Research Support Program of Chiba University Institute For Advanced Academic Research
About our Program
In the current age of globalization, we are witnessing the growing
need to ensure that people from all cultures, countries, and backgrounds are treated fairly.
The basic concept of our research program is “fairness.” We define fairness as the basic element
of justice, but it comprises more than justice, embracing values such as equality and liberty.
Our focus is on challenging and overcoming unfair practices on all scales, investigating
issues such as gender inequality, widening income gaps, migration, and the collapse
of regional and marginal communities, both in Japan and around the world. In doing so,
we seek to identify the development, transformation, and limitations of existing
welfare state models and provide empirical evidence for how a fair society can be achieved in the 21st century.
Special emphasis will be placed on “well-being” and values, because “fairness” is intrinsically related to people’s
subjective judgment. Objective equality does not always guarantee a subjective feeling of fairness.
The vision of a fair society should include both objective fairness and a subjective sense of fairness.
We plan to broaden our networks of academics across the globe. To this end, we have
hosted seven successful international symposiums. Our present team consists of an economist,
political scientist, philosopher of law, and psychologist.
Our project has published books and papers in both Japanese and English based on our research outcomes,
and we plan further publications to better reach a broader public.
We welcome those interested in all aspects of social science from law and politics to sociology and economics.
An English paper co-authored by Prof. Masaya Kobayashi (first author), Prof. Hikari Ishido, Prof. Jiro Mizushima, and Hirotaka Ishikawa, "Social, Economic, and Ethico-Political Determinants of Psychosomatic Health Disparities: Equity and Fairness Under COVID-19 in Japan" was published in Healthcare.
Details HERE
Dr. Wong KamBill from Hong Kong was invited to talk on the topic of “Taishinin(Supreme Court)’s Judicial Behavior in Corruption Cases: Hints for Integration of Judicial Behavior Studies with Free Society Studies”. Dr Wong's presentation evaluated its linkage with fair society studies in the perspectives of judicial activism, John Rawls' theory of justice, organizational behavior studies, Michael Porter's theory of Creating Shared Value, international human rights law systems and cultural assimilation. Taishinin was cited to illustrate the historical institutionalism in judicial behavior research.
We invited Professor Cedomir Nestorovic of ESSEC Business School from Singapore to speak on the topic “Social Fairness and Geopolitics”.
He gave an interesting talk on the academic genealogy of geopolitics as well as the social Fairness(initiatives by companies, Islamic finance and the concept of zakat, etc.) that the business sector can provide.
We invited Prof. Kamil Zeidler and Dr. Joanna Kamien from the University of Gdansk, Poland, to speak on “Aesthetics of Law：The Idea and Examples” by Prof. Zeidler and “The legal-philosophical current of law and literature as a way to know the law” by Dr. Kamien.
Student participants also gave diverse presentations on the relationship between moral codes and artistic symbols in Japan.
The seminar featured lectures by Vice Dean Tang Dexiang and Assoc.Prof. Jiang Yuan of the School of Economics and Finance at Chongqing University of Technology, and Assoc.Prof.Xiang Li of Chiba University.
Luncheon seminars on Urban Investment Bonds, Rural Finance, and Health Management were also held, and a lively Q&A session was held.
We invited Prof. Hung-Ju Chen, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, who gave a keynote speech at the Seminar on AI Technologies and Legal Theories "Innovation and Regulation" in March, to speak again at the Legal Theory Seminar on the topic of "Civil Disobedience: Pros and Cons".
Research Support Program of Chiba University Institute For Advanced Academic Research “New Frontiers of Studies on Fair Society : Values and Public Vision in the age after COVID-19” held a public symposium in cooperation with the Seikei University Law Association and the Seikei University Political Science Association. The symposium featured lectures by experts on American politics, followed by a lively Q&A session. Reflecting the strong interest in the U.S. presidential election, the symposium was attended by approximately 170 people, including members of the general public, journalists, and researchers.
Cutting-edge research combining information science and wellbeing was presented.
