Sacred Heart Institute for Sustainable Futures(SHISF) conducts education, research and social activities through interaction and mutual cooperation, based on the educational philosophy of the University of Sacred Heart. As human beings who share this earth, we look at the region, and the world at large, and interact with people, with the aim of realizing a sustainable and peaceful world.

The institute supports vital research and education, as a way to foster humans with a broad perspective, sensitivity and flexibility, by focusing on the teaching and practice of critical and practical thought. More specifically, the institute aims to engage people to “encounter, question, and take action”.

The BE＊hive is where we encounter, and are challenged by questions, through exhibitions and workshops. Using critical thought, we face the problems of the world, and from there, hone our intellect, through learning and research, while actively working to solve these problems. Through this model, our institute serves as a catalyst for forging fruitful collaborations and synergistic relationships within the local community, and the world at large.

Past Exhibitions

“Refugees and Displaced people” exhibition 2017.September-2019.March (Change small theme in every six months)
・1． Refugees and Displaced people living in Japan
・2． Refugees and Displaced people in Middle East
・3． Refugees and Displaced people in Asian-African

“Climate Change” 2019.April-2021.April (Change small theme in every six months)
・1． Fashion and Climate Change
・2． Climate Change for Women and the Socially Vulnerable
・3． Change and 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic
・4． Challenge to Climate Change “What can we do through Education?”

“Mrs. Sadako Ogata and the Education of the Sacred Heart” 2021.May-2023.April

“Rethinking Women’s Lives from Our Past to the Future” 2021.May-2023.April (Change small theme in every six months)
・1． Empower ourselves and facilitate the development of a new society
・2． Is “child marriage” merely a story from a distant country?
・3． Oppression or Beauty? Foot binding, Corset wearing and #KuToo movement
・4．A Global Outlook on the ‘birth of life’

Special Exhibition

Social activities by NGOs/NPOs are presented here, based on themes related to the main exhibition. Also, research presentations by members of the Institute are included.

Workshop

Various workshops are prepared to deepen learning through BE＊hive’s exhibition. Please utilize it as part of comprehensive learning.

Target/Fees
・Workshops are targeted at groups from high school students upwards.
・No fee; however, a reservation is required in advance.
・be-hive@g.u-sacred-heart.ac.jp

Global and Collaborative Learning Programs

We encourage various exchanges between civil society groups working on social issues in the field, and welcome opportunities for global understanding, action, and mutual benefit.

Global Seminars

We provide open access to the community and wider society offering education and research. We organize several classes for adults.

Supporting activities (NPOs, NGOs, and regional support)

Our institute is based on the educational philosophy of the University of the Sacred Heart, which aims at, “educating wise women who contribute to building