法学を学ぶと、どのような興味深い課題に出会い、かかわることができるのか。その一端がわかるよう、法学部の教員のうち13名が、1人1コマずつ、いま関心を持って取り組んでいる具体的課題を紹介します。質疑応答の時間を多めに取ります。 　法学を学んだ経験が全くなくとも構いません。文科か理科かも問いません。2年生も歓迎しますが1年生を念頭に置いて進めます。 　4月1日頃以後に、UTOLのこの授業の欄を見てください。第1回のアクセス情報を含め、この授業の詳細情報はそちらでお知らせします。

This course aims to provide students with a survey of Japanese society and culture in the years between the end ofthe Russo-Japanese War (1905) and the Mukden Incident (1931), often referred to with the term "Taisho Democracy." As this period was marked by social and political trends that anticipated the post-World War II democratized regime, it is hoped that the survey will afford a better understanding of contemporary Japan and its people. The period saw a rapid growth and structural transformation of Japan's economy amidst a disorderly world situation. The major economic change drew people from rural areas to cities, developing the new middle "salaryman" class and its highly Westernized consumer culture; on the other hand, the change led to regional disparities and class distinctions, which in turn created social unrest and cultural divisions on a national scale. This course will explore a wide range of texts taken from such fields as socio-political history, literature, cultural criticism, art history, popular culture, etc., in order to understand the cultural complexity of the era.

The purpose of this course is to examine how Japan’s transformation into a modern nation was shaped and represented through visual culture. Great emphasis is placed on group work, as students are expected to actively collaborate with peers to analyze visual materials, share perspectives, and co-construct knowledge. Through these interactive and cooperative activities, students will also have the opportunity to enhance their English communication skills and connect with a community of internationally minded peers. この授業では、日本が近代国家へと変化していく過程を、当時の絵画や写真、広告などの「視覚資料」を通して学びます。授業では、オンライン教材やビデオ講義、歴史資料を用いながら、ディスカッションや課題に取り組みます。特にグループワークを重視しており、視覚資料の分析やプレゼンテーションなどを通して、学生同士が協力しながら学びを深めていきます。これらの活動を通して、視覚的リテラシー、歴史的思考力、異文化理解力を養うとともに、英語によるコミュニケーション能力の向上も目指します。国際的な視野を広げたい方や、英語を実践的に使って学びたい方に適した内容となっています。

・⽇本は、国際環境の激変と地政学リスクの拡⼤、デジタル技術の急速な進化と普及、地球環境問題、経済の停滞、財政の悪化、急速に進む少⼦化など、内外環境の激変に直⾯している。この状況は、⽇本の存続にとって深刻な危機であるとともに、古いシステムを刷新する機会でもある。この⼤局を認識する。 ・主要分野を横断して俯瞰する事で、各分野の基本構造とともに、分野間の相互連関を学ぶ。 ・国が直⾯する課題を⾃分事と捉え、⽇常の多忙の中でも内外の環境変化を注視していくことの必要性を認識する。 ・公共政策に様々な⽴場の個⼈がどう関われるか、そのような個⼈の取組を⽀える仕組みがどうあるべきかを考察する。

This course aims to raise awareness on the critical role of space technology in our daily lives and the important implications it has on domestic policymaking and international relations. The first part of the course, titled “Space and Society”, provides an overview of major space technologies and their applications. It then demonstrates how space assets have become a critical infrastructure on which advanced societies are over-reliant, and the hazards and threats that they are facing. The second part of course delves into political science and international relations. It addresses the various approaches to space policymaking, the structure of international relations in outer space and the major challenges ahead for the space sector. This course will be a part of the global effort to map threats and consequences for space sustainability conducted by the United Nations Institute of Disarmament Research.

It has been almost a century since Japan's first trial by jury system (Baishin-seido 1928) was introduced. More than fifteen years have passed since the introduction of Japan's second trial by jury system (Saiban'in-seido 2009). Both of Japan's trial by jury systems were significant but controversial reforms aimed at incorporating citizen participation in criminal trials in order to improve the functioning of the judiciary and overcome its failures to strengthen the rule of law. This seminar will critically examine why these systems were introduced, what functions these systems actually fulfil and how they operate in reality. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach inherent to law and society studies, we will explore the historical, comparative, political and sociological dimensions of Japan’s trial by jury systems, with a particular focus on Japan's unique trajectory. The seminar will begin by tracing the historical development of jury trials in Japan, from early experiments in the late 19th century, through their pre-war implementation (1928-1943), to their post-war revival under US rule in Okinawa (1945-1972). Through this historical lens, we will contextualise Japan's modern Saiban'in system within broader global trends and compare it with jury systems in other jurisdictions. Our discussions will also incorporate contemporary issues, such as political discourses surrounding citizen participation and trends in statistical data, to provide a basis for understanding jury trials both quantitatively and qualitatively. The jury is often hailed as a symbol of democracy and fairness, but it is also criticised for being biased, unpredictable, and unqualified. To assess these claims, we will analyse a range of primary materials - including court decisions, legislative texts, political speeches, and personal accounts - alongside secondary academic readings. Methodological introductions at the beginning of each class will equip students with sociological tools, such as legal consciousness studies and comparative analysis, to critically engage with these materials. In addition, students will conduct interviews with individuals who have participated in jury trials, fostering first-hand insights into the practical realities of citizen participation in legal decision-making. The course will also include guest speakers from a range of legal backgrounds, such as practising lawyers, judges, and NGO representatives, who will provide practical perspectives on the role of the jury in contemporary society. Through our discussions, students will grapple with pressing questions: How do collective social narratives shape perceptions of justice? Why does Japan's criminal justice system resist deeper structural change? How does the interplay between institutional frameworks and cultural values influence jury systems? By the end of the course, students will have developed a nuanced understanding of the jury as a dynamic yet controversial institution. They will be able to analyse the challenges facing the jury in contemporary society, understand the legal rules governing jury trials, and engage with key social science research on jury systems. In addition, students will apply social science theory, research, and methodology to address complex issues surrounding the jury, equipping them with the tools to critically assess its potential and limitations in Japan and beyond.

