Professor Toshio Kawai has contributed a special column to the Kyoto Shimbun’s project “Mirai no Compass (Future Compass).”

A column by Prof. Toshio Kawai has been published on a special website for the Kyoto Shimbun’s project “Mirai no Compass (Future Compass).” The project was launched by the Kyoto Shimbun, KBS Kyoto and FM Kyoto with the aim of sending out messages that encourage people in Kyoto. The first contributors were Prof. Kawai and conductor Junichi Hirokami. They wrote a special column on the theme; proposals for a New Normal beyond the corona confusion.

In his column, Prof. Kawai first introduces the spirituality of the city “Kyoto” and the differences in perceptions of vengeful spirits between the aristocracy and the public during the Heian period (late 8^th – 12^th century). Considering the history of New Buddhisms born after disasters and wars in the 12^th century, Prof. Kawai thinks that the corona confusion could also be a catalyst for new culture and ideas.

Prof. Kawai also touched on his own experience in psychological care after earthquake disasters and reflected on a preliminary study on the influence of the corona confusion on a client in psychotherapy. Based on these, he thinks about the corona confusion, the post-coronavirus world and the new way of life, and writes that it is important for each of us to find our own small stories or “niches,” for example, about (in) family or workplace relationships.

At the end of his column, Prof. Kawai also notes that the movement restrictions due to the corona confusion have led to a global shift in online psychotherapy that was once resisted. At KRC, the SNS Counselling project, which utilizes the LINE app, has started to support companies. This could be a major turning point for psychotherapy; considering how to care for the psyche without being bound by a place.

*Click to view the article (only in Japanese)

The Official Site “Mirai no Compass (Future Compass)” (only in Japanese)
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2020/07/22