Naohisa Yahagi Seminar

2021.11.30 / Healthcare System Design, Entrepreneurship and Management

The core of activities at SFC is the "seminar" (kenkyukai) . Faculty and students engage in advanced research activities, thinking together, and students develop a high level of expertise by tackling real-world problems.

In the Yahagi Seminar, we value the process of students thoroughly pursuing what they love and discovering what they truly want to do in the process. However, there is an underlying proposition here. Although I express it as "do what you love to the fullest," this also means "do what you love until you come to dislike it." When you pursue what you love to the fullest, you will inevitably hit a wall somewhere. Overcoming that, you will end up asking yourself why you came to dislike something you originally loved. In the course of taking action, you may find that something you initially felt you were not good at is actually something you love, even to the point of thinking "this is the only thing for me," or you may realize you are actually very good at it. It takes a lot of courage to tackle something you are not good at, but I believe that by first dedicating yourself to what you love and discovering something while hitting walls, you will be able to approach things with precision, accuracy, and objectivity, laying the foundation to succeed as a professional when you enter the workforce.

The themes are "Entrepreneurship and Management" and "Healthcare System Design," but student research is not limited to these and ranges widely from fashion design and art value analysis to predictive analysis of the spread of COVID-19.

As I am also a physician, I aim to "optimize all services and systems involving humans to the state of each individual's brain and body" using my knowledge of medical sciences and healthcare. I believe there is education and research that can only be done at SFC, not at a School of Medicine.

While I provide the environment for students, I basically leave it to their autonomy, and the seminar proceeds with students taking the lead. I may offer advice on team assignments for group work.

The level of the seminar is set based on the standards of top global graduate schools. I believe that being able to conduct research from the first year is a unique feature of SFC and a lot of fun. By designing classes and discussions at the graduate school level, I want to create opportunities for students to go beyond just "liking" what they do, to overcome walls and become "professionals."

I think there are two types of things that I find interesting. One is when a student's idea is interesting, and the other is when a student discovers a new side of themselves in the process of their work. The latter is an element that everyone should have, but some students notice this new side of themselves early on. For example, there is a student who wants to become a comedian. Initially, he thought that what he found funny would be funny to everyone else, but through interactions with his comedy partner, he began to realize that what people find funny differs from person to person. Eventually, the question of "what is humor?" arose within him, and he is now making the "threshold" of laughter the theme of his graduation thesis. It is very interesting to see how students find their answers.

There was also a student who was researching how to represent human presence in online interactions. It was interesting that he focused on ideas in that field because his own programming skills were already high. Students who just want to be taught something in a lecture don't join. The students who remain in the seminar are those who want to do something themselves, even if they don't know what that "something" is at the moment, or who have some kind of thought or vague feeling. That's why I find all the projects interesting.

I will venture to say "none." "Hot topics" are determined by human perception and changes over time. For example, regarding catchy words like AI, I had already developed and socially implemented a more advanced technology in 2007. At the time, it was deemed impossible by experts in the field, yet it is now causing a stir in the world. In short, what a non-specialist originally discovered is being maintained as a component to differentiate from the mundane in the world. Furthermore, what is considered correct now may be refuted if circumstances change. Especially when you are exposed to advanced research in medical sciences and healthcare, you get a glimpse of the continuity between perception as art and digital as science. When you arrive at the perspective of "how to perceive sensation and change," many things that were previously invisible become visible. Therefore, I believe there is no need to intentionally link research to "hot news."

There are various career paths, including consulting, finance, logistics, retail, pharmaceutical companies, and medical institutions. I sometimes provide support regarding their destinations.

We asked alumni Shunsuke Udo and Shota Kawamoto, who belonged to both the "Healthcare System Design" and "Entrepreneurship and Management" seminars, and alumna Aya Nakae, who belonged to the "Entrepreneurship and Management" seminar, about the appeal of the seminar.

[Healthcare System Design]

The Yahagi Seminar has many students interested in healthcare and, more broadly, in "people." In the past, research has focused on "people," with studies on issues like leftover medication and the indexing of individuals' un-visualizable abilities from fatigue measurements.

Another characteristic is that many students are members of other seminars as well. I (Mr. Kawamoto) also belong to the Murai Joint Seminar and am working on research regarding a statistical model for identifying viruses using machine learning, referencing the thought processes used by physicians in clinical practice. Because there are many students in multiple seminars, another feature of the Yahagi Seminar is that you can receive advice on your research from various perspectives.

As for the atmosphere, the level expected of students is extremely high, and the professor guides us without holding back just because we are students. Especially during the summer break, an oral examination is conducted using textbooks from the School of Medicine, following the format of their regular exams, which sends students into a state of panic.

Furthermore, because the professor himself is involved in pediatric care, where misjudgments or cutting corners can directly lead to life-threatening situations, a high sense of ethics and an uncompromising attitude are demanded within the seminar. We not only receive incisive feedback on our research but also proceed with our studies while being questioned about our stance as human beings—"what kind of person are you?"—so I feel it is a seminar that fosters logical thinking and a sense of ethics.

