Greetings from Kyoto-U AUTUMN 2004 Issue 6 Raku-Yu Newsletter CONTENTS 1 What Characterizes a Kyoto University Education? Editor in Chief Junzo Munemoto Hirohisa Higashiyama, Vice-President of Kyoto University Associate Editor 2 Special Feature - The Kyoto University Education Yoshitaka Ishikawa Liberal Arts Education, The Kyoto University Way Masaki Maruyama, Director, Institute for the Promotion of Excellence in Higher Education Senior Editors Naoyuki Kyoto University's Regional Education Program Jyuichi Itani Information for International Students Kouji Asami Kazunobu Nagasaki 6 Forefronts of Research at Kyoto University Akira Asada Tsuneo Yoshikawa, Professor, Graduate School of Engineering Yuzuru Hamada Kazuo Fujita, Professor, Graduate School of Letters

Editorial Collaborator 10 Essay – Engelbert Jorissen, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Human and Environmental Studies TRANSWORD CO.,LTD.

11 Interview – Tang Zhong Hui, Graduate School of Law Printed by 12 Activity – Nobuhiro Ohnishi, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies KOSAIDO CO.,LTD. 13 What's Happening on Campus © The Committee of Public Relations President Oike Goes to Mainland China and Hong Kong of Kyoto University "The First KAGI 21 International Summer School on the Active Geosphere" Takes Place in Indonesia A Note on Order of Names Inaugurating the "Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere" As a general rule, names appearing The 21st Century COE Program FY2004 Results in Raku-Yu are written in given name/family name order. PROMENADE 14 Mount Hiei – A Prayer for Peace on Earth from one of the Most Sacred Sites in Japanese Buddhism

Raku-Yu means to respect, Editor's notes treasure, and enjoy one's friendship. At Kyoto University, we promote creative research and self-education in an academic culture supportive of academic freedom and an open and stimu- lating atmosphere. While a mentality that prizes freedom fosters creative and independent-minded talent, it also creates an aspect of permissiveness and therefore demands a university's involvement in order to fulfill its educational responsibilities. The incorporation of 's national universities in April 2004 was accompanied by significant changes to the research and educational system. Prior to that, Kyoto University established our basic policy for the This name was taken from the 21st century that emphasizes harmony and dialogue with local communities. We are also engaged in the establishment of a new research and educa- assembly hall called "Raku-Yu Kaikan" that commemorated tional system while simultaneously maintaining our "free academic culture". In this issue, we will try to reflect on the current state of our research and the 25th anniversary of the educational activities from various perspectives while taking note of these changes. founding of Kyoto University.

Jyuichi Itani, Senior Editor, The Editorial Committee of Raku-Yu

Illustrated Books: Ise Monogatari (Tales of Ise) Paper with illustrations in color, manuscript, 2 volumes, author and publisher unknown, 28.0 × 23.3cm

The Ise Monogatari, completed in the early Heian Period (the first part of the 10th century), is one of the most beloved works of Japanese classical literature and a cornerstone of Japanese culture, one that is repeatedly quoted as a motif in a wide range of genres besides literature, such as art and theater. It consists of 125 Utamonogatari (poetic tales), a small collection of waka (traditional Japanese short poems) and their related episodes, which are said to have been modeled on the life of Narihira Ariwara (825-880), a nobleman celebrated as the greatest male poet in his age. Most of the Utamonogatari deal with romances between young men and women, but section 9, entitled Azuma Kudari (Eastward Bound) and featured on this issue's cover, has been famous since the clas- sical period for its depiction of the heart of someone traveling away from home. The painting on the cover is a scene of Narihira's party, having left Kyoto with heavy hearts in search of safe refuge in the East, as they looked upon the majestic Mt. Fuji in Suruga (modern-day Shizuoka prefecture). Narihira looked up at the mountain from his horse and set his deep feelings down in a waka: "Fuji, the mountain that forgets its seasons. What time does it think it is? Though summer, snow covers the ground in spots." He describes Mt. Fuji, with its piled-up snow even in summer, in a somewhat critical tone as "the mountain that forgets its seasons". These words are suffused with a distinct feeling of homesickness for the gentle turning of the seasons in Kyoto's mountains which Narihira had grown to love. As a symbol of Japan, Mt. Fuji's shape and size is known to us all. In this poem, however, its dignity is expressed as "twenty Mt. Hieis stacked on top of one another". twelve hundred years ago when Kyoto was the capital, Mt. Hiei guarded the city and might have embodied the image of the "sacred mountain" more so than Mt. Fuji. (Please refer to the picture of Mt. Hiei on the back cover of this issue.) The image of the sacred mountain represented by Mt. Fuji and Mt. Hiei transcends space and time as one of the scenes of the Japanese people's collective imagination. The sense of faith that pulls us to sacred mountains certainly lives on today in a deep place in our everyday lives. Hirohisa Higashiyama Born in Osaka in 1942. Prof. Higashiyama graduated from the Kyoto University Faculty of Education in 1965. He earned his master's degree in 1967, and his Ph.D in 1973 both at Kyoto University. In 1975 he became an associate professor at , and a full professor in 1987. In 1997 he became a professor at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Education. In December 2003, he was appointed Vice-President of Kyoto University, and Director of Education and Student Affairs in April 2004. A specialist in clinical psychology, Prof. Higashiyama knows from extensive experience in patient counseling just how hard it is to make analyses and evaluations. Counseling, being the use of one psyche to treat another, demands maintaining an ongoing dialogue with the patient, while also remaining constantly aware that the therapist and the patient are not the same. In these times when Kyoto University has become a National University Corporation, and evaluation, whether internal or external, has increasingly come to mean "numerical value," the fact that Prof. Higashiyama puts the utmost faith in "the power of the human spirit" both puts people at ease and gives them courage.

What Characterizes a Kyoto University Education?

