Kyoto Kokoro Initiative　　 Kokoro Research Center　 Toshio Kawai (Clinical Psychology)

1) Purpose of the project
Advances in science and technology, the emergence of a large economic zone by globalization, and recent global environmental change are significantly changing people’s daily lives and relationships. These things are naturally affecting the state of people’s “kokoro,” and sometimes various problems are caused because their “kokoro” can’t keep up with the changes.
Rather than relying on science and technology for these circumstances or trying to resolve them by changing the environment, it may be necessary to focus on the “kokoro” of the people facing such things and carefully follow a path that leads to more essential understanding and resolution of problems.
We think that it may be necessary for us now to consider the ways that humans faced the world with the roles of “kokoro” thus far and the ways that they understood “kokoro“, explore the concept of “kokoro,” and also to clarify the roles that will be required of “kokoro” from now on.
The Kyoto Kokoro Initiative aims to question the future of “kokoro” in light of ancient “kokoro,” and to use the broad and deep nuances that are implied in the Japanese word “kokoro” in order to disseminate to the world a new understanding of “kokoro” as the Kokoro Initiative.
While utilizing the interdisciplinary research and network about “kokoro” that have been accumulated through the Kokoro Research Center’s activities since it was established in 2007, we would like to further expand and deepen them.

2) Organization
・Organizing committee: A committee formed by departments throughout Kyoto University, centering on the Kokoro Research Center
・Consultant / advisory board: Kazuo Inamori
・Participants: Kyoto University’s researchers, invited researchers from Japan and other countries, artists, entrepreneurs, etc. We will form core members and repeatedly hold research meetings with a central focus on the Kokoro Research Center.

3) Project content
1. The Kyoto Kokoro Initiative Workshop will be held four times a year on a closed basis. We will invite people such as researchers, artists, and religious people in accordance with the theme of the relevant fiscal year.
2. The Kyoto Kokoro Initiative Symposium and the Kyoto Kokoro Initiative International Symposium, which question the concept of “kokoro,” will be held on alternating years. We will ask President Kazuo Inamori and President Juichi Yamagiwa to attend them. We will look at and further understanding of the broad nuances and diversity of “kokoro” from various perspectives, such as “kokoro and history” “kokoro and coexistence,” and “kokoro and global society.”
3. The results of items 1 and 2 are published in Japanese and English respectively. Information about the Japanese Kyoto Kokoro Initiative Symposium is also given in English and disseminated through things such as Kyoto University’s website.

4) Project plans
＊Fiscal 2015
・The 1st Kyoto Kokoro Initiative Symposium (1 day) “The Concept and History of Kokoro” (tentative title) will be held in Kyoto on September 13 (Sun.). Lecturers will include Shinichi Nakazawa, Juichi Yamagiwa, and Yoshinori Hiroi. It is expected that President Kazuo Inamori will also attend.
・Holding the Kyoto Kokoro Initiative Workshop four times
＊Fiscal 2016
・The 1st Kyoto Kokoro Initiative International Symposium (2 days)
・Holding the Kyoto Kokoro Initiative Workshop four times
＊Fiscal 2017 – 2020
・Holding the 2nd and 3rd Kyoto Kokoro Initiative Symposium and the Kyoto Kokoro Initiative International Symposium