On December 20, 2025, the Master’s Program in Japan Studies hosted a delegation led by Professor Takekazu Iwamoto from the Faculty of Economics at Seinan Gakuin University. The seminar provided an academic platform for NCCU faculty and students to engage with their Japanese counterparts on pressing economic transformations and social issues in East Asia. Moderated by Director Shih-Hui Li, the exchange featured three core presentations from Professor Iwamoto’s team focusing on Japan’s macroeconomic structure: Paths to Enhancing Labor Productivity: Exploring how Japan can increase per capita output through industrial upgrading and digital transformation amidst a shrinking population. Implementation of Foreign Labor Recruitment Policies: An in-depth analysis of policy directions and social integration challenges regarding the introduction of international talent to address labor shortages. Economic Shifts Driven by Generative AI: Forward-looking observations from the Japanese economic sector on the disruptive impact of emerging technologies on the job market and production models. Students from NCCU’s Japan Studies Program leveraged their expertise in social sciences to provide historical and geopolitical perspectives through two specialized topics: Identity Formation of Zainichi Koreans: A deep dive into the identity shaping and historical sentiments of ethnic minorities within a multicultural society, prompting reflection on social inclusivity. Economic Security Policies of Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea: An analysis of how these three East Asian entities ensure critical technology and energy security through policy cooperation amidst global supply chain restructuring. The ensuing discussion was intellectually vibrant. Students from both universities debated economic issues, such as whether AI might exacerbate social inequality, and exchanged views on cultural differences in the social acceptance of foreign labor. Professor Iwamoto highly commended the NCCU students for their rigorous literature analysis and interdisciplinary perspectives. In his closing remarks, Director Shih-Hui Li noted that the profound research heritage of Seinan Gakuin University in economics enriched the exchange. This event allowed students to understand economic transformation theoretically while identifying key areas for future collaborative research through real-world social dialogue, marking another significant achievement in Taiwan-Japan academic relations for 2025.