As Vice-President and Director in Charge of Education and members who feel that way, now that you mention it. We humans Student Affairs, my work encompasses all aspects of academic have this habit, however, of wanting to tell people what we know. life at Kyoto University, insofar as students are concerned. This Can you keep from telling people things that only you know? Do role includes, but is not limited to, partnerships with high schools, you not feel the temptation to pass your knowledge on? Such feel- open campus days, entrance exams, admission and orientation, ings are especially strong for educators, given that telling people guidance―especially regarding waiving tuition fees, scholar- things is considered the heart of what they do. ships, dormitories, off-campus housing, and student That being the case, why, then, do we say that Kyoto University's insurance-curricula, counseling, employment assistance, gradua- professors do not teach? Because teaching someone more talented tion, and awarding of degrees. And the important thing in all of than oneself ruins that very talent. Professors cannot teach stu- this is that our educational programs are focused on our students. dents what they themselves do not know. They can only teach at In the writings of Mencius, there is the following: "君子 their own level. Therefore, students cannot rise beyond the level 有三楽。父母倶存、兄弟無故、一楽也。仰不愧於天、 of their professors. Top students frequently quarrel with their 不 於人 、二楽也。得天下英才、而教育之、三楽也" mentors, postulating ideas at odds with their mentors' theories, An English translation of which is : ‘The superior man has three who throw them out as a consequence. The reason being that the things in which he delights, and to be ruler over the Kingdom is student is superior to his mentor. not one of them. That his father and mother are both alive, and Advances in scholarship, however, are born of unprecedented that the condition of his brothers affords no cause for anxiety; - ideas that supersede established wisdom. Persons of talent chafe this is one delight. That, when looking up, he has no occasion for at conventional ways of living and doing things, because conven- shame before Heaven, and, below, he has no occasion to blush tional thinking confines one to operating within the bounds of before men; - this is a second delight. That he can get from the such established wisdom. Those of Sigmund Freud's disciples whole kingdom the most talented individuals, and teach and who later founded their own schools of thought all fell out with nourish them; - this is the third delight’ (Reproduced from "The their mentor, while those who remained faithful to their mentor's Chinese Classics - VolumeⅡ The works of Mencius", James teachings have gone unremembered. And the reason for this is Legge, Hong Kong University Press, 1960) Great minds from all that, if we want to read Freud's ideas and teachings, we need only over are gathered together at Kyoto University, and it is the great study Freud's own writings, rather than those of his warmed-over pleasure of our faculty to educate them. disciples. It is precisely those who went beyond what Freud Han Yu wrote, "千里馬常有、而伯楽不常有". Persons of taught that we should learn from, in fact. Technique is learned by talent may abound, but one is hard-pressed to find persons imitation, whereas ideas represent innovation. capable of teaching them. Though one may attract persons of The members of the faculty of Kyoto University are character- talent, the hard part is being a sufficiently good judge of char- ized by taking on successors whose ability exceeds their own. In acter to be able to educate them. this way, they perpetuate this very tradition. It is not so very diffi- And if there is one thing that the faculty of Kyoto cult to respect an instructor, supervisor, or upperclassman whose University have learned from experience about being a ability exceeds one's own. The reverse, however, is not true: it is good judge of character, it is this: do not teach. no simple thing to respect a pupil or underclassman whose ability Now, I know it sounds drastic to say, do not teach at a place exceeds one's own. Better to make such a person one's successor, of education. Rest assured, however, that this is not an which is what we do at Kyoto University. And we will continue attempt to abdicate responsibility. to make advances in research and scholarship so long as we main- You are probably wondering, why, then, do Kyoto University tain this particular tradition. faculty not teach? Do they focus solely on research, because they Hirohisa Higashiyama don't like to teach? And yes, there may well be some faculty Vice-President of Kyoto University

1 Special Feature 1 Liberal Arts Education, The Kyoto University Way

Keys to a Liberal Arts Education: about by profound consider- Academic Well-Roundedness, ation and the extensive Sensitivity to the Cultural Aspects communication that under- of Language, and an Intellectual pins it. Foundation These latter traits depend The fundamental principle of Kyoto on good linguistic ability, University can be stated as follows: "to which itself must be suffi- educate top scientists and persons with ciently strong and culturally advanced degrees of specialized abilities, sensitive to facilitate com- who are well-rounded and deeply humani- munication in common tarian, who place great store in responsibility, tongues, transcending and who contribute to harmonious coexis- national borders, drawing Yoshida South Campus Academic Center Bldg. tence within global society as a whole." on a platform of under- That is to say that, together with conducting standing of the properties of different Studies and Graduate School of Human and academic research on the leading edge of regions and indigenous cultures to do so. Environmental Studies were merged into a all fields of scholastic endeavor, the uni- Such understanding is especially important single program, and came to share the versity considers its duty to be to educate now, when academe and society alike are management of the General Education persons capable of fulfilling these obliga- operating on a global basis in all respects. Program with the Graduate School of tions and assuming leadership roles in Thus, another of the keys to education in Science. The university, in turn, founded the society. There is a need for people with the liberal arts at Kyoto University is striving Institute for the Promotion of Excellence in knowledge both broad and deep, rather for improvement in culturally sensitive Higher Education to plan, implement, and than specializing in some narrow disci- linguistic ability. evaluate the General Education Program, pline, because we must, as individuals, Before one can study in specialized sub- which forms committees to deliberate on assume leadership roles in academia and jects, one must first build an intellectual problems facing the program objectives, research on the one hand, and all seg- foundation by learning the basic subjects. draft specific courses, call on various depart- ments of society on the other. Add to this Another aspect to the "intellectual founda- ments and boards to provide course the fact that all of these are expanding into tion" concept is creating a common base of materials, and audit the content of materials the global realm, transcending national knowledge that allows communication so provided. These consist of the Committee borders, and becoming both more diverse between different sectors, as best exempli- on Liberal Arts Education, the Committee on and more complex in the process, and fied by the instilling of basic knowledge Core Curricula, the Committee on Language such needs become all the more acute. and criteria for judgment of the humanities Studies, and the Committee on Information With this guiding philosophy of training and social sciences on the part of natural Education. These committees, which all and education, Kyoto University's under- sciences students, and vice versa. operate under the auspices of the General graduate educational program has elements Education System Committee, which over- of advanced study in specialized subjects General Education and the Institute sees the Program's overall planning, give on the one hand, and a general, liberal arts for the Promotion of Excellence in instructions to subcommittees representing curriculum on the other, at its core. Higher Education: Implementing the various boards of liberal arts, sciences, Seen from this standpoint, the liberal and Conducting the Well-Rounded seminars, health and physical education, arts program at Kyoto University must not Liberal Arts Education mathematics, physics, chemistry, geog- aim to provide ordinary culture or self- The Kyoto University General Education raphy, biology, English language, and improvement for the masses. Rather, it Program is primarily charged with the uni- other beginning or remedial foreign must ask what meaning we can derive versity's Liberal Arts/Foundational language programs. These subcommit- from scholarship, that is, what scholarship Education work, the goal of which is tees, in turn, work to resolve the issues means to us as human beings. Confronting instilling the academic well-roundedness, specific to these various boards, in accor- academia in such a way should enable stu- sensitivity to the cultural aspects of language, dance with the instructions they are given. dents to become highly independent, and intellectual foundation described above. The Institute's Executive Council deliberates cultivating strong values and a broad sense of The Faculty of Integrated Humanities on matters pertaining to the operation and humanism. Therefore, the goal is to connect Studies was the managing board of the administration of the Institute itself, with the the liberal arts to the most advanced work General Education Program, and as such, it Secretariat being its actual administrative being done in relevant fields of scholar- both provided the majority of the subjects, body. The Center for the Promotion of ship, thus bringing students and scholars in and contributed to the planning and imple- Excellence in Higher Education is the those fields to places of academic study. In mentation of the program, under the auspices research arm of the Institute. As such, the other words, the goal is to apply academic of the Special Curriculum Committee. In research it conducts forms the basis for its rigor to the liberal arts, which is itself brought 2003, the Faculty of Integrated Humanities plans, development, and implementation of

