NEWS

2024.01.10

Participated in Asia Pacific Conference 2023!

　The Asia Pacific Conference 2023 took place at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu City from December 2 to December 3, 2023. This time, six panels from the Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Institute participated in the conference. Below are reports from these panels.

“From Exclusion to Inclusion: Migrants, Diaspora, and Returnees in Post-COVID Asia”

【Presenters and Titles】
・Moderator: Dr. Aoi MOCHIZUKI (Postdoctoral Fellow of JSPS)：“Challenges to Cultural Coexistence in the Century of Refugees: Belongingness for Syrian Refugees Today”
・Dr. Jinhye LEE (Assistant Professor, Kinugasa Research Organization, Ritsumeikan University): “The Current State of Acceptance of Refugees and Ethnic Returnees in East Asia: The Case of Korean Diaspora and the Evacuation from Ukraine to South Korea”
・Dr. Kyoto SHIGA (Lecturer, Ritsumeikan University): “Migrants’ Network Shaped by Affinity of Religious Ideas: A Case Study of Turkish Migration in New York”
・Dr. Gustavo MEIRELES (Lecturer, Kanda University of International Studies): “Government-Diaspora Relations in a Post-COVID World: Changes in Brazilian Policy and the Role of the Community in Japan”

【Panel Overview】
The advance of globalization has brought new aspects to the issues related to international migration. Various conflicts continue to emerge throughout the world today, and many people are moving across borders for economic and political reasons in search of the security of their livelihoods. As a result, the social inclusion of migrants, diaspora, and returnees has become a critical issue for the international community to resolve. In addition, the COVID-19 crisis that began in 2020 has brought about significant restrictions on international migration and revealed the limits of multiculturalism in various countries. Furthermore, the presence of migrants is expected to increase due to the transformation of national societies and the deepening of social and economic inequalities. In this post-COVID era, there is a need to reexamine the state of social inclusion in each country and to resolve issues surrounding international migration. This session aimed to analyze the current state of international migration from various cases of immigrants, diaspora, and returnees in Asia, and contribute from an academic perspective to the realization of a multicultural society. Specifically, the presentations in the session include the case of the Korean diaspora returning to South Korea from Ukraine, the case of the formation of a network of Turkish immigrants in New York, the case of the relationship between the Brazilian diaspora and their home country during the pandemic, and the case of Syrian refugees in Europe by focusing religious and linguistic education. by taking up examples of religion and language education.

【Summary of Each Presentation】
The first presenter was Dr. Jinhye Lee, and she gave a presentation entitled “The Current State of Acceptance of Refugees and Ethnic Returnees in East Asia: The Case of Korean Diaspora and the Evacuation from Ukraine to South Korea," which discussed Korean Diaspora (Koryo Saram) returning to South Korea from Ukraine. Dr. Lee discussed the legal status of the Korean diaspora from two aspects: ‘refugees’ and ‘ethnic returnees.’ Her research question focused on the reason behind Koreaʼs low refugee recognition rate and the background of the challenges faced by the Korean government in accepting Ukrainian refugees due to the country’s refugee regulations. She examined the limitations and challenges regarding Korean refugee regulations and analyzed how the refugee regulations in the country affect the choices of refugees. Her presentation clarified South Korea's policy toward the Korean diaspora from Ukraine. Regarding the refugee aspect of the Korean diaspora, she discussed the complexity of South Korea's refugee application process and the low refugee recognition rate and noted that many of the Korean diaspora who came from Ukraine originally had ties to South Korea. She pointed out that Korean diaspora had come to South Korea as refugees, but they intended to obtain a visa for staying in South Korea from the beginning. This is because Korean refugee regulations are very strict. She explained that Korean Diaspora from Ukraine came to Korea in April 2022 after the war began, and they were issued with only temporary visas because of the administrative problems. On the other hand, regarding the Korean diaspora from Ukraine as "ethnic returnees," it was pointed out that many of them have roots in Central Asia and are stateless. Korean Diaspora in Central Asia moved to Ukraine after the collapse of Soviet Union and engaged in seasonal agriculture. This presentation provided important implications for the discussion of multicultural coexistence in South Korea by examining the recent case of Korean Diaspora from Ukraine regarding the historical acceptance of refugees and ethnic returnees to South Korea.