■Streaming：HEREProf. Masaya Kobayashi's article was introduced in Canada's Politics and Rights Review in three languages.
A new theory of enduring multidimensional democracy (EMDD) proposed by Professor Kobayashi was published.
"Health Inequality in Japan: COVID-19 and Fairness" co-authored by Prof. Masaya Kobayashi and Prof. Hikaru Ishido, Prof. Jiro Mizushima, was introduced in Canada's Politics and Rights Review in three languages.
■English：HEREProf. Masaya Kobayashi's article in Frontiers in Psychology was introduced in Canada's Politics and Rights Review in three languages.
■English：HEREThe hybrid Seminar (held on 21 February 2024) "How to Start up a Business in the Post Pandemic Fair Society” addressed some important business concepts including "fairness."
■Streaming：HEREFour professors, including Prof. Hung-Ju Chen from Academia Sinica in Taiwan, gave lectures. A luncheon seminar was also held, and a lively Q&A session ensued.
While inviting a world-class economics scholar in the field of well-being and economic policy formulation (Prof.Arthur Grimes,Senior Fellow at Motu Economic and Public Policy Research Trust, Adjunct Professor of Economics at Victoria University of Wellington and Honorary Professor of Economics at University of Waikato , New Zealand; a relevant website is:
https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/sog/about/emeritus-and-adjunct-professors/arthur-grimes), the participants (Prof.Arthur Grimes, Prof. Masaya Kobayashi, Prof.Hikari Ishido, and participants from the floor) discussed the interlinkage among subjective well-being, objective economic policies (with financial values allocated as national budgets) and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Prof.Arthur Grimes is a renowned economist, with strong links to public policy. He served as Reserve Bank of New Zealand Chairman from 2003-2013, where he was previously Chief Economist and a principal architect of now famous "inflation targeting." With his current research interests focusing on the economics of wellbeing coupled with economic policymaking which entails detailed national budget issues, the roundtable will discuss the interlinkage between subjective and objective indicators, both of which are high on SDGs' agenda.
In the roundtable, a keynote presentation was made by Prof.Arthur Grimes; then the online-discussants (Prof.Masaya Kobayashi, possessing expertise on the subject matters) made comments on the issues presented. Following these, the floor-participants were invited to make comments and questions.
The session was held successfully.
*At the 34th Annual Conference of the Japan Society for International Development (JASID).
*Organized and supported by Chiba University Institute For Advanced Academic Research
・New Frontiers of Studies on Fair Society
On November 8 and 9,The research meetings on “Wellbeing and Public Policy” were held. Professor Arthur Grimes, the Chair of Wellbeing and Public Policy from Victoria University of Wellington, who is a research economist with strong links to public policy and remains research interest in the economics of wellbeing, gave the keynote presentation and initiated several thinking-provoke discussions with Professor Jiro Mizushima, Professor Masaya Kobayashi, Professor Hikari Ishido and other participants from Chiba University.
The first meeting focused on the topic of wellbeing. Prof.Grimes gave the presentation of “Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Focus on the Former (Wellbeing)” and answered questions and inquiries.
The second meeting focused on the topic of public policy. Prof.Grimes exchanged research ideas with Prof.Masaya Kobayashi based on his presentation of “Wellbeing and Public Policy: A Focus on the Latter (Public Policy)”, and discussed possible joint work in the future with Prof.Jiro Mizushima and other participants.
Chiba University Institute for Advanced Academic Rreseach・New Frontiers of Studies on Fair Society has published H.Ishido, J.Mizushima, M.Kobayashi and X.Zhang (eds.), Social Fairness in a Post-Pandemic World. - Interdisciplinary Perspectives(August, 2023). The book is the result of an international collaborative research project on measures to build a society in the post-colonial era based on the concept of fairness.
