Yoshinori Kasai

Visiting Scholar

Biography

Background

Yoshinori Kasai is an Associate Professor at Keio University, Japan, specialising in sociology, with a particular focus on qualitative research and community studies. His research examines how local communities construct, preserve, and reinterpret historical narratives, with an emphasis on collaborative research methodologies. He has conducted extensive fieldwork in Japan, investigating the ways in which social groups engage with their histories and cultural traditions.

In addition to his academic work, Kasai has contributed to various interdisciplinary projects that connect sociology, community development, and historical engagement. He has collaborated with museums and local organisations to foster greater community participation in history-related initiatives.

Kasai holds a Ph.D. in Media and Governance from Keio University. His publications include several edited volumes, such as a sociology textbook, a book on the philosophy of conviviality, and a work on public history. He is also involved in several ongoing research projects that explore the relationship between social change and historical narratives in local communities.

CV

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Qualifications

  • 2012: Specialist in Social Research, Japan Social Research Association

  • 2014: Disaster Prevention Specialist, Japan Disaster Prevention Association

  • 2020: Associate Digital Archivist, Japan Digital Archivist Certification Organization

  • 2023: Support Specialist, Japan Support Specialist Association

  • Course Completions

    • 2023: Applied Public History: Places, People, Stories (University of London, Coursera)

    • 2025: English Medium Instruction Certificate (Oxford EMI Certificate for University Lecturers Course)

Responsibilities & affiliations

  • 2023 - Present: The Folklore Society of Japan

  • 2021 - Present: Geographic Information Systems Association

  • 2019 - Present: International Sociological Association

  • 2018 - Present: The Japan Sociological Society

  • 2018 - Present: Japan Association of Regional and Community Studies

  • 2016 - Present: Japan Society of Lifology

    • 2018 - Present: Board Member

  • 2009 - Present: The Peace Studies Association of Japan

  • 2009 - Present: Japan Association for Urban Sociology

Current project grants

2023 - 2027: Establishment of Theoretical and Methodological Foundations for Building a Cycle of Realising Living Environment/Lifestyle Centered on Dwelling Experience (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
Principal Investigator: Kiwamu Yanagisawa

Past project grants

2023 - 2025: A Sociological Study on the Community Contribution Activities of the Elderly: Through the Analysis of Local and Life Histories (Grants-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2023 - 2024: Methodological Exploration to Ensure a System for Comprehensive Community Surveys (Program for the Advancement of Next Generation Research Projects, Type C, Keio University)
2021 - 2023: An Interdisciplinary Study on the Modern History of Ise Pilgrimage Tourism (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
Principal Investigator: Noboru Hirayama
Co-researchers: Akimasa Suganuma, Hironobu Taniguchi, Yoshinori Kasai

2021 - 2023: A Qualitative Study of the Life Experiences of the Elderly to Contribute to Resilience in a Shrinking and Aging Society (Grants-in-Aid for Transformative Research Areas (A), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2021 - 2023: Historical Practices and Public History in East Asia and Other Regions (Research Fund, Takahashi Industrial and Economic Research Foundation)
Principal Investigator: Eiichi Tajima
Co-researchers: Junnichi Yamamoto, Yoshikazu Shiobara, Yoko Kumanoya, Haolan Zheng, Yo Nonaka, Tomohiro Kanno, Taichi Uchio, Megumi Hara, Kazuhiro Takeyama, Mamoru Fujita, Wakana Baba, Takeya Takagi, Kana Ohashi, Kazuki Goto, Yoshinori Kasai, Kae Amo, Makie Yukawa, So Sasaki, Risheng Guan, Hadi Hani, Hiroki Fujitani, Akinobu Matsumoto