2 What Characterizes a Kyoto University Education? the General Education Program. The Center notices, and appointments with instruc- also provides operating support for the tors, among other customized information. General Education System Committee. The Institute is further developing a system that will allow online course reg- Revitalizing the Yoshida-South istration, whether from personal Campus: Building the Liberal computers or cellular phones. Arts Education Framework As of this writing, the university's Issues Facing Liberal Arts liberal arts education is being held pri- Education: The Road Ahead marily at the Yoshida-South Campus. The Kyoto University General Education Facilities are being established here for Program runs between 2000 and 3000 the General Education Program, including classes, each running 15 weeks at 90 the construction of Building No. 1, the minutes per week. The Program is one of restoration of the North Wing of the the finest in Japan in terms of extent, Masaki Maruyama campus's Academic Center, and the sur- diversity, and sophistication of content. ・Born in 1944. rounding framework of buildings that The question remains, however: to what ・Specialized Research Field: Mathematics, Algebraic will accompany it. More teaching assis- degree has the philosophy cited at the outset Geometry tants are being assigned to the program, of this article been fulfilled? The results nec- ・Graduate of the master's program, Graduate and the Computer Assisted Language essarily look encouraging. Some of the School of Science, Kyoto University Learning Education COE is also being issues that need to be dealt with in the near ・D. Sci., Kyoto University ・Professor, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto adopted. Both of these measures, aimed at term include: University improving the education being provided, 1) Developing and implementing course ・Director, Institute for the Promotion of Excellence are already showing solid results. evaluation procedures for understanding in Higher Education, Kyoto University Another essential part of the program's what students in the course want and ・Vice-President of Kyoto University equipment is sending and receiving infor- need, and meeting those requirements; ・URL http://www.z.k.kyoto-u.ac.jp/greeting.html mation in a trouble-free manner between 2) Studying the role of Faculty Development (Japanese only) the faculty and the more than 8000 stu- in improving courses in accordance with Everyone who comes in contact with Prof. Maruyama is dents enrolled in it. The Institute is guiding principles, as well as improving the amazed by the force of personality that seems to radiate aggressively pursuing development of the teaching ability of course instructors; from his small frame. His personal presence and penetrating KULASIS System to deal with this issue. 3) Using fewer visiting lecturers; and logic lead him to resolve accumulated problems quickly and All incoming first year students receive 4) Extending the educational environment- cleanly. Being a highly vital person and a strategic thinker, guidance in April, when the school year maintaining and enlarging lecture halls, the Professor undoubtedly considers his involvement with higher learning at Kyoto University to be worthwhile. starts, regarding both liberal arts and basic laboratories, and equipment is a critical Whereas it has not been possible to formulate a clear and education. Information is also regularly problem; need for a General Education unique higher learning policy due to complex intertwining posted to the Institute's website, including Program Library is particularly urgent. campus interests, Prof. Maruyama has turned this situation coaching on coursework, syllabus addi- KUINEP＊ courses will begin in Fall back on itself, creating an attractive curriculum rich in diver- tions, classroom and schedule changes, 2004, in the Yoshida-South Campus's sity through participation by various departments. He uses both the refreshing logical viewpoint of his mathematician's and lecture cancellations, in a bulletin General Education Program Facilities. background together with his personal charm in the cause of board, which can also be viewed at any These courses will bring together foreign educating the next generation of world leaders. time on display screens in the Institute. students and Japanese undergraduates, In the not too distant future, all students especially first and second year students, enrolled in the General Education in a livelier atmosphere than before, thus Program will have their own webpages on helping to facilitate the creation of a more The study room this site, which will have personalized global outlook. at the Yoshida- class schedules, lecture cancellation ＊Kyoto University International Education Program South Campus.

Small Group Seminars: Initial Opportunities for First-hand Experience of Learning, the Kyoto University Way Designed for incoming students, Small Group Seminars take place in the instructor's laboratory, for the purpose of exposing these students to the atmosphere of university research facilities. Kyoto University will hold 151 such Small Group Seminars in the 2004 school year. Students will be able to attend Small Group Seminars in subjects of interest that may have no connection to their board of study, and in the process, may come face-to-face with both faculty and graduate students, which assists in another objective, that of intra-campus networking. One popular Small Group Seminar is "Opening the Black Box," conducted by Prof. Masao Kitano of the Graduate School of Engineering. As its name suggests, the objective of the course is to dismantle, examine, and record the inner workings of black boxes in our everyday lives, that is, Class is in session. The devices that work simply with the touch of a button, such as personal computers, video machines, and cel- students are hard at work lular phones. In the process of such examination, students naturally find themselves drawn to trying to put opening up various black things together with their own hands, says Prof. Kitano, adding that the course also inspires free debate, which continues outside of course hours, both on mailing lists and online bulletin boards. boxes.

3 Special What Characterizes a Kyoto University Education? Feature 2 Kyoto University's Regional Education Program

Kyoto University defines the basic on the Future, and musical concerts. All policy of its "relationship to society" as the university's departments and research being "to be an open campus, so as to groups, starting with the University strengthen its ties to both Japanese Museum, hold frequent lectures, public society and the societies of its various addresses, symposia, and seminars, in regions, and communicate knowledge order to give the results of research at to these societies in an atmosphere of Kyoto University back to the public. freedom and accord." The university is also working to In accordance with this policy, the enlarge its on-campus amenities. Kyoto university has sponsored public and University is taking such measures in community lectures across Japan, this regard as expanding its information Media Commons, on the third floor of the Kyoto starting with the series that was launched center, building a new coffee shop, the University Library, has 32 booths with DVD, CD, audio Camphora, opening the Centennial and videocassette equipment. The area is open to the in 1997 as part of the commemoration of public as well as students and faculty. With a 50-inch its centennial, and continuing through the Hall, and putting the Media Commons plasma display, the room is used for listening to music, ceremony commemorating the comple- in the Kyoto University Library. The watching movies, and language studies, among other tion of Centennial Hall, in December university hopes to make itself a more activities. 2003, which in turn has led to such open campus by making these facilities additional events as its series of Forums available to the public.

The 4th Forum on the Future of Kyoto University

Students enthusiastically ask a speaker questions.

Attendees listen intently to a speaker. The view from the Centennial Hall auditorium

The 4th Forum on the Future of Kyoto University cause of, and solution to, this state of affairs lies with number of questions asked by the audience as well. took place on 9th July 2004, in the Centennial Hall. four truths about life, as expounded by Buddhism. When asked their opinions, many of the atten- The theme of this year's forum was "The Buddhist He went on to describe the concept of "kuu (empti- dees stated that they frequently attended such View of Our Chaotic Times." The speaker, Somon ness)", a worldview unique to Mahayana Buddhism, functions as these that the University made open to Horisawa, is a high priest of Buddhism, who studied in terms of its potential to overcome all conflict and the public, and that they looked forward to further in India and at Mt. Hiei, the sacred site in Japanese prejudice. Despite the complex subject matter, he such program offerings. The hall itself also received Budhism, after leaving the Faculty of Economics at nonetheless held audience of some 250 listeners, acclaim for the glass wall behind the rostrum, which Kyoto University. In his lecture, he said that modern comprised of students and the general public alike, afforded a changing view of the campus, as well as society is near to "dying" with its unending con- spellbound. The question and answer session ran a relaxed atmosphere, making it easy for the atten- frontations and repeated massacres, and that the considerably longer than planned due to the great dees to concentrate on what was being said.

