Human Transformation Study is a research field that explores
the diversity of human change and transformation.
Human Transformation Study
Introduction of Academic Advisor (Professor)
Index
I. Academic Advisor (Professor)
II. Research Themes
1. Mythology of Education
2. Study on Development of Eugenic Thought in Pedagogy
3. Study on Discontinuous Human Transformation through Art Activities
4. Dramaturgy of Education and Welfare
5. Collection, Preservation, Classification and Translation of Scriptures of Ethnic Group Yi in Yunnan
6. Study on Evidence-based Education
7. Development and Application of the Ethnometry
III. Literature
IV. Biography
I. Academic Advisor (Professor)
II. Research Themes
1. Mythology of Education
2. Study on Development of Eugenic Thought in Pedagogy
3. Study on Discontinuous Human Transformation through Art Activities
4. Dramaturgy of Education and Welfare
5. Collection, Preservation, Classification and Translation of Scriptures of Ethnic Group Yi in Yunnan
6. Study on Evidence-based Education
7. Development and Application of the Ethnometry
III. Literature
IV. Biography
Ⅰ. Academic Advisor (Professor)
Professor: Nobuo FUJIKAWA
Year and Month of Birth: September, 1961
Academic Degree： Doctor (Pedagogy)
Major Field: Philosophy of Education, History of Educational Thought
Ⅱ. Research Themes
1. Mythology of Education
D. Lenzen, educational researcher at the Free University of Berlin, presented "mythology of education" as a new research method in his book "Mythologie der Kindheit (Mythology of Childhood)" (1985), by which he reconstructed the history of adultization of children and childization of adults in Europe. This book was an epock-making work indicating the turn from old anthropology of education to new one (namely Historical Antropology of Education). Fujikawa lerned this research method from Professor Lenzen in the late 1980s to the eraly 1990s and attempted to clarify the history of adulthood ("ichininmae" or "hitorimae") discourse in Japan. For its tentative results, see the second part of “A Study of Mythological Methods in Pedagogy”(1998, Kazama-Shobo).
By the way, it is one of the academic characteristics of Human Transformation Study to focusing on discontinuous and irreversible forms of human transformation. Fujikawa at that time had also already focused on adult ritual (one of rites of passage) of the Jomon period, which has a form of transformation and developed his theory from it. Certainly, regarding the form of discontinuous human transformation, it was also discussed in the old educational anthropology, for example, by O. F. Bollnow. Compared to that, the originality of Fujikawa's work lies in the point that he showed how the discontinuous and irreversible form of human transformation had gradually changed into a continuous and reversible form, moreover, how the continuous and reversible form of human transformation and the discontinuous and irreversible one coexisted in the same ara and affected each other.
In addition, the meeting with Professor Lenzen at this time is the starting point for subsequent exchanges with some researchers in the Interdisciplinary Center for Historical Anthropology at Free University of Berlin.
By the way, it is one of the academic characteristics of Human Transformation Study to focusing on discontinuous and irreversible forms of human transformation. Fujikawa at that time had also already focused on adult ritual (one of rites of passage) of the Jomon period, which has a form of transformation and developed his theory from it. Certainly, regarding the form of discontinuous human transformation, it was also discussed in the old educational anthropology, for example, by O. F. Bollnow. Compared to that, the originality of Fujikawa's work lies in the point that he showed how the discontinuous and irreversible form of human transformation had gradually changed into a continuous and reversible form, moreover, how the continuous and reversible form of human transformation and the discontinuous and irreversible one coexisted in the same ara and affected each other.
In addition, the meeting with Professor Lenzen at this time is the starting point for subsequent exchanges with some researchers in the Interdisciplinary Center for Historical Anthropology at Free University of Berlin.
