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Okayama University and Benesse Commence Three-Year Joint Research

September 23, 2020

Okayama University and Benesse Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereafter referred to as Benesse) have partnered to implement academic research related to sustainability and well-being in the Setouchi region. Both entities are deeply invested in the SDGs and hope that the 3-year project, which runs from Fiscal Year 2020 to 2022, will generate insight into the ways that Naoshima, Inujima, and Teshima have been able to contribute to the well-being of the region and its residents through its various rejuvenation projects. By investigating the so-called “Naoshima method”, and "Public Interest Capitalism", the aim is to understand the changes that have occurred in the region in recent decades, the mechanisms behind those changes and, finally, to present their findings as an academic outputs.

Regarding the joint research project, Okayama University President MAKINO Hirofumi commented,“Once we have made it through the COVID-19 pandemic, I believe that more emphasis will be placed on people’s values and lifestyle choices. As a university that actively promotes the SDGs, we hope that this partnership with Benesse will shed light on the meaning of sustainability and well-being in a way that will be relevant on a global scale.”
Likewise, president and CEO of Benesse ADACHI Tamotsu stated, “Capitalism has reached a tipping point and the key to positive change lies with the SDGs. We should not underestimate the value and necessity of a developed nation like Japan contributing to the advancement of the SDGs. In the past, Benesse collaborated with Naoshima to rejuvenate the area, and I hope that this successful model can inform our current research on the practical meaning and application of “well-being”. Furthermore, I hope that this research will contribute to future generations’ understanding of “well-being”.”

Okayama University will continue to work together with Benesse to find ways to realize a sustainable society in which all stakeholders can live a better, fuller life.

ACADEMIC YEAR