2020 - 2023: Construction of a Methodology for Surveying the History of Life Surrounding Houses: An Empirical Study for Succession Practice (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2019 - 2021: A Study on Institutionalisation of Community Organisation from Cases in Ritto City, Shiga, Japan (Academic Development Funds for Individual Research, Keio University)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2017 - 2019: Research and Practice for Building Convivial Society and Economy (Joint Research, Research Institute for Social Sciences, Ryukoku University)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2015 - 2017: Survey of Kyoto Student Festival Executive Committee Members on Their Growth Through Activities (Designated Survey, The Consortium of Universities in Kyoto)
Principal Investigator: Masami Mori
Co-researchers: Takao Otsuka, Yoshinori Kasai

2015 - 2017: Development of Local Collaborative Learning Based on Problem-Based Learning: Toward the Development of Community Leaders (FD/Instructional Materials, etc. Research and Development Study Project Self-Applied Research Project, Learning Support / Educational Development Center, Ryukoku University)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2012 - 2014: Community Research for Narrative-Based Community Building (Joint Research Unit for Area Studies Methodology Project, Center for Integrated Area Studies, Kyoto University)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2008 - 2009: Participatory Government in Quezon City, Philippines (Scholarship for Young Researchers, The Japanese Society for Asian Studies)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2007 - 2008: Mutual Assistance in Philippine Civil Society (Graduate Student Researcher Development Grant, Taikichiro Mori Memorial Research Grants)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

2006 - 2007: Migration of People around Asia of the Seas (Scholarship for Overseas Fieldwork, Masuda Kyoiku Zaidan)
Principal Investigator: Yoshinori Kasai

