Members

Principal investigator

Shuichi Oyama

Professor, RIHN

Area studies, Geography

Professor, Research Department, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature;
Professor, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Division of African Area Studies, Kyoto University.

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Co-Principal investigator

Akiyo Shioya

Program-Specific Assistant Professor, Kyoto University

Area Studies, Anthropology

With expertise in cultural anthropology and African area studies, she is interested in the connection between urban and rural areas. In her previous work in Cameroon, she has conducted research in urban and rural settings focusing on the distribution and circulation of agricultural products.  She has also been involved in action-research as part of agricultural projects aiming for environmental and economic sustainability. Moving forward, she wishes to engage in action-research in Kyoto and Uganda. In this project, her focus will be on the interrelationships formed between urban and rural communities through organic waste.

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Project researchers

Kentaro Noda

Researcher, RIHN

Area Studies, Ecological Anthropology

After managing a safari company in Tanzania for 10 years, he joined the PhD program at the Kyoto University Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies. His PhD research focused on the rare charcoal-eating behavior of the Zanzibar Red Colobus, and the changes in the local community associated with tourism. He was conferred a Doctor of Area Studies degree in 2023, and is looking forward to contributing to the action-research aspect of this project.

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Utako Aoike

Researcher, RIHN

Area Studies, Ethnography of Waste, Food Studies

Her research has so far focused on the composition of household waste and the livelihood of waste collectors in Niamey, Niger. In this project, she looks forward to studying the organic waste cycle, to better understand how the soil, organic substances, microorganisms and human activities contribute to the circle of life. 

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Teruya Maehata

Researcher, RIHN

Area Studies, Ecology

He has so far conducted ecological research focusing on birds in the Yanbaru area in northern Okinawa Prefecture, major water systems in Hyogo Prefecture, and semi-desert thorn forests in southeastern Madagascar. Currently, he is conducting research on the ecosystem of the satoyama-like environment surrounding tea plantations in the tea-producing region of southeastern Kyoto Prefecture.

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Co-researchers

  • Tomoko Nakano

    Chuo University

    Measurement and analysis of carbon exchange

  • Yasuyuki Kosaka

    Kyoto University

    Agricultural ecosystems in Lao PDR

  • Yuichiro Tsuchiya

    Kyoto University of Education

    Waste problems and social systems

  • Sawahiko Shimada

    Tokyo University of Agriculture

    Environmental Earth Science, Remote Sensing, Environmental Dynamic Analysis

  • Hidenori Harada

    Kyoto University

    Wastewater and excreta management

  • Takuto Sakamoto

    University of Tokyo

    Data analysis and simulation

  • Naoto Yabe

    Tokyo Metropolitan University

    Virtual nutrition analysis

  • Haruka Ushiku

    Hokkai Gakuen University

    Local economy

  • Hitomi Kirikoshi

    Kokushikan University

    Rural sutudies

  • Masaya Hara

    Kobe University

    Agricultural production

  • Kanako Suzuki

    Shinshu Universtiy

    Cultivation and Soil Science

  • Seiji Nakao

    Kyoto University

    Circulation of materials across the border

  • Mei Nakazawa

    Setsunan University

    Utilization and disposal of waste

  • Ryosuke Nakamura

    Kyoto University

    Biogeochemistry

  • Miho Saito

    Kyoto University

    Natural symbiotic system

  • Yumi Yamanashi

    Kyoto City Zoo

    Animal Feeding and Welfare

  • Yasuhiro Asakura

    Tokyo University of Agriculture

    Environmental Science, Agricultural Science, Biological Resource Conservation, Groundwater Chemistry

  • Georgina Seera

    Kyoto University

    Area Studies, Sociology, Human Nutrition