2. Study on Development of Eugenic Thought in Pedagogy
This research started with the round-table discussion at the 43rd annual
meeting of the Philosophy of Education Society of Japan as a trigger, and
then was promoted by "Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(1)"
from 2003 to 2005. For the results of this collavorative research, see
the report "Development of Eugenic Thoughts in Pedagogy: History and
Prospects". In addition, the following two papers by Fujikawa, which
were carried out within the framework of this collavorative research, were
published in the collection of papers in Germany:
(1) Pädagogik zwischen Rassismus und Vernichung fremder Kulturen: Die Pädagogik von Sawayanagi Masatarô;
(2) Zur Verbindung von eugenischem Gedanken und militärischem Zweck in der japanischen Pädagogik in der Zeit vor und während des Kriegs: Am Beispiel der Begabtenförderungserziehung in der Kriegszeit.
After that, the results of this collavorative research were published as "Development of Eugenic Thoughts in Education: History and Prospects" (Bensei Shuppan 2008), in which other author's contributions are also involved.
Human Transformation Study is characterized by taking up various pattern of human transformations not only in school education but also throughout the life cycle as research objects. This collection of books can be positioned as an attempt to extend the range of research object of Human Transformation Study to the front of life in terms of not only the life cycle of living people but also the child image in parents' mind before being born as a human being. The content of Fujikawa's paper "Development of Eugenic Thoughts in Japan in the 1930s: Running-alone of Academic Discourse" that could not be included in this paper collection can be connected to Makiko Kuwahara's papers involved in the paper collection （typo-corrected version （PDF) is here）. Also, refer to the book reviews or book introductions in the following academic journals: "Studies in the Philosophy of Education", "The Japanese Journal of Educational Research" and "The Forum on Modern Education". Fujikawa's paper summarizing this paper collection is published in "Shinkasuru Kodomogaku (Evolving Children's Studies)" edited by Michio Ogasawara (Fukumura Publishing, 2009) （long vrsion before content-reduction （PDF） is here)。
(1) Pädagogik zwischen Rassismus und Vernichung fremder Kulturen: Die Pädagogik von Sawayanagi Masatarô;
(2) Zur Verbindung von eugenischem Gedanken und militärischem Zweck in der japanischen Pädagogik in der Zeit vor und während des Kriegs: Am Beispiel der Begabtenförderungserziehung in der Kriegszeit.
After that, the results of this collavorative research were published as "Development of Eugenic Thoughts in Education: History and Prospects" (Bensei Shuppan 2008), in which other author's contributions are also involved.
Human Transformation Study is characterized by taking up various pattern of human transformations not only in school education but also throughout the life cycle as research objects. This collection of books can be positioned as an attempt to extend the range of research object of Human Transformation Study to the front of life in terms of not only the life cycle of living people but also the child image in parents' mind before being born as a human being. The content of Fujikawa's paper "Development of Eugenic Thoughts in Japan in the 1930s: Running-alone of Academic Discourse" that could not be included in this paper collection can be connected to Makiko Kuwahara's papers involved in the paper collection （typo-corrected version （PDF) is here）. Also, refer to the book reviews or book introductions in the following academic journals: "Studies in the Philosophy of Education", "The Japanese Journal of Educational Research" and "The Forum on Modern Education". Fujikawa's paper summarizing this paper collection is published in "Shinkasuru Kodomogaku (Evolving Children's Studies)" edited by Michio Ogasawara (Fukumura Publishing, 2009) （long vrsion before content-reduction （PDF） is here)。
3. Study on Discontinuous Human Transformation through Art Activities
Since 1990, the KidS-Project (KidS means Kreativität in die Schule: Creativity
into the School) has been conducted in the Ferdinand Freiligrath Middle
School, Hauptschule in Kreuzberg, Berlin. This school experiment is characterized
by having rebuilded the previous rough school by regularly inviting professional
artists into the school. Fujikawa carried out field research in this school
and analyzed the investigation risult from the viewpoint of the "Mimesis"
concept, in cooperation with Professors Ch. Wulf and G. Gebauer of the
Interdisciplinary Center for Historical Anthropology. For its results,
see "Postmodernism in the Practice of Modern School Education"
(2001; PDF of German Version here) and "Development of Aesthetic Bildung in Germany" (2003). This
research focuses on school education, however, it is characterized by presenting
concrete example of discontinuous human transformation that does not fit
within the concept framework of "development" as a form of continuous
human transformation. This research is also chracterized by the methodology
that mixes philosophical study by text reeding and field research.