The second presenter was Dr. Kyoko Shiga, and her presentation title was “Migrants’ Network Shaped by Affinity of Religious Ideas: A Case Study of Turkish Migration in New York.” She presented part of her findings regarding the Turkish immigrants’ network in New York. Previous research found that the bonding of Turkish immigrants in Europe and the USA was shaped by family ties and by individuals whom they met who came from the same hometown, as key factors in the formation of their network. This study reexamined the nature of the Turkish migratory network in diverse New York, based on these concepts. It made an attempt to shed light reveal how the connections among Turkish immigrants are formed; and how the network influences and supports them. This study used an anthropological approach to apply the social capital theory, which presented the Bonding and Bridging types. The research findings demonstrated the five networks of Turkish immigrants in New York as well as their motives for migrating. Regarding their immigration aspiration, the USA is a more promising destination for immigrants than Europe due to the potential for achieving both economic success and social status advancement. Conclusions drawn from the analysis of the immigrants’ interviews in New York are as follows: Their close family ties and common homeland ties were what encouraged them to immigrate to the USA. Their patterns of social capital were divided into five categories in the process of relocating to or/and raising children in New York. In New York’s public places, the most notable and active groups were those led by Turkish immigrants who were deeply committed to the interpretation of Islam by a religious leader. This could be related to James Coleman’s (1988) concept of bridging type social capital. Beneath the main structure, nevertheless, exist the bonding type social capitals. These networks of bonding type were closed to the public. This organization provided Turkish newcomer immigrants assistance in settling in and adjusting to their new surroundings as well as the opportunity to engage in social and active interactions with the local New Yorkers. It also helped Turkish mothers to connect with other Turkish mothers and pass on their language and culture to their children. They were able to build a bridge between the local New Yorkers and the Turkish immigrants.

The third presenter, Dr. Gustavo Meireles, gave an overview of Brazil's policy during the coronavirus crisis with the title "Government-Diaspora Relations in a Post-COVID World: Changes in Brazilian Policy and the Role of the Community in Japan." He analyzed the relationship between the Brazilian diaspora and the home country. This presentation examined three research questions: (1) how have Brazilian Government-Diaspora relations change over different administrations? (2) how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected Government-Diaspora relations? and (3) how has the Brazilian community in Japan contributed to Government-Diaspora relations? This presentation described the historical formation process of the Brazilian community in Japan, and then provided an overview of the Brazilian government's policies toward the diaspora. After 2008, many members of the Brazilian community discuss the need for mechanisms of mutual aid due to the high unemployment rate. For example, in Nagoya and Tokyo, there were public demonstrations by a group referred to as the SOS Community which was organized by the non-profit organization “Friends of Brazil Association” in 2009. Additionally, Dr. Meireles focused on the Council of Brazilian Representatives Abroad (CRBE), an organization that represents the voice of Brazilian communities around the world and highlights their work outside the jurisdiction of the Brazilian government. The organization was founded in 2010 as a result of the growing identification of Brazilian communities around the world. The creation of opportunities for the Brazilian diaspora to advocate for their needs has expanded the participation of the civil society in policymaking and strengthened their networks and advocacy of their interests. In this presentation, Dr. Meireles showed that diaspora communities, which were perceived as temporary and therefore lacked the incentive to organize themselves, have developed the formation of their own associations and have received support from both the Brazilian and Japanese governments. He pointed out that the diaspora developed new structures to adjust to the new scenario presented by an administration hostile to migrants and refugees and reluctant to allow civil society’s participation in policy making. Through his presentation, Dr. Meireles contributed a fruitful discussion to the studies of Brazilian diaspora.

