Japan has been in a deflationary recession for the past 20 years, and it has yet to recover. Despite this economic situation, some neo-liberal policies have been adopted in Japan. This study considers that one of the factors that makes neo-liberalism acceptable to the public is the possibility that the discourse surrounding neo-liberal policies contains sophistical elements, as demonstrated in previous research, and analyzes that discourse based on fallacy theory. Based on this, this research conducted a psychological experiment on a total of 112 subjects to examine the psychological effects of the discourse on persuasive communication, and the results showed that narrative descriptions containing sophistry caused greater opinion changes in the subjects.

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This study aims to examine the differences in the residential environments of single persons who live alone and those who live with their parents. Single-person households tend to reside in residential development areas or locations with convenient access to public transportation, while single persons living with their parents are more likely to live outside these areas. Furthermore, there is no clear relationship between their residential locations and access to public transportation, and they do not always intend to move. Single persons who continue to live in areas with poor access to public transportation and therefore face higher risks, such as lack of support or nursing care, could potentially contribute to future urban planning challenges, such as the emergence of shopping refugees or an increasing number of people with limited mobility.

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In recent years, technological advancements in autonomous driving systems have progressed, and there has been active discussion regarding their social implementation. Autonomous driving technology is expected to solve various traffic problems, such as traffic accidents and driver shortages, leading to increasing expectations for this technology. However, there are concerns that such expectations may divert attention from urgent traffic problems that require immediate action today. This issue can be considered a form of “moral hazard,” which has been discussed in the field of climate engineering. In this study, we conducted a questionnaire survey accompanied by information presentation and performed a randomized controlled trial to examine the potential for fostering moral hazard awareness through information presentation. The results showed that, compared to the control group with no information presentation, the group that received only information stating that autonomous driving technology is steadily being accepted by society demonstrated a statistically significant increase in moral hazard awareness. This included the belief that issues such as “driver shortages for buses and trucks” and “traffic accidents caused by human error” are not major problems because they will eventually be solved by autonomous driving technology. On the other hand, in the group that was presented with additional information indicating that human intervention is still necessary in certain situations, no statistically significant difference in moral hazard awareness was detected compared to the control group. These findings suggest that providing information about the current state of autonomous driving technology could foster moral hazard awareness, leading to a weakening of responsibility for solving existing traffic problems.

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Local governments in Japan are facing significant challenges due to demographic changes, particularly population decline and an aging society. These shifts have led to workforce shortages and financial constraints, pushing municipalities to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) solutions to improve operational efficiency and public services. A major issue observed at city halls is congestion at service counters, which results in prolonged waiting time for citizens and increased workloads for staff. This study investigates the case of Takayama City Hall in Gifu Prefecture, where data from ticket dispensers at the citizen affairs counter were used to predict congestion levels. Using LightGBM, a machine learning model, we forecasted congestion two months in advance, measured on a five-point scale. To ensure these predictions were effectively communicated to the public, we developed a user-friendly congestion forecast calendar. The calendar provides hourly congestion projections for the upcoming two months and it has been available on the Takayama City Hall website since June 2023. This allows residents to plan their visits more strategically, potentially reducing waiting time and improving satisfaction with city services. The congestion forecast calendar has received positive feedback from municipal staff, and there was a notable increase in website traffic during the Obon holiday period (in August), indicating its particular utility during peak times at service counters.

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Although national land development, the main field of civil engineering, is a national endeavor, each project plan is considered individually, and the adoption of comprehensive and long-term perspectives have become less and less common over time. Furthermore, the impact on national land development of the sense of solidarity and will for national development that exists among engineers and citizens are rarely taken into consideration. This study will examine the form in which the above-mentioned elements became the basic conditions for national land development by Japanese references, focusing on the development of Manchuria during the Empire of Japan, the time in modern Japanese history when active development took place as well as the Meiji period and the postwar reconstruction period.

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In recent years, “vacant houses” have become a social issue in Japan, and not only utilization but also the prevention of their occurrence has become an important challenge. This study was conducted with high school students to promote awareness of vacant houses. The approach was designed not only to provide one-sided explanations but also to make the experience participatory to enhance effectiveness. Through a board game that simulated real-life experiences, students were able to enjoy learning knowledge, and the effectiveness was evaluated by analyzing survey results conducted before and after the activity. The analysis showed that while it is difficult to change the perception of their own home through a short simulation experience, it was effective in broadening the recognition of vacant houses and improving understanding. The survey observed responses such as: “Even though no one lives in the house, the owner still owns it, so there is no need to view it as a community problem,” “It seems unlikely that more vacant houses like this will appear in the neighborhood,” and “Vacant houses in the neighborhood are unlikely to cause trouble.” These responses suggest that this initiative was effective in fostering an understanding of vacant houses. However, perhaps due to the insufficient duration of the activity, it did not have a significant effect on changing the students’ awareness of the future of their own homes.

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The Inset-type disaster prevention group relocation promotion project was evaluated as a reconstruction project after the Great East Japan Earthquake and is expected to be utilized in the future. For this project, it is essential to coordinate among local residents in collaboration with local organizations and the local government. The objective of this study was to clarify the planning process of the Inset-type disaster prevention group relocation promotion project in the Okirai district of Ofunato City in Japan, focusing on the characteristics and roles of the local community. As a result, it was pointed out that the project was made possible by the contribution of the hierarchical community structure, especially in the early stages of the project, and with the importance of public-private partnerships that take into account the structure of the local community.

