About KGRI

Impacting solutions to global problems
by integrating outstanding expertise

Keio University is concentrating its various resources on the three initiatives of "longevity," "safety," and "creativity" to facilitate high-level interdisciplinary and international education and research activities.

KGRI was established in November 2016 as a base to further promote the globalization at the university. Its purpose is to continue the advancement of research activities within the university's three initiatives, and to broadly disseminate the outcomes globally.

As part of these activities, the "Research Project Keio 2040" was established in April 2021 and will offer suggestions on societal mechanisms for sustainability and contentment in a super-aging society.


The major roles of KGRI include:

  • Matching the university's extensive research seeds across the academic boundaries of each initiative.
  • Maintaining a global research and education environment through interdisciplinary integration within the research domains of each initiative. This includes the development of young researchers who will support future generations.
  • Lead large-scale projects for cross-initiative solutions of societal issues and to contribute to the future of our society.


KGRI is advancing world-class interdisciplinary research and education activities in the spirit of the university's philosophy of "practical learning" or jitsugaku that balances:

  • The effectiveness and problem-solving capabilities that society seeks in research bodies.
  • The commitment and appeal required for sustaining research activities at educational institutions.



Message from the Director

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In the 20th century, academic fields were segmented into different specializations and the remarkable speeds at which these developed gave rise to a wealth of achievements. On the other hand, the large number of divisions also brought with it the seeming contradiction that it has become more difficult to grasp particular academic fields as a whole. On reflection on this fact, as well as by necessity, attempts at interdisciplinary, integrative, and systematic approaches arose across various specialized fields in the 21st century.

Education and research at Keio University has had the "spirit of jitsugaku" as emphasized by Yukichi Fukuzawa as its underlying principle. While there are many different definitions of "jitsugaku," an interdisciplinary approach is imperative to its practice. Education and research perspectives highlight that learning is not confined to academic discipline, but there are renewed calls for the pursuit of knowledge that also results in returns which benefit society itself. Keio University has undertaken the mission of leading society in the 21st century fueled by its tradition of "jitsugaku."

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In the midst of such changes in academia, KGRI was established in 2016. With the three pillars of research currently adopted by Keio University, namely "Longevity," "Security," and "Creativity," as its foundation, it is anticipated that KGRI will drive the university's world-class, top-level interdisciplinary research. To this end, it is necessary to provide a global research environment open to the world while fostering young leaders who will be responsible for the next generation.

Through the activities of KGRI, I not only hope that phrases and terms such as "integration of the sciences and humanities" and "transdisciplinary" will become redundant in the near future, but that we can pave the way for an interdisciplinary environment where the inclusion of such aspects is the norm. The thought of students produced by such environments making their way into the world is truly a wonderful prospect.

Director Yuko Kimijima
Keio University Global Research Institute


Introduction of the Director and Deputy Directors

Director:
Yuko Kimijima (Professor, Faculty of Law)

Deputy Directors:
Takahiro Hoshino (Professor, Faculty of Economics)
Taneaki Nakagawa (Professor, School of Medicine)
Kenji Miyamoto (Professor, Faculty of Science and Technology)
Yoko Hirose (Professor, Faculty of Policy Management)
Tatsuhiko Yamamoto (Professor, Law School)

Past Directors and Deputy Directors
About Project Members, Researchers