WMF04200 Special Seminar Management

Hiroshima University Syllabus

Japanese

Academic Year 2026Year School/Graduate School Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Management Sciences Program

Lecture Code WMF04200 Subject Classification Specialized Education

Subject Name マネジメント特講（地域活性化）

Subject Name
（Katakana）マネジメントトッコウ（チイキカッセイカ）

Subject Name in
English Special Seminar Management

Instructor SHIBATA HIROKI,AKIYAMA TAKASHI

Instructor
(Katakana) シバタ　ヒロキ,アキヤマ　タカシ

Campus Higashi-Senda Semester/Term 1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester

Days, Periods, and Classrooms (2nd) Thur11-12：Higashi-Senda Seminar Rm 4

Lesson Style Lecture Lesson Style
(More Details) Face-to-face

Lecture and Discussion

Credits 2.0 Class Hours/Week 2 Language of Instruction J : Japanese

Course Level 6 : Graduate Advanced

Course Area（Area） 24 : Social Sciences

Course Area（Discipline） 04 : Management

Eligible Students Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences Students

Keywords Demographic issues, Permanent settlement, Hilly and mountainous regions, Community, Area management, Technological innovation, Carbon neutrality, Energy policy, Regional policy formulation, Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM), Economic impact, Gender, Social research

Special Subject for Teacher Education 　 Special Subject 　

Class Status
within Educational
Program
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced
Evaluation
(Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)

Class Objectives
/Class Outline Thinking about regional revitalization means thinking about the well-being and quality of life of the people who live there. At the same time, it provides a way to address national and societal challenges from a regional perspective. However, in an era of population decline, competition among regions has become increasingly intense. Ongoing changes-such as population aging, fiscal constraints, globalization, and the concentration of resources and population in Tokyo-have made regional revitalization even more challenging.
Against this backdrop, this course explores regional revitalization from multiple perspectives. Guest lecturers with expertise in different fields will analyze current regional conditions and guide students from problem identification to research design and social survey methods, ultimately examining practical strategies and real-world case studies for promoting regional revitalization.

Class Schedule Session 1: Orientation (Hiroki Shibata)
This session introduces the course objectives, key research questions, and analytical approaches. It also explains the overall course structure, instructors, assessment methods, and reference materials.
Session 2: Area Management I (Minoru Yoshida)
Area management has gained attention in recent years as a method through which local stakeholders take the initiative in community development and regional management to maintain and enhance local attractiveness and value. This session explains the concept and significance of area management and examines practical approaches, achievements, and challenges through leading case studies from across Japan.
Session 3: Area Management II (Minoru Yoshida)
Successful area management requires the establishment of organizations capable of leading activities proactively. Using the Hiroshima Station area-where large-scale redevelopment is underway and local businesses and organizations play a central role-as a case study, this session explores the process of organizational formation, related challenges, and the potential for implementing area management in central urban districts.
Session 4: Area Management III (Minoru Yoshida)
Many area management initiatives actively utilize public spaces. This session discusses the significance and impact of using public spaces, as well as regulatory challenges involved, drawing on examples from across Japan. It also considers the potential for public space utilization in the Hiroshima Station area.
Session 5: Economic Impact I (Kentaro Hamanaga)
Economic impact is an outcome indicator that measures the effects of policies and projects on a regional economy. Quantifying economic impact is an effective tool for evaluating regional revitalization initiatives. This session introduces methods for estimating economic impact using input-output tables and explains how to interpret and apply the results.
Session 6: Economic Impact II (Kentaro Hamanaga)
This session examines practical cases, including municipalities in the Chugoku region and collaborative metropolitan initiatives such as the Takahashi River Basin and the Bingo Area. Students will analyze methods for estimating economic impact tailored to regional characteristics and discuss the interpretation of results.
Session 7: Technological Innovation I (Hirofumi Egusa)
Efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 are accelerating in both technological development and public policy. This session reviews domestic and international greenhouse gas reduction targets, current emission levels, and key challenges. It also considers the implications of carbon neutrality for the economy of Hiroshima Prefecture.
Session 8: Technological Innovation II (Hirofumi Egusa)
Focusing on hydrogen energy as a key component of carbon neutrality, this session compares its fundamental properties with other energy sources. It also examines its relationship to industrial clusters, social infrastructure, and energy policy in Hiroshima Prefecture and the broader Chugoku region.
Session 9: Technological Innovation III (Hirofumi Egusa)
This session examines nuclear power in the era of carbon neutrality. It reviews the Fukushima nuclear accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake and clarifies the current national policy position on nuclear energy. Through comparison with major countries’ nuclear policies and analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources, students will consider the role of nuclear power in a decarbonized society.
Session 10: Hilly and Mountainous Regions I (Shuta Wada)
This session defines hilly and mountainous regions and reviews the history of national policies addressing their challenges. These areas, common in rural Japan, have experienced early and rapid population decline and aging, with depopulation becoming a serious issue since the 1960s. The session examines national countermeasures and evaluates their significance and effectiveness.
Session 11: Hilly and Mountainous Regions II (Shuta Wada)
In response to nationwide population decline since the late 2000s, regional revitalization initiatives under the banner of “Regional Revitalization” have intensified. Social changes such as the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic have further transformed local conditions. This session explores how these shifts have affected governance and community management in hilly and mountainous regions.
Session 12: Hilly and Mountainous Regions III (Shuta Wada)
Although revitalization strategies in hilly and mountainous areas are more limited than in urban areas, various initiatives can be implemented within constrained resources. This session presents case studies from Hiroshima Prefecture, examining both their achievements and limitations. It also discusses policy responses to the risk of complete depopulation in some settlements and considers strategies for sustaining community functions and promoting regional revitalization.
Session 13: Social Research on Region and Gender (Mizuki Chiba)
In recent years, attention has focused on regional dimensions of gender equality, including prefectural gender gap indices. This session introduces key concepts in gender studies and examines gender-related issues at the regional level. It also discusses how to incorporate gender perspectives into social research, providing guidance for students conducting future research.
Session 14: People’s Aspirations and Regional Choice (Hiroki Shibata)
This session views settlement and migration as means through which individuals pursue their aspirations, based on the hypothesis that aspirations are formed and realized through interaction with specific regions. It analyzes the relationship between regional choice and life-stage decisions such as education, employment, and marriage. By quantifying subjective aspirations and examining their determinants, students will explore new perspectives on regional settlement and migration policies.
Session 15: Course Review (Hiroki Shibata)
The final session reviews the course as a whole, facilitates discussion on regional revitalization, and provides guidance for preparing the final report.

