Civil Society & International Cooperation Faculty of Global Studies Sophia University
Research Area: Comparative and International Education, International Educational Cooperation, ESD, Sustainable Education
Research Approach: My work centers on lifelong learning that is sustainable both for oneself and for others. This type of learning is driven by endogenous motivation—the desire to learn, create meaningful change, and fully engage with oneself and the world around us. It goes far beyond simply acquiring skills. The presence of others plays a crucial role in affirming and enriching our own existence, and these "others" are not limited to people (more-than-human). They include the natural world, animals, and plants that surround us. I believe that as we move through different stages of life, we all participate in a continuous process of learning, unlearning, and breaking away from "business as usual."
Background: Graduated from the Faculty of Education, Okayama University (BA) and the Graduate School for International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University (MA), and also submitted his doctoral thesis to the Graduate School of Human Sciences, Sophia University (Ph.D.). Dispatched as a science teacher by the JICA-JOCV program. Worked as a Senior Researcher, Dept. of International Research and Co-operation, National Institute for Educational Policy Research (NIER), and Associate Professor, Center for Global Education and Discovery, Sophia University. Concurrently assumed as the Advisor for Literacy and Non-formal Education at JICA, a member of the steering committee of the UNESCO World Conference on ESD, and the Japanese Government Representative to the PISA Governing Board, etc.
Academic Affiliaion: Secretary-General of Japan Comparative Education Society (JCES) for twice (2017-2020; 2020-2023), editor of "Annual Educational Studies" in Japan (2018-2023; 2023-present) and assistant editor of "International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education" (2024-present)