4 Information for International Students Kyoto University accepts students from all over the world for International Doctoral Programs as well as general Graduate and Undergraduate Programs. Shown below are two examples of the scholarships available for international students: Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship and Honors Scholarship by Japan Student Service Organization (JASSO). For further information, please contact: Foreign Student Division, Kyoto University [email protected] Please visit the following three URLs for application details ●International Doctoral Program currently available. Kyoto University offers the following four International Doctoral Programs mainly for a graduate of a university that has the faculty-level Agreement of International ■ International Doctoral Program in Engineering Academic Exchange with Kyoto University: International Doctoral Program in http://interex.kuee.kyoto-u.ac.jp/IntC/ic-doctor.html Economics, Energy Science, Engineering, and Informatics. Strong command of ■ International Doctoral Program in Energy Science English is a prerequisite for participation, though Japanese language ability is not http://www.energy.kyoto-u.ac.jp/doctoral/ required. Students selected by Kyoto University will be recommended to Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) as candidates for a scholarship. ■ International Doctoral Program in Informatics http://www.i.kyoto-u.ac.jp/English/index.html

●Graduate and Undergraduate Programs Please check the following URL for general Graduate and Undergraduate Programs. http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/english/etop2/e09-top.htm

◆Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarships The general flow of an application

There are seven types in Japanese Government Scholarships. Kyoto First screening Second screening University accepts students of the following status. Foreign applicant Japanese embassy or consulate Type of Monthly Number of general (Embassy Recommendation) Age Duration Scholarship Allowance Grantees

Outside Japan Present University Research Student* under 35 175,000yen 2 years 4,000

Undergraduate under 22 135,000yen 5 years** 560 Student Japanese university under student exchange agreement etc. Japanese Studies under 30 135,000yen 1 school year 340 Inside Japan (University Recommendation) MEXT Student

* Graduate School Student & Research Student Privately financed Present university ** 7 years : Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine foreign student (Domestic Selection)

◆Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) provides scholarships for privately financed international students to help them with their academic work and research in Japan. Details are shown on the JASSO website at http://www2.jasso.go.jp Notification of result

Academic Monthly Payment Application Number of Level Stipend Period Period Scholarships International JASSO Schools (1) Requesting (2) Publicity student Undergraduate 52,000yen 7,450 students** school and inviting Student recommendation applicants

Research Student One year Late March- (4) Recommendation (3) Application (Apr-Mar) early May* Master's Course 73,000yen 3,550 students Student (5) Result notification (6) Notification to applicants Doctor's Course Student * Period varies from school to school ** The No. of Japanese language institute student, Specialized training college student, College of technology student, University Japanese program student, Junior college student are included.

5 Robotics Research: Can Robots Have Human-level Manipulation Skill?

Manipulation by hands and walking sional space needs just six degrees of much as possible. For example, con- on feet are the two most significant freedom, for this basic task the human sider a very simple case of a two-joint kinetic skills of humans. arm has one more degree of freedom arm moving in a plane, then this set Robots appeared for the first time as than necessary, which is hence called becomes an ellipse (called manipula- technological products called industrial the redundant degree of freedom. A bility ellipsoid). Regarding the area of robots in 1962, and since then they have human utilizes this redundancy, often this ellipse as a measure of manipula- been numerously used in factories. unconsciously, for taking a comfortable tion ability of the arm (called Industrial robots are essentially mechan- arm configuration for a given task, per- manipulability measure), we can show ical arms and their manipulation skill is forming a manipulation task of an that this measure takes its maximum based on various special purpose grip- object behind an obstacle, and so on. when the elbow angle is a right angle, pers and tools for each specific task. Many robot arms are also designed to and when the lengths of upper arm and Recently, advancement of non-indus- have redundant degrees of freedom to forearm are the same if the total arm trial robots, especially humanoid robots make it possible to perform a larger length is constant. These results are with two legs, is taking place especially array of tasks. However, to make this intuitively natural when we consider in Japan. People were surprised by the arm work possible, it is of course nec- our arm moving on a table. very natural walking skill of these essary for an engineer to clearly humanoid robots. They made people recognize the purpose of redundancy (3) Analysis and Control of feel the approach of an era where utilization and to select an appropriate Grasping and Manipulation by humans and robots coexist at home and arm trajectory. For this problem we Robot Hands in social spaces. One key technology have proposed the task-decomposition In grasping and manipulating an among others for this expectation to approach in which the whole task is object by a multi-fingered robot hand, happen is manipulation skill by multi- decomposed into several subtasks with many contact points and contact forces fingered human-like mechanical hands, an order of priority and each subtask between the hand and the object are since grasping and manipulation of with higher order is realized first by generally involved. This causes the various objects is a fundamental func- utilizing a general kinematic solution of arbitrariness of the internal force, tion for these robots to be useful. the arm motion. Since the degrees of which can be utilized for securing the We have been studying basic tech- redundancy of humanoid robots are grasp against various external distur- nologies for grasping and manipulation generally far larger than conventional bance forces. In order to make the of robotic mechanisms. Some results in industrial robots, much more study on determination of the internal forces our laboratory in this area will be intro- redundancy utilization will be neces- more systematic, we proposed a physi- duced in the following. sary. cally reasonable definition of grasping and manipulating forces for multi-fin- (1) Control of Redundant Robot (2) Manipulability gered robot hands. We also proposed Manipulators. In designing the mechanism of a the concept of active closure and A human arm can be regarded as a robot arm or in planning the arm passive closure to classify robotic link mechanism with seven degrees of posture for performing a task, one mechanisms from the viewpoint of how freedom. Since the task of holding an important factor that should be taken the mechanism constrains the grasped object and keeping it at an arbitrary into account is the ease of arbitrarily object. Active closure means a grasp Forefronts of Research at Kyotoposition University and orientation in three-dimen- changing the position and orientation of that needs a feedback control based on the end effector at the tip the object's position and force, and of the arm. To give a passive closure means a grasp that does quantitative index of this not. These concepts will make the plan- ability, the concept of ning of grasping and manipulation manipulability was pro- procedure for robots much more rea- posed. This is based on sonable. 3DOF the idea that, when we consider the set of all end- (4) Understanding Human Skill effector velocities that are Using Haptic Virtual Reality 3DOF realizable by joint veloci- Technology 1DOF ties under a magnitude Automation of assembly tasks by constraint (i.e., the robots is still very hard, despite the fact Euclidean norm is not that a human operator can perform the larger than one), it is task without much difficulty. If we Figure 1: Locations of the seven degrees of freedom (DOF) in the human arm. Even after fixing the hand position and orientation, the elbow can move desirable that this set is understand this human skill better, it along a part of the circle shown in the figure, implying that the arm has one large and Spherical as will be easier to automate assembly redundant degree of freedom.

