About CMPS
From Director
Since its establishment in April 2008, Center for the Multicultural Public Sphere (CMPS), an auxiliary institution of the School of International Studies at Utsunomiya University, has set out to address a variety of issues, ranging from global-scale issues such as climate crisis, to local issues involving co-existence of people of different origins, nationalities, religions and customs. To address these issues, it is crucial to build “horizontal social linkages” among the concerned parties and supporters of diverse positions, in addition to the promotion of projects by states, communities, and business entities. Interactions between diverse populations and cultures that encompass different origins, generations and gender identities will foster respect and tolerance for others. That is why we have created spaces where people from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their age, gender, religion, language, occupation and nationality, can freely discuss and agree on various issues, referring to them as "Multicultural Public Spheres." Such spaces can exist everywhere in the world. And it is our mission to promote the creation of such Spheres.
In the 17 years since its foundation, CMPS has been involved in the creation of numerous Multicultural Public Spheres. They initially included some essential projects like HANDS Project, which supports schoolchildren of foreign origins in our increasingly globalized region, and Research Forum on Fukushima Nuclear Disaster, whose objective is to reveal the social impact of the 2011 nuclear disaster in Japan. Other Multicultural Public Spheres have since been created and are currently operating, including UU-TEA Project, International Peace and Human Rights / Humanitarian Law Study Group, UU3S Project, Co-creation with the Global South, Society for the Study of Diverse Learning and Utsunomiya Omotenashi Team. In addition, CMPS Forums, a series of symposiums, seminars and briefings that are open to the public, have been held regularly since 2022 to disseminate the fruits of our projects to the wider community. Other attempts to enhance our voice to the global community include the publication of research papers on our project activities, called CMPS Working Paper Series, as well as the launch of our English Web site.
Today’s world is witnessing the ongoing crisis such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the devastation in Palestine caused by the Israeli army’s attacks. With the Trump Administration in power in the United States, the international order and the foundations of its principles are now in grave danger. We are living in a world where our present peaceful life can be taken away by an unexpected event at any moment. In such an age of uncertainty, it has become ever more necessary to bring together diverse interdisciplinary knowledge, to make the problem visible to all, to demonstrate compassion for the suffering and to unite citizens. The role of Multicultural Public Spheres as a base for achieving these tasks is therefore becoming increasingly important. The Center will work with people in local communities to promote diverse cross-cultural exchanges. We will create and support Multicultural Public Spheres as a space for solving global as well as local problems and pursue sustainable and peaceful societies. We appreciate your continued support and cooperation, as well as your opinions and requests regarding the Center’s work.
Professor Wakana Takahashi,
Director, Center for the Multicultural Public Sphere,
School of International Studies, Utsunomiya University
Center Staff
- Members of Steering Committee
- Research Staff
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Members of Steering Committee (Year 2025)
- Director Wakana TAKAHASHI
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TitleProfessor at the School of International Studies
- Deputy Director Fuminori MATSUMURA
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TitleAssoc. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Center Staff Ana SUEYOSHI
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TitleAssoc. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Center Staff Yuki TACHIBANA
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TitleAssoc. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Center Staff SHIN Hyewon
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TitleAsst. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Center Staff LEE PEREZ Fabio
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TitleAsst. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Center Staff LI Yajiao
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TitleAsst. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Center Staff LIANG Zhenhui
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TitleAsst. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Center Staff MORRIS James Harry
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TitleAsst. Professor at the School of International Studies
- Assistant Staff Junko TAMIYA
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TitleCoordinator
- Assistant Staff Yuka ARIMA
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TitleAdministrative Assistant
About the Center
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Mission
With the aim to bring about the better world, Center for the Multicultural Public Sphere (CMPS) helps to create public spheres originated in Utsunomiya University and to deliver their outcome to the wider society by providing academic linkage for discussions between diverse actors and promoting free exchange of opinions with a comprehensive perspective.
In order to address various issues that we face today in the globalized societies, individual connections among citizens across national borders are essential. CMPS acts as the platform where links between universities and societies are enhanced, multiple human-related systems, both internal and external, are analyzed in a professional, multilateral manner, and activities are promoted from the international perspectives based on interdisciplinary knowledges.
The objective of CMPS is to connect interdisciplinary knowledges concerning various issues and their backgrounds from global and glocal perspectives, so that universities and societies can work together to create a world that “leaves no one behind.”
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What is “Multicultural Public Sphere”?
Multicultural Public Sphere refers to the concept that forms a part of the theory advocated by J. Habermas, a German sociologist, namely, “a public sphere where diverse opinions are collected to form a consensus.” “Multicultural Public Sphere” is a public sphere where civil societies, encompassing citizens and citizen’s organizations with diverse activities and cultures, will work across national boundaries to solve global issues. It is the place for discussions and consensus, and it can exist anywhere in the world. CMPS supports the creation of such “Multicultural Public Spheres.”
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Projects Undertaken by “CMPS”
- （１）Operate concurrently the multiple projects which fall under the following three priority areas: “Internationalization at Home/Regional Collaboration,” “International Cooperation/Global Issues” and “Cross-cultural Understanding.”
- （２）Organize “Multicultural Public Sphere Forums (or CMPS Forums) addressing diverse themes on a year-round basis, to establish “Multicultural Public Spheres” where opinions are exchanged and discussions are held openly.
- （３）Provide support for local communities, international exchange groups and citizen’s groups (NGOs/NPOs) in organizing interactive events with foreign communities, offering consultations and carrying out collaborative researches in the areas of international cooperation, multicultural communication and contribution activities.
- （４）Support students and citizen’s groups (NGOs/NPOs) in participating in projects involving global-scale problem solutions, international cooperation and exchanges, among others.
- （５）Develop human resources through theoretical and empirical research and education concerning international cooperation/contribution and multicultural exchanges.
- （６）Build a network incorporating universities, students, local communities, international exchange organizations and citizen’s groups (NGOs/NPOs) through our website and bulletins.
Please refer to Project section for specific activities.
For inquiries, please contact
| Name | Center for the Multicultural Public Sphere School of International Studies, Utsunomiya University |
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| Address | 3rd Floor, Bldg. 5-B, 350, Mine-machi, Utsunomiya City, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan |
| TEL | 81 (0) 28-649-5196・5228 |
| FAX | 81 (0) 028-649-5228 |
| tabunka-c*a.utsunomiya-u.ac.jp ※ Please replace “*” with “@” | |
| Office hours | Weekdays (excluding school and national holidays), from 9:00 to 16:00 |
We are located o n the 3rd floor of Building 5-B, School of International Studies.
Please enter Building “B,” take the stairs by Learning Commons to the 3rd floor. You will find us on your right.
You can take flyers and brochures at the entrance. When you enter the room, you will also find a bookshelf containing booklets, which you can either read in the room or take out.
Feel free to come in!
To obtain our publications, please contact us for delivery arrangement. (While the publications are available free of charge, the requester needs to pay the shipping cost.)
The meeting room adjacent to the Center office is available for use with a reservation in advance (from 9:00 to 16:00). To make a reservation, please drop by the office or give us a call/e-mail.
On the bookshelves in the meeting room, you can find the books owned by CMPS. If you wish to check them out, please ask the center staff to help you enter the data in the registration form.
