ENG ENG Ritsumeikan University Research Report [ Special Feature ] The future is shining brightly Connecting RADIANT Ritsumeikan research activities with the World Division of Research, that enlighten the world Ritsumeikan University ISSUE 9 http://en.ritsumei.ac.jp/research/ March 2019 RADIANT March 2019 Issue 9 We now live in a borderless age where all things transcend national boundaries. Special Feature: Researchers search for new insights Connecting with the World around the world to tackle global issues. Table of Contents The researchers at Ritsumeikan also apply 04 STORY #1 The World’s first direct Observation of a Hypocenter: a world-embracing perspective in their fieldwork and studies, Uncovering the Mechanisms of Earthquake Generation whether domestic or abroad, Hiroshi Ogasawara (Professor, College of Science and Engineering) considering the entire planet as their research field. Through their findings, 06 STORY #2 A modern Economic System they aim to contribute to the betterment of humankind. in Hong Kong’s Underground Economy Sayaka Ogawa (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Core Ethics and Frontier Sciences) In this issue, our researchers, along with scientists from around the world involved in solving advanced, 08 STORY #3 Low-cost, high-efficiency, universal challenges that face humanity today, next-generation Thin-film Solar Cell to replace Silicon Jakapan Chantana will share the appeal of connecting across borders (Professor, Research Organization of Science and Technology) to engage with diverse cultures while advancing their studies. 10 STORY #4 To gain a better Understanding of Middle Eastern Politics Kota Suechika (Professor, College of International Relations) 12 STORY #5 How to Accommodate Food Taboos -A Key to a Successful Inbound Tourism Business Mariko Arata (Professor, College of Gastronomy Management) 14 STORY #6 The Impact of Science and Technology in Science Fiction’s imagined Futures Denis Taillandier (Associate Professor, College of International Relations) Hiroshi Ogasawara has studied the physics of earthquake hypocenters 16 STORY #7 in South African gold mines for more than 24 years. He plays a central role in the South Africa DSeis Project, which brings together Japanese, Possession and Exorcisms in contemporary Societies South African, Swiss, American, German, Indian, Israeli, and Australian Andrea De Antoni researchers from a range of disciplines in the underground tunnels of (Associate Professor, College of International Relations) gold mines. 18 STORY #8 Can China be a Responsible Great Power? Miwa Hirono (Associate Professor, College of International Relations) 20 STORY #9 Artificial Intelligence that autogenerates Games to entertain Humans Ruck Thawonmas (Professor, College of Information Science and Engineering) 22 Research Topics 24 Column / Research Office 2 3 STORY #1 RADIANT | Ritsumeikan University Research Report | March 2019 | Issue 9 | Connecting with the World Hiroshi Ogasawara The World’s first direct Professor, College of Science and Engineering Subject of Research: Study of the physics of earthquake hypocenters in deep South African gold mines Research Keywords: Solid earth and planetary physics Observation of a Hypocenter: Third from the left, together with his lab students, who also participated in the SA investigation Uncovering the Mechanisms n June 2017, the DSeis Project (short- provided the means to enable the team to genic zone of the M5.5 aftershocks. They hand for Drilling into seismogenic start drilling from a 2.9 km-depth from the attempted to collect cylindrical samples I zones of M2.0–5.5 earthquakes in deep earth’s surface. Within 800–900m from the called cores by drilling these holes, 76 mm of Earthquake Generation South African gold mines) began drilling borehole collar, we can gather valuable sam- in diameter and about 820 m and 700 m in 1–3 km underground to get to a location ples from the faults of a M5.5 earthquake length. In February 2018, the second drill from which earthquakes of magnitudes still generating aftershocks. Ogasawara is hole penetrated the M5.5 aftershock zone. (M) 2–5.5 were generated. The drilling was hopeful, stating, “This is a global fi rst. We Where the fault fracture zone was intersect- completed in June 2018, and the borehole are having the closest unobstructed view of ed, a layer of substances thinner than 2 m logging survey ended in July. hypocenters, something that is unviewable with very slippery material was recovered. The proposal for this project was from the earth’s surface. We expect to fi nd Ogasawara explained their results, accepted by the Germany-based Interna- clues to address fundamental questions of saying, “We were able to collect a large tional Continental Scientifi c Drilling Pro- the mechanisms of earthquakes.” number of extremely interesting samples gram (ICDP) and is led by Japan, with the Between 2010 and 2015, Ogasawara’s of fresh fractures thought to have been help of South Africa (SA), Switzerland, the research team was able to successfully caused by M5.5 earthquakes or subse- U.S., Germany, India, Australia, and