Outline of collaborative research
The Academy for European Human Rights Protection at the University of Cologne promotes comparative research across diverse themes such as solidarity, gender, the rule of law, comparative constitutional law, and international law, through thematic analyses of specific legal issues―such as the right of civil servants to strike, intelligence work, and new reproductive technologies―combined with broader examinations of case law in constitutional and international contexts. The Academy stresses the importance of interdisciplinary dialogue, methodological comparisons, and historical-political perspectives, noting that human rights are central not only to law but also to history, politics, philosophy, and theology. Nevertheless, German legal education treats human rights in fragmented ways: as constitutional law basics, elective topics in international law, or subthemes in specialized lectures. This obscures the interdisciplinary dynamics of human rights, which should be analyzed across multiple legal levels―state, federal, European, and international.
Ritsumeikan University’s Kyoto Museum for World Peace/Peace Education and Research Institute, meanwhile, focuses on transmitting war experiences, reexamining the Fifteen-Year War and postwar peace movements, studying militarization regarding the Self-Defense Forces, and fostering international comparative research on human rights. A new collaboration between Cologne and Ritsumeikan aims to advance global comparative studies and strengthen international human rights education.
Papers, etc.
Book
- Masahisa Deguchi Hrsg. Demokratie, Rechtsstaatlichkeit und Menscvhenrechte, Springer 2025 p. 1-183
Symposia, seminars, etc.
International seminars
- 2024 Japanese-German Meeting on Questions of Constitutional Law; held on 22. February 2024 at the University of Cologne, joined by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c Angelika Nusseberger, Prof. Dr. Masahisa Deguchi, Assis. Prof. Dr. Rieko Kitamura, Dr. Cathérine Van de Graaf, Ms. Reza Khabook and Dr. Júlia Miklasová
- 2024 Comparative Research Seminar on Asian, European, and International Human Rights between the University of Cologne and Ritsumeikan University; held on March 5-6, 2024 at Ritsumeikan University; joined by Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Dr. h.c Angelika Nusseberger, Dr. Frederic Kupsch and Dr. Paula Rhein-Fischer, Emeritus Prof. Kimio Yakushiji, Prof. Dr. Masahisa Deguchi, Emeritus Prof. Dr. Ryuichi Higuchi
Symposium
- German-Japanese Research Colloquy; held on September 23, 2024 at the University of Cologne; joined by Prof. Dr. Masahisa Deguchi, Emeritus Professor Kimio Yakushiji, and Assis. Prof. Dr. Miharu Hirano
Future prospects/aspiration
Ritsumeikan University's Centre for Peace Education Research is collaborating with Springer Publishing to publish findings from past human rights workshops held with the University of Cologne. Looking ahead, the Centre will advance international comparative research and facilitate collaboration among young scholars at both institutions to promote global human rights research and education.