This course provides a critical and interdisciplinary overview of the major legal and political developments that have shaped - and continue to shape - Japanese society. Drawing on perspectives from political science, law, history, and sociology, the course emphasizes both top-down and bottom-up processes in Japanese governance. It focuses on how law operates within society, particularly through constitutional, criminal, and civil law. However, the aim is not to analyze these laws in isolation, but to explore how they function within the social fabric of Japan. Law is a fundamental aspect of everyday life in all societies: it provides predictability, helps avoid anarchy, and secures cooperation among members of society by prioritizing the common good over individual gain (law as a tool for stability in society). Law is also a tool for action when people or groups feel excluded, discriminated against, or believe they are being treated unjustly (law as a tool for social change). This course examines the central features of Japan's legal system, viewing law as a social institution and exploring its relationship with other societal systems. We will focus on the role of key actors in the legal system and the interplay between social stability, and change. Additionally, the course emphasizes the relationship between law and broader economic, political, and social processes. From the perspective of the sociology of law (or socio-legal studies), we will examine how law serves as both a practical resource for addressing social issues (a tool for change) and a set of shared representations and aspirations (for stability). The course will explore how legal professionals (lawyers, judges, law enforcement officers) and ordinary citizens mobilize and use law. Due to time constraints, we cannot cover every aspect of Japan’s legal system or every actor involved. Instead, we will focus on key topics that illustrate the situational and systemic demands placed on actors within the legal system. At the same time, we will seek to identify patterns in how law interacts with and influences society. Some of the topics we will address include Japan’s exceptional record in economic development, crime control, and its low litigation rate. These topics exemplify why Japan's legal system is so efficient; not only by examining how it functions today, but also by tracing its historical roots and understanding why it evolved in this way. We will also address topics such as the death penalty, wrongful convictions, same-sex marriage, and other areas of social activism where law is used to drive social change. These topics reflect the "reverse side of the coin," where law may not function effectively, and social activism seeks to change the situation. In sum, we will analyze the actual evolution of the rule of law in both the past and present, with an eye on the future of Japan and its place in a globalizing world. Therefore, this course combines methodologies from the sociology of law and legal history. We will also critically assess the limitations of law in Japan, asking which social issues remain unresolved by the legal system. Is Japan’s legal system an example for other countries to follow, or not? Ultimately, the goal is to critically examine both the merits and flaws of Japan's legal system in an informed and balanced manner. By studying how conflicts are resolved, how social order is maintained, how movements for social change emerge, and how legal frameworks operate within Japan’s socio-political context, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of Japan’s legal system from the Meiji era (1868–1945) to the present day. Each class will begin with a methodological introduction, providing students with tools from the sociology of law, followed by the analysis of primary materials (e.g., court decisions, political speeches, legislative texts, personal diaries) and secondary readings that offer academic context.

This course explores modern human rights movements through the lenses of culture, psychology, and law, focusing on non-violent activism. We will examine various case studies to understand how political activists build coalitions, how local groups and individuals resist conflict, and the legal frameworks that support the sustained implementation of human rights. The course is organized around key sociological categories, including political engagement, gender, ethnicity, disability, and nationality. To achieve this, we will analyze historical and contemporary examples from the United States, Japan, Ireland, Uganda, and Israel-Palestine, among others. The course will deal with the following SDGs: 5: Gender Equality 10: Reduced Inequality 16: Peace Justice and Strong Institutions

This course explores modern human rights movements through the lenses of culture, psychology, and law, focusing on non-violent activism. We will examine various case studies to understand how political activists build coalitions, how local groups and individuals resist conflict, and the legal frameworks that support the sustained implementation of human rights. The course is organized around key sociological categories, including political engagement, gender, ethnicity, disability, and nationality. To achieve this, we will analyze historical and contemporary examples from the United States, Japan, Ireland, Uganda, and Israel-Palestine, among others. The course will deal with the following SDGs: 5: Gender Equality 10: Reduced Inequality 16: Peace Justice and Strong Institutions

This course aims to raise awareness on the critical role of space technology in our daily lives and the important implications it has on domestic policymaking and international relations. The first part of the course, titled “Space and Society”, provides an overview of major space technologies and their applications. It then demonstrates how space assets have become a critical infrastructure on which advanced societies are over-reliant, and the hazards and threats that they are facing. The second part of course delves into political science and international relations. It addresses the various approaches to space policymaking, the structure of international relations in outer space and the major challenges ahead for the space sector. This course will be a part of the global effort to map threats and consequences for space sustainability conducted by the United Nations Institute of Disarmament Research.