The activity of the third sector enterprise remains stagnant today. That grew out of the insufficient inquiry about how the third sector enterprise can work as containment for the capitalist market and what kind of perspective is needed to demonstrate their capacity. In this paper I would like to clear up the subject above through investigation about the logic of association by Habermas, J. and Seimei Hirata. According to their theory, enterprise with associational attribute must be the organization based on the communicative reason which guide to mutual understandings about the meaning of confronting problem and where labor’s predominance over capital is guaranteed throughout production activity. But a chance to show their attribute in capitalistic market must face characteristic difficulty. Reactivation of the third sector enterprise requires two deliberations. Firstly, we have to classify the domain in the capitalistic market where the third sector enterprise can get the better of profit enterprise. Secondly, we must lay plans for the process to extend that domain. For that purpose, it is essential to make clear the concept of goods with specific context. Goods with specific context are defined by at least two attributes. One is that the utility depends on the situation where they are supplied. In other words, the social relation between consumer and producer affects utility. Second is that there can not be any preference as to purchase. That means there exist no marginal rate of substitution. For example, almost all needs which originate from care leave no room for choice. They are forced by physical condition. The third sector enterprise can play an active role in such a domain.

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In the post-Cold War era, as capitalism and market economies swept the world, the Keynesian welfare state declined, and neoliberalism progressed in many parts of the world. In the so-called mixed economic system, the third sector theory was presented as an area different from the “public” and “private,” and the importance of non-profit and cooperative activities was raised. However, the evaluation of the uniqueness of the third sector theory has been debated, and concerns have emerged that it will be incorporated into administrative supplements and subcontracting under the so-called neoliberal development. This is an issue that overlaps with the chairperson’s explanation at the beginning and last year’s (2022) conference symposium. At this year’s conference symposium, lively discussions took place under the theme of “Thinking about the post-welfare state and the third sector: the new role of social enterprises” with three presenters. In this paper, based on the symposium, I will particularly comment on the first report, “The significance of the existence of the third sector in a post-Keynesian welfare state,” and also broadly discuss related issues (trends in the welfare state).

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The community-based farming corporation, also known as an agricultural producers’ co-operative corporation, is positioned as a type of social enterprises in rural Japan. It carries the traditional social mission of protecting the community’s farmland while simultaneously contributing to the recovery and strengthening of the ‘common’, addressing the diverse challenges within the community. As part of the discussion on the ‘post-welfare state and the third sector’, this paper clarifies the role that community-based farming corporation plays in the revitalization of economic, social, and environmental aspects of rural areas, and explores the relationship between the corporation and the rural community.

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Sweden and Japan are both considered advanced nations in terms of environmental policy, yet there is a significant difference in their progress toward decarbonization. Sweden has received international acclaim for its sustainable transition of energy sector. In contrast, Japan lags in its decarbonization efforts, drawing international criticism. This discrepancy raises questions about whether differences in perception towards a decarbonized society underlie these contrasting outcomes. This paper explores these questions by examining the urban waste-to-energy conversion in Sweden and Japan as case studies, framing the discussion within environmental discourse. In Helsingborg, Sweden, waste incineration heat and organic waste are efficiently utilized across multiple fronts - heat, electricity, and fuel - showcasing significant economic benefits. Conversely, Utsunomiya City in Japan shows limited energy utilization from waste incineration facilities, indicating that Japan’s approach to decarbonization has not progressed as much as Sweden’s. Sweden’s success can be attributed to the eco-modernization mindset, where diverse actors collaborate under multi-level governance to drive systemic transitions. The difficulties Japan faces in sustainable transition suggest that the success of administrative rationalism might inadvertently hinder radical innovation. Transitioning to a decarbonized society requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond technical solutions to include policy changes, societal attitudinal shifts, and structural economic transformations. Particularly, Sweden’s example highlights the importance of cooperation among the state, local governments, private companies, and civil society, with the participation of diverse stakeholders for sustainable development. The need for multi-level governance, including the activation of a wide range of third- sector activities, is reaffirmed as essential for fostering radical innovation towards a decarbonized society.