Evaluation will be based on the submission of a written report (approximately two A4 pages).

Text/Reference
Books,etc. handout made by teacher

PC or AV used in
Class,etc. Handouts

(More Details) Handout・Picture

Learning techniques to be incorporated

Suggestions on
Preparation and
Review understanding of current situation of local area and approach for the regional vitalization

Requirements

Grading Method Will of discussion 50％
quality of the report (50%)

Practical Experience Experienced

Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it This lecture is carried out by researchers of the local think-tank (Chugoku Regional Innovation Research Center), specialized in the local policy formation support.
SDGs_8 SDGs_11

Message

Other

Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes.
Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

Academic Year	2026Year	School/Graduate School	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences (Master's Course) Division of Humanities and Social Sciences Management Sciences Program
Lecture Code	WMF04200	Subject Classification	Specialized Education
Subject Name	マネジメント特講（地域活性化）
Subject Name （Katakana）	マネジメントトッコウ（チイキカッセイカ）
Subject Name in English	Special Seminar Management
Instructor	SHIBATA HIROKI,AKIYAMA TAKASHI
Instructor (Katakana)	シバタ　ヒロキ,アキヤマ　タカシ
Campus	Higashi-Senda	Semester/Term	1st-Year, Second Semester, Second Semester
Days, Periods, and Classrooms	(2nd) Thur11-12：Higashi-Senda Seminar Rm 4
Lesson Style	Lecture	Lesson Style (More Details)	Face-to-face
Lecture and Discussion
Credits	2.0	Class Hours/Week	2	Language of Instruction	J : Japanese
Course Level	6 : Graduate Advanced
Course Area（Area）	24 : Social Sciences
Course Area（Discipline）	04 : Management
Eligible Students	Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences Students
Keywords	Demographic issues, Permanent settlement, Hilly and mountainous regions, Community, Area management, Technological innovation, Carbon neutrality, Energy policy, Regional policy formulation, Evidence-Based Policy Making (EBPM), Economic impact, Gender, Social research
Special Subject for Teacher Education		Special Subject
Class Status within Educational Program (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Criterion referenced Evaluation (Applicable only to targeted subjects for undergraduate students)
Class Objectives /Class Outline	Thinking about regional revitalization means thinking about the well-being and quality of life of the people who live there. At the same time, it provides a way to address national and societal challenges from a regional perspective. However, in an era of population decline, competition among regions has become increasingly intense. Ongoing changes-such as population aging, fiscal constraints, globalization, and the concentration of resources and population in Tokyo-have made regional revitalization even more challenging. Against this backdrop, this course explores regional revitalization from multiple perspectives. Guest lecturers with expertise in different fields will analyze current regional conditions and guide students from problem identification to research design and social survey methods, ultimately examining practical strategies and real-world case studies for promoting regional revitalization.
Class Schedule	Session 1: Orientation (Hiroki Shibata) This session introduces the course objectives, key research questions, and analytical approaches. It also explains the overall course structure, instructors, assessment methods, and reference materials. Session 2: Area Management I (Minoru Yoshida) Area management has gained attention in recent years as a method through which local stakeholders take the initiative in community development and regional management to maintain and enhance local attractiveness and value. This session explains the concept and significance of area management and examines practical approaches, achievements, and challenges through leading case studies from across Japan. Session 3: Area Management II (Minoru Yoshida) Successful area management requires the establishment of organizations capable of leading activities proactively. Using the Hiroshima Station area-where large-scale redevelopment is underway and local businesses and organizations play a central role-as a case study, this session explores the process of organizational formation, related challenges, and the potential for implementing area management in central urban districts. Session 4: Area Management III (Minoru Yoshida) Many area management initiatives actively utilize public spaces. This session discusses the significance and impact of using public spaces, as well as regulatory challenges involved, drawing on examples from across Japan. It also considers the potential for public space utilization in the Hiroshima Station area. Session 5: Economic Impact I (Kentaro Hamanaga) Economic impact is an outcome indicator that measures the effects of policies and projects on a regional economy. Quantifying economic impact is an effective tool for evaluating regional revitalization initiatives. This session introduces methods for estimating economic impact using input-output tables and explains how to interpret and apply the results. Session 6: Economic