Incidentally, we are also serious about having fun alongside our studies. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we held sports days twice a year in spring and fall, and went on training camps and ski trips during long vacations. It's a seminar where we study hard and play hard.

[Entrepreneurship and Management]

The Yahagi Seminar has many students who joined after taking Professor Yahagi's class, students interested in healthcare because he is a pediatrician, and also graduate students. Research themes can be set freely. We advance our research by alternating between feedback on individual presentations and discussions.

While "entrepreneurship" is often used in the context of "the spirit of starting a business," in the Yahagi Seminar, we return to the original meaning of entrepreneurship and tackle various challenges to acquire the power to forge a path in society.

Professor Yahagi values the Keio University spirit of "learning while teaching, teaching while learning" and discusses with us students as equals. We sometimes receive harsh criticism, but students also engage in serious discussions with each other, regardless of seniority, and explore daily as entrepreneurs themselves. I think the Yahagi Seminar is a place where you can deepen your own perspectives and opinions and continue to think until you are satisfied.

The abundance of events is also an appeal of this seminar. Events like dinner parties and ski trips were valuable opportunities to deepen friendships among students. Vertical connections are also emphasized, and I have the impression that alumni actively participate in these events.

[Healthcare System Design]

Through the seminar, I have the impression that logical thinking and a sense of ethics are fostered. Graduates utilize these skills to succeed in a wide range of fields, such as trading companies and consulting firms. Some also work for pharmaceutical companies, leveraging the knowledge of healthcare they gained through their research.

Furthermore, a feature of the Yahagi Seminar is that there are many opportunities to deepen self-understanding, as we are asked to look at ourselves in a four-quadrant matrix of "like/dislike" and "can/cannot do," and there is a culture of engaging in research and projects that suit us. Therefore, I feel I have also cultivated the ability to objectively view my strengths and the skills I need to polish.

Professor Yahagi guides students with sincerity and care, and the various words of advice he gave me (Mr. Udo) still support me and keep me on the right path today. I had an experience so rigorous that I can say, "I will never have a tougher experience in my life," and I am very much looking forward to seeing how much I can utilize the strengths I cultivated.

[Entrepreneurship and Management]

Since discussions are central to the seminar, logical thinking skills were necessary to convey one's arguments to others. I also acquired critical thinking skills, not just to criticize others, but to maintain an objective perspective and constantly question things. Other students in the seminar feel doubt about different things than I do, and each sets a different research theme. Precisely because we discuss with people who have different standpoints and values, I made an effort to value listening skills and to accept and understand others' ideas. I believe these abilities were also cultivated by the large number of presentations.

The moment I felt glad I joined was when I met Professor Yahagi, whom I respect, and peers with whom I could discuss making society better. For me (Ms. Nakae), the Yahagi Seminar is a place I want to return to in 10 or 15 years. The time I spent discussing with my peers as a student still connects to my motivation to "do my best" now that I am a working professional.

If we set the main theme as correctly understanding advanced technology and enabling people to continue feeling "happy" as human beings, basic knowledge of medical sciences can be applied to all aspects of life and services that cater to each individual. The coming era will be one of competition utilizing precise data that captures even minute changes, and value co-creation born from perception. For students who will walk the path of independence and self-respect, you will be required to have high-dimensional abilities that go beyond a bird's-eye view, including a multifaceted approach that embraces diversity and research centered on each individual's strong will and philosophy. Let us create projects together that look to the future and connect to the next generation for a richer life.

Naohisa Yahagi, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Faculty Profile

When you enroll at SFC, you have many opportunities to question your own purpose and abilities as you meet people involved in innovative research and business. In the midst of this, the Yahagi Seminar taught me the importance of returning to first principles. It may be a slight exaggeration, but updating the question from "What am I living for?" to "What am I being kept alive for?" has become my greatest asset.

I believe the professors and senior students are also looking forward to meeting students who will sincerely engage in research with various questions, high aspirations, and a strong sense of ethics.

(Shunsuke Udo)

It was several years ago, but I still vividly remember my surprise when I first met Professor Yahagi. From that day on, I have been keenly aware of the high standards he demands, and the standards of the world I envision have also risen dramatically. Therefore, I won't deny that every day is difficult, demanding, and tough, but I have a strong sense that I am being forged as a person while conducting advanced research that is useful to the world. Perhaps the greatest appeal is feeling that I am one of them, imagining that the senior students of Keio University and SFC probably spent their days like this too.

(Shota Kawamoto)

The concept of "students from the future," which has been advocated since SFC's founding, is still prevalent today, 30 years after its establishment. You can learn while imagining the future with professors at the forefront of their fields and create an exciting society with your peers. Not only the knowledge gained here, but also the many struggles and all-night discussions with friends are treasures for a lifetime. I will leave SFC after graduation, but when I have powered up a bit more in the working world, I want to tackle a "group work" project that will change society with my peers again.

(Aya Nakae)

Interview and Production Cooperation: Takeo Kuwabara Seminar MC Team