It may be misunderstood that the interpretation scheme obtained in the literature research is forcibly applied to practice and only the most convenient parts are extracted from the practice, but in reality it is not. Initially, Fujikawa visited the school and interviewed the project leaders to find out the theory that guided this practice. But it was revealed that "theory does not exist" in the interview. Despite this, Fujikawa suddenly remembered that in the process of observing the students' artistic activities, he had a similar experience to himself once (especially in voice training and singing in opera). It can be said that the horizon fusion of the living worlds has occurred through the experience of artistic activities. Based on this lucky awareness, the interpretation of the practice was carried out. In the process of interpretation, anthropological and philosophical theories that could explain the above-mentioned experience of the students and himself were refered to.
It may be misunderstood that the interpretation scheme obtained in the literature research is forcibly applied to practice and only the most convenient parts are extracted from the practice, but in reality it is not. Initially, Fujikawa visited the school and interviewed the project leaders to find out the theory that guided this practice. But it was revealed that "theory does not exist" in the interview. Despite this, Fujikawa suddenly remembered that in the process of observing the students' artistic activities, he had a similar experience to himself once (especially in voice training and singing in opera). It can be said that the horizon fusion of the living worlds has occurred through the experience of artistic activities. Based on this lucky awareness, the interpretation of the practice was carried out. In the process of interpretation, anthropological and philosophical theories that could explain the above-mentioned experience of the students and himself were refered to.
4. Dramaturgy of Education and Welfare
This research started as a part of the collavorative research conducted
by Yasuo Imai (Graduate School of Education, The Tokyo University) and
developed the above-mentioned researche (3). The member of this collavorative
research member were Yasuo Imai (Tokyo University), Manabu Sato (Tokyo
University), Akiko Suzuki (Kyoto University), Takuo Nishimura (Nara Women's
University), Shinji Nohira (Toyama University), Satoshi Higuchi (Hiroshima
University), Hiromoto Makabe (Keiogijuku University), G. Gebauer (Free
University Berlin), D. Lenzen (Free University Berlin), Ch. Wulf (Free
University Berlin), and Y. Ehrenspeck (Free University Berlin).
After that, within the framework of this collaborative research, a participant observation was conducted on performance (gesture, hand gesture, and facial expression) of teachers and children in a classroom. For the results, see "A Study of Educational Performance in Comparison with Initiation Rites and Theater" (in "Concepts of Aesthetic Education" edited by Yasuo Imai et al., 2007) and “Classes as Stage and Ritual: And/Or Zero Point of Roles” (in "Kyoikugaku Gairon (Overview of Pedagogy)", 2008), which summarizes the former paper. In these papers, Fujikawa has focussed on performances that are played consciously or semi-consciously by teacher and children in classroom, and considered the relation between the performance and the continuous as well as discontinuous human transformation. Its methodological character lies in mixed method of literature research (text-reeding) and field research and observation carried out in collaboration with stage actor.
This research was suspended due to the eugenics study mentioned in (2), but then its scope was expanded and a new collavorative research started. Its theme was "Dramaturgy of Education and Welfare". This new collaborative research took the approach of American anthropologist and sociologist E. Goffman as a starting point, extended it to the perspectives of "conflict between stages" and "semantic region", and was conducted as field researches on various practices of welfare for children or elderly, and education from preschool to university. In this collaborative research, we started with the collection and reading of Goffman's books and previous researches deeling with his theory. Then, it was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research for three years since 2013 and conducted theretical research and field research in various activity areas in corporation with professor Ch. Wulf and Professor G. Gebauer of Free University Berlin. For the results of the collavorative risearch, see "Kyoiku/Fukushi toiu Butai: Doteki Dramaturgy no Kokoromi (Education/Welfare the Stage: An Attempt of Dynamic Dramaturgy)" (Osakadaigaku Shuppankai 2014; ISBN978-4-87259-485-0) and "Tuners of life: Development of Dynamic Dramaturgy (Jinsei no Choritsushitachi: Doteki Dramaturgy no Tenkai)" (Shunjpusha 2017; ISBN978-4-86110-540-1).
