Plenary Session
Japan Society for International Development (JASID)
27th Spring Conference
“Ancient Futures: Development in the Hands of the People”
People’s Actions and Theories: Ecovillages, the Pluriverse, and Decolonialism
Although only a few months have passed since the conference theme was set at the end of 2025, the world has become increasingly turbulent following the attack on Iran by the United States and Israel at the end of February 2026. Beyond the direct violence of conflicts and wars that destroy people’s lives and the environment, we are also witnessing the rise of structural violence, such as growing anti-immigrant and anti-refugee movements in Japan and other countries.
In this context, we feel a strong need to confront both direct and structural violence. Concepts such as “supple interdependence” and “radical otherness of the other” offer important perspectives for resisting structural violence.
- Date and Time: Saturday, June 27, 2026, 16:30–18:45
- Venue: Room 3201(for Japanese-speaking participants), 1st Floor, Building 3, Shirokane Campus, Meiji Gakuin University
A separate room will be arranged for English-speaking participants, and the room number will be announced at a later date. - Program (Language: Japanese)
Language: Japanese (Simultaneous English interpretation available)
16:30– Opening Remarks
Shinichi Shigetomi, Professor, Faculty of International Studies, Meiji Gakuin University
16:40– Introduction
Megumi Hirayama, Chair, The 27th JASID Spring Conference Organizing Committee
16:50– Keynote 1
Nao Kondo, Practitioner, “Social Experimenter” of new living way in the world
“In order for every person in the world to be able to live on their own will”
17:25– Q&A
17:40– Keynote 2
Shu Kitano, Professor, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Dokkyo University
“Pluriverse and Decolonialism”
18:15– Q&A
18:40– Closing Remarks