March 11, 2026

Faculty of Science and Engineering Maruta Seminar and Faculty of Law Wazu Seminar participated in the "Student Planning Project Subsidy" report meeting sponsored by the University Consortium Hachioji

The University Consortium Hachioji hosted a report on the results of the "Student Planning Project Subsidy" held on Wednesday, February 11 at the Gakuen City Center in Hachioji City, with the participation of Noriaki Wazushi Seminar of our Faculty of Law and Shinsaku Maruta of Faculty of Science and Engineering.

This subsidy system aims to support projects planned and operated by students in Hachioji and to revitalize the region. This year, Maruta Seminar's "Effective Utilization of Original Products Developed Using Hachioji Sake Rice and Rice Flour in Hachioji City" was selected as a free Planning Office, and Wazu Seminar's "Promotion of 'Student Participation' Community Development in Kasumi Junior High School District" was adopted as a designated project category, and both seminars announced the results as the culmination of their activities over the past year.

In the morning presentation, the Wazu Seminar reported on community development based in the Kazumi district, the university's hometown, and taking advantage of the perspectives of young people. The seminar has led the planning and operation of the "Community Development Promotion Council" sponsored by Hachioji City, and has also been deeply involved in local events such as the Takiyama Castle Cherry Blossom Festival. On the day of the event, residents of the Kasumi area and city officials who work together on a daily basis also rushed to support and watched the students' proposals.

On the other hand, Maruta Seminar presented the use of "edible spoons" using rice flour, a by-product of the process of producing Hachioji rice ginjo sake. In particular, we introduced social implementation initiatives, such as the development of STEAM education for junior high school students in the region, which was realized by mass production in collaboration with Working Food Co., Ltd.

The poster session in the afternoon was co-sponsored with "Hachioji City High School Students Town Development Proposal Presentation". In front of the posters of both seminars, questions were asked by high school students who were interested in the activities of university students and Mayor Kazuo Hachijuku, who visited the seminar, and lively discussions were held.

High school students listening to a poster presentation by the Watari Seminar

Mayor of Hachioji, Kazuo Hatsusayaki, listening to the explanation of the poster presentation by the Waashi Seminar

Group photo of the Watari Seminar, residents of the Kasumi area, and Hachioji City officials

High school students listening to an explanation of the poster presentation by Maruta's seminar

Associate Professor

Noriaki Watari

Specialized Field: Political science/Administration/Local autonomy/Public policy
Research theme: 1. Comparative analysis of metropolitan finances
2) Scandals in central government ministries and agencies and prosecutorial investigations

Professor

Shinsaku Maruta

Specialized Field: Biomolecular Science
Research theme: Development of light-driven biomolecular machines using photochromic molecules