In addition, in this collavorative research, Goffman's theory was used just as a "catalyst" to enable discussions between theorists and practitioners in different activity areas. For this, see “Possibility of Using Goffman's Theory for Educational Research and Educational Practice: Based on Recent Trends in Goffman Research" (Japanese Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 87, No. 1, 2020).
After that, within the framework of this collaborative research, a participant observation was conducted on performance (gesture, hand gesture, and facial expression) of teachers and children in a classroom. For the results, see "A Study of Educational Performance in Comparison with Initiation Rites and Theater" (in "Concepts of Aesthetic Education" edited by Yasuo Imai et al., 2007) and “Classes as Stage and Ritual: And/Or Zero Point of Roles” (in "Kyoikugaku Gairon (Overview of Pedagogy)", 2008), which summarizes the former paper. In these papers, Fujikawa has focussed on performances that are played consciously or semi-consciously by teacher and children in classroom, and considered the relation between the performance and the continuous as well as discontinuous human transformation. Its methodological character lies in mixed method of literature research (text-reeding) and field research and observation carried out in collaboration with stage actor.
This research was suspended due to the eugenics study mentioned in (2), but then its scope was expanded and a new collavorative research started. Its theme was "Dramaturgy of Education and Welfare". This new collaborative research took the approach of American anthropologist and sociologist E. Goffman as a starting point, extended it to the perspectives of "conflict between stages" and "semantic region", and was conducted as field researches on various practices of welfare for children or elderly, and education from preschool to university. In this collaborative research, we started with the collection and reading of Goffman's books and previous researches deeling with his theory. Then, it was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research for three years since 2013 and conducted theretical research and field research in various activity areas in corporation with professor Ch. Wulf and Professor G. Gebauer of Free University Berlin. For the results of the collavorative risearch, see "Kyoiku/Fukushi toiu Butai: Doteki Dramaturgy no Kokoromi (Education/Welfare the Stage: An Attempt of Dynamic Dramaturgy)" (Osakadaigaku Shuppankai 2014; ISBN978-4-87259-485-0) and "Tuners of life: Development of Dynamic Dramaturgy (Jinsei no Choritsushitachi: Doteki Dramaturgy no Tenkai)" (Shunjpusha 2017; ISBN978-4-86110-540-1).
In addition, in this collavorative research, Goffman's theory was used just as a "catalyst" to enable discussions between theorists and practitioners in different activity areas. For this, see “Possibility of Using Goffman's Theory for Educational Research and Educational Practice: Based on Recent Trends in Goffman Research" (Japanese Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 87, No. 1, 2020).
5. Collection, Preservation, Classification and Translation of Scriptures of Ethnic Group Yi in Yunnan
Supported by the research grant of the Toyota Foundation from November
2006 to October 2008, Fujikawa conducted a collaborative research with
two Chinese researchers Fan Xiul (Professor of Capital Normal University,
China) and Pu Fengwang (Chief of the Yunan Minority Ancients Sorting Publishing
Planning Office). In this collaborative research, Fujikawa conducted activities
of collecting and preserving the scriptures of the ethnic group Yi in Yunnan,
China. The research theme was "Collection, Preservation, Classificationo
and Database-making of Yunnan Sutra Centered on the 'Navigating Sutra for
Dead': A Basic Research for the Restoration of Tradition-Inheriting-Function
of Sutra-culture of the Yunnan Province". In this activity, we searched
for Yi-people's Sutras in various praces in Yunnan, collected those that
are no longer used, for example, because of absence of cleargyman (Bimo),
create their database by taking photographs.