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In Japan, disaster prevention infrastructure development is significantly delayed due to fiscal constraints. One proposed solution is the Disaster Prevention SIB (Social Impact Bond), a type of outcome-based PFI (Private Finance Initiative) scheme that utilizes private funds and investment motivation for disaster prevention investments. This study conducted interviews with civil engineering and urban planning policy makers in local governments to identify barriers and challenges that arise when implementing Disaster Prevention SIB, and to consider improvement measures and approaches for institutional development. As a result, several areas of work suitable for introducing Disaster Prevention SIB were identified, along with points to be noted in advancing consensus-building and persuasion among stakeholders, and aspects that require ingenuity in setting up performance evaluation and outcome-based payments.

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This study examines the support for foreign nationals affected by disasters in areas with different languages and cultures by reviewing the history of disaster responses in Japan. It organizes the trends and changes in policies and responses, along with the factors influencing the vulnerabilities of foreign nationals. By analyzing the experiences of foreign nationals during the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, it is argued that the lack of clear social positioning of foreigners before these disasters contributed to their vulnerability afterward. While language barriers often receive attention in discussions about disaster support, this study highlights issues such as foreign nationals being excluded from support, and the risks of isolation due to misunderstandings and prejudice in local communities. It emphasizes the need for future efforts by the government and local authorities to go beyond multilingual information provision and to foster deeper collaboration with foreign communities. The results call for the promotion of community building based on mutual understanding among residents.

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This study explores an approach to public management by examining the activities of “Nukumori no Kai,” a voluntary group established by residents of Oshika Village, Nagano, aimed at engaging in preventive care activities. Field research was conducted with three main participant groups: the volunteers of “Nukumori no Kai,” relevant officials from the Oshika Village office, and staff from the Oshika Village Social Welfare Council. This research spanned two visits (a total of three days) on September 28, 2022, and July 20-21, 2023, employing methods such as participant observation, interviews, focus groups, and discussions. The study was centered on direct observation and participation, focusing on individuals’ experiences and stories to create a structured narrative. Discourse analysis was utilized to examine and interpret communication patterns and language within these interactions. The research revealed that “Nukumori no Kai” fosters an environment where residents, as well as interactions between residents and institutions like the local government and social welfare council, can engage more freely by becoming familiar with one another. This facilitated the development of a network where residents could voice their concerns more easily and be heard effectively. The activities of “Nukumori no Kai” act as a community lubricant by expanding the range of responsiveness, showing that this approach can also serve as a form of public management through “community strength.”

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The development of business leaders has consistently been regarded as one of the most critical managerial challenges across generations. A long-standing theory known as the “Experience Theory” posits that 70 % of leadership development stems from on-the-job experiences, 20 % from interactions with others, and 10 % from formal training programs. However, in light of the growing prominence of concepts such as reskilling and boundary-crossing learning, it is evident that adapting to major societal shifts, including digital transformation (DX), demands capabilities that extend beyond conventional job-specific knowledge. Leaders must now integrate new knowledge and perspectives, collaborate with diverse talent across organizational boundaries, and co-create innovative solutions. In today’s era of uncertainty, business leaders are required to make decisions at a higher level than those traditionally expected within their roles, raising questions about whether leadership based solely on the linear extension of job experience remains sufficient. This study explores significant career experiences that have led to the substantial growth of business leaders, conceptualized as “leap growth opportunities.” Specifically, it examines how interactions and learning outside the scope of daily work, which have historically received less emphasis compared to on-the-job experiences, contribute to the leap growth of business leaders. To elucidate this, interviews were conducted with senior leaders of major corporations to identify key leap growth opportunities and to evaluate the effectiveness of experiences and exchanges beyond their regular work domains. Additionally, this study discusses the potential roles of governments and industries in fostering environments conducive to creating such transformative growth opportunities.

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This study aims to investigate the positive and negative feelings experienced by community-dwelling older people engaged in social activities, including those involving different genders and age groups. Self-administered questionnaires were mailed in 2013 to people aged 60 to 89 years, who were randomly selected from the residential register of City A. The response rate was 43.3% and data were collected from 1,213 individuals who participated in social activities. 56.2 % were male, and the mean age of respondents was 74.1 (SD 8.1) years. The most commonly reported positive feelings were “Meeting and interacting with various people” (76.4 %), and “Enjoyment and motivation in life” (61.7 %). These were significantly higher among females than males: “Enjoyment and motivation in life” (males: 56.4 %, females: 68.3 %) and “Maintaining and promoting good health” (males: 43.8 %, females: 50.0 %). Conversely, a significantly higher percentage of male respondents selected “I can fill my free time” compared to female respondents (males: 17.9 %, females: 11.1 %). Regarding age groups, the percentage of respondents who selected “Enjoyment and motivation in life” was significantly higher among those aged 75-89 years (65.2 %) compared to those aged 60-74 years (58.8 %). In terms of negative feelings, males were significantly more likely to report “Not much fun” (males: 3.5 %, females: 1.0 %). Among age groups, respondents aged 60-74 years were more likely to report “Difficulty in balancing work and household” (60-74 years: 7.1 %, 75-89 years: 3.4 %) and “It costs money” (60-74 years: 15.7 %, 75-89 years: 7.5 %,). “Lacking physical and mental stamina” was significantly more common among those 75-89 years (60-74 years: 6.7 %, 75-89 years: 10.9 %,). The results revealed gender and age differences in positive and negative feelings associated with social activities among community-dwelling older people. These results provide suggestions for enhancing opportunities for social participation that promote higher satisfaction.

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