The final presenter was Dr. Aoi Mochizuki, and her presentation title was “Challenges to Cultural Coexistence in the Century of Refugees: Belongingness for Syrian Refugees Today.” In this presentation, she focused on the case of the Syrian refugee crisis to discuss how religious education and linguistic education in Europe are provided and supported refugees’ reconstruction of their livelihoods. First, this presentation provided an overview of how the citizenship rights of immigrants are guaranteed in European countries, and then explained the current situation of Islamophobia that has been rampant in European countries since the Syrian refugee crisis. In a society where Islamophobia is increasing, the question of how Syrian refugees, who are both Muslim and Arab, are able to secure their belongingness was deepened and Dr. Mochizuki proposed that it is necessary to discuss this from an educational perspective. In this presentation, she focused on the relationship between religion and politics in European countries and pointed out that the relationship between Christianity and politics affects the tolerance of that country toward Islam. In particular, in the case of Germany, Islam is not sufficiently taught in public education due to a shortage of religious studies teachers, and there is a lack of private schools offering Islamic education, and mosques are providing Islamic education to immigrants and refugees. Based on field research, she clarified that mosques play a part in education. She also cited the example of Berlin, where immigrants and refugees are taking the initiative when it comes to language education. This presentation has contributed to the development of the debate on symbiotic societies in Europe from the perspective of religion and language education.

“Approaching the Characteristics of Modern Japan: Case Analyses Based on the Correlation Between Organizational Values and Political Realities”

【Presenters and Titles】
・Moderator: Dr. Kazutaka SOGO (Senior Researcher, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization): The Logic of Reconstructing a Political Party and Subsequent Internal Dilemmas in Modern Japan: Focusing on the Political Concepts of the Rikken Seiyukai Party During the National Unity Government（1932-1936）”
・Ms. Shiho KUSANAGI (Ph.D. candidate, Tokyo Metropolitan University): “Reconsidering the Idea of Reforming the House of Representatives Electoral System in Postwar Japan: Focusing on the Discussions in the Electoral System Council during the 1960s and Early 1970s”
・Dr. Shinya SIRAIWA (Lecturer, Hokkaido University of Education): “Institutionalization of the Former Soldier Association in Postwar Japan: Focusing on the Details and Background of the Transformation into a Public Interest Corporation”
・Dr. Ryo TSUNODA (Senior Researcher, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization): “Self-Representations and Social Activities of Retired Self-Defense Force Personnel: A Sociological Study on Their Participation in a Japanese War Veterans’ Association”

【Panel Overview】
In the process of democratic development, the question often arises of how to relate to and distance oneself from “politics” or “partisanship.” Compared to other countries around the world, however, modern Japan was unique in that “bipartisanship,” or “political neutrality” have been particularly strongly sought after. This session attempted to capture the meaning of “bipartisanship” or “neutrality” in modern Japan by focusing on the organizational values of political parties and intermediary groups that were the nexus of society and politics.

There were four presenters in this session. The first presenter, Dr. Kazutaka Sogo, analyzed how the Rikken Seiyukai, the largest majority party, attempted to reorganize party politics under the historical conditions of the 1930s, when partisanship was denied. The second presenter, Ms. Shiho Kusanagi, focused on postwar electoral reforms and revealed the existence of the idea of a nonpartisan two-party system. The third presenter, Dr. Shinya Shiraiwa, showed how the Goyuren, one of the war veterans associations in postwar Japan, was positioned as a special right-wing association while being politically exploited in the process of becoming a public interest incorporated foundation. And the final presenter, Ryo Tsunoda, focused on individual former JSDF officers and analyzed how they changed their former military consciousness as they joined and activated in the War Veteran’s Association.

【Summary of Each Presentation】
The first presenter, Kazutaka Sogo, reported on the consolidation concept of the Rikken Seiyukai party in the early 1930s, after the collapse of party politics. In previous research, it has been considered that the Seiyukai of that period acted on the premise of a return to party politics. In contrast, Dr. Sogo attempted to clarify that the Seiyukai already had an important contradiction in terms of power consolidation during the period of the party cabinet, and that the issue of how to overcome this contradiction was an important principle of activity for the Seiyukai during that period. The results of the study from this perspective revealed that (1) rather than a return to party politics, there were forces that sought to use a national unity government to implement radical administrative reforms, and (2) the concept that the Seiyukai ultimately arrived at in order to implement radical reforms diverged from the principle of parliamentary centralism, which was an important basis for party politics. Based on the above, Dr. Sogo concluded that the administrative reform issue defines the activities of the Seiyukai after the collapse of party politics and can be positioned as an important endpoint of the structural contradictions in modern Japan’s politics.

