Overview

Profile

Born in Kyoto. Takada high school(Niigata), Urawa high school (Saitama). College of Agriculture, Tokyo University. Involved with environmental resource management policy in Japan and abroad through working for Japanese government (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries/MAFF and Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology/MEXT) and UN FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). Master of Science (University of California, Berkeley). Ph.D. (University of Tokyo) Member of Society of American Foresters. Adjunct Professor, University of Padova. Adjunct Scholar, Cambridge University. Adjunct Professor, Kasetsart University. Major published book (in Japanese): “Ecoforesting”, “System of Payment for Environment. A PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services) Guide ”

Research

Research focus includes policy making methods through participation and collaboration of stakeholders to sustainably achieve multiple/conflicting environmental, economic and social values, and also policy measures based on ecosystem service approaches such as PES/ecosystem service forestry/businesses through global point of view. Work in collaboration with international European networks for new innovative ecosystem service business of wild/nature. Experiment PES-VGS (Visitor Giving Scheme) for sustainable tourism in Yuzawa/Niigata. Other areas of environmental resource management policy, including collaborative management and planning based on ecosystem service approach, environmental evaluation and public participation, outdoor recreation. .

Education

In “Environmental Resource Management Policy”, learn basic subjects and methods of global environmental policy in order to build a sustainable society. Particularly, learn theories and practices of participatory and collaborative policy-making, and PES (payment for ecosystem services), through case studies at global level. In “Global Forest Conservation Policy”, learn international historical processes of how forest environmental management evolved to more ecosystem-based one through the conflicts, theory and practice of participation/collaboration/ecosystem-based approach, forest conservation problems in and out of Japan, and learn complex global forest conservation problems including biodiversity conservation and mitigation of climate change through case studies. These two courses are also offered in Japanese.

Seminar

Seminars are separately conducted in English and Japanese, but facilitate their interaction to foster global capabilities and unconventional way of thinking. Conduct shared readings/introduction of papers and provide presentation opportunities for discussions based on students’ needs and research priorities. Provide opportunities for field visits such as Sophia Forest and forest volunteer activities, and attendances of various research workshops. This enables students to learn theory and practice in a balanced manner.