Are human rights a shield to protect victims of human rights violations or are they a sword wielded by human rights lawyers to attack everyone disagreeing with their opinions? Do people in Japan care about human rights or are they just window-dressing for the international community? Language connected to human rights is essentially contested. This talk presents human rights narratives collected from various human rights actors in Japanese society. These narratives form the basis of human rights discourse in Japanese civil society, media, the legal landscape, academia, and politics. The study uses mixed methods to map the political discourse quantitatively and qualitatively to then trace back how discursive shifts occurred. An interdisciplinary approach helps understanding human rights in contemporary Japanese society within in a world which increasingly puts pressure on liberal norms. Details and registration here

This study explores how older adults maintain psychological well-being despite inevitable physical decline, a phenomenon often described as the “well-being paradox”. Using data from the SONIC (Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians) study, cluster analysis identified a distinct group of older adults who exhibit low physical function yet high psychological well-being. In addition, we examined the longitudinal relationship between changes in physical function and psychological well-being, and tested the moderating role of self-transcendence. The results show that self-transcendence significantly buffers the negative impact of physical decline on mental health, life satisfaction, and negative affect. However, it does not protect against the decline in positive affect. These findings suggest that aging well is not merely the preservation of function but involves a transformation in how individuals relate to their physical limitations.  Details and registration here

As Japan aims to address labor shortages, automation and the implementation of everyday technologies, such as self-checkout cashiers, can be increasingly observed. This presents an opportunity to test if the self-image of Japan as a technological leader holds true, and to examine how political ambitions impact individuals’ daily lives. The talk first explores the macro level by drawing on expert interviews with policymakers, researchers, and producers of self-checkout systems to analyze how these actors conceptualize the role of everyday automation. The talk then turns to the micro level and examines how self-checkout machines are experienced by individuals in daily life. By linking institutional perspectives with lived experiences, the presentation highlights how continuing automation reconfigures everyday practices and social interaction. It demonstrates how sociotechnical transformations unfold across contexts, offering insights for Science and Technology Studies and policy debates in ageing societies. Details and registration here

As of February 2026, women hold only 4.3 percent of Japan’s mayoral offices. This figure reflects the country’s well-documented challenges with gender equality in political participation. Directly elected by voters, mayors occupy a prominent position in Japanese local politics. They can shape local policies and advance individual agendas, making them key drivers of local change. This situation raises an important question: how do female mayors perceive their roles and contributions within their local communities and the broader political landscape? Drawing on interviews with female mayors, this presentation aims to produce a contextually grounded understanding of how they perceive and perform their political roles. Through a multi-layered approach, the speaker seeks to explain how female mayors navigate gendered structures through everyday political practice, and to situate their individual perspectives within broader debates on gender and political representation in Japan. Details and registration here