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KANSAI UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER FOR
CITYSCAPE AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF OSAKA

introduction

Doutonbori

In 2009, the Kansai University Museum and the Postgraduate School of Letters, Kansai University, were successful in their application for a Ministry of Science and Education Grant for Support of the Development of the Fundaments for Strategic Research at Private Universities. The successful research project is entitled "Historical analysis and preservation of cultural heritage in Osaka: forging a global center for its development and communication." In April 2010 the Kansai University Research Center for Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka was inaugurated. This Center will develop its activities for a five-year period until March 2015.

The Kansai University Research Center for Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka inherits the rich legacy of the Naniwa Research Center for Cultural Heritage of Osaka (2005-2009) and further develop and investigate the cultural and historical development of Osaka.

Osaka enjoyed renown as the capital of commerce and waterworks in the Edo-period and developed further in the wake of industrial take-off in Meiji. Later the city was partially destroyed in war-time bombardments but rapidly rebuilt to face the challenges of the High Economic Growth era. This project will investigate the process of change and experiences with a changing cityscape from a micro- and macro perspective. Moreover, CG images and the elaboration of an archive of cultural heritage of Osaka are anticipated as important results of the current research project. The Research Center for Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka is adjacent to the Kansai University Museum.

I am confident that the high expectations in the activities of this Research Center for Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka will be met.

Director of the Research Center for Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka

Prof. Yabuta Yutaka

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Outline of the Center's activities

Research Center for Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka

At the Multifaceted Research Center for the Development of and Communication on Historical Analysis on Cultural Heritage in Osaka:

The period of Toyotomi Hideyoshi will be the starting point to focus on the transition of Osaka's cityscape in the modern and contemporary period from a historical perspective. The aim will be to illuminate the comprehensive picture of the developments of Osaka.

Approaches:

The transitions in modern and contemporary culture and society in Osaka from the perspective of 'form' and 'mind'

Research on changes in the city of Osaka: architecture, urban planning, literature, visual culture, traditional culture and lifestyle, the economy of the commercial capital and development of scientific research.

Creating the research center for global communication on cityscape and life-style in the metropolis of Osaka.

Activities: publication of a series "Historical Changes of the Scenery of Osaka-City"; making the vision possible of the historical significance of the cityscape of Osaka through Computer Graphics; Organizing international symposia, workshops and presentation of the results of scientific research.

Construction of "Archives of City Heritage" and establishing criteria for the formation of cityscape.

Communicating with a broader public (society) about the contemporary significance of historical continuity (from the past to the future) with respect to Osaka-City's historical heritage.

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ORGANIZATION CHART

Kansai University Research Center for
Cityscape and Cultural Heritage of Osaka
Global Research Center for the Development and Communication of
Historical Analysis on Cultural Heritage in Osaka



Prof. Yutaka YABUTA (director of the project)
Prof. Wataru ŌYA (sub-director of the project)

STAPLE THEME
THE TRANSFORMATION OF SOCIETY, CULTURE AND THE SCENERY IN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY OSAKA
Prof. W. Ōya (Coordinator)
Prof. T. Hashitera
Prof. C. Masuda
Prof. K. Sasagawa

SUB-THEME (A)
TRADITIONAL CULTURE AND LIFE IN OSAKA AS THE 'AQUA-METROPOLIS'
Prof. K. Kuroda (Coordinator)
Prof. T. Takahashi
Prof. Y. Hase

SUB-THEME (B)
THE ECONOMY AND LEARNING IN OSAKA AS THE 'METROPOLIS OF COMMERCE'
Prof. K. Asaji (Coordinator)
Prof. Y. Yabuta
Prof. K. Hamano
CG TEAM
TEAM FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MAKING THE VISION OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE OSAKA CITYSCAPE POSSIBLE TROUGH COMPUTER GRAPHICS
Prof. T. Hayashi (Coordinator)
Prof. T. Iura

Supporting the project for digitalization of the results of the research

NETWORK OF COOPERATION WITH ACTORS OUTSIDE KANSAI UNIVERSITY
Prof. H. Kitagawa (Vice-director of the Osaka Castle Museum)
Prof. F. Ehmcke (Professor at University of Cologne, Japanese Studies)
Prof. D. Vanoverbeke (Professor at the Catholic University of Leuven, Japanese Studies)

Cooperation with i.e. the following organizations:

  • PRIVATE RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY AS WELL AS PREFECTURE OF OSAKA

  • PUBLIC RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY AS WELL AS PREFECTURE OF OSAKA

  • PARTNER UNIVERSITIES:

    Osaka Prefecture University
    Osaka City University

  • ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURE

  • VARIOUS BOARDS OF EDUCATION IN THE CITY AND PREFECTURE OF OSAKA

  • CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF LEUVEN, BELGIUM

  • UNIVERSITY OF COLOGNE, GERMANY

  • MUSEUM OF THE SCHLOSS EGGENBERG, AUSTRIA


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