The second presenter, Shiho Kusanagi, focused on the issue of electoral reform of the House of Representatives in Japan during the 1960s and early 1970s. Her report attempted to reexamine the issue of electoral reform during this period by making use of the documents of the Electoral System Council (‘Minutes of the Electoral System Council’), which have not been fully utilized in previous research. What is important here is that she focused on the development of bipartisan discussions through a reevaluation of the Council, which had been negatively viewed as partisan by the Liberal Democratic Party because it was a governmental body. As a result, it became clear that the Election System Council was a forum where various ideas for electoral reform were brought forward and discussed against the backdrop of the complex situation of the period, which saw the emergence of a multiparty system and the growing momentum for opposition party coalitions. This study is an important achievement in that it provides insight into the origins of Japan’s current electoral system and reveals that the Liberal Democratic Party’s single-party system was a forum for discussions that went beyond the framework of the Liberal Democratic Party’s one-party rule toward the realization of a future two-party system. 

The third presenter, Dr. Shinya Shiraiwa, explained how Goyūren, the Japanese War Veterans' Association, became a public interest incorporated association in 1956. Goyūren boasts the largest number of members among Japanese War Veterans' Associations and is known as an association that has had a significant impact on politics, society, and other areas as a public interest corporation. Dr. Shiraiwa explained why Goyūren, with these characteristics, was recognized as a public interest corporation after the war, and what were the details and background of its incorporation. He examined documents related to public interest corporations held by the National Archives of Japan to find out the government's perception of Goyūren.

As a result, it was revealed that Goyūren sought to establish itself as a public interest corporation in order to maintain its organization in the face of warnings from the police and society that it was a right-wing organization. In the process, the organization was removed from the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, thus eliminating its original goal of being a welfare-oriented association. It is concluded that such incorporation of Goyūren resulted in both state patronage and state intervention.

The fourth presenter, Dr. Ryo Tsunoda, presented the process of former JSDF officers joining the Japanese War Veterans' Association. The association has encourage former JSDF officers to join to help with memorial services and other activities in the face of the recent decline in the number of war veterans. Dr. Tsunoda's presentation analyzed the Japanese War Veterans' Association's newsletter and interviewed its members to identify the reasons why former JSDF officers join the organization and the identities they form through their activities in the association. The results of the study revealed that the first reason was to understand the identity of the former Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel.

The results revealed the following points. First, former JSDF officers were recruited to the Japanese War Veterans' Association by their seniors. Second, they seek to improve the social standing of the JSDF through holding memorial services for the war dead of the former armed forces. Third, the JSDF officers not only admired the former Japanese military officers, but also tried to gain experience by learning about its problems. Dr. Tsunoda concluded that the former JSDF officers did not join the Japanese War Veterans' Association with any kind of awareness of the problems they faced, but rather discovered these problems through their participation and activities in the organization. In other words, they are motivated to solve the problems of the JSDF through what they have learned from their activities in the Japanese War Veterans' Association, and by looking back on their time in the JSDF.

“Low Carbon Development in Asia: Policies and Challenges”

【Presenters and Titles】
・Moderator：Dr. Ho Thanh Tam (Senior Researcher, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization):“Sustainable Agriculture of Rice and Its Promotion Policies: Japanese and Vietnamese Perspectives”
・Mr. Le Hoang Minh (Ph.D. candidate, Graduate School of Economics, Kyoto University.): “Provision of Labor Contracts after the Labor Code 2012 – Analysis of Firm-Level Data in Vietnam”
・Ms. Ei Ei Thein (PhD Candidate, Graduate School of Economics, Ritsumeikan University): “The Role of Renewable Power Generation in Sustainable Economic Growth and Climate Change Mitigation: An Asian Countries’ Perspective”
・Dr. ADUBA Joseph Jr. (Senior Researcher, BKC Research Organization of Social Sciences, Ritsumeikan University):“On the Efficiency of Rice Milling in Developing Countries: Does Scale and Regional Disparity Matter?”
・Mr. Yusuke Naito (Master Student, Keio University): “The Frontier Trends of Ecology on Urban Planning in East Asia – Thinking About East-Asian Urban Planning Systems Basing on The Frontier Case of Nagoya, Japan”

