Hirofumi Kawaguchi: Outlines of Japanese Political Research and Education

As someone who chose Japanese politics as my research subject in graduate school, I don't think I had many opportunities to consider my own stance or identity as a researcher. While my fellow graduate students studying the politics of other countries seriously considered the meaning of studying those countries in Japan and the differences between domestic research trends in those countries and those in Japan, I, studying Japanese politics in my home country of Japan, proceeded with my research without feeling much need to do so, for better or worse.

The catalyst for me to start thinking about this question was my time studying abroad. I began to think about how to convey the significance of my research interests to the people I met there who did not know much about Japanese politics, and what kind of meaning my research actually had, but I don't think I found a clear answer.

After that, I returned to Japan, completed my Doctoral Programs, and engaged in research at a university in Hokkaido as a researcher and taught at a university in Okinawa as a faculty member. While listening to local news in those places and going about my daily life, I had more opportunities to become aware of the multifaceted nature of Japanese politics. As my teaching opportunities increased, I also began to consider my role not only as a researcher but also as an educator.

In my current workplace, I am also in charge of political science classes taught in English, primarily for international students. As a researcher, I have strived to conduct research on Japanese politics with generalizability, such that it also provides a perspective on the politics of other countries. On the other hand, many of the students seem interested in the uniqueness of Japanese politics, so there is a slight discrepancy here as well. For the time being, I am aiming for a class that balances the two by explaining the differences between Japanese politics and the politics of other countries through various differences in political systems, but I also worry that I might be starting with a predetermined conclusion.

The reason I chose political science as my specialization in university was partly because I thought that if I studied it, I would be able to understand how the world works, but in reality, the more I learn, the more things I don't understand. While I wonder what someone like myself can teach others, I also think that showing this kind of hesitation might be one form of education, as I go about my daily research and teaching.