Conference details

  1. Yoshinori Kasai, Social Functions of Japanese Koshogatsu Folklore, 8th International Academic Congress, Nov 9, 2024, East Asian Consortium of Japanese Studies
  2. Yoshinori Kasai, Human Connections in Traditional Hamlet and a New Town in Japan: Life Histories, Folklore, and Public History, Oct 30, 2024, Program in Japan Studies, National Chengchi University
  3. Yoshinori Kasai, Half a Century in a 'New' Town: Biographies of Residents and Neighborhood Associations, Biographical research quo vadis? New and recurring challenges in the study of life (hi)stories and social change, Sep 6, 2024, International Sociological Association Research Committee 38 (Biography & Sociology)
  4. Yoshinori Kasai, Kazuhiro Takeyama, Satoshi Kimura Sedimented History and the Concept of a Distributed Life History Museum, The 51th Annual Meeting, Jun 30, 2024, Japan Society of Lifology
  5. Kiwamu Yanagisawa, Takashi Ikejiri, Akane Mizushima, Rie Nomura, Yoshinori Kasai, Asako Yamamoto, Michio Noda, Spatial Configuration of Work and Living Spaces and Residential Experience in Live-Work Housing: Diversity of Housing and Living Styles as Seen in Interviews on Housing Experiences (Part 2), The 51th Annual Meeting, Jun 30, 2024, Japan Society of Lifology
  6. Takashi Ikejiri, Kiwamu Yanagisawa, Akane Mizushima, Rie Nomura, Yoshinori Kasai, Asako Yamamoto, Michio Noda, Case Study on the Use of Japanese-style Rooms in Japan: Diversity of Housing and Living Styles as Seen in Interviews on Housing Experiences (Part 1), The 51th Annual Meeting, Jun 30, 2024, Japan Society of Lifology
  7. Yoshinori Kasai, The Relationship Between Inheritance, Multigenerational Interaction, Growing Up Together, and Life in a Declining Population, Open Symposium 'Children and Life in a Time of Declining Population: Inheritance - Multigenerational Interaction - Growing Up Together'., Jun 29, 2024, Japan Society of Lifology
  8. Yoshinori Kasai, Sagicho and Iseko in the Roadside Hamlets of Ritto City, Public Lecture: Changes and Reproduction of Japanese Culture from the Perspective of Ko, Jun 15, 2024, Department of History, College of Arts, Rikkyo University
  9. Yoshinori Kasai, Visualization of the Onshi Responsible Areas Based on "Jingu Onshi Documents" Using GIS Tools: Toward Analysis of the Organizing of Iseko, The 75th Annual Conference, Oct 22, 2023, The Folklore Society for Japan
  10. Yoshinori Kasai, Voluntary Association As a Predecessor of Resident Self-Governing Bodies in Japan, XX World Congress of Sociology, Jul 1, 2023, International Sociological Association
  11. Yoshinori Kasai, Older Adults' Civic Engagement in Various Way: Based on Their Life Histories and Local Newsletters, XX World Congress of Sociology, Jun 27, 2023, International Sociological Association
  12. Yuka Iwasa, Yoshinori Kasai, The Value Formation Process of Family Counselors: Through a Survey of Counselors in Shiga Prefecture, The 50th Annual Meeting, Jun 11, 2023, Japan Society of Lifology
  13. Yoshinori Kasai, Satoshi Kimura, Kazuhiro Takeyama, Research on History of Memories of Housing and its Methodology for Community Development (3) - Housing and Public History, The 50th Annual Meeting, Jun 11, 2023, Japan Society of Lifology
  14. Satoshi Kimura, Kazuhiro Takeyama, Yoshinori Kasai, Research on History of Memories of Housing and its Methodology for Community Development (2) - Memory-based Home Preservation and Renovation, The 50th Annual Meeting, Jun 11, 2023, Japan Society of Lifology
  15. Kazuhiro Takeyama, Satoshi Kimura, Yoshinori Kasai, Research on History of Memories of Housing and its Methodology for Community Development (1) - Consideration on the Utilization of the Research Results for Local Issues, The 50th Annual Meeting, Jun 11, 2023, Japan Society of Lifology
  16. Yoshinori Kasai, An Analysis of the Distribution of Small Place Names:The Case of Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, AAG 2023 Annual Meeting, Mar 27, 2023, American Association of Geographers
  17. Yoshinori Kasai, A Study on Local Distortions of the Chiken-torishirabe-soezu in the Collection of the Ritto History Museum, The 31st Annual Meeting, Oct 30, 2022, Geographic Information Systems Association
  18. Yoshinori Kasai, Hokkaido Settlers and Family History, The Annual Meeting in Spring, 2022, Jun 18, 2022, Peace Studies Association of Japan
  19. Yoshinori Kasai, Surrounding Information on Daily Life as Deciphered from the Iseko Account Book, The 49th Annual Meeting, Jun 12, 2022, Japan Society of Lifology
  20. Kazuhiro Takeyama, Satoshi Kimura, Yoshinori Kasai, Non-professional Practice of " History of Housing Memories" Research, The 49th Annual Meeting, Jun 12, 2022, Japan Society of Lifology
  21. Yoshinori Kasai, Ko as a Foundation Type Association: The Case of Iseko in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, Research Meeting, May 8, 2022, Research Meeting of A Research Grant
  22. Yoshinori Kasai, Read the Iseko Account Books in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, The 115th Monthly Meeting, Apr 23, 2022, Ko Research Group
  23. Kayo Okabe, Yoshinori Kasai, Atsushi Nakagawa, Kazuhiro Takeyama, Wataru Morioka, Akinobu Matsumoto, Reading the Iseko Account Books in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, CSIS Days 2021, Nov 19, 2021, Center for Spatial Information Science, The University o Tokyo
  24. Utilizing Allotment of Land in Chiken-torisirabe-soezu along Tokaido in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture Kayo Okabe, Atsushi Nakagawa, Kazuhiro Takeyama, Wataru Morioka, Akinobu Matsumoto CSIS Days 2021, Nov 19, 2021, CSIS
  25. Kayo Okabe, Wataru Morioka, Yoshinori Kasai, Atsushi Nakagawa, Kazuhiro Takeyama, Akinobu Matsumoto, Visualization of Living Space from the Viewpoint of Neighborhood Association Activities in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, The 30th Annual Meeting, Oct 31, 2021, Geographic Information System Association