【Panel Overview】
Low-carbon development separates economic growth from carbon emissions, pollution, and resource usage. This approach promotes growth by creating eco-friendly products, industries, and business models that not only benefit the environment but also enhance the well-being of communities. This session presented valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities of implementing these approaches in case studies from not only Asian but also African countries. First, Dr. Ho Thanh Tam presented the current situation of sustainable rice agriculture and policies for its promotion in the cases of Japan and Vietnam. Next, Mr. Le Hoang Minh examined the effects of Vietnamese labor law reforms on company performance and its challenges. Then, Ms. Ei Ei Thein shed light on renewable energy adoption in developing countries with reference to environmental tax and development policies. Then, Dr. Aduba Joseph Jr. discussed the opportunities for using rice husks in Nigeria for sustainable biomass electricity generation as a mitigation strategy in the context of climate change and sustainable economic development. Finally, Mr. Yusuke Naito talked about the frontier trends of ecology in urban planning systems with a case study of Nagoya, Japan, and their application for East-Asian countries including South Korea and Taiwan.

【Summary of Each Presentation】
Presentation 1. Sustainable Agriculture of Rice and Its Promotion Policies: Japanese and Vietnamese Perspectives Dr. Ho Thanh Tam

The first presenter, Dr. Ho Thanh Tam, made a presentation entitled “Sustainable Agriculture of Rice and Its Promotion Policies: Japanese and Vietnamese Perspectives.” Her presentation introduced the current situation of sustainable rice farming, profitability, and promotion policies between Vietnam and Japan and her motivation for doing this research.

The study’s findings revealed that applying sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) could improve Vietnam’s rice productivity by 6-8 % but would reduce Japanese rice productivity by 7-8%. Consequently, Vietnamese rice farmers had a higher profit margin than Japanese counterparts. One of the reasons for this could be the difference in production costs in both countries. Interestingly, Japan has a strong rice culture, and rice is highly valued and widely consumed. The Japanese government has policies in place to support its rice industry, including price stabilization measures and direct payment subsidies. In contrast, the Vietnamese government does not have such policies in place, and rice prices are determined by the market. In addition, there are differences in the countries’ background factors, such as national strategies for rice production, labor force, and promotion policies. Dr. Tam concluded her presentation by discussing the implications for policies to promote the development of sustainable rice in both countries.

Presentation 2. Provision of Labor Contracts after the Labor Code 2012 – Analysis of Firm-Level Data in Vietnam Mr. Le Hoang Minh

The second speaker, Mr. Le Hoang Minh, made a presentation entitled “Provision of Labor Contracts after the Labor Code 2012 – Analysis of Firm-Level Data in Vietnam”.
Mr. Le Hoang Minh explained that in Vietnam, 57% of workers in non-agricultural occupations worked without a formal labor contract in 2017. Despite the Labor Code in 2012 mandating the provisions of such contracts by firms, law enforcement in practice is limited to large establishments. The issue of noncompliance with labor regulations remains severe among micro-SMEs. What causes this noncompliance with labor standards and regulations in developing countries is little understood. In his research he attempted to estimate the causal relationship between labor inspections and SME firms’ compliance behaviors from observational data. In particular, he investigated whether labor inspections that occurred after 2012 were effective in enforcing contract law at the firm level. His analysis was conducted on a panel dataset of Vietnamese SMEs (under 300 employees) from 2008 to 2015. He found that there was a sharp rise of more than threefold in the share of inspected firms a year after the Labor Code reforms in 2013/01. His study used the Difference-in-Difference (DID) strategy, comparing the difference in the share of formal workers across the inspected and non-inspected firms before and after the effective law date. His findings showed that labor inspections increase the share of formally contracted workers by three percentage points. Additionally, the fixed effects model with individual slopes was used to mitigate selection problems in cases when labor inspectors choose firms with high prior profitability growth. The null results show that the effect of inspections in standard fixed effects estimation is likely to have an upward bias.

Presentation 3. The Role of Renewable Power Generation in Sustainable Economic Growth and Climate Change Mitigation: An Asian Countries’ Perspective Ms. Ei Ei Thein

The third speaker, Ms. Ei Ei Thein, made a presentation entitled “The Role of Renewable Power Generation in Sustainable Economic Growth and Climate Change Mitigation: An Asian Countries’ Perspective.”

