Kazuhiro Yamamoto

Constitutional law, German law, religious law

1. Research on separation of church and state
2. Religious Freedom Studies
3. Study of German religious law

I am researching the normative relationship between the state and religion. The relationship between religion and politics differs depending on the historical and cultural background of each country, and we cannot simply model it on Japan just because "it's like this in other countries." I am interested in deeply understanding the background that stipulates the relationship between religion and politics, and from there, how to distinguish between the uniqueness of each country and universality, and how to establish the ideal relationship between religion and politics in Japan, and how to consider this in relation to the guarantee of religious freedom.

Constitutional law and governing institutions, constitutional human rights, the Constitution of Japan, introduction to law, seminars

・In this seminar, we will study various constitutional issues that arise in the world according to each student's interests. However, even when examining constitutional precedents, we ask that you not only stop at a technical understanding of the gist of the judgment, its logical structure, and consistency with other cases, but also delve into the historical and social background of the case in question and the litigation process.

・To achieve this, I would like to use "empathy" as a keyword in this seminar. Behind constitutional lawsuits, there are always "people who are hurt." Sometimes it is a negative aspect of economic development, sometimes it is swept away by the "opinion of the majority," and sometimes it is not even noticed by anyone, and there are individuals whose rights and freedoms are suppressed. Don't just end it with "There was a lawsuit like this in the past," but immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the time and thoroughly empathize with the feelings of the parties involved by asking questions such as "Why did such a human rights violation occur in this era?", "What was the reaction of society at the time?", and "Why were policies that can only be described as inappropriate from a modern perspective allowed to go ahead at that time?"

・The parties involved in constitutional litigation are often social minorities, and because it is a minority issue, they are often forced to make sacrifices for the majority or have been unable to speak out for a long time. Please empathize and share the suffering of such oppressed minorities, and internalize "someone else's problem" as "your own problem." I believe that it is only through such empathy that one can "understand" constitutional issues and constitutional trials.

Aichi Gakuin University, Faculty of Law
Waseda University Graduate Graduate School of Law Master's Program in Public Law
After completing his doctoral Graduate School of Law Law,
Currently a full-time Lecturer Faculty of Law Soka University

Japan Public Law Association, National Constitutional Law Research Association, Constitutional Theory Research Association, Religious Law Association, German Constitutional Law Case Study Association

Of course, qualifications and employment are important in student life, but above all else, I want you to base your life on your own happiness through your learning. What is important is what qualifications and career paths you need for your own happiness, and it would be counterproductive to reverse the ends and means and become dominated by qualifications and employment. Also, make lots of friends who accept you as you are. The education and friends you gain during student life should become treasures of the heart that can never be taken away by anyone or destroyed by any hardship.