The following new faculty members have been appointed to the Faculty of Policy Management, the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, and the Graduate School of Media and Governance as of April 1, 2026.
We look forward to working with them.
(*Messages from the appointees are as of the time of their appointment.)
Faculty of Policy Management, Associate Professor (Non-tenured), Kenta Kawase
To date, I have been involved in social security policies such as medical and nursing care, as well as labor policies including minimum wage, anti-harassment measures, and work-life balance, primarily from the perspective of policy planning in the public administration. Social security and labor policies are at a major turning point due to changes in population structure and the diversification of work styles and worker consciousness. Many of the challenges to be overcome involve multiple academic fields such as law, economics, sociology, political science/public administration, and public health, requiring us to consider solutions from an interdisciplinary perspective. At SFC, which values problem discovery and interdisciplinary/cross-disciplinary approaches, I hope to discuss various unresolved issues with students and faculty members and consider prescriptions for the future.
Faculty of Policy Management, Professor (Non-tenured), Jun Sakuma
What I want to work on at SFC is to use international cooperation as a subject to think about the world together and help students acquire a broad perspective, while also nurturing their aspirations for the future. I have been involved in the practice of international cooperation for many years, particularly in the field of education, at JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency), the implementing agency for Japan's Official Development Assistance. Additionally, for about three years starting in 2016, I was stationed in the field as the Director of the JICA Nepal Office, where I worked hard to support reconstruction after the massive earthquake that occurred the previous year. Based on these professional experiences, I hope to deepen discussions and interactions on themes such as what international cooperation is and what sustainable development looks like. I look forward to working with you.
Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Associate Professor (Non-tenured), Ta, Duc Tung
My research focuses on dynamic ubiquitous computing, exploring interaction and collaboration among humans, robotic/computational systems, and the digital–physical environment. I envision a future in which robots and computers seamlessly coexist with humans in shared living spaces. A central question in this vision is how to design robotic and computational systems that can interact with humans actively, safely, and intuitively. To address this, I investigate soft robotics as a key medium for human–robot interaction. My work spans the design, fabrication, control, and interaction of soft robotic systems, leveraging their inherent flexibility and adaptability. By integrating these systems with AI-driven reasoning and planning, I aim to enable a seamless flow of data, intention, and action across human–robot–environment loops. At SFC, with its strong emphasis on diversity and interdisciplinarity, I plan to build a research group that bridges the full spectrum - from foundational studies in robot design, fabrication, and control to the deployment of robotic systems in real-world applications.
Faculty of Policy Management, Associate Professor, Ayumi Togashi
Nice to meet you. I specialize in international relations, particularly security in the Northeast Asian region and South Korea's foreign and security policy.
On the Korean Peninsula, the foreign land closest to Japan, the war that began in 1950 has not yet ended. North Korea continues its nuclear and missile development and has recently
established a military cooperative relationship with Russia. Deeply understanding the Northeast Asian region where Japan is located is perhaps
the most important perspective when considering the future of Japan's foreign and security policy. At SFC, I want to work with students on "thinking about the region from a broad perspective."
I hope to be greatly inspired by the flexible thinking of the students. Thank you very much.
Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Associate Professor, Takafumi Miyasaka
My research themes are "elucidating social-ecological systems" to unravel the complex interactions between human society and natural ecosystems, and "designing sustainable natural resource management" based on that. I have conducted empirical research primarily in the arid regions of China and Mongolia, as well as protected areas in three countries including Japan. My methodology is characterized by a multi-faceted approach that transcends fields, including socio-economic surveys through interviews and SNS analysis, flora and fauna surveys using bio-logging and remote sensing, and the integration of social-ecological data through GIS and model simulations. At SFC, I intend to work on developing human resources who can achieve both expertise and interdisciplinarity at a high level, and explore the concept of being a "one-person interdisciplinary team" together.
Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, Professor (Non-tenured), Koichi Moriyama
In an increasingly unstable society, "trust" and "security" have become more important than ever for people to live with peace of mind. To date, under the themes of evolving software and mobile & security innovation, I have promoted initiatives to protect customers by standing thoroughly from the user's perspective. Facing head-on the difficult challenges where conflicting requirements such as usability and security, or privacy protection and anti-spoofing measures, are expected to be met simultaneously, and with the motto "enriching ideas through sustained change and diversity," I will work with all of you on trust & security architecture for the digital age and its social implementation.
Sender: General Affairs, Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC) Office