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Linguistic landscape refers to the written language that we encounter in public spaces. It has been noted that the study of linguistic landscape provides a new approach to multilingualism, and in recent years, the multilingual landscape has become a central focus in the field of linguistic landscape research. This paper explores the linguistic landscape of signs at JR Utsunomiya Station and Orion Street. The field survey conducted in these two locations revealed that the “JECK notation” in and around JR Utsunomiya Station is still behind, and minority languages are inadequately represented. Orion Street is already well known as a filming location for movies, but the government’s multilingual support for top-down signs is weak, and bottom-up signs show different results from previous research. From the case of Utsunomiya City, we were able to capture the relationship of language forces behind the linguistic landscape and it has been suggested that there is a possibility of building a symbiotic society to promote linguistic coexistence in local cities.

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This study focuses on youth-led environmental movements that have expanded since the 2010s, particularly Fridays For Future Japan (FFF Japan), and discusses how an ecofeminist perspective can contribute to solving problems in the social acceptance of their activities FFF Japan is a climate justice but their movement lacks a gender perspective. Environmental issues disproportionately affect minorities, such as women, ethnic minorities, and the poor, and intersect with various social injustices. Therefore, it is essential to actively incorporate an ecofeminist perspective to increase the social acceptability of the environmental movement and to achieve more inclusive social change. In this study, we focused on the arguments of Vandana Shiva, an Indian ecofeminist, and sought the roots of environmental issues in Western dichotomous thought. The thinking that placed nature and women in an inferior position, formed during the scientific revolution and the Enlightenment, has also functioned as a logic to justify colonial rule and capitalist patriarchy. Ecofeminism repositions environmental issues within a social and ideological context and provides clues to their fundamental solutions. From the above, we conclude that since environmental problems encompass various minority issues, the environmental movement can be fundamentally attached to the environmental movement because only through ecofeminism can environmental problems be grasped as problems that include minorities.

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In recent years, the world we live in has been changing dramatically due to the rapid development of technologies such as AI, metaverses and humanoids. This paper focuses on a worldview that may emerge in the future amidst such radical changes in the world we live in. Until now, our common worldview has been that no matter how elaborates the experience in cyberspace may seem, the true reality lies within the experience in the physical world. Today’s technological situation, however, holds the potential for the emergence of a very different worldview. It is a worldview that finds the essence of humans not in the bodily self in the physical world, but in the self as a kind of mental existence detached from the body, and that the self as mental existence is understood to emerge in the actual world as a physical body, a VR avatar in cyberspace, or a remote-controlled robotic avatar. This mental existence will be called tulpa in this paper. The human consciousness and thought still belong to the physical body, which is centered in the brain. Nonetheless, people imagine that the physical body does not give rise to tulpa, but that tulpa appears as a physical self. Here, the physical body is imagined as just one option, along with numerous avatars, for the tulpa to be embodied in the actual world. This worldview certainly seems strange to us today. However, in the near future, there may be more than a few people who accept this worldview. We need to be prepared now for any problems that will arise at that time.

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Securing residence in private rental housing for foreigners involves property management issues such as “differences in lifestyle and way of thinking” “troubles with other tenants” and “language barriers” as well as “anxiety about rent payments” and “absence of a guarantor”. There are some factors. Problems regarding property management are increasing, and the importance of post-occupancy management is becoming clearer as an issue for landlords in accepting foreigners. The purpose of this research is to help small-scale landlords overcome social issues while ensuring competitive advantage and profitability, in other words, clarifying the challenges faced in accepting foreigners in CSV. Therefore, to ensure the stability of foreigners living in private rental housing, we targeted 17 landlords who can accept foreigners and a particularly high proportion of foreign residents in Mie prefecture. A semi-structured interview survey was conducted with landlords. As a result of the survey, the proportion of survey subjects accepting foreigners was higher than the results of previous studies. These landlords started their own house rental businesses and purchased used rental properties. Many were accepting foreigners to increase occupancy rates. The management company and the landlord themselves resolved the management issues that seemed to be a disadvantage when accepting foreigners. Many had no ties to external organizations as part of social cooperation, but landlords that accepted many foreigners cooperated with external organizations. These findings suggest the possibility of CSV, where small-scale landlords accept foreigners and increase profits while solving the two social problems of eliminating vacant properties. However, since there are limits to the efforts of individual landlords alone, the challenge is to respond in cooperation with external organizations and public organizations.

