Our Program

Next Generation Fundamental Policy Research Institute (NFI) Representative Director/The University of Tokyo, Professor emeritus

March, 1976 -

Graduated from The University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law

April, 1976 -

Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law University of Tokyo, Faculty of Law

October, 1980 -

Lecturer, Faculty of Humanities, Chiba University

April, 1981 -

Associate Professor, Faculty of Law and Economics, Chiba University

October, 1993 -

Professor, Faculty of Law and Economics, Chiba University

April, 1994 -

Professor, Graduate School for Law and Politics, The University of Tokyo

April, 2004 -

Dean/Professor, Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo

In 2005 -

Special Assistant of the President, The University of Tokyo (Until March 2009)

In 2008 -

Director-General, Policy Alternatives Research Institute, The University of Tokyo (Until July, 2010)

April 2010 -

Professor, Graduate School for Law and Politics/Graduate School of Public Policy, The University of Tokyo (Until March, 2012)

June 2011 -

Chairman of the Board, Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Central Social Insurance Medical Council (Until June, 2015)

April 2012 -

Professor, Department of Political Studies, Faculty of Law, Gakushuin University (Until March, 2014)

April 2014 -

Director-General, National Institute of Population and Social Security Research (Until March, 2017)

April 2017 -

Professor, Faculty of Policy Studies, Tsuda University (Until March, 2021); Chairman, Council on Customs, Tariff, Foreign Exchange and Other Transactions, Ministry of Finance

April 2018 -

Director-General, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Research Institute of Science and Technology for Society (RISTEX) (Until March 2021)

March 2019 -

Outside Director of the Board, Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd

July 2020 -

Representative Director, Next Generation Fundamental Policy Research Institute (NFI)

Although many scientific and technological achievements have been produced in the laboratories of universities and other institutions, these achievements are not being used to solve the social implications/issues. This program aims to develop "social technology" and it is a way to use science and technology(S&T) to solve social issues.

The importance for the application of such S&T been pointed out in the past, however, in actual practice, there are major barriers even if the technology exists, and its actual application is difficult and requires technology that incorporates social science as well. This program aims to develop such methods.

Now, with the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), there is a need for technology to control infectious diseases by applying various theories of social science included mathematical epidemiology, risk communication, and behavioral control in public. In the face of unprecedented challenges, it is clear that expectations for this program are increasing at this moment.

I hope that the participants will boldly take on the challenges of today's society and propose numerous ideas to solve these challenges using the S&T that we possess.

https://www.nfi-japan.org/