6 tasks. But it is often the case that the are also working on improving the per- operator cannot describe his/her skill formance of haptic display devices explicitly. It is also rather difficult to from several aspects. measure motion, force, contact state, In our laboratory, we are also working on and so on during the execution of the other robotics-related research topics real task. To overcome this difficulty, such as modeling and control of flex- we developed a virtual task environ- ible manipulators, analysis and control ment using haptic virtual reality of master-slave manipulator systems, technology. A peg-in-hole task in mixed reality, development of rescue virtual space was provided using this systems, and legged robots. system. By a comparison study, we saw I believe that there is a strong possi- Tsuneo Yoshikawa that although the virtual task needs bility that diffusion of intelligent ・Born in 1941 ・Specialized Research Field: Robotics, Mechanical twice as much time as the real task, the mechanical systems like robots will University Kyoto at Research of Forefronts order of the three motions required to change our lifestyles drastically in the Control Engineering perform the task using three assembly near future. I hope that many young ・Graduate of the doctoral program, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University strategies is almost the same in the real people will become interested in ・D.Eng., Kyoto University and virtual tasks, implying that the robotics and contribute to the research ・Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto virtual task environment could be valid and development of robots that will be University for qualitative study of human skill. We useful for mankind. ・URL http://mech-server.mech. kyoto-u.ac.jp/lab/yoshikawa/

"Can you imagine what the world might be like if robots were to come into possession of psyches? One important aspect of the work being done by we who research robotics is defining the future of robots, or a vision of that future. " The most interesting recent development in robotics con- cerns humanoid robots. Prof. Yoshikawa's research, on the other hand, involves manipulatory systems, of which perhaps the best known example is the human hand. While this field has traditionally focused on industrial applications, the professor's work in this regard is now considered to be a key element in determining the future outlook for humanoid robots. For acquiring the ability to "work with objects", that is, to grab and manipulate them, is essential if robots are to become truly useful in human society. Unlike many roboticists, Prof. Yoshikawa, whose original specialty is control theory, did not enter the field out of any childhood fascination with children's robot superhero pro- grams. Accordingly, he is not optimistic about the relationship between humans and robots, instead cease- Figure 2: Manipulability ellipsoid lessly emphasizing the need for constant examination of the and manipulability measure of a policies of robotics research and development. The pro- two-joint arm. The blue arm con- fessor's awareness of the tremendous impact of science figuration with a right elbow angle and technology gives him an equally tremendous sense of attains the maximum manipula- responsibility vis-à-vis society, in his capacity as a scientist. bility measure. Prof. Yoshikawa's voice is lively and his eyes alight when he speaks of his robotics research, much like an innocent little boy's would be under similar circum- stances. That very enthusiasm may give us all hope for peaceful coexistence on the part of humans and robots.

Prof. Yoshikawa advises Figure 3: Human skill students regarding their observation using experiments. The Yoshikawa haptic virtual reality Lab adopts a one research technology. The oper- topic per person approach, ator can perform a wherein students choose their virtual peg-in-hole own research topics for their task getting the feel theses, an approach that of touch through his places much store by the fingers. originality of students' ideas.

7 Exploring minds of nonhuman relatives

Our interfaculty group of psychologists comparative cognition. stimuli as the sample. Then we tested in Kyoto University was selected as one The specific question my colleagues which type of stimuli they choose as a of the 21st Century Center-of-Excellence and I ask is how nonhuman animals rec- matching comparison when they are pre- Programs in 2002. This group, named ognize objects and events that are not sented the non-distinguishable sample Kyoto University Psychology Union, directly detected by sensory organs. It is a having its critical central portion occluded aims at comprehensive understanding of good idea to compare recognition of such by a surface. mental functions by integrating experi- invisible objects and events across species A language-trained chimpanzee and three mental, field, and clinical approaches to because the characteristics of a perceptual tufted capuchin monkeys overwhelmingly the mind. system should be most evident when the chose the unitary rod when the non-distin- We are working on the four major system receives incomplete and guishable sample was presented. Thus they questions regarding the mind: namely, ambiguous information. clearly complete the occluded portion like what are the nature and functions of One such case in point is referred to as humans. In later experiments the capuchin mental images and representations, how perceptual completion. For example, we monkeys were shown to share most of the do the body and the mind interrelate, recognize the complete clock tower when rules of how to complete the hidden parts how does the mind interact with social we look up at it through the camphor tree, with humans (Figures 2b and 2c). and cultural milieu, and how does the though what we actually sense is a collec- However, pigeons tested in the same mind change in time? I myself have tion of visual fragments through the leaves procedure chose the pair of broken rods. studied cognitive processes of nonhuman and twigs. Humans routinely complete This choice was maintained when we animals to answer the last question from hidden portions of partly occluded objects. modified the shape of the occluding an evolutionary point of view. A laboratory version of perceptual surface to an undulated one so that the top Drawing a picture of how the mind completion is shown in Figure 1a. When and the bottom portion of the rod changed has evolved is not an easy task. Because human infants see the two rods moving in shape and size as the rod moved along minds do not leave their shape as fossils, in concert behind the occluding belt, the surface. Pigeons do not seem to com- a direct sketch is of course impossible they recognize the rods as unitary. The plete occluded contours. Actually the data without a time machine, except in such infants are in fact surprised if they are shown were consistently negative although we lucky cases where the mental functions two separate rods without the occluding belt have tried many other situations including of our ancestors left outcomes like tools after they become bored seeing the rods photos of food as stimuli. and painting. However, we are able to behind the occluder many times. Pigeons are known to perform extraor- infer the evolutionary process of the mind Using a computer display we trained dinarily well in a variety of cognitive by exploring the minds of our current nonhuman animals to match a unitary rod tasks such as concept-formation, memory, nonhuman relatives. This academic field and a pair of broken rods; they were image processing, and insightful problem is called comparative cognitive science or trained to choose the same comparison solving. They are highly cognitive but seem to perceive the environment very differently from humans. We humans are apt to think that the way we perceive the Forefronts of Research at Kyoto University world is the single ultimate solution to recognize the environment. This notion is simply wrong. Perceptual systems seem a) to have evolved diversely even among b) species having well-developed central nervous systems, probably to fit the way the species live. The second topic we tackled was how nonhuman animals recognize others' mental states. Mental states are another set of events not detectible by the sensory organs. This social intelligence to "read" others' minds has c) been suggested as a clue to understanding Figure 1. a) An example of perceptual completion. Human infants are surprised at the broken rods after being habitu- how physical intelligence such as tool use ated to the rods moving behind the occluder. b) A tufted capuchin monkey working on the matching task on the and logical thinking has evolved. computer screen. c) Capuchin monkeys tend to match the straight rod to the sample on the left and broken rods to that on the right. How the monkeys complete occluded portion is like humans. We tested whether capuchin monkeys

8 spontaneously deceive conspecific oppo- All of the three pairs started to nents. Two food boxes were placed cooperate without explicit between a dominant monkey and a subor- training (Figure 2c). In one of the dinate monkey. Only one of the boxes tests that followed we placed only contained food. The subordinate monkey one reward at a time so that one was able to see the contents of the boxes of the workers never obtained the and to open them. The dominant monkey food. When the placement of the was unable to do either, but was able to monkey was switched every one usurp the food once the box was opened. or three trials, the monkeys main- Two of the four subordinate monkeys tained this cooperative behavior. started to open the empty box first in Thus they not only solved a coop- Kazuo Fujita

