International Relations and Area Studies Course

Overview

This course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of global issues and regional studies while enhancing their practical foreign language proficiency. It aims to train individuals capable of addressing complex social challenges and contributing meaningfully to international relations. An English-language program, in which all courses are taught entirely in English, is also available.

Research Field of the Academic Staff

Name	Reasearch Fields	E-mail
ABE David Kiyoshi ※	Criticism of Postcolonialism, Japanese American	dabe4@staff.
ISHIGURO Morihisa	Political Thought, Renaissance Cultural History, Western Early Modern History	ishiguro@ed.
OKAMOTO Yoshitaka ※	Contemporary History, British Diplomatic History, History of International Relations in Europe	y.okamoto@staff.
KATO Atsuyuki ※	Applied Econometrics, International Economics, Productivity Analysis, Trade and Growth	akatoecon@staff.
KUBO Takuya ※	American Literature, Gender Studies (Masculinity Studies), General Literature	tkubo@staff.
KUBO Yutaka ※	Film Studies, Queer Studies	ykubo@staff.
KOIZUMI Tatsuya ※	Chinese Modern and Contemporary History, British Imperial History, Hong Kong History	tatsuyakoi@staff.
SATO Shunsuke ※	International Institutions, International Organizations	s-sato@staff.
THELEN Timo ※	Cultural Anthropology, Japanese Studies, Media Tourism	thelen@staff.
NAKANO Ryoko ※	Theory of International Relations, International Politics of East Asia, Modern Japanese Thought	rnakano@staff.
FOX SENAN JAMES ※	International Relations, International Political History of East Asia, Maritime Issues in East Asia	senanfox@staff.
MAENO Seitaro	Rural Sociology	s-maeno@staff.
MAMMADOVA Aida ※	UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Eco-Parks, and Geoparks Intergenerational Dialogue, Environmental Education in Geoparks	mammadova@staff.
MINAMI Connie	Japanese Sociocultural Studies, Comparative Gender Studies, European Literature	connie.minami@staff.
YAMAGUCHI Yoshinari ※	Early American Literature and Culture	yoshiyam@staff.
YAMAMOTO Taku ※	British Literature, Pacific Literature, Post-Colonialism	yamatea@ed.
YE Wenxi■	Chinese Language, Culture and Society; Chinese Linguistics and Communication	yewenxi@staff.
WATANABE Atsuko	International Relations, History of Ideas, Human Geography	atsukowtnb@staff.
WATANABE Tatsuo	Sociology of Education	tatsuode@staff.
WADA Kazuya	Development Economics	kwada@staff.
WARASY Kasim ※	Post-Conflict Peace Building, Democratization, and Nation Building	wafayezada@staff.

• Note1: ■ indicates that the faculty member is scheduled to transfer in March 2026, and ☆ indicates that the faculty member is scheduled to transfer in March 2027, so they cannot be selected as a preferred advisor.★ indicates that the faculty member is scheduled to transfer in March 2028, so they cannot be selected as a preferred advisor if you wish to enroll in October 2026.
• Note2: ※ next to a faculty member’s name indicates they are responsible for courses taught in English.
• Note3: Please add “kanazawa-u.ac.jp” after the email address field.

Laboratory Introduction – Shunsuke SATO

My research focuses on the politics of the European Union, particularly the movement of people and related policies. Internally, these policies enable the free movement of EU citizens; externally, they shape the Common Migration and Refugee Policy—a political framework of significant interest. However, the EU’s unique approach to human mobility raises both theoretical and practical questions.

For example:

How does EU citizenship affect the national identities of member states?

How does the actual movement of persons occur, and what implications does it have for national welfare systems?

What challenges arise in forming a unified migration and refugee policy?

How have crises—such as the refugee crisis, Brexit, and rising populism—affected EU migration and refugee policy, as well as its political legitimacy?

These are just some of the issues I address. If you are interested, I invite you to participate in our research.

Course / Program Name　

International Politics Program / International Politics E Program

Research Project Title / Supervisor　

Shunsuke SATO

Research Project Title / Project Title and Research Supervisor

European Integration, EU and Human Mobility / Shunsuke SATO

Other research topics

• European Integration, Crisis and Solidarity
• European Integration and Citizenship
• EU Migration and Refugee Policy
• EU Politics and Diplomacy