  26. Yoshinori Kasai, Creating a GIS Database of Living Spaces Based on Oral History and Documents: Focusing on Old Street Hamlets in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, ARC Days 2021, Jul 30, 2021, Art Research Center, Ritsumeikan University
  27. Yoshinori Kasai, A Method of Life History Research Mediated by Dwellings: A Case Study in a Roadside Hamlet in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture, The 48th Annual Meeting, Jun 13, 2021, Japan Society of Lifology
  28. Yoshinori Kasai, Weaving the Multiple Voices of the Parties as a Non-Party, The Annual Meeting in Autumn, 2019, Nov 2, 2019, Peace Studies Association of Japan
  29. Yoshinori Kasai, Atsushi Nakagawa,  A Collaboration on Folklore Research between a City Museum and a Private University, CAMOC-DEMHIST Session, City and House Museums in the Context of Revising Museum Definition, ICOM-KYOTO
  30. Ryoga Tamada, Akane Tominaga, Yoshinori Kasai, Spatial Transition of Folk Customs in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, The 45th Annual Meeting, May 27, 2018, Japan Society of Lifology
  31. Yoshinori Kasai,The Transition of Sagicho in Ritto City, Shiga Prefecture: A Comparison with Folklore Surveys in the Late Showa Period, The 45th Annual Meeting, May 27, 2018, Japan Society of Lifology
  32. Yoshinori Kasai,A Case Study of Lifestyle Change in Sakigicho, Megawa and Oka Areas, Ritto City, The 44th Annual Meeting, May 21, 2017, Japan Society of Lifology
  33. Yoshinori Kasai,Socialization of Public Volunteers and Community Management: A Case Study of Life History Survey of Former Probation Aides, The 12th Annual Meeting, Dec 3, 2016, Association for Policy Informatics
  34. Yoshinori Kasai, Masataka Yoshida, Thematic Organizing Based on Local Relationships: A Case Study of Koka City's Kibogaoka School District Residents' Association, The 15th Annual Meeting, Jul 2, 2016, Japan Association for Community Policy
  35. Yoshinori Kasai,A Life History Method Approach to the Study of Local Autonomous Associations: A Case Study of the Local Autonomous Association in the Kibogaoka School District, Koka City., The 11th Annual Meeting, Nov 21, 2015, Association for Policy Informatics
  36. Yoshinori Kasai,Methods in which the Research Process Contributes to Community Development and Individual Residents, The 6th Annual Meeting, Jul 5, 2014, The Japan Association of Regional Development and Vitalization
  37. Hiroko Tedara, Yoshinori Kasai, Fusako Nakamura, Kanji Learning Materials with an Emphasis on Voice, The 2nd Annual Meeting, Jun 29, 2012, ACTAS DEL SEGUNDO SIMPOSIO DE LA ASOCIACIÓN DE PROFESORES DE JAPONÉS EN ESPAÑA
  38. Yoshinori Kasai, Organizing and Solidarity in the Philippine National Capital Region, Sympotium: Dialogue with Asia, Nov 14, 2010, Japan Society of Social Science on Latin America
  39. Yoshinori Kasai, Potential and Challenges of Alinsky-Style Community Development as Interpreted by Case Studies, Seminar for Young Researchers, 2009, National Museum of Ethnology
  40. Yoshinori Kasai, Positive Identification and Solidarity: Cases of People’s Movements in Quezon City in the Philippines, International Joint Symposium: Designing Governance for Civil Society, 2009, Keio University GCOE-CGCS
  41. Yoshinori Kasai, Risa Suzuki, Footprints of a Mothers’ Organization in Tatalon in Quezon City from Marcos Era to Present: Protestation against and Collaboration with Government, Risa Suzuki The Annual Meeting, 2009, Asia-Pacific Peace Research Associate
  42. Yoshinori Kasai, Changing from Scavengers to Eco-Volunteers, The Annual Meeting, Apr 10, 2009, Pacific Sociological Association
  43. Yoshinori Kasai, Rethinking Community Organizing through Alinsky-Model: Cases of Social Movements in the Philippines”, 2009, Fudan-Keio-Yonsei Graduate Students Forum on Global Governance
  44. Yoshinori Kasai, Footprints of a Mothers’ Organization in Tatalon in Quezon City from Marcos Era to Present: Protestation against and Collaboration with Goverment, APPRA 2009, 2009, 
  45. Yoshinori Kasai, Positive Identification and Solidarity: Cases of People's Movements in Quezon City in the Philippines, International Joint Symposium: Designing Governance for Civil Society, 2009, 
  46. Yoshinori Kasai, Rethinking Community Organizing through Alinsky-Model: Cases of Social Movements in the Philippines, Fudan-Keio-Yonsei Graduate Students Forum on Global Governance, 2009, 
  47. Yoshinori Kasai, Changing from Scavengers to Eco-Volunteers, PSA 80th Annual Meeting, 2009, 
  48. Yoshinori Kasai, The Inclusion of Resident Movements in Regional Self-Government Associations: A Life History of a Woman in the Urban Poor, The 13th Annual Meeting, Jul 24, 2008, Annual Philippine Studies Forum in Japan
  49. Yoshinori Kasai, Challenges of Residential Self-Government in Quezon City, Philippines, The 79th Annual Meeting, Apr 26, 2008, Japan Society for Southesast Asian Studies
  50. Yoshinori Kasai, Participatory Governance in Quezon City in the Philippines: Case of the City Development Council and BDP-PLA, The Annual Meeting, 2008, International Sociological Association Research Committee 21
  51. Yoshinori Kasai, Challenges and Possibilities of Residential Self-Government in Quezon City, Philippines, Regular Research Meeting, 2008, Environment and Peace Research Group
  52. Yoshinori Kasai, Masanori Akamatsu, Tomoki Furukawazono, Takashi Iba, Simulation of Infectious Disease Transmission in Social Networks, SIG-Reseach Group of Network Ecology, Mar 1, 2005, Information Processing Society of Japan
  53. Masanori Akamatsu, Tomoki Furukawazono, Yoshinori Kasai, Nozomu Aoyama, Takashi Iba, Simulations of Evolving Networks and its Applications: Generation Alternation Model, SIG-Mathematical modeling and Problem Solving, 2004, Information Processing Society of Japan
  54. Tomoki Furukawazono, Ryutaro Ishimoto, Keita Kobayashi, Yoshinori Kasai, Masanori Akamatsu, Takashi Iba, Simulations of Evolving Networks and its Applications: Multi-Agent Modeling and its Applications, SIG-ICS & SIG-KBS, 2004, Information Processing Society of Japan, Japanese Society for Artificial Intelligence

