無農薬米を生産する農法の一つ、「アイガモ稲作」では、アイガモと人間の複雑な関係性が窺える。本稿では、とりわけ成鳥を殺して食べることに注目し、国内の一般的な肉の消費様式に照らし合わせながら、食の倫理を文化人類学的に探究する。また、マルチスピーシーズ民族誌やアネマリー・モルの「食べる」といった人間中心主義批判の先行研究を批判的に検討し、実践の詳細から立ち上げた概念として「折りあい」を提示する。

“Aigamo rice cultivation”, while primarily employed in organic farming, illustrates the dynamic relationship between humans and Aigamo ducks, which serve neither purely as a means of rice production nor as livestock for meat. This study, in particular, focuses on the slaughter and consumption of adult Aigamo ducks, examining the ethics of eating from a cultural anthropological perspective by comparing it to general domestic meat consumption. It also critically assesses previous anthropocentric perspectives, including multispecies ethnography and Annemarie Mol’s thoughts on ”eating”and introduces "Oriai" as a concept derived from practical details.

近年、e-スポーツは障害者の新たな活動として注目されており、福祉現場への導入事例が増えてきている。そこで本研究では、実際に施設に赴いて知的障害者がe-スポーツをプレイする様子を観察し、e-スポーツの障害者の日常生活への影響・効果を調べた。その結果、e-スポーツは障害者にとって趣味や生活のモチベーションとなるだけでなく、日常の問題行動を減らす可能性があることがわかり、障害者福祉におけるe-スポーツの有用性を示した。

In recent years, esports has been gaining attention as a new activity for individuals with disabilities, and its adoption in welfare facilities has been increasing. This study involved direct observation of individuals with intellectual disabilities playing esports at a facility, and was investigated of esports impact and effectｓ on daily life of disabled. As a result, it was found that e-sports not only provides a hobby and motivation in life for people with disabilities, but also has the potential to reduce daily problematic behaviors, indicating the usefulness of e-sports in the welfare of the disabled.

Deat: An Application That Fosters Global Food Accessibility and Revolutionizes Japan’s Dining Scene

Food is more than just sustenance. It is the embodiment and expression of culture, heritage and creativity. My Degree Project (DP) explores the complexities of global food accessibility with a focus on Japan's dining landscape. Inspired by my own personal experience in Japan, this DP examines the opaque nature of dietary information and the challenges of food access in restaurants, particularly for individuals with unique dietary requirements steered by cultural norms, religious beliefs, or health-related food allergies.

A significant contribution of this research is the development of an intuitive application called “Deat”, which has been created in preparation for future partnerships with restaurant chains, designed to empower consumers make well-informed food choices, thereby honouring their dietary autonomy. Utilizing results from quantitative data analysis and qualitative interviews, the study aims to broaden food accessibility, cultivate an inclusive dining environment, and enact meaningful change in societal food habits. By analysing the application’s potential as a solution, this work strives to dismantle existing barriers, thereby nurturing a more empathetic and internationally adaptable food landscape.

Though I have graduated from ISI, I intend on further developing “Deat”, beyond just an application, but a start-up that is able to build a world where everyone, irrespective of dietary needs, cultural background, language, or religion, is welcome, not just at the dining table but embraced and valued in every aspect of society.

My degree project investigates the role of land-sea transitional zones in protecting coral reefs from land-based impacts, particularly fine-terrigenous material runoff that can lead to sedimentation and structural damage to coral reefs. The study was conducted on Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, including SCUBA diving surveys in Nagura Bay's coral reefs and land surveys in Nagura Ampal, an estuary with mangrove forests and tidal flats. We analyzed collected samples using Loss-on-Ignition (LOI) for semi-quantitative sediment composition and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for mineralogical composition to understand the terrigenous material source. Our findings highlighted the distribution of fine-terrigenous material from Nagura River to the coral reefs of Nagura Bay. Notably, tidal flats and seagrass beds exhibited significantly different fine-terrigenous material content compared to other areas such as rivers, mangrove forests, sand cays, and tidal mouths. This underscores the crucial role of tidal flats and seagrass beds in filtering fine-terrigenous sediments before they reach coral reefs. Additionally, we observed that sediment contents in the deeper areas of Nagura Bay (>20 m) and the shallower reef sediments differed, with deeper areas containing more fine-terrigenous material. These insights highlight the importance of preserving natural coastal zones to safeguard coral reefs from both natural and anthropogenic threats.