#faculty
Yuko Ishihara石原 悠子
Associate Professor
Ph.D. in Philosophy, University of Copenhagen
Email : yishihar [at] fc.ritsumei.ac.jp (Replace "[at]" with "@")
Office Location : AC5307
Education History /
Work Experience
After completing my MA in Japanese Philosophy at Kyoto University, I went to Denmark to pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Copenhagen, where I wrote a dissertation based on a comparative study of Nishida Kitarō’s and Martin Heidegger’s philosophies. After receiving my Ph.D., I became a postdoctoral research fellow—and the first philosopher to be appointed—at the Earth-Life Science Institute of the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where I explored how phenomenology and modern Japanese philosophy could offer new perspectives on research into the origins of life. I was also a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, where I conducted joint research with Piet Hut, then head of the Program in Interdisciplinary Studies, after which I joined the College of Global Liberal Arts (GLA) at Ritsumeikan University in 2019 as one of the founding members.
Specialization /
Research Interests
Research keywords
Phenomenology, Japanese philosophy, philosophy of play, intercultural philosophy, comparative philosophy, consciousness science
Specialization / Research Interests
My research focuses on the philosophy of play and intercultural philosophy, exploring playfulness as a fundamental mode of world-formation, perception, and understanding. I investigate how play enables movement between different cultural, conceptual, and experiential worlds, and how it functions as a philosophical method for suspending fixed perspectives and opening new forms of insight. Drawing on Japanese philosophy, phenomenology, and Zen Buddhism, I examine how practices such as epoché (suspension of judgment) and imaginative engagement expand our relationship to reality. More broadly, my work aims to develop an intercultural phenomenology that treats philosophy as a dynamic, dialogical, and creative practice across traditions, disciplines, and forms of life.
Message to Students
Studying the liberal arts is to engage in a form of play. Play is not the opposite of seriousness; it is where serious thinking begins. When you play, you explore ideas freely, take intellectual risks, and discover new possibilities without being afraid of making mistakes. This spirit of experimentation lies at the heart of philosophy, science, and the arts.
At the College of Global Liberal Arts, we invite you to move between different cultures, perspectives, and ways of understanding the world. A playful attitude helps you do this with openness and imagination. It allows you to question what seems obvious, to see reality from many angles, and to develop empathy for people whose experiences differ from your own.
By keeping a playful mind, you will not only gain knowledge, but also learn how to think creatively and critically. It will help you grow into a person who can navigate uncertainty, embrace diversity, and find genuine joy in learning. We welcome students who are eager to explore—and to play—with us.