Invited speaker

  1. Yoshinori Kasai, Trends in Public History in Japan, Nov 5, 2024, Taiwan Association of Public History
  2. Yoshinori Kasai, Local Communities and Pilgrimage Associations: A Case Study of Iseko, International Academic Forum ASIAN SPIRITS IN CULTURE , Nov 23, 2023  Masuda Educational Foundation
  3. Yoshinori Kasai, What We Share with Students, The Annual Meeting in 2020 , Nov 7, 2020  Association for the Study of Political Society
  4. Yoshinori Kasai, Beyond Pessimism toward Marginalized Communities: Multiple Local Communities in Rural Japan, Debriefing Seminar and Special Lecture on Japanese Politics and Society , Sep 22, 2020  The UP Asian Center and the Japan Foundation Manila
  5. Yoshinori Kasai, Comunidad Local y Asociación de Vecinos, Jornada de Investigación: “Comunidades Locales en Japón: Personas, Memoria e Identitad"  Mar 6, 2018, la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona y el Consulado General del Japón
  6. Yoshinori Kasai, Rethinking Community Organizing through Alinsky-Model: Cases of Social Movements in the Philippines, The Annual Meeting  2009  Fudan-Keio-Yonsei Graduate Students Forum on Global Governance
  7. Yoshinori Kasai, Residential Self-Government in Quezon City, Philippines, Research Meeting  2008  International Peace Research Institute, Meiji Gakuin University
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