The role of electricity among the final energy consumers is increasing globally, creating a growing demand. Under this increasing demand for power, carefully balanced energy policies are critical to alleviate the impacts of energy consumption on climate change while maintaining a sustainable economy. From this perspective, this study analyzes the role of renewable power generation (REPG) in promoting sustainable economic growth and climate change mitigation in comparison with power generation from non-renewable energy sources (NREPG) based on the data of ten Asian countries. The study applies the fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and pairwise Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality tests. The results of the FMOLS indicate that REPG including hydropower generation can be feasible for economic growth and reduce CO2 emissions. In contrast, oil and gas power generation are found to be unfeasible for economic growth and climate change mitigation. Despite their significant economic input, NREPGs including coal power generation were identified as being unviable for climate change mitigation. Causality tests’ results showed the existence of bidirectional causality between REPG and GDP. Similarly, there is a bidirectional causality between NREPG and GDP. Therefore, both REPG and NREPG have economic viability in the long run. Nevertheless, in terms of CO2 emission, REPG is favorable to NREPG. Thus, REPG including hydropower generation plays a vital role in maintaining a secure economy and minimizing climate change impact. REPG was identified as a reliable source of power generation. Hence, Ms. Thein proposed that further power supply should focus on renewable energy sources. To foster renewable power production, REPG projects should be encouraged with attractive policies for project investments and implementation.

Presentation 4. On the Efficiency of Rice Milling in Developing Countries: Does Scale and Regional Disparity Matter? Dr. ADUBA Joseph Jr.

The fourth speaker, Dr Joseph Aduba Jr., made a presentation entitled “On the efficiency of rice milling in developing countries. Does scale and regional disparity matter?” He introduced the current background of potential biomass from agriculture in Nigeria. Rice milling is a crucial post-harvest process in rice supply chains. Unfortunately, this critical stage of the post-harvest process is still emerging and requires upscaling to improve milling efficiency in most developing countries. In Nigeria, the performance of the rice milling sector has received less attention, despite the growing need and policy push for self-sufficiency in rice production.

Dr. Aduba examined the efficiency of a large sample of rice mills drawn from the top 14 rice-producing states in Nigeria. Two important sampling techniques were utilized to increase generalization: a stratified purposive sampling of rice milling centers that included demographic settings (rural, semi-urban, and urban) and size (small-, medium-, and large-scale), and a purposive random sampling of 540 rice millers from 14 states known for heavy rice milling activities were drawn and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. He applied both parametric and non-parametric efficiency extraction methods. His preliminary findings demonstrate that rice milling activities suffer from capital and labor inefficiencies. In addition, his results showed that regional disparities in milling efficiency can be explained in terms of education, milling experience, access to electricity, and mill size. He proposed that milling activities can be upscaled with innovative policies that improve access to power and subsidize milling technologies.

Presentation 5. The Frontier Trends of Ecology on Urban Planning in East Asia – Thinking About East-Asian Urban Planning Systems Basing on The Frontier Case of Nagoya, Japan Mr. Yusuke Naito

The last speaker, Mr. Yusuke Naito, delivered a presentation entitled “The Frontier Trends of Ecology on Urban Planning in East Asia – Thinking About East-Asian Urban Planning Systems Basing on The Frontier Case of Nagoya, Japan.” He argued that urban planning during the economic growth period developed public health and transportation that improved people’s lives, but future planning during the maturity period will need to incorporate an ecological approach for all life on Earth. In Japan today, discussions are taking place in many cities including Nagoya which has introduced its first green space plan, but there has still been no authentic implementation of ecological methods to land use regulations.

Mr. Naito clarified the challenges of the implementation process in Nagoya and discussed how these methods could be shared in East Asia (South Korea and Taiwan). His basic methodology was divided into quantitative research, in which GIS and statistical software were used to analyze how land use is useful for ecosystem conservation, and qualitative research which included interviews with the municipal governments. In addition, Taiwan (Taipei) and South Korea (Busan) were investigated. In the case study of Nagoya, technical, institutional and organizational challenges were identified, and in his conclusion, better solutions were proposed. In his expansion of the discussion, he also pointed out similar issues between Nagoya, Taipei, and Busan, and proposed solutions that can be shared by these cities.