Israel. instrumentally monitor earthquake activity quent aftershocks, as well as samples The individual coordinating this huge in detail at gold mines at 1–3.4 km depths of new fi ssures caused by rock stress international research project is Hiroshi under the auspices of Japan Science and enhanced in host rock without previous Ogasawara of Ritsumeikan University. Technology Agency (JST) and the Japan seismic history.” They have already start- Ogasawara has studied the physics of International Cooperation Agency (JICA) ed measuring rock stress and conducting earthquake hypocenters in SA gold mines for the Science and Technology Research detailed structural geological analysis with for more than 24 years. (In Japan, he is Partnership for Sustainable Development the samples recovered from the hypocen- currently working together with Tohoku (SATREPS). ter faults. “It should be noted that a local University, Kyoto University, The University During 2015–2019, the collaborating increase in differential stress was found of Tokyo, Osaka University, Kochi Univer- researchers came from a wide range of ac- right at the upper fringe of the aftershock sity, the Fukada Geological Institute, 3D ademic disciplines, including seismology zone. With further seismological analysis Geoscience, Inc., the National Institute of and rock engineering, as well as geology, of the main rupture and aftershocks of the Advanced Industrial Science and Technol- structural geology, and geomicrobiology. M5.5 mainshock, we hope to clarify earth- ogy, and the National Research Institute They have been investigating not only the quake rupture propagation and the condi- for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience, seismic activity and geological structures tion that controls rupture propagation.” among others.) around hypocenters but also groundwater At the same time, the geomicrobiol- In SA, a large number of deep gold and microbiological activities. In 2019, ogy research group from Princeton Uni- reefs have been excavated over the past samples will be digitally archived into the versity in the U.S. is exploring rock-hosted 120 years. As a result of the many cavities, ICDP Information System and eventually microbes that live in the deep subsurface the host rock has become severely unsta- made available internationally for use in a of the earth. They hypothesize that earth- ble, resulting in small earthquakes occur- wider variety of scientifi c research fi elds. quakes rupture host rock, which generates ring on a daily basis. Ogasawara explains, hydrogen to fuel life deep in the rock. This “It is believed that natural earthquakes are o observe at the closest proximity could unravel the mystery of life during our also generated as a result of stress build- to a hypocenter, they must fi rst planet’s early history or extant life on Mars. ing up in the host rock, but it is too remote T identify the time and location of an Ogasawara explains that from here on to observe processes of stress build- earthquake occurrence and install an ultra- out, “We will analyze the core samples, but up and natural earthquake generation in sensitive seismometer near the hypocenter. we also wish to further extend the drilling detail from the earth’s surface. In contrast, Ogasawara made the drilling plan based of the DSeis Project and conduct drilling in gold mines at great depth, hypocenter on data thus obtained by Japan and its to probe a wider extent of the aftershock faults or ruptures can be easily exhumed or partner organizations in SA, which includ- zones in greater depth.” Are they close to a They are drilling a total of 1.6 km from 3 km underground to reach instrumentally closely observed. By study- ed a main shock and tens of thousands of new view of the mechanisms of earthquake ing them, we may discover what controls aftershocks and ultra-microearthquakes. In generation? Their fi ndings are eagerly seismogenic zones, generating quakes of about the same magnitude the occurrence and termination of seismic June 2017, they fi nally started drilling two awaited. activity.” holes from a tunnel 2.9 km underground, to as the one that struck northern Osaka in June 2018. Moab Khotsong mine, in particular, probe around the upper fringe of a seismo- Under the leadership of Ogasawara, Japan, and SA, research teams from Switzerland, the U.S., Germany, India, Australia, and Israel are collaboratively conducting drilling and inves- If the direction of drilling into seismogenic zones is not carefully set, drilling severely pulverizes recovered samples. The teams successfully collected a core sample with a total length tigation of about 1.6 km with minimal drilling damage, allowing them to start a comprehensive investigation of fractures from earthquakes, fault substances, stress, geological features, physi- cal properties, microbes, gases, and groundwater. 4 5 STORY #2 RADIANT | Ritsumeikan University Research Report | March 2019 | Issue 9 | Connecting with the World he China-based transnational informal trade started appearing “T in the early 2000s,” Ogawa ex- A modern Economic plained.