Many of the students I have supervised had backgrounds of different disciplines: particularly environmental engineering or environmental science, but also agriculture, microbiology, health science, geography, international relations, and law. I welcome students who are passionate about the topics introduced in this page. Students who join the laboratory will first learn about WASH, water environment, and waste(water) management in Asia and Africa including Japan. At the same time, the students will learn about physicochemical and microbiological analysis, statistical analysis, interview and questionnaire technique, and methods for field works. Some research methods have been developed for the research projects. Then, the students will engage in field research for several months.

First time, you will go to the field with me to get used to the field and learn basics on field works on the ground. During the period of field works, we will continue to communicate via email, ZOOM, Slack, WhatsApp, and other tools. The student will also be carefully guided by the counterparts in the field (local universities, NGOs, etc.) typically with support of young local staff and graduate students.

Some do field research using methodologies they learned in Japan, some develop tools/technologies/systems for local use in Japan and then go to the field to apply them, and some develop and use tools/technologies/systems to solve problems in the field.

The people we meet in the field are full of energy and lively expressions. In addition to obtaining research results, interacting with these people is one of the most exciting aspects of field works. On the other hand, it is also important to know the reality of WASH and environmental issues behind the lives of these people, and to feel and think for yourself what the people on the ground are thinking and feeling. Many of my students have made friends in the field

The results of the research are summarized in the form of a paper and presented. In the process of writing the thesis, students spend a great deal of time discussing with me and learning how to make and write an academic paper as they refine it. After graduation, many of my students are working in academic sector or business related to WASH or environmental issues of water and waste in in Asia and Africa.

If you are interested in my research, please contact me by e-mail or other means. You may also visit me at my university. I am an associate professor at the Division of African Area Studies, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University. If you would like to join my lab, you will basically need to enroll in the graduate school, but anyway please contact me first. I am looking for people who are passionate about water, sanitation, hygiene and environmental issues.

• Division of African Area Studies, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University

• Why I decided to be a researcher on this theme? ->myself