Second International Conference on Global Warming Countermeasures was held. Prof. Akihiko Kondo, Professor Emeritus of Chiba University (former Professor of Center for Environmental Remote Sensing Chiba University), gave a lecture on the theme of "Global Warming Issues and Human Response from a scientific perspective". He introduced his perception of global warming issues and challenges from the perspectives of both science and humanities, and discussed the necessity and possibility of fusion of the humanities and sciences in the future. Various questions were asked from the audience, and a lively Q&A session ensued.
We hosted our first international online seminar in 2023.
Professor Patrick Charlton of Algonquin College, a well-known figure in the business world with extensive networks in Canada and North America, spoke at the seminar. Two of Professor Charlton's acquaintances who are deeply involved in the business world joined him for a meaningful discussion on trends in Canada after the Corona Disaster and the future development of a society that takes justice and wellbeing into account, at the intersection of theory and practice.
Dr. Shusuke Takamiya, former Project Researcher at Chiba University (currently Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Political Science and Economics, Takushoku University), has published a new book entitled “Pluralistic Representation under Japan's Bicameral Systems” (University of Tokyo Press, 2025), and a joint review of the book was held at under the joint sponsorship of Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A) “Populism on the ‘Right’ and ‘Left’” (Representative: Jiro Mizushima). The event was attended by a diverse range of people, including researchers, journalists, Diet members, and political party officials, and was attended by about 70 people, including online participants, who engaged in lively discussions.
"Outsider Politics: Democracy in the Age of Populism" was published by Iwanami Shoten on May 22, 2025.
This is a must-read book for understanding contemporary politics, in which leading scholars of politics in various countries depict the “picture” of outsider politics that is shaking the world.
Prof. Yoshiyasu Kurita of Niigata University Faculty of Law was invited to give a lecture on “Education and Nationality” at the Philosophy of Law Seminar.
Prof. Tetsushi Shimai of Kansai University of Welfare Sciences was invited to speak on the theme of "Insights into Well-Being: Analysis from Positive Psychology.
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the Hyblid Seminar "Social Fairness and Geopolitics" in November 2024.
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the International Online Seminar "How to Start up a Business in the Post Pandemic Fair Society" in February 2024.
Professor Masaya Kobayashi's English paper "Democracy as a Perpetual Revolution: New Political Theory Beyond Five Paradoxes" is published in the E-BOOK "Democracy - Crises and Changes Across the Globe"
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the International Online Seminar "Social Justice and Work Engagement in Canada during the Pandemic" in June 2023.
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the seminar "Positive Political Psychology International Seminar 3:Social Fairness and Wellbeing -Measuring Wellbeing through Social Media Language-" in March 2023.
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the seminar "Positive Political Psychology International Seminar 3:Social Fairness and Wellbeing -Wellbeing and Public Policy: Challenges for a Post-Covid Fair Society-" in February 2023.
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the seminar "A high impact welfare project against food poverty in Mexico:collaboration difficulties, governmental intervention and its consequences in fairness" in November 2022.
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the seminar "Toward a Fair Society After-Corona:Challenges and Scope for Narrowing Disparities" in September 2022.
On August 25, 2023, Professor Jiro Mizushima participated in the signing ceremony of an interdepartmental exchange agreement between Chiba University's Graduate School of Humanities and Studies on Public Affairs and School of Foreign Languages Shanghai University. Chiba University and Shanghai University have already signed an inter-university exchange agreement, but this is the first inter-departmental agreement between the two institutions. Chiba University's Graduate School of Humanities and Studies on Public Affairs and the School of Foreign Languages Shanghai University have been promoting cooperation in both academic and educational fields, including the holding of an international symposium in March of this year, and the signing of this agreement is expected to lead to further development of exchange in the future. Dr.Zhang Yongjiao of Shanghai University has already participated in a symposium organized by the Fair Society Research and contributed an essay to "Fair Society in the After Corona".
On the same day, from 1:00 p.m., a briefing session for Shanghai University students and graduate students on study abroad was held, including an introduction to Chiba University and an overview of the Graduate School of Humanities and Public Administration. After 3:00 p.m., Professor Mizushima gave an academic lecture entitled "The Idea of 'Square' and the Idea of 'Back': Japanese and European Urban Spaces in Comparison," and received active questions and opinions from Shanghai University students and faculty members. More than 200 people participated in the academic lecture, including those from Japan, including online.
