Research Institute for High-Life

PDF: Japanese version (1.2MB)

Planning and promotion
Fumio Hasegawa, Professor of Meiji University, School of Global Japanese Studies

Research and promotion
Kazuo Midorikawa, CEO of Digital-Image
Tadakazu Fukutomi, PROFESSOR, Senshu University
Hirohiko Koyamada, CEO of Think Communications, Inc
Akio Kunii, Chief researcher of InfoCom Research, Inc.

Research partners
Kazuhiro Niinuma, Counselor of Office of the President, Wellness Department, Namco Bandai Games, Inc.

Yujiro Ono, Chief researcher, Research Laboratory of Human Amusement, AM Specialized Machine Development Department, Namco Bandai Games, Inc.
Hisakazu Hirabayashi, CEO of INTERact
Shuzo Ueda, Director of Kyoto International Manga Museum

Chapter 1: Purpose of the Research

1-1. Background
So-called “Content”, which includes manga, anime, and video game, has been consumed mainly for the purposes of entertainment and leisure-time amusement. However, Content has started to garner attention in areas other than entertainment due to its friendliness and its eye-catching characteristics. It has started to be used for the purposes of improving everyday convenience in particular.
For example, manga is now very familiar because it even appears in various instruction manuals and community pamphlets. In addition, manga and anime have started to be used for educational purposes to promote understanding regarding luxury grocery items or cuisines, such as wine. Additionally, the game console Wii, which was released last year by Nintendo, can function as a sport simulator and serves as a lifestyle-oriented device in various areas, such as health management. This trend will be accelerated with the development of our information-driven network society. In this research, we will investigate the relationship between Content and everyday life by researching current conditions and trends.

1-2. Purpose of the research
With the above background in mind, the purpose of this research is as follows.
(1) To study the potential usage of Content (manga, anime, video games, etc.) in areas other than entertainment.
(2) To analyze how Content creators view the relationship between Content and everyday life.
(3) To identify and pni-che
Niredict how Content will be involved in our everyday lives.

1-3. Details of the research
We will conduct research in the following specific areas.

• (1) Analysis of social environments that promote the current conditions.
• (2) Case research on the relationship between Content and everyday life. Examine cases that match the purpose of our research from books, magazines, and websites.
• (3) User evaluations Conduct a survey interview of 10 subjects ranging in age from their 10s to their 50s regarding the current usage of Content and its involvement in their everyday lives.
• (4) Intentions of Content developers Conduct a survey interview with Content providers and researchers that match the purpose of our research.
• (5) Future trend analysis Discuss future trends with other members of the research team.
• (6) Links with future lifestyles Based on the results of our research, study the relationship between Content and lifestyle.

1-4. Research methods

• (1) Conference discussions with experts


• (2) Case studies using relevant literature


• (3) Survey interviews with Content developers


• (4) Interview-style questionnaire survey

PDF: Japanese version (2MB)

Study organization
Junichi Takahashi, professor, Waseda University
Ryusuke Seike, part-time professor, Waseda University
Yuko Adachi, CEO, Bunka Gijutsu Design
Miwako Hori, researcher
Haruki Takatsu, Research Institute for High-Life
Shinichi Sentoda, Research Institute for High-Life
Hirohito Hagiwara, Research Institute for High-Life

Purpose of the study
Modern industrial society has brought us great benefits, but it has also created various problems in the name of progress, such as the continued destruction of nature, health problems, stress, and disparities in wealth. Modern industrial society has provided satisfaction and fulfillment in everyday life through material wealth and innovations in the area of convenience, but it can also been said that it is a society that has lost an understanding of the true meaning of "pleasure". When we look at the current social situation, we need to think about how we should obtain "pleasure" or "fulfillment" in a meaningful way through our individual abilities and lifestyles. The goal of hospitality, in simple terms, is how to "realize pleasure", and we believe this concept includes solutions to the problems describe above. Even for industries that are currently facing limitations in providing satisfaction and fulfillment to ordinary citizens through manualized services, "hospitality" has been focused on as a concept that allows for the provision of satisfaction and fulfillment beyond service.
In our study, we hope to construct a working hypothesis while focusing on establishing design principles to realize a society and culture that embodies hospitality, and to seek the establishment of techniques (tentatively referred to as "hospitality management") to control the activities of both a society structured based on the principles of hospitality and the businesses and public administrations composing such a society.

The 17th High-Life Seminar: Minutes
Eco-city contest
Seven proposals to change Japan from its regions
Seminars to commemorate publication in Tokyo and Kyoto

PDF: Japanese version (2MB)

Organizers:
Research Institute for High-Life
The National Eco-City Contest Network
Citizens Environment Foundation, specified nonprofit corporation

Tokyo venue
Time: Friday, March 6, 2009. 13:30 to 17:00
Place: Kodama Hall

Kyoto venue
Place: Mielparque Kyoto
Time: Monday, March 9, 2009. 13:00 to 16:30

Seminar venue in Tokyo　　　　　　　　　　　Seminar venue in Kyoto

Minutes of lectures

“Seven proposals to change Japan from its regions”: Purposes and contents of the book

Lecturer: Mr. Ikuo Sugimoto (President of NPO Citizens Environment Foundation) (Representative of the National Eco-City Contest Network)
http://www.kankyoshimin.org/

Profile of the lecturer: Ikuo Sugimoto
Graduate of the Faculty of Agriculture of Kyoto University. Established the Citizens Environment Foundation with various people and experts engaged in environmental issues in 1992. Published “Green Consumer: Tips for Shopping for the Earth’s Ecology”, “Visiting the World’s Eco-cities” (co-author), Iwanami Junior Shinsho (2002) , and many others.