more than 10% of the trials. It is hard to erative task spontaneously but also showed ・Born in 1953. University Kyoto at Research of Forefronts conclude whether this behavior incorpo- reciprocal altruism. ・Specialized Research Field: Psychology, Comparative Cognition rated deceptive intention or not. However, These results led us to think that a variety ・Graduate of doctoral program, Graduate School of it is evident that capuchin monkeys have of social intelligence humans exhibit in both Science, Kyoto University the intelligence to adjust their behavior in competitive and cooperative situations may ・D.Sci., Kyoto University response to social situation in which mis- have their roots in the common ancestor of ・Professor, Graduate School of Letters, Kyoto University leading others could benefit themselves. humans and New World monkeys that lived ・URL http://www.psy.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/fujita/ We also discovered that this species spon- about 30 million years ago. (Japanese only) taneously cooperate by dividing labor A brief look at nonhuman animal studies "Being with nonhuman animals makes me between two monkeys. We first trained each such as the above tells us that human percep- happy. Take chimpanzees. They're closely individual monkey to perform a two-action tion and cognition are both evolutionarily related to humans, which makes it fairly easy to sequence to obtain two rewards in a tandem continuous to and ecologically different from understand what they're thinking. I can also cage (Figure 2a). Then we separated the cage those of our relatives. Such diversity among empathize with them to some extent." Prof. Fujita has kept a wide variety of nonhuman into two areas and two monkeys were simul- relatives must be the most important thing animals in his life, ever since he was a small child. taneously put into each area (Figure 2b). for the symbiotic ecosystem the earth has Hence, it seemed only natural that he should go into Now the two monkeys had to divide the fostered. All the lives share the same evolu- science, specifically, animal ecology. What is sur- prising is that he went on to become a professor at the action sequence between themselves. tionary time of nearly 4 billion years. graduate school of letters. Yet, his unraveling of the "behavior" of animals, including human beings, pro- gressed dramatically, spreading into all manner of disciplines. Kyoto University is an ideal research envi- ronment for this, with scientists all over the place, studying all kinds of subjects. Prof. Fujita believes that psychology needs to expand the scope of its research subjects to encompass the diversity of psyches. He describes one such direction as "evolu- tionary diversity," saying that the human psyche does not exist in isolation; rather, that it has evolved, as the human a) b) body has evolved, and thus, ought to have some links to the psyches of nonhuman animals. He derived this idea from his own extensive empathic experiences with non- human animals. "My field of research is peering into the psyches of animals," the professor says with enthusiasm. The accompanying twinkle in his eye is that of a little boy who grew up with nonhuman animals all around. Now a grown man, he runs the only animal laboratory in the Faculty of Letters, where his search for the wellspring of empathy continues.

c) Prof. Fujita works with his students in preparing for experi- Figure 2. a) A tandem test box in which individual capuchin monkeys ments with animals, learned the whole two-action sequence to obtain rewards. b) The sepa- placing some monkey rated tandem box used to test whether the monkeys in Box A and Box B food in the experi- spontaneously cooperate by dividing the action sequence between the two. mental apparatus. c) Two capuchin monkeys performing the cooperation task. The monkey in Box A is waiting for the second action by the monkey in Box B.

9 Beginning Japanese daily life in Kyoto Engelbert Jorissen

At the end of the 1970s I visited Japan for chilly. Theoretically I had put the geograph- the first time. I spent about two months, ical position of Kyoto into one context with February to April, in Kyoto. To a certain degree that of the island of Crete, which I had visited I had been 'prepared' for my stay. My principal exactly in March the year before, and it had subject as a student was Italian language and been very warm. At once I began to like the literature, but I had begun to study Japanology, subtleties of Japanese architecture, like the and I had Japanese friends. I should perhaps horikotatsu heater. And I understood much add that my only professor at the institute of better a passage from a letter written by a Japanology was interested in authors of the Edo south-western European of the 16th century period, like Matsuo Basho, Kobayashi Issa, and who reported that, on a winter journey from in classical Japanese literature. One of the first Kyushu to Miyako (Kyoto), he had covered texts of Japanese literature I was introduced to himself with tatami mats because of the cold. was the "The young lady who loved insects" from Tsutsumi Chunagon Monogatari (Tale of But I had begun to like Japanese everyday the Tsutsumi Middle Counselor) from the 11th life and, while having become critical towards century. certain aspects of Japan and its lifestyle, I still like and enjoy it. I became so sad when I In Kyoto, I had experiences, which I boarded the plane to take me back to Europe. remember, but not exactly. For example, I ate It was dark weather with heavy rain clouds, some tasty pickled vegetables, tsukemono, but an acquaintance had brought some of the Engelbert Jorissen but I could not remember where. I also ate, first cherry blossoms to the airport. ・Born in Germany in 1956 but did not appreciate sufficiently, udon Repeatedly I visited Japan and, then, began ・Specialized Research Field: Comparative Studies of Culture and Literature noodles, which for me at that time had a to live there. Looking at my daily life now, and ・Graduate of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, ¯ somewhat "weak" taste. Of course, many my liking for delicate seasoning in cooking, University of Cologne experiences I kept vividly in mind, such as the too, I sometimes ask myself how much I have ・Dr. phil., University of Cologne plum blossoms at the Kitano Tenmangu changed or not in behavior and feeling. ・Associate Professor, Graduate School of Human and Shrine, which I knew before coming to Japan, Cultural relations between Europe and Japan Environmental Studies, Kyoto University because I had heard about the god of litera- have become one of my main objects of ・URL http://www.h.kyoto-u.ac.jp/jimu/staff/ 223_jorissen_e_0_e.html ture Sugawara no Michizane (845-903). The research. A fascinating question for me is, visit to the shrine on the occasion of the how did Europeans coming to Japan in the When different cultures overlap, they do not do so in baikasai plum blossom festival was impres- 16th century, settle into Japanese life, some- friendly ways; rather, they collide, violently, in any and sive because of the large crowds strolling times for decades. There are impressing all aspects. This is the view of Dr. Jorissen, an asso- through the long line of yatai stalls vending documents that clearly tell of likes and dis- ciate professor at Kyoto University, and when he likes. There was one figure who, even after ten speaks of it in his calm, rational way, listeners cannot delicacies. At that time, I was worried how help but be struck to the core by the impact of his introduction of the western calendar in 19th years in Japan, refused to drink Japanese tea. words. Yet, seeing the constant half-smile on his face, it century would affect what I had learned about But there was another who gave up eating would be difficult, if not impossible, to imagine him as seasonal flowers in traditional Japanese bread and turned to eating rice only. For me struggling in the three decades since his own collision culture. today, such documents give, too, hints to with what, to him, is an alien culture, to wit, that of questions about why international cultural Japan. Nonetheless, man is not inclined to be broad- minded with regard to differences in lifestyles, and the I soon learned that Kyoto could be rather relations do or do not work in a smooth way. importance and difficulty of multicultural coexistence is a subject not merely to be found in historical records or on faraway battlefields. Rather, as Dr. Jorissen's warmth and hospitality informs us, it is a problem that confronts us on a daily basis, here on campus.

The courtyard of the Yoshida- South Main Bldg. Dr. Jorissen says he preferred the disorderly atmosphere of the old Yoshida- South Facility. The courtyard maintains this traditional atmos- phere as the building itself is renovated.