We define “fairness” as a concept that entails the basic element of justice, but at the same time embrace values such as “equality”, “liberty”, and “equity”. In that sense, we identify “fairness” as a norm and concept that exceeds “justice”. The aim of our project is to address the issue of global problems and seek for a way to achieve “fairness” under the global economy of the 21st century.
「隠れ家と広場 移民都市アムステルダムのユダヤ人」(Hiding Places and Squares: Jews in the Immigrant City of Amsterdam)was published by Misuzu Shobo on June 16, 2023.
From Anne Frank to the philosopher Spinoza, Amsterdam's Jewish immigrants have left an important imprint on world history. 400 years of welcoming immigrants and refugees, this is a study of Amsterdam, a city of tolerance, read from its "hiding places and squares.
「隠れ家と広場 移民都市アムステルダムのユダヤ人」(Hiding Places and Squares: Jews in the Immigrant City of Amsterdam) by Professor Jiro Mizushima was featured in the book review section of various newspapers.
This is a research essay based on the transcript of the seminar "Multiculturalism,East and West." in August 2022
Prof. Jiro Mizushima's interview about the politicized women's "party leadership" court battle was published in the Asahi Shimbun on April 28, 2023.
Prof.Jiro Mizushima's interview article, "The Decline of the Established Political Parties and the 'View Democracy' That Gave Birth to Mr. Garcy," was published in the April 4, 2023 Mainichi Shimbun's Political Premiere.
「中国における排出権取引制度に関する研究－中・日・欧比較を通じて－」(Research on Emissions Trading Scheme in China -Through a comparison of China, Japan, and Europe-) by Assistant Professor Xiaofang Zhang was published by Sankeisha on April 3, 2023.
She conduct comparative studies of emissions trading schemes in China, Japan, and Europe from the two perspectives of abatement effectiveness and efficiency of trading markets, and make policy recommendations toward the formation of healthier national schemes.
The third International Seminar on Positive Political Psychology was held.
Professor Lyle Unger of the University of Pennsylvania, who is well versed in computer science and
whose cutting-edge research combines scientific and technological directions with positive psychology,
gave a presentation on measuring wellbeing through language in social media.
■Streaming: HERE
Symposium Details HERE
Chiba University Graduate School of Humanities and Studies on Public Affairs and Shanghai International Studies University co-hosted the international symposium, which was sponsored by Fair Society Research.
At the symposium, researchers in linguistics, education, literature, sociology, and political science presented their latest research findings and engaged in interdisciplinary discussions on Japanese language education and Japanese literature research.
A total of 158 Japanese and Chinese participants actively asked questions and engaged in a lively Q&A session.
「リップマン公共哲学」(THE PUBLIC PHILOSOPHY Walter Lippmann) was published by Keiso Shobo on February 28, 2023.
Why have Western democratic societies failed to prevent dictatorships and world wars?？
"The Public Philosophy" is a book of prophetic warnings, the first to use the term "The Public Philosophy" and present its prototype.
Positive Political Psychology Seminar on July 13, 2022
"Wellness, Fairness, and Worthiness:Psychosocial Goods for the Common Good".
Xiaofang Zhang(translation),Masaya Kobayashi,Jiro Mizushima,Hikari Ishido(supervisor of translation)
Prof.Masaya Kobayashi,Prof.Hikari Ishido,Prof.Jiro Mizushima and Mr.Hirotaka Ishikawa's paper
"Multi-Dimensional Dynamics of Psychological Health Disparities under the COVID-19 in Japan:
Fairness/Justice in Socio-Economic and Ethico-Political Factors" was published in
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on December 8,2022.
This article addresses citizens’ psychological health disparities in pandemic-stricken
Japan from the perspective of positive psychology with a collective/political perspective.
