Division of Behavioral StudiesDepartment of Geography
Source: https://www.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/department/division-behavioral/geography Parent: http://www.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/
Division of Behavioral Studies
Department of Geography
Division of Behavioral Studies Department of Geography
KOMEIE, Taisaku Professor : Historical Geography
HANIBUCHI, Tomoya Associate Professor : Urban Geography, Health Geagraphy
SUGIE, Ai Associate Professor : Social Geography, Area Studies (South Asia)
The objects of study in the discipline of Geography are the diverse phenomena involving human beings on the surface of the earth. Examples such as the ancient system of land divisions known as jori, information represented on maps from the Age of Exploration, the recent growth of immigration, globalization, or the distance perception peculiar to children can all be topics for geographical study. Region, environment, landscape, space and place are the five keywords in the department, but the approaches used to address them are quite diverse.\ \ It is critical that students employ methods effectively; these methods, which may include field surveys, interviews, deciphering ancient documents and maps, mapping using GIS (geographic information system) or computer-based quantitative analysis, will vary depending on the research topic and the approach. For this reason, fieldwork in geography and reading courses are obligatory for students in the department. In the geography fieldwork courses, students select a target area together, conduct field surveys on their respective themes and then collaborate to compile a final report. In addition, seminar courses are important for both undergraduate and graduate students; there students are required to present their research outcomes periodically. For undergraduate students, this serves as a step in developing their research interests and issues into a graduation thesis, and for graduate students, it is a step in preparing a dissertation for the master’s or doctoral degree.\ \ The research and educational pursuits of the Department of Geography have been traditionally characterized by respect for creative and original thinking, keen observation to identify issues in the field, and flexible thinking to explore new areas of research. The department has produced not only distinctly unique geographers but also researchers active in proximate fields in the social sciences such as cultural anthropology, regional studies and regional policy studies. Many graduates now play important roles in a variety of social sectors including education, government, mass media, construction and transport. We hope that the activities of future students who follow in this tradition will also continue to go beyond conventional frameworks.
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Field work in Kurayoshi
Presentations of graduation thesis and master thesis
Field work in Fukuchiyama