10 Tang Zhong Hui I want to work on behalf of happiness for people in countries all over the world.

Tang Zhong Hui speaks of "happiness" over ness as a platform from which to conduct their and over, with a brilliant smile. Just talking to studies in isolation from one another. I'm truly her is enough to make one terribly happy. And it grateful to have the time and freedom to think appears that the power with which she commu- about anything and everything, all on my own. nicates her "happiness" is due to the influence of her supervisor, Prof. Shiomi. Born and raised in ■You have tremendous respect for Prof. Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region of China, Shiomi, don't you? Tang Zhong Hui came to Japan after three years Indeed I do! You see, about a month after I as an attorney at law, out of a sense that the rule enrolled at Kyoto University, I wasn't sure of law was not something that people in her whether I should continue my studies here, or native country had yet internalized and made part go back to China. Meeting the Professor, of their daily lives, despite China's rapid and however, convinced me to stay. It was his ongoing economic development. She opted for smile that did it, the way he always looks so Kyoto University out of admiration for the Kyoto happy. The sight of it just naturally makes me region, the cultural heart of Japan. It seems that feel happy too. At first, I couldn't figure out Tang Zhong Hui what she actually found, however, was the for the life of me why the Professor should ・Born in China in 1972. respective hardships and kindnesses associated always be so happy and energetic. ・Presently in the second year of master's program, with the notion of "freedom of study." Graduate School of Law, Kyoto University ■And have you figured it out yet? ■What are your impressions of Kyoto Well, I think it has to do with Prof. Shiomi ■What are your plans for the future? Do you University? having already passed beyond the hard and intend to go back and practice law in There was a teacher here who told me just after lonely parts, and has now reached the fun part, China? I'd enrolled that "studying at Kyoto University that of supporting and educating students. He My thinking has changed considerably from means doing research in isolation, making you is always telling me to take it easy, not to get in what it was before I started my study program a research scientist, not a student." At the time, a rush. When I first enrolled, the Professor in Japan. I believe that what I've learned at I had no idea what that meant. My own thinking helped me think through things I didn't under- Kyoto University should be put to use on an was just the opposite: that I was here to study stand. He didn't force knowledge on me; international level, not just for the benefit of one because I was a student. After about three instead, he got me to think things through for single country. Right now, I feel like working for months, however, I started to realize what that myself. And I might very well have quit school the happiness of people from all over the world, instructor meant. Students at Kyoto University if he had just forced his ideas on me at that but I haven't made any precise decisions. I want really are lonely in their intensive study pro- point. I owe what I have now to Prof. Shiomi. to use my legal expertise in the service of grams, and the instructors really enjoy I'm sure I would have regretted it for the rest of human freedom and happiness, that's the educating them. I find this mutual support rela- my life if I had gone back home instead. important thing. For now, however, I want to be tionship, wherein students and instructors alike like Prof. Shiomi! I'm very glad that I've been look out for one another, to be very enticing. ■Tell us what your current research work is able to enroll at Kyoto University, get to know about. the Professor, and do research here. And I want ■Does the atmosphere at Kyoto University The topic of my master's thesis is environ- my scholarship to help make people every- differ from that at Chinese universities? mental law. Before that, though, I was thinking where be happy, as many people as possible. When I went to school in China, I never had a of writing about credit law instead. But then we sense of studying being lonely or something had the SARS outbreak in China, which got me done in isolation, because I thought that stu- interested in environmental law. So I started dents received knowledge from their teachers. reading lots of books on environmental law, That's not how it is at all at Kyoto University, and I found that the provisions of Chinese and however. Right now, for example, I'm working Japanese environmental law are almost entirely on my master's thesis, and my instructors are the same, which raises the question of why letting me write what I please. They respect stu- China has never had any environmental aware- dents' rights to study what they want, and to ness. And that got me interested in everything pursue whatever research topics they desire. In from prevailing notions when these laws were return, students must actually do the research drafted to the religious and cultural differences themselves if they want to accomplish anything. that led to those notions. And at that point, I Ms. Tang goes over her research materials as she sits in a It is important for research scientists to be finally began to devote some serious thought to corridor facing onto the courtyard of the Faculty of Law and self-aware, for they must use this very self-aware- the root idea of what exactly law is. Economics Main Bldg.

11 The letter from Yangon Field Station Nobuhiro Ohnishi

Fourteen field stations were launched in Asian and African countries under the 21st Century COE Program "Aiming for COE of inte- grated Area Studies" from 2003. These stations were established for intensive on-site education and field research. Yangon Field station is sit- uated in our counterpart organization, SEAMEO-CHAT, in Yangon, Myanmar, which is one branch of SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization), the inter- national organization in education, science and culture in the Southeast Asian region. Recently, many foreign researchers belonging to such universities and institutes as the Natural History Museum and Smithsonian Institute from the USA, or École française d'extréme-Orient (EFEO) from France, are launching joint research projects with Myanmar counterparts. Kyoto University is also con- Fish market in Rakhain State, Myanmar. ducting joint projects, some of which are Nobuhiro Ohnishi participated in by Yangon Field Station. ・Born in Tokyo in 1966 One focus of Yangon Field Station is the husband and sons catch fish in the sea, rivers or D.Sci., Osaka City University ・ management of the joint research activities for paddy fields, and the wife and daughters sell ・COE Research Fellow, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University the integrated area studies. According to my them in the villages. They share the catch and understanding, such study is a challenging the income, that is, the result of the cooperation. Fields of regional research as encompassed by Kyoto enterprise to synthesize several scientific disci- On the other hand, the large fishery group is University run the gamut from collecting samples of natural plines for understanding human beings. organized by the owner of a boat or net as com- resources to throwing light on the social systems of village com- Therefore, the main objective is to find out uni- mercial fishing. A large number of fishermen munities. Mr. Ohnishi, a resident researcher at the Yangon Field Station in Myanmar, has a long research career in such fields versal rules among the findings from natural work together to operate the large boats and as molecular biology, evolutionary biology and ichthyology, science, social science, human science and so nets. Their wives and children may participate in under the auspices of the Faculty of Science. Being long fasci- on. Behavioral ecology (or sociobiology), one the processing of fish to be shipped. Workers nated by various forms of life, Mr. Ohnishi says, "bacteria, field of natural science based on the evolutionary can personally receive the income, which may plants, and animals, all have practically the same biological viewpoint, is considered to be a good guiding amount to higher than that obtained through the foundation." Based on this recognition, Mr. Ohnishi appears to have embarked on a new direction of research in Myanmar, discipline, which has revealed adaptational small-scale fishery. The employment system which should offer various subjects for study, including the aspects of social behaviors preformed by organ- supports cooperation among unrelated persons, behavioral ecology of humans, the most interesting animal of isms including humans. In a similar way, and each worker is paid wages regardless of his all. With a keen sense of and passion for his own research that psychology, ethics and economics have also or her position in the family. Thus, difference in is only fitting for a rising scientist on the cutting edge, Mr. started to be cross-fertilized with an evolutionary the way of resource use may cause difference in Ohnishi's work is worth watching viewpoint. the cooperative relationship among family further in future. Now, we focus on the members. It is important to note that the family is cooperation of fishery the cooperative system for the acquisition and activities in the west coast distribution of the resources, especially in the of Myanmar, as the evolu- small-scale fishery. However, the employment tion of the cooperation is system of commercial fishing does not neces- one of the major topics in sarily depend on family cooperation. In terms of the behavioral ecology. We behavioral ecology, the human cooperation may try to extend our viewpoint be explained as the division of labor through to the social matters. which the partners can raise their benefits in the There are wide varieties evolutional process. The employment system is of cooperative system in common in the cities. This may also give some fisheries. Family members clues to understanding the recent rapid change are very important coopera- in lifestyles in cities, for example, solitary tors in the small-scale households, the tendency to marry later, and Nga kone nyo (herring) fishery in Rakhain State, Myanmar. fishery. In this case, the the declining birth rate.