“Dynamics of Contemporary Legal Interpretations in Shariah/Islamic Law: Key Concepts, Social Realities, and Political/Economic Dimension”

【Presenters and Titles】
・Moderator：Dr. KHASHAN, Ammar (Associate Professor, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Institute):“Investigating Halal Financial Terminologies in the Qur’an: A Semiotic Analysis of Wafāʾ, Halal, and Ṭayyib and Their Implications for Contemporary Islamic Finance”
・Professor Yasushi KOSUGI (Director, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Institute): “Arabic Resurgence and Islamic Jurisprudence Facing New Issues（Nawazil and Mustajaddat）in the Era of Digitalization and the Internet”
・Dr. Midori KIRIHARA (Senior Researcher, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization): “A New Trend of Halal Consumption in the Contemporary Islamic World: Legal and Ethical Discussions and Public Acceptance of Japanese Entertainment Content”

【Panel Overview】
This panel, moderated by Dr. Ammar Khashan (Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Institute), focused on the "Dynamics of Contemporary Legal Interpretations in Shariah/Islamic Law " and presented the social reality of Islam in a globalized world, from the perspectives of Social Realities, and Political/Economic Dimensions.

【Summary of Each Presentation】
The three presentations in this panel discussed emerging new trends in social/economic activities and global intellectual movements in the Islamic world, based on findings from literature reviews and fieldwork.

Prof. Kosugi Yasushi (Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Institute) focused on resurgent Islamic jurisprudence, which has regained steadfast social power since the mid-20th century, and revealed how it is currently addressing a variety of contemporary issues. Dr. Midori Kirihara (Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Institute) discussed a new trend in Halal business in the contemporary Islamic world, using Japanese digital content as an example. Dr. Ammar Khashan presented a preliminary analysis for halal economic studies, addressing how main Qur’anic concepts are interrelated with each other in the subject area. This session portrayed a diverse picture of the globalized Islamic world, and the discussions were a step into a new research trend, showing that new dynamics of Shariah/Islamic law are at work in Islamic countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

During the Q&A session, the presenters engaged in a lively discussion about new trends in the contemporary Islamic world.

“For the Thinking of “Diversification”: Critical Investigation from Post-Western Philosophies and Encounter with Global Society Today”

【Presenter and Title】
・Moderator: Dr. Nobuyuki MATSUI (Assistant Professor, Ritsumeikan Asia-Japan Research Organization): “How is ‘Nothingness’ Ontologically Bound Up with Technology? The Question Concerning Digital Technology in Japan from the Philosophy of the ‘Place of Nothingness’”
・Dr. Taro TOYOHIRA (Lecturer, Ritsumeikan University):“The ‘Invention of America’ and the Emergence of Modern Technology in Edmundo O’Gorman”
・Dr. Minseok KWAK (Lecturer, Kyoto University):“Being as a Diversifying Process: A Metaphysical Inquiry into the Possibility of Diversification through Tanabe’s Philosophy”

【Panel Overview】
The panel discussed the need for “diversification” in the current world from various non-Western philosophical perspectives. Dr. Nobuyuki MATSUI (Assistant Professor, Asian-Japan Research Institute, Ritsumeikan University), Dr. Tarō TOYOHIRA (Lecturer, Ritsumeikan University), and Dr. Minseok KWAK (Lecturer, Kyoto University) made presentations. Philosopher Yuk Hui has proposed the concept of “diversification” as distinct from the existing diversity in the world. This concept refers to the realization of unique individualization through the interaction of cultures and individuals while acknowledging “diversity.” In other words, “diversification” indicates that we need to go beyond just “being” diverse and ask what are the conditions of thoughts and practices to “become” diverse individuals. In recent years, the concept of “human beings” based on Western epistemology has been reexamined in the context of global philosophy. Many discussions have taken place on how to rethink our relationship with various non-human beings, leading to a reconsideration of their significance in our world. These non-human beings include technology as well as the natural environment and animals. These non-human beings include technology, the natural environment, and animals. As a condition for promoting diversification, we must rethink the human world based on our relationship with these non-human beings. The panel discussed the relationship between technology and nature from the perspective of the common resonance between Chinese and Japanese philosophy (Dr. Matsui), the importance of the transformation of the geographical imagination that occurred during the conquest of the "Americas," which is the foundation of modern technology (Dr. Toyohira), and the elucidation of the mechanism of social transformation along with the transformation of technology and knowledge by joining TANABE Hajime and Thomas Kuhn (Dr. Kwak).

