Kiyohide Higuchi (Professor)
Higuchi Seminar (School of International
Liberal Studies, Advanced Seminar)
Location: Waseda Campus Bldg. #11
Makes the Highly Visible Field of Economic Dynamics Easier to Understand
When we commented that the fields of Prof. Higuchi's research, such as economic dynamics, evolutionary economics and complexity economics, seemed quite intricate, the professor said, “Economic dynamics is thinking about how societies, organizations and economic frameworks change through technological innovations.”
A company must continue to create new products, learn new technologies and cultivate new markets in order for it to keep going ad infinitum. The theme of the Higuchi Seminar is economics based on Joseph Schumpeter's theory regarding innovation.
One of the realities that we are experiencing on a daily basis is the changes that technological innovation in computers and smartphones are effecting on social structures and people's behavior.
Prof. Higuchi said, “However, society is not that simple. Let's use the concentration of ramen noodle shops in Takadanobaba (Tokyo) as an example. If one of the shops tries to kick others out of the area so that it can reign supreme, it will isolate itself. It is by accepting the situation and through co-existence and co-prosperity that these shops will be able to attract many customers and share in the profits. This is what is known as ‘game theory.’”
The professor's clear-cut explanations make leading-edge economics, which give the impression of being very difficult, more familiar to us.
When discussions become deadlocked, Prof. Higuchi rushes to the podium, and expressively provides clear pointers and advice.
A Seminar Focused on Students that Cultivates an Independence of Mind
The seminar is comprised of 20 third year students and 20 fourth year students. We are told that the interviews for the selection of seminar members, which are held in September for third year students, are handled by fourth year students! Because this is a very popular seminar, there are more than 50 applicants every year. Selecting 20 of them is a task that holds great responsibility.
Prof. Higuchi said, “I sometimes tell the fourth year students to purposely ask mean questions (laughs). Then, after they are selected, we have fourth year and third year students do things together at all times so that they develop an awareness and feeling of responsibility towards the seminar as being “theirs”. I always tell the students, “This is not ‘my’ seminar. It is ‘your’ seminar.” Experiences such as this help make their job placements and advance into graduate studies go smoothly.”
The joint seminar, which is held every Friday from 4:30p.m., lasts nonstop until 9:00p.m. The professor said, “The third year students are instructed to listen to all of their seniors’ presentations. Their own presentations are held afterward.”
This appears at first sight to be quite a grueling seminar. However, the good thing about it is that there is more to the seminar than just tough work. At the end of seminar sessions, students change locations to a nearby restaurant. It seems that there is a bit of alcohol at this “second” stage, which helps promote the further deepening of friendships.
Professor Higuchi said, “It is sometimes pointed out that 40 students is too large a number for a seminar. However, there is no problem so long as the students exercise an independence of mind and have a strong awareness of being there to learn well.”
This is a very encouraging seminar that thoroughly teaches how to make one's own value clear and differentiate oneself from others.
The classroom where rigor and friendliness reside side by side.
Prof. Higuchi's policy is to place high value on student's independence of mind.
About the Seminar
The Higuchi Seminar is for students of the School of International Liberal Studies in the latter part of their third year and fourth year. Students may choose between English and Japanese as the language they use for their seminar presentations and graduation thesis. The seminar is like one big family with close relationships between the juniors and seniors. It includes interviews for the selection of seminar students carried out by the fourth year students, a joint retreat for deciding the themes of graduation theses and drinking parties held with the participation of seminar graduates.
However, it is all quite serious study when it comes to research. Third year students will already decide the theme of their graduation thesis at the retreat held around Christmas time. Seminar students have to have a clear vision of what they want to do, and good advance research will be expected. There are rumors that they may not even let you go to sleep until you have come out with something clear-cut. If you submit a vague research theme, we are told that it will be immediately rejected. It is a popular seminar through which students can really feel the growth they achieve.
Although this seminar is based on economics, students can choose graduation thesis themes freely from a wide-range of genres, such as environment theory and financial theory. There is a student currently carrying out research on currencies with Michael Ende's “Momo” as the theme. I think it is going to turn out to be an interesting graduation thesis that associates a story about an imaginary world to the real world.
I became interested in environmental issues when I was living in Australia, and I chose environmental economics as the theme of my graduation thesis. As a student of the School of International Liberal Studies, one can take a wide range of courses, such as archaeology, physics and history, during the first and second year, and then learn in depth in specialized subjects from the third year.
Rina Mihashi,a senior
I chose this seminar on the recommendation of a senior student as a seminar though which one can gain strength. I became self-assured after joining this seminar. I feel that I achieved personal growth through utilization of the study-abroad program.
Ryo Nagaushi,a senior
- “Nihon Keizai no Sokojikara (The Underlying Strength of the Japanese Economy)” by Yasuyuki Todo (published by Chuokoron-shinsha)
A clear and logical account of how to rebuild post-Great East Japan Earthquake Japan from the viewpoint of industrial recovery. - “Modan no Datsukochiku (Deconstruction of the Modern)” by Takatoshi Imada (published by Chuokoron-shinsha)
This is an excellent book for thinking about the evolution of industrial society where informatization is progressing. - “Nexus: Small Worlds and the Groundbreaking Science of Networks” by Mark Buchanan (Japanese translation “Fukuzatsu na Sekai, Tanjun na Housoku” by Yoshihisa Sakamto and published by Soshisha)
It is often said that it is a small world, but here, you see that a complex society can be understood as simple laws and patterns when you use front-line network science. This book teaches the importance of network science in an economic society where informatization is progressing.