Impact II (Kentaro Hamanaga) This session examines practical cases, including municipalities in the Chugoku region and collaborative metropolitan initiatives such as the Takahashi River Basin and the Bingo Area. Students will analyze methods for estimating economic impact tailored to regional characteristics and discuss the interpretation of results. Session 7: Technological Innovation I (Hirofumi Egusa) Efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 are accelerating in both technological development and public policy. This session reviews domestic and international greenhouse gas reduction targets, current emission levels, and key challenges. It also considers the implications of carbon neutrality for the economy of Hiroshima Prefecture. Session 8: Technological Innovation II (Hirofumi Egusa) Focusing on hydrogen energy as a key component of carbon neutrality, this session compares its fundamental properties with other energy sources. It also examines its relationship to industrial clusters, social infrastructure, and energy policy in Hiroshima Prefecture and the broader Chugoku region. Session 9: Technological Innovation III (Hirofumi Egusa) This session examines nuclear power in the era of carbon neutrality. It reviews the Fukushima nuclear accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake and clarifies the current national policy position on nuclear energy. Through comparison with major countries’ nuclear policies and analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of different energy sources, students will consider the role of nuclear power in a decarbonized society. Session 10: Hilly and Mountainous Regions I (Shuta Wada) This session defines hilly and mountainous regions and reviews the history of national policies addressing their challenges. These areas, common in rural Japan, have experienced early and rapid population decline and aging, with depopulation becoming a serious issue since the 1960s. The session examines national countermeasures and evaluates their significance and effectiveness. Session 11: Hilly and Mountainous Regions II (Shuta Wada) In response to nationwide population decline since the late 2000s, regional revitalization initiatives under the banner of “Regional Revitalization” have intensified. Social changes such as the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and the COVID-19 pandemic have further transformed local conditions. This session explores how these shifts have affected governance and community management in hilly and mountainous regions. Session 12: Hilly and Mountainous Regions III (Shuta Wada) Although revitalization strategies in hilly and mountainous areas are more limited than in urban areas, various initiatives can be implemented within constrained resources. This session presents case studies from Hiroshima Prefecture, examining both their achievements and limitations. It also discusses policy responses to the risk of complete depopulation in some settlements and considers strategies for sustaining community functions and promoting regional revitalization. Session 13: Social Research on Region and Gender (Mizuki Chiba) In recent years, attention has focused on regional dimensions of gender equality, including prefectural gender gap indices. This session introduces key concepts in gender studies and examines gender-related issues at the regional level. It also discusses how to incorporate gender perspectives into social research, providing guidance for students conducting future research. Session 14: People’s Aspirations and Regional Choice (Hiroki Shibata) This session views settlement and migration as means through which individuals pursue their aspirations, based on the hypothesis that aspirations are formed and realized through interaction with specific regions. It analyzes the relationship between regional choice and life-stage decisions such as education, employment, and marriage. By quantifying subjective aspirations and examining their determinants, students will explore new perspectives on regional settlement and migration policies. Session 15: Course Review (Hiroki Shibata) The final session reviews the course as a whole, facilitates discussion on regional revitalization, and provides guidance for preparing the final report. Evaluation will be based on the submission of a written report (approximately two A4 pages).
Text/Reference Books,etc.	handout made by teacher
PC or AV used in Class,etc.	Handouts
(More Details)	Handout・Picture
Learning techniques to be incorporated
Suggestions on Preparation and Review	understanding of current situation of local area and approach for the regional vitalization
Requirements
Grading Method	Will of discussion 50％ quality of the report (50%)
Practical Experience	Experienced
Summary of Practical Experience and Class Contents based on it	This lecture is carried out by researchers of the local think-tank (Chugoku Regional Innovation Research Center), specialized in the local policy formation support. SDGs_8 SDGs_11
Message
Other
Please fill in the class improvement questionnaire which is carried out on all classes. Instructors will reflect on your feedback and utilize the information for improving their teaching.

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