【Summary of Each Presentation】
Dr. Nobuyuki MATSUI: “How is ‘Nothing’ Ontologically Bound Up with Technology?——The Question Concerning Digital Technology in Japan from the Philosophy of the ‘Place of Nothing’”

First, Dr. Matsui, the chair of the panel, made a presentation asking what “diversification” means in relation to technology. He focused on the concept of “resonance” in the Chinese philosophy of technology in The Questions of Technology in China by Yuk Hui. He presented how this concept is associated with the discussions on the “place of nothingness” and “emptiness” of philosophers such as NISHIDA Kitaro and NISHITANI Keiji in Japan. According to Dr. Matsui’s presentation, “resonance” highlights that the relationship between human beings and natural objects is never the one-sided form in which the subject acts on the object, but that ethical requirements and actions are always formed through interactions. He also emphasized that technology does not neutrally unite humans with the world. Dr. Matsui pointed out that to avoid being neutral, we need to look beyond a specific cultural logic and explore how technology can create relationships beyond the idea of being neutral. Dr. Matsui’s presentation showed that while creating relationships is possible with the existing Internet, the perspective of “resonance” is essential in creating them. At the same time, it was emphasized that in considering the ethical “resonance” between humans and non-humans today, it is critical to emphasize the perspective of “rhythm” in order to consider different ways of “resonance,” instead of considering the relationship already determined by a transcendental providence.

Dr. Tarō Toyohira: “The ‘Invention of America’ and the Emergence of Modern Technology in Edmundo O'Gorman”

Next, Dr. Toyohira presented the “discovery” of America, the main drive of the modern capitalist world. According to his presentation, “America” does not simply mean the state of great power that drove the modern economic system, but encompasses imaginations of geography and nature. Dr. Toyohira discussed this with the Mexican thinker Edmundo O’Gorman as a guide. His presentation focused on the changes in the geographical imagination of the globe and how the “discovery” of the Americas during the Age of Exploration affected Western epistemology. According to Dr. Toyohira, the geographic imagination of the sixteenth century centered around Europe, Africa, and Asia. The “discovery” of America, therefore, calls for a revision of the existing geographical imagination and thus gives rise to a theological debate that clarifies the meaning of the Americas to Europeans. In this sense, the “discovery” of America is, more precisely, the “invention” of America. Toyohira’s presentation drew a clear distinction between Catholic Spain and Puritan Christianity: On the one hand, for the former's worldview, the large-scale modification of the natural environment of the Americas meant denying God's creation. On the other hand, the Puritan interpretation of “America” positively transformed America into an object of active development. The modern world is also an extension of this historical transformation of interpretation. Dr. Toyohira’s presentation was an exciting demonstration of the need to understand that there has been such a transformation of the geographical imagination behind exploiting the natural environment in the modern world.

Dr. Minseok KWAK: “Being as a Diversifying Process: A Metaphysical Inquiry into the Possibility of Diversification through Tanabe’s Philosophy”

Finally, Dr. Kwak presented a reinterpretation of the philosophy of the “logic of species” of TANABE Hajime, a Japanese philosopher of the Kyoto school. The “logic of species” does not look at the world on an individual or humankind (genus) basis, but instead tries to capture that a particular group of individuals make up the world and that the world is changed by the transformation of “species.” Although this logic has been criticized as an affirmation of the ethnocentrism of Imperial Japan during World War II, Dr. Kwak’s presentation emphasized that Tanabe's philosophy of “species” revolves around a logic of self-denial of social groups. In addition, Dr. Kwak emphasized that for Tanabe, who originally started from the philosophy of science, this logic of self-denial could be captured by the idea of a “paradigm shift” as in Thomas Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, which was presented introduced after Tanabe’s philosophy. A “paradigm” is a model that provides a framework of thought for a group of experts for a certain period of time. Kuhn argued that it is a condition of science that paradigm shifts occur from anomalous cases that an existing paradigm cannot explain. Dr. Kwak stressed that the paradigm shift from these anomalies also occurs in the domain of the “species.” Furthermore, in the social field, the view of the “paradigm” is not reduced only to the successive denial of scientific paradigms, because society has the dynamism in which it is transformed by not only differences in understanding of various social issues between others, but also inconsistencies and rifts between the overall picture of a society and individuals. Therefore, there are double self-negating moments in society: one resides in our relationships with other members, and the other resides in the shared imagination of a community.