12 President Oike Goes to Mainland China and Hong Kong Kazuo Oike, President of Kyoto tives of Tsukuba University, The that the 16th Meeting of the Board and University, and Vice-President Kojiro University of Tokyo, Tokyo Institute of Workshop would be held in Kyoto in 2005. Irikura attended the 14th Board of Technology, and , in President Oike also visited the Hong Directors Meeting of the Association of addition to Kyoto University, whose pres- Kong University of Science and Technology East Asian Research Universities ident is serving a two-year term on the (HKUST) and the University of Hong Kong (AEARU) in Shenzhen, Canton Province, Association's Board of Directors that on April 23rd, engaging in discussions with China, on April 22nd of this year. began in January of this year. the chancellors of these universities about AEARU is a consortium of important There are five Board members, presidents academic interchange. research universities in the East Asia of the Hong Kong University of Science and In the course of his visit, the President region, linked by shared geography and Technology (HKUST), the Korea Advanced received positive calls from all of these uni- cultural similarities. Founded in 1996 by a Institute of Science and Technology, Taiwan versities for Kyoto University to enter into joint declaration of the Hong Kong University and the University of Science and scholastic exchange agreements with them. University of Science and Technology Technology of China, whose president cur- As he believes that it would be worthwhile to (HKUST) and the Pohang University of rently serves as Chairman. enter into partnerships with other major East Science and Technology in South Korea, At the meeting, the report on the previous Asian universities, the President is arranging the association currently boasts 17 year's business was ratified, as was the 2004- to have the Committee for International members, including Japanese representa- 2005 operating plan. It was further agreed Academic Exchange review the matter. "The First KAGI21 International Summer School on the Active Geosphere" Takes Place in Indonesia The Kyoto University divided into three groups for advanced com- International Relations, were assembled at Active Geosphere puter exercises at ITB and for field work at the Kyoto University Academic Center for Investigations for the both the Kyoto University Equatorial Computing and Media Studies, where they 21st Century COE Atmosphere Radar and at Merapi - one of used satellite and terrestrial high-speed net- Program (KAGI21) the most famous volcanoes in Indonesia. works for real-time, two-way audio-visual held the "First KAGI21 On July 17, the program held an open information interchange with the sympo- President Oike gives a International Summer symposium in collaboration with the Faculty sium, thus broadening the range and scope of special lecture on seis- School on the Active of Earth Sciences and Mineral Technology the possible research collaboration. mology. Geosphere" at Institut of ITB. Three emeritus professors from KAGI21 defines the "Active Geosphere" as Teknologi Bandung (ITB), in Indonesia Kyoto University with demonstrated accom- "the critical space required for the sustainable from 11-26 July, 2004. Six professors, sec- plishments in field research in the region coexistence between man and nature in which onded from Kyoto University, led 50 rising were in attendance. Among them was Dr. geophysical variability develops, in particular, young researchers and post-graduate stu- Kazuo Oike, President of Kyoto University. on the time scale of human activity". The dents from 13 countries in Asia and Oceania, They took part in an interesting debate with primary research goal here is the elucidation of including eight post-graduate students from top scientists from universities and research these very variations in the Earth's dynamic Kyoto University. A series of lectures and institutes in Indonesia regarding the science behavior, particularly in the Asia-Oceania practical studies on the theme of the "Active of the "Active Geosphere". Simultaneously, region, where these variations are greatest. Refer Geosphere" was held for six hours each day nearly 100 KAGI21 participants, including to http://kagi.coe21.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/index.html for two weeks. The students were then Dr. Kojiro Irikura, Vice-President for for details of the KAGI21 program. Inaugurating the "Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere" The "Research Institute for Sustainable but also its very survival. In addition to Humanosphere" has been established in core research departments in various spe- April 2004. Its purpose is to do research cialties, the Institute's organization also on human habitats, forested areas, the calls for building a department for open- atmosphere, and outer space as a collective ended research, and another center for ecology for mankind, or, a "Humanosphere," basic academic research into the in a manner both organized and comprehen- "Humanosphere." Collectively, these sive; to make precision diagnoses of the groups will carry out the Institute's four- state of this "Humanosphere," to eval- part research mission. Efficient operation uate and learn the right things about the will allow collaboration between the present and likely future conditions of this Institute's researchers and other scientists realm, and also to develop advanced all over the world. The Institute will also restorative technologies that will be undertake to advance the state of the art in needed to resolve the many issues that research in its fields and train scientists threaten not only mankind's prosperity, with the skills necessary for it.

＊ The 21st Century COE Program Field of study Branch of learning Program title Program leader The Cutting Edge of Innovative Food and Environmental Studies FY2004 Results new scientific fields Applied Entomology Pioneered by Entomomimetic Sciences Kenji Fujisaki ＊COE…Center of Excellence

13 For inquiries regarding Raku-Yu, contact: Public Relations Division KYOTO UNIVERSITY Yoshida-Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, URL http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/index.htm E-mail [email protected] Kyoto 606-8501, Japan PDF files of Raku-Yu may be downloaded from the above URL FAX +81 75 753 2094

P ROME NADE

Mount Hiei A Prayer for Peace on Earth from one of the Most Sacred Sites in Japanese Buddhism The Kyoto University Yoshida Campus is an ideal place for admiring the holy mountains that adorn the eastern rim of the Kyoto Basin. Of these, the most sublime is the sacred peak of Mount Hiei (Hieizan), which is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites. Located in the Northeastern part of the Kyoto Basin, the austere majesty of Mt. Hiei has been a place of faith and worship since ancient times. It was in the Ninth Century that Hieizan became the holiest site in Japanese Buddhism, when Dengyo Daishi Saicho founded Enryaku-ji temple there, inaugurating both the Tendai school of Buddhism and Tendai education and learning, both imported from China. And for the past 1200 years, it has defended and passed down the teachings of Buddha, in its capacity of the heart of Japanese Buddhism. Over the centuries, it has at times allied itself with temporal rulers, and at other times, been threat- ened by them. And its functions are taking on even greater importance than ever before in these days when intolerance and lack of understanding are giving rise to tragedy on a worldwide scale. Since 1987, the annual Hieizan Religious Summits have brought religious leaders from around the world under one roof to converse and pray collectively for peace on Earth. The abbot of Tendai school attended the Prayer for World Peace in Assisi, Italy, in 1986, in answer to a call made by Pope John Paul II for that purpose. In 2002, the current abbot invited Islamic, Jewish, and Christian leaders from outside Japan, in reaction to the prejudice and hatred directed at Islam in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington. The "Hieizan Message," which states that the future of mankind does not lie in continued armed conflict in the name of religion, was adopted at that time. Kyoto University also strives to contribute pro-actively to "harmonious coexistence" throughout the world through its research work. Religion and academe, prayer and scholarly research both continue to strive for human happiness, regardless of the dif- ferences in their positions and methods.

These straw sandals "waraji" have been well-worn by ascetic Buddhist monks. The Konpon Chu-do. This is the central hall monks' voices can be heard chanting of Mt. Hiei, originally founded by nearby. Dengyo Daishi in 788. From the begin- ning, an "Inextinguishable Dharma Light" burned in this hall.

The view of Mt.Hiei from the Yoshida Campus The Monument of Prayers for Peace by World Religious Leaders' Religious Summit Meeting held on Mt. Hiei