After that, with a research grant from the Toyota Foundation, from November 2008 to October 2009, the above-mentioned collection activities were conducted again as collavorative research by the same member. We translated the funeral scriptures "Navigating Sutra for Dead", that were collected from two regions in Yunnan, into Chinese. The title of the project was "Creation and Dissemination of a Chinese Translation Version of the "Navigating Sutra for Dead"in the Yunnan Province, China". The translated scriptures were published and have already been used as textbooks for training session for the young people willing to becomming priests (Bimo). The route which leads the sprit of the dead described in the scripture is written with the name of places that actually exist. And it is said that the route means the migration route of the former Yi tribe. This Chinese translation has revealed new spiritual routes (= migration routes). In this respect, the result of this research has not only a historical meaning. It also affirms the value of the translation and analysis work again that was carried out on a large scale in China decades ago. （here is pictures of Yi-gourp research in Yunnan）。
In addition, for two years from November 2010, with a research grant from the Toyota Foundation again, a new project "Creation and Dissemination of Chinese Translation Version of Yi-gourp's Scripture 'Hundred Conforts Book' in Yunan" had been conducted. As in the case of the previous Chinese translation of "Navigating Sutra for Dead", this research was conducted by Fujikawa, Fan and Pu as core researchers. And one local priest (Bimo) and two local researchers also participated to our research group. We translated the "Hundred Conforts Book" (a fourtune-telling scripture) written in hieroglyphs (of Yi-group) into modern Chinese and published it. It was a quite plane culture preservation aktivity whose value would probably not be evaluated untile dcades later. However, this project has a special meaning to convey the customs of the Yi people in Yunnan about two centuries ago, which is not revealed only by text information, to the present age by means of iconographic materials. In any case, it was an urgent project because the number of priest (Bimo) who can decipher the hieroglyph is very small and they are very old, and the scriptures are likely to be buried and lost when they died. After this joint research, the priest died, who was the most important member of our research team and was in charge of the translation work. The great contribution he has made to the preservation and transmission of the lost culture of Yi people can't be overstated.
Four of over hundred scriptures collected and preserved in this series of collavorative research were designated as cultural property by Chinese gvernment. Also, a part of the research results is exhibited as a small photo panel in a corner of the National Museum of Ethnology (in Suita).
Although a series of these projects was not necessarily started in consideration of the relationship with Human Transformation Study, it can be positioned in this research field as a sort of life cycle study which also takes the relationship between living and dead person as well as whereabouts of the spirit after death into consideration. It can be said that, especially, the "Navigation Sutra for Dead" advocated in funeral ceremony and "Hundred Conforts Book" as fortune-telling scripture are worth mentioning in the framework of the Human Transformation Study as examples showing that ancestors who passed away a few centuries ago can also lead people who live today in the sense of teaching the meaning of life or the wisdom of everyday life.
After that, with a research grant from the Toyota Foundation, from November 2008 to October 2009, the above-mentioned collection activities were conducted again as collavorative research by the same member. We translated the funeral scriptures "Navigating Sutra for Dead", that were collected from two regions in Yunnan, into Chinese. The title of the project was "Creation and Dissemination of a Chinese Translation Version of the "Navigating Sutra for Dead"in the Yunnan Province, China". The translated scriptures were published and have already been used as textbooks for training session for the young people willing to becomming priests (Bimo). The route which leads the sprit of the dead described in the scripture is written with the name of places that actually exist. And it is said that the route means the migration route of the former Yi tribe. This Chinese translation has revealed new spiritual routes (= migration routes). In this respect, the result of this research has not only a historical meaning. It also affirms the value of the translation and analysis work again that was carried out on a large scale in China decades ago. （here is pictures of Yi-gourp research in Yunnan）。
In addition, for two years from November 2010, with a research grant from the Toyota Foundation again, a new project "Creation and Dissemination of Chinese Translation Version of Yi-gourp's Scripture 'Hundred Conforts Book' in Yunan" had been conducted. As in the case of the previous Chinese translation of "Navigating Sutra for Dead", this research was conducted by Fujikawa, Fan and Pu as core researchers. And one local priest (Bimo) and two local researchers also participated to our research group. We translated the "Hundred Conforts Book" (a fourtune-telling scripture) written in hieroglyphs (of Yi-group) into modern Chinese and published it. It was a quite plane culture preservation aktivity whose value would probably not be evaluated untile dcades later. However, this project has a special meaning to convey the customs of the Yi people in Yunnan about two centuries ago, which is not revealed only by text information, to the present age by means of iconographic materials. In any case, it was an urgent project because the number of priest (Bimo) who can decipher the hieroglyph is very small and they are very old, and the scriptures are likely to be buried and lost when they died. After this joint research, the priest died, who was the most important member of our research team and was in charge of the translation work. The great contribution he has made to the preservation and transmission of the lost culture of Yi people can't be overstated.
