Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies (Master's) Faculty | APU Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University

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Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Faculty

Graduate School of Asia Pacific Studies Faculty

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Asia Pacific Studies (APS)

International Cooperation Policy (ICP)

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Please note that some faculty members may not be available to supervise students at certain times due to academic development leave or other circumstances.

Professor

GHOTBI Nader

Supervision Level

M, D

Degree

PhD (Modern Economics), Kyoto University
MD, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

Cross-Cultural Bioethics, Ethics of Technology (AI, EAI, etc.), Inclusive Education (Higher Education, HE)

Biography

Professor Ghotbi received a Medical Doctorate from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 1992 before enrolling at Kyoto University to complete a PhD in Modern Economics with a focus on health economics and environmental economics. He is a member of the Asian Bioethics Association, an editor for a peer-reviewed public health journal, and a reviewer for multiple peer-reviewed academic journals on bioethics and public health. He is currently engaged in research in public health, environmental ethics and economics, and ethics of artificial intelligence (AI).

Research Activities

Faculty Information
Professor

KIKKAWA Takuro

Supervision Level

M, D

Degree

Ph.D. (International Relations), Ritsumeikan University

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

Comparative Politics (Inc. Political System, Policy Analysis, Foreign and Security Policies)), IR, History, and Area Studies (the Middle East)

Biography

Professor Kikkawa received his Ph.D. in International Relations from Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto. He instructs under the International Public Administration (IPA) division and his current research fields are Politics and Area Studies. He is currently a member of the International Studies Association, the Japan Association for Middle East Studies and the Japan Association for Comparative Politics. He has written multiple books and research papers on the middle east; chiefly in regards to politics, security and social movements.

Research Activities

Faculty Information
Professor

MAHICHI Faezeh

Supervision Level

M, D

Degree

Ph.D (Life Science), Tokyo Institute of Technology

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

Inclusive Environmental Citizenship Education, Circular Bioeconomy, Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Food Systems, Regenerative Agriculture, Decrease of Humanity’s Ecological Footprint, Community-based Environmental Actions

Biography

Professor Mahichi received her Ph.D in Life Science from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. She is currently active in the American Society of Microbiology and the Iranian Society of Microbiology. Her current research fields are Environmental Education and General Life Science.

Research Activities

Faculty Information
Professor

MEIRMANOV Serik

Supervision Level

M, D

Degree

Ph.D. (Medical Sciences), Nagasaki University Medical School

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

General Life Science, Social Psychology, Human Genetics, Human Pathology, Public Hygiene Studies/Health Science, International Education

Biography

Professor Meirmanov received his Ph.D in Medical Sciences from the Nagasaki University Medical School. His research fields are General Life Science, Social Psychology, Human Genetics, Human Pathology and Public Hygiene Studies/Health Science. Before coming to APU, Professor Meirmanov was an assistant professor at Nagasaki Medical School. He is licensed for General Surgery as well as a Medical Doctor. He has written a plethora of research papers as well as a few books.

Research Activities

Faculty Information
Professor

SUZUKI Yasushi

Supervision Level

M

Degree

PhD in Economics, University of London
LLM in International Economic Law, Birkbeck, University of London
MSc (with Distinction) in Economics with reference to South Asia, SOAS, University of London
B.A. in Political Science, Waseda University

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

Political Economy; Law and Economics; Comparative Economic and Financial Systems; Financial Development; History of Political Economy Thought; Theories of Rent and Rent-Seeking; Institutional Change; Philosophy of Economics.
Doctoral supervision available only for students that have completed their master's thesis under the professor's supervision

Biography

He completed his Ph.D. in Economics from University of London, SOAS in 2009, LLM in International Economic Law from University of London, Birkbeck in 2011 and Msc (distinction) in Economics with reference to South Asia from University of London, SOAS in 1999, respectively. His research interests are the institutional political economy of financial development, comparative financial systems, and economic philosophy. His work has been published in Asian-Pacific Economic Literature, Journal of Comparative Asian Development and Journal of Global Ethics, International Journal of Islamic Finance and Business Management, and many other PRJs. He has been a co-editor of a special issue of the International Journal of Financial Service Management on the Future of Islamic Banking. Prior to his appointment at APU, he worked for the Long-Term Credit Bank of Japan (LTCB) including assignments as Vice President for customer relations at LTCB Central Asia in Indonesia, Vice President for loan syndication at LTCB Singapore Branch, and Deputy General Manager for loan syndication at LTCB New York Branch.

Research Activities

Faculty Information
Professor

YAMASHITA Hiromi

Supervision Level

M, D

Degree

Ph.D. Univesity of Birmingham

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

Environmental Sociology, Environmental Communication, Risk Study, Public Perceptions on Nature Restoration Projects (Green Infrastructures, Nature Based Solutions), Costal Wetlands Management and Conservation (including tidal flats, mangroves, beaches), Community Participation in Decision Making, Consensus Building on Infrastructure Building in Coastal Communities

Research Activities

Faculty Information
Associate Professor

GOMEZ Oscar A.

Supervision Level

M, D

Degree

PhD (Environmental Studies), Tohoku University

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

International Cooperation, Human Security, Global Governance

Biography

Professor Gomez's research focuses on international relations, human security, and humanitarian responses to global crises. He has published widely on development cooperation and the role of states in humanitarian action. He is currently working on non-Western humanitarianism, particularly comparing East Asian and Latin America.

Research Activities

Faculty Information
Associate Professor

SANADA Kie

Supervision Level

M

Degree

Ph.D., University of Berlin
M.Sc., Lund Universty

Divisions

Policy Science and Transitioning Societies (PS)

Research Fields

Decentralized governance, Regional policies, Community building, DX (Smart cities etc), GX (Ecotown etc) , Center-periphery relationship, Sociology, Japanese Studies

Biography

Associate Professor Sanada's academic experience includes roles as a postdoctoral researcher and research fellow at the Stockholm School of Economics. Her research focuses on the sociological analysis of global social challenges, particularly spatial inequality, within specific geographic contexts. Drawing on meta-theoretical frameworks developed by Pierre Bourdieu, her recent work examines how regional investments in green and digital transformation can drive social innovation through comparative studies of Japan and the EU.

Research Activities

Faculty Information