Sustainability in Japan

Sustainability lies at the heart of any long-term strategy, yet it encompasses a wide range of topics and definitions that require diverse approaches. In our research cluster we aim at analysing current developments in Japan, a country that has directed much attention to the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) formulated by the United Nations. More specifically, we focus on three core areas of sustainability: resilience, diversity and inclusion, as well as green transformation.

Our projects on resilience cover studies ranging from the relations of human and non-human actors to the demographic decline and the social life in rural areas, demonstrating ways in which Japanese stakeholders deal with challenges posed by natural disasters or population decline. Our researchers working on diversity and inclusion seek to understand the social fabric of contemporary Japan by investigating its particularities and marginalities. We analyse representations of disabilities in contemporary Japanese literature and discuss the inclusion of older adults in Japanese society. We contribute to research on Japan’s green transformation by providing insights into carbon pricing strategies and developments in green finance.

This research cluster is an academic platform to discuss matters of sustainability from various perspectives and is thus an example of the multidisciplinary approaches of our institute. Apart from the wide range of topics, we engage in various levels of analysis including cultural artifacts, individuals, non-human actors, families, communities, organizations and Japan as a whole. These diverse approaches enable us to apprehend some of the most crucial aspects of the complexities of sustainability. In all our projects, we regularly collaborate with scholars and practitioners in the field.