KONAN UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF LETTERS

Department of Human Sciences

The Department of Human Sciences is made up of two broad fields. The first is Applied Humanities, which pursues the scientific study of the many forms of human creative expression, in areas such as philosophy, literature, and the arts. The second field is Psychology, which covers fundamental knowledge relating to cognition, behavior, emotion, development, and psychological counseling aimed at psychological therapy. We take pride in offering a prestigious faculty of specialists in a variety of fields such as philosophy, literature, women's studies, the arts, environment, and psychology: together these researchers offer a comprehensive, interdisciplinary education in “human expression” that goes beyond the traditional framework both in research and education.

In addition to regular lectures, the department offers a unique training method in which students are able to actually experience and participate in research. Also, by working in close cooperation with research societies and symposiums sponsored by the Konan Institute of  Human Sciences, students are given the opportunity to pursue their fields of specialty in depth.

We have also established courses which allow students to acquire qualifications to become curators for art and natural history museums. In addition, a support system has been designed for those moving on to graduate school to become certified public psychologists.

Faculty member

Name Title Field of Research Subject of Research
IKEGAMI, Tomoko Professor social psychology, social cognition and social identity, prejudice and discrimination Study on psychological mechanisms which underlie interpersonal relationships and group behaviors, with the aim of exploring how society and an individual interact.
OSAWA, Kaori Professor Clinical Psychology, Medical Psychology, Health Psychology Researches on effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT) for trauma-related symptoms (e.g., PTSD, depression, anxiety).
ONISHI, Ayako Professor Psychology Major research interests include school bullying (relational aggression, physical aggression), peer relationships, school adjustment and evidence-based practice in school-based interventions.
KAWATA, Tokiko Professor Theory of Art The theory of modern and contemporary art, and art history. Particularly on art criticism.
KITAGAWA, Megumi Professor Clinical and Developmental psychology Researches on the quality of the child-caregiver relationship (e.g., what influences it and how can it be improved) and on attachment-based intervention.
NISHI, Kinya Professor Theory of Art and Literature, History of Ideas Comparative study of aesthetic discourse in modern Japan and Europe.
NISHIO, Chihiro Lecturer Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Science, Ecological Psychology Studies on child and adult development from the ecological perspective
NOZAKI, Yuki Associate Professor Psychology Psychological studies on individual differences and cognitive mechanisms of emotion regulation in interpersonal situations such as emotional intelligence; Theoretical modeling of extrinsic emotion regulation (i.e., regulation of another person’s emotions)
HATTORI, Tadashi Professor Art History, Art Theory and Museum Studies Critical analysis of visual arts in contemporary society, especially of art by people with disabilities, outsider art, and art with its contact zone.
FUKUI, Yoshikazu Professor Clinical Psychology, Health Psychology, Somatic Psychology Relationship among child abuse, dissociation, adult attachment style, treatment of complex PTSD using EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, TFT, and hypnosis.
YOSHIKAWA, Takashi Professor Philosophy, Ethics, Aesthetics A phenomenological approach to contemporary social problems.