Four of over hundred scriptures collected and preserved in this series of collavorative research were designated as cultural property by Chinese gvernment. Also, a part of the research results is exhibited as a small photo panel in a corner of the National Museum of Ethnology (in Suita).
Although a series of these projects was not necessarily started in consideration of the relationship with Human Transformation Study, it can be positioned in this research field as a sort of life cycle study which also takes the relationship between living and dead person as well as whereabouts of the spirit after death into consideration. It can be said that, especially, the "Navigation Sutra for Dead" advocated in funeral ceremony and "Hundred Conforts Book" as fortune-telling scripture are worth mentioning in the framework of the Human Transformation Study as examples showing that ancestors who passed away a few centuries ago can also lead people who live today in the sense of teaching the meaning of life or the wisdom of everyday life.
6. Study on Evidence-based Education
"Evidence-based Medicine" should have had a character as a model
of "Evidence-based Education". However, it seems that there is
a big gap when comparing the two. So, going back to Evidence-based Medicine,
I attempted to reconsider what "evidence" means and how to use
it. For this research, see "Positioning Educational Philosophy within
Evidence-based Education: What Becomes Visible if We Refer Back to Evidence-based
Medicine?" in "Philosophy of Education Studies", No. 120,
2019.
7. Development and Application of the Ethnometry
As a development from the above study (6), we are currently trying to
develop and apply the 'ethnometry' method. Ethnometry is a measurement
and analysis method that numerically expresses the effects of practice
from the practitioner's perspective, and it functions as a shield for practitioners
to protect themselves from numerical management (from over). Using this
method, I have already mesured and analysed the effect of two workshops
held at an elderly welfare facility and a child welfare facility. Although
it may by self-praise, I was able to get the feeling that "this can
be used". Probably a part of diverse human change and transformation
processes should be able to be expressed not only by qualitative but also
by numerical data.
Ⅲ. Literature
to literature list 
Ⅲ. Biography
| September 1961 | Born in Kokura, Kitakyushu-city |
| March, 1974 | Graduated from Takatsuki Elementary School in Kitakyushu-city |
| March, 1977 | Graduated from Tsukida Junior High School in Kitakyushu-city |
| March, 1980 | Graduate from Yahata High School in Fukuoka-prefecture |
| March, 1984 | Graduate from Faculty of Education, Hiroshima University |
| March, 1986 | Graduate from Master's Course of Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University |
| March, 1989 | Graduate from Doctoral Course of Graduate School of Education, Hiroshima University [by credit acquisition] |
| April, 1989 | Assistant , Faculty of Education, Hiroshima University |
| April, 1990 | Research Student of Hiroshima University |
| June, 1990 | Assistant, Faculty of Education, Hiroshima University |
| April, 1991 | Research Student of Hiroshima University [in this period, study in the Research Center for Historical Anthoropology of Free University Berlin from May to October] |
| December, 1991 | Assistant, Faculty of Education, Hiroshima University |
| April, 1992 | JSPS Research Fellow [in this period, study in the Research Center for Historical Anthropology of Free University Berlin from October 1992 to September 1993] |
| October, 1993 | Lecturer, Faculty of Education, Hiroshima University [Academic Advisor for Foreign Students] |
| April, 1995 | Lecturer, Graduate School of International Development and Cooperation, Hiroshima University [in this period, study in the International Center for Historical Anthropology of Free University Berlin from Desember 1997 to January 1998] |
| October, 1999 | Asociate Professor, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University [Philosophy of Human Deveopment (Later changed its name to Educational Anthropology), Clinical Inquiries in Education, Education] |
| April, 2008 | Professor, Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University [Educational Anthropology, Clinical Inquiries in Education, Education] |
| April, 2016 | [Professor (S/A) of Philosophical Anthropology of Kyosei, Future Innovation Kyosei Studies, Syosei Studies] |
| April, 2020 | [Human Transformation Study, Clinical Inquiries in Education, Education] |