A message for those who wish to conduct research under my supervision at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability
As I wrote previously, I am currently affiliated with the Kyoto University Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability, and I have become eligible to supervise students starting from the next academic year.
Since the entrance examination (graduate school entrance exam) for students enrolling in April 2026 is coming up, I thought I would promote it once again.
The entrance examination system is unique. For the next academic year's exam, the process begins by submitting documents such as the "Application for Eligibility Screening" to the school's administrative office by 5:00 PM on Monday, May 19, 2025. Please see here for details.
Furthermore, you must go through the complicated process of applying to a department at Kyoto University that is relevant to your research, taking their entrance exam, and then enrolling in our school. I have written about this before, so please refer to my previous article.
With that said, I would like to write a message for those who might be interested in applying this time.
Regarding my research overview:
I conduct research activities by focusing on analyzing works of photography, architecture, and contemporary art, as well as engaging in dialogues with artists, based on the idea that theoretical thinking must be conducted at the intersection with sensory experience, while grounding my work in the reading of primary sources and theoretical reflection concerning the philosophical problem of the "human condition." In recent years, in the era of the Anthropocene, where it is said that human activity is changing the state of the Earth, I have attempted to philosophically question the conditions of human existence. What I have recently begun to think about is my preoccupation with questions related to place—"where are we?"—and the importance of imagining a "dimension of depth" in the sense of where human existence occurs and becomes possible.
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However, this is merely my own research theme. Recently, I have been trying to think about the conditions for creating a place for survival while utilizing knowledge from the humanities in a broad sense, including philosophy, literature, architecture, and art, and to propose a vision for that purpose, so I would like those with such interests to apply.
So, what do I want to convey to those who are thinking about conducting research under me? In my case, I have been greatly influenced by Hannah Arendt's attempt in "The Origins of Totalitarianism" to understand the fascist situation and to think about the ideological prospects for overcoming it. I believe I have done something similar to this so far, and I will continue to do so. However, the current era is different from the one Arendt lived in. Therefore, if we are to grasp the current situation as something related to the "human condition" and show a theoretical and philosophical perspective for its resolution, it is important to first think about the present—and furthermore, what one is feeling and experiencing in the present—without overthinking unnecessary things. In fact, Arendt herself mentions the importance of "thinking without a banister" somewhere. For her, the experience of totalitarianism was "unprecedented," and so she had to start by accepting that lack of precedent.
In other words, start by feeling. That means sharpening your five senses. What Bruce Lee said in "Enter the Dragon" is important.
Don’t think, feel.
It’s like a finger pointing at the moon.
Do not concentrate on the finger.” “you will miss all the heavenly glory”
(Don't think, feel. It's like a finger pointing at the moon. Do not concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all the heavenly glory.)
First, place yourself in the situation, and without overthinking (by referring to existing arguments, etc.), try writing down or talking to someone about what you are feeling right now, what is happening there, and what is being questioned.
However, just writing it down like this is nothing more than a self-indulgent idea. You are required to develop your thinking based on this idea. This is where reading something becomes important, and it is crucial to read while maintaining an attitude of understanding what you felt directly in a principled and reflective manner, and furthermore, verifying whether it can have meaning in reality. You are also required to strictly question what must be read, why it must be read, and how it should be read. That may be the reason why what I have done so far is similar to, yet different from, so-called philosophical research. Reading is a tool for verbalizing your own thoughts, but it is also for questioning what meaning your thoughts can have in the history of accumulated thought, and furthermore, whether your ideas have any meaning in the real world at all, whether they are just delusions, and what is the point of thinking about such things.
I have continued my research activities while thinking, "If I keep doing things like this, won't I eventually be able to show a possible ideal of the human condition (or rather, show an imaginary image as something that can be realized)?" Honestly, I am not sure what I have been able to achieve, but I intend to do as much as I can, and if there is anyone who would like to do this together, I would very much like you to apply.
(Postscript)
I can supervise about two or three students per academic year. I don't expect that many people to apply, but I will note it for reference just in case.