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The preamble of the Kindergarten Teaching Procedures published in 2017 emphasizes the role of kindergartens in nurturing “creators of a sustainable society,” highlighting the importance of implementing ESD from early childhood. Notably, only a few studies have empirically elucidated early childhood ESD. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the “current status and prospects of nature-based childcare as early childhood ESD” and to understand the awareness and implementation of early childhood ESD among childcare providers. Focusing on Nagano Prefecture, considered to be a pioneer in nature-based childcare in Japan, I conducted a questionnaire-based survey to assess the awareness and practices of early childhood ESD in individual schools using the OMEP ESD evaluation index. The results indicated that while many kindergartens prioritize activities involving “contact with the natural environment” as part of nature-based childcare, fewer engage in endeavors related to environmental conservation, fairness and equity, budget planning, and financial literacy. It was also found that there are significant differences between certified and non-certified nature kindergartens in terms of nature conservation efforts, community involvement, and collaboration beyond the kindergartens’ boundaries. Based on the above, it is evident that 1) nature-based childcare serves as a platform for children to participate in environmental conservation activities through “contact with the natural environment,” 2) nature-based childcare has potential as an ESIC to foster a view of social inclusion in the community, and 3) it provides an opportunity for children to engage in sustainable economic activities within their communities. However, the scope of this study is limited to Nagano Prefecture, thus lacking a comprehensive overview of early childhood ESD in Japan as a whole or comparisons with ESD in other countries.

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Based on 2017 data, the domestic Muslim population in Japan stands at approximately 200,000. Furthermore, in 2018, the number of Muslim tourists visiting Japan reached nearly 1 million,highlighting their growing presence. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic led to significant travel restrictions, causing a drastic decline in the number of Muslim visitors. however, with these restrictions anticipated to be lifted in October 2022, there is renewed optimism for an increase in Muslim tourism, bringing to light various challenges they face during their stay in Japan. In a series of surveys targeting Muslim visitors to Japan, issues related to dining have been prominently highlighted. Specifically, there is a noted lack of establishments offering Halal-compliant meals, along with ambiguities surrounding the ingredients and preparation methods of food. Against this backdrop, from a supply chain perspective, we conducted a survey of the constituent food manufacturers, logistics companies, restaurant companies, and consumers to investigate the possibility that halal food will develop in the restaurant and food industries in the future. Results from our research indicate that when dining out, the domestic Muslim population seeks greater transparency and accurate disclosure regarding food ingredients. Additionally, there is a growing demand for a broader range of Halal- compliant menu options within the Japanese cuisine category. Conversely, within non- Muslim demographics in Japan, there is a misconception that views Halal food as being “exclusively for Muslims”. This misunderstanding has been identified as a barrier to the broader acceptance and dissemination of Halal products. This research reveals that food manufacturers, food service and delivery businesses in the supply chain conduct transactions based on their own interpretations,and that consumers select ingredients and menus based on their own standards, and the importance of certification. In particular,the lack of certification for logistics businesses was recognized as an issue, and the need for systematic research on the entire food system was suggested. Furthermore, by deepening the understanding of halal food among diverse consumers, it is expected that the market for the food service and food industries will expand.

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We asked students, “Do you think regular school lunches are delicious? And the most common answers were as follows: “Definitely”; (42.8%), and “Yes”; (32.2%). The total of “Definitely” and “Yes” is 75.0%, which indicates that children and students consider regular school lunches “delicious.” Even within the free description, there are many opinions that the lunches are “very delicious.” While it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that “all -T School Lunches” are more luxurious than regular school lunches due to the donation of special ingredients, it is certain that the percentage of children and student, who think that the “T School Lunches” with the most local ingredients are “very delicious” and answered “Yes”, are significantly higher in our results. Students are of the opinion that regular school lunches are delicious, even though fewer local ingredients are used, but they consider the special school lunches that are provided for only three days a year even more delicious, the ingredients are often produced within the town. Therefore, children and students consider school meals with higher -ratio of local ingredients to be more delicious.

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