Faculty Staff

1. Prof. Katsuyuki KAMEI, Ph.D.
   Seminar Group Theme: Risk Management 　A social risk management approach is vital in our modern society as we face complicated social risk. In this course, we try to study the general principle of organizational risk management and its practice from a social risk management viewpoint. The topics addressed in this seminar include (1) contemporary risk control and risk finance, (2) organization of risk management, (3) risk information disclosure as a means of risk communication, (4) strategy and risk management, (5) leadership and crisis management, (6) SMEs and risk management, and (7) safety for schools and children risk management, etc.
   E-mail:
   kamei

   

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   Prof. Kenji KOSHIYAMA, Ph.D.
   Seminar Group Theme: Urban Disaster Reduction Planning 　Globalization and urbanization are creating new risk of disaster in our society. This seminar focuses on the mechanism of new disaster occurrence and the methodology for disaster reduction from the viewpoint of urban design and planning. Students can learn about development of the disaster management cycle, the vulnerability approach, hazard simulation, environmental design after disasters, and prevention urban planning for disasters. Under this theme, we will take a look at new challenges facing risk reduction logically and practically.
   E-mail:
   k-koshi

3. Prof. Koji ICHII, Dr.Eng., P.E. (Jp.)
   Seminar Group Theme: Earthquake Engineering 　Seismic design of structures is the basis for earthquake disaster mitigation. This seminar focuses on the performance-based seismic design of various types of structures. Students are expected to work on issues related to the practical procedure of performance-based seismic design on structures based on the knowledge of basic engineering seismology, seismic hazard analysis, site response of the ground motion, dynamics of SDOF system and geo-hazards such as liquefaction.
   E-mail:
   ichiik

   

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   Prof. Daisuke ITO, Dr.Eng.
   Seminar Group Theme: Injury Prevention Engineering 　Injuries are caused by excessive forces acting on the human body and occur in various situations,such as disasters, traffic accidents, daily life, and so on. In this seminar, we will study the mechanism of injury occurrence from a mechanical point of view, and explore injury prevention and mitigation methods.Research methods include computer simulation with human FE models, experiments, case analysis,and statistical analysis of accidents. Students interested in studying the mechanical and non-mechanical factorsthat lead to serious injury incidents are also welcome.
   E-mail:
   dito

5. Prof. Yoshihiro OKUMURA, Ph.D.
   Seminar Group Theme: Disaster Reduction and Resilient Society 　This lecture focuses on a broad field for disaster reduction and measures for a resilient society against a mega disaster, ranging from the mechanism of natural disasters, analysis of people’s evacuation behavior, and implementation of research. The following topics are an example of what will be covered; (1) a tsunami source modeling, (2) numerical analysis of tsunami propagation and inundation, (3) numerical analysis of structural response to a tsunami, (4) development of an evacuation simulation model focusing on evacuation start, and (5) evacuation behavior observation by using UAV.
   E-mail:
   okumura

   

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   Prof. Tomofumi KOYAMA, Ph.D.
   Seminar Group Theme: Geo-disaster Prevention and Mitigation 　Recently many geo-disasters (such as landslides, slopes collapsing, and liquefaction) have occurred due to torrential rainfall and earthquakes. This seminar focuses on the mechanism of geo-disasters caused by torrential rainfall and earthquakes, and their structural and non-structural countermeasures. Students are expected to come up with solutions to problems related to geo-disaster prevention measures and mitigation using computer simulations, field measurement/monitoring and in-situ/laboratory experiments. Students are also expected to write academic papers and make a presentation at the international/domestic conferences.
   E-mail:
   t-koyama

7. Prof. Shoji TSUCHIDA
   Seminar Group Theme: Psychology of Societal Safety 　This seminar focuses on (1) risk perception, (2) risk communication, and (3) psychological processes in crisis. The field cases, for example, are public acceptance/rejection and consensus formation processes of science/technology (EMF, nuclear, GMO, etc.), and the social psychological responses to disasters and crises (earthquake, tsunami, severe accident, etc.). Theoretical background is based on social psychology regarding attitude structure, emotion, social cognition, self-concept, interpersonal relations, communication, group dynamics, and collective behaviors.
   E-mail:
   tsuchida

   

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   Prof. Shingo NAGAMATSU, Ph.D.
   Seminar Group Theme: Economics of Disasters and Policy Analysis for Disaster Reduction 　This seminar focuses on disaster management policy as regards economics. Students are expected to learn economic theory of disasters and policy analysis skills such as econometric analysis and cost benefit analysis (CBA), and write academic papers that can contribute to support or challenge existing disaster management theories. Students are expected to also have compassion, an accurate knowledge of scientific facts and policy practices, and an analytical mind to study policies under economic and public policy theory.
   E-mail:
   nagamatu

9. Prof. Shigeo HOSOKAWA, Ph.D.
   Seminar Group Theme: Industrial System Safety 　Industrial systems such as power plants, petrochemical complexes, steel mills and mechanical systems are essential for modern society and daily life. Their safety deeply depends on the mechanical characteristics, and their heat and fluid flow systems. This seminar focuses on the safety of industrial systems from the viewpoint of mechanical engineering, especially thermal-fluid dynamics. The main research topics are understanding, and control and monitoring of heat and fluid flows for system safety.
   E-mail:
   hosokawa

   

Curriculum Overview:

　PDM is planned as a 3-year academic program. Students are expected to take at least three lecture classes as electives during the program to build an analytical and conceptual basis of understanding of disaster management. As core requirements, students are expected to take seminar classes to work on for their doctoral thesis under the guidance of one of our full-time professors of their choice. All classes are taught in English. Along with the taught modules, students are expected to participate as co-researchers in research projects that professors in the PDM are engaged in. Through this highly hands on training, students can learn how to work as independent researchers and will have plenty of opportunity to publish research papers. During the third year of this program or later, students are required to write a Ph.D. dissertation on a selected topic under the guidance of a supervising professor.

Qualifications for application:

　This program is designed for students whose first language is not Japanese. Applicants are not expected to be proficient in Japanese, but must be proficient enough in English to conduct research in the PDM. We welcome applicants from all countries who have, or expect to have a Master’s Degree in any field. See Application Guidelines for details.

Scholarship:

　Kansai University provides financial support for selected students. See Application Guidelines for details.

Application and Admission

　Students can enroll at the PDM either from the beginning of April (spring semester) or late September (fall semester). Admissions process begins approximately 3 months before the beginning of each semester. However, applicants should contact the professor they wish to be supervised by in advance.

　Visit our website for details.

Application Information:
https://www.kansai-u.ac.jp/Gr_sch/english/eng/index.html