Through Drug Discovery Systems Research

    Studying the medical drug discovery processes, strategies, and ecosystems from a global perspective, using the findings to support drug discovery research and contribute to policymaking

    International managementPharmaceutical sciences
    OKUYAMA Ryo
    OKUYAMA Ryo
    Professor, College of International Management
  • Figure
    Transforming Japan's Public Administration by Improving the Problem-Solving Skills of Civil Servants

    Creating an ecosystem to enhance the problem-solving skills of public institutions and realizing innovation in public administration through the development of human resources for the civil service

    Management InformaticsPublic Policy Studies
    KANO Eiji
    KANO Eiji
    Associate Professor, College of Sustainability and Tourism
  • Figure
    Tackling Social Problems in Regional Japan Through ICT and Wisdom

    Using information and communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to connect people with one another and with field expertise, and unlock new solutions to address problems surrounding regional agriculture

    Information ScienceSociologyEducational technology
    NISHANTHA Giguruwa
    NISHANTHA Giguruwa
    Professor, College of Sustainability and Tourism
Sociology / Tourism Studies
  • Figure
    Contributing to Future Cooperative Decision-Making by Residents and Governments

    Analyzing consensus-building processes for a coastal embankment project following the Great East Japan Earthquake and establishing better cooperative decision-making models for residents and governments

    Environmental sociologyInterdisciplinary research
    YAMASHITA Hiromi
    YAMASHITA Hiromi
    Professor, College of Asia Pacific Studies
  • Figure
    Tourism and the Happiness of Local Residents: Clarifying the Relationship

    This study explores community-based tourism (CBT) through the lens of social psychology, placing local residents’ identity and psychological well-being at its core

    Tourism StudiesSocial Psychology
    YOUN Seung Ho
    YOUN Seung Ho
    Associate Professor, College of Sustainability and Tourism
  • Figure
    Changing the Future of Hotel Management with Research on Organizational Culture

    Developing a concrete methodology for “Treating Employees as Customers”; Realizing the sustainable growth of the hotel organization with three types of support

    Hotel Management
    HASHIMOTO Shunsaku
    HASHIMOTO Shunsaku
    Professor, College of Sustainability and Tourism
  • Figure
    Employee Happiness Unlocks the Future of Hospitality

    Focusing on the “inside” that supports the tourism and hospitality industry: research on employee well-being contributes to sustainable growth

    Hospitality managementManagementTourism
    SAITO Hiroaki
    SAITO Hiroaki
    Associate Professor, College of International Management
  • Figure
    Opening New Doors for Japan by Sustaining Wartime Memories

    Potential for new “memory studies” in Japan generated by perspectives from dark tourism and pop culture

    Media studies / cultural studiesTourismAsian studiesCultural sociology
    YOSHIDA Kaori
    YOSHIDA Kaori
    Professor, College of Asia Pacific Studies
  • Figure
    Rethinking Sustainable Tourism

    Exploring sustainable tourism from a multispecies perspective, where humans and nonhumans coexist

    Tourism StudiesHuman Geography
    USUI Rie
    USUI Rie
    Associate Professor, College of Sustainability and Tourism
Language / Multicultural Coexistence
  • Figure
    Creating a New Inclusive Wave in University Language Education

    Use Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and challenge ourselves to create classes that considers the diversity of students in university education

    Foreign Language EducationEnglish Language Linguistics
    BERGER Maiko
    BERGER Maiko
    Associate Professor, Center for Language Education
  • Figure
    Using UDL to Realize Foreign Language Education that Leaves No One Behind

    Applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to language education to maximize the potential of learners with diverse attributes

    Teaching MethodologiesEducational PolicyForeign Language Education
    JUNG Jonghee
    JUNG Jonghee
    Associate Professor, Center for Language Education
  • Figure
    Create a Universal Japanese that Promotes Diversity

    Beyond “Simple Japanese”; Create a language environment for a society where diverse people live together

    LinguisticsTeaching Japanese as a Foreign LanguageJapanese Linguistics
    HONDA Akiko
    HONDA Akiko
    Professor, Center for Language Education
  • Figure
    Aiming to Connect People Through Language Education

    Implementing language education centered on connections with society by complementing vertical learning with horizontal learning

    Language educationJapanese language educationLocal disaster preparedness
    ISHIMURA Fumie
    ISHIMURA Fumie
    Tenured Senior Lecturer, Center for Language Education
  • Figure
    Connecting Non-Japanese Workers and the Japanese Language to Attain an Inclusive Society

    Providing recommendations and assistance with the intention of building better relationships between non-Japanese workers and the Japanese language and between non-Japanese workers and Japanese society

    Japanese language education
    NUNOO Katsuichiro
    NUNOO Katsuichiro
    Professor, Center for Language Education
Contact Us
Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University Outreach Research Office
Address: 1-1 Jumonjibaru, Beppu, Oita 874-8577 Japan
Tel: +81-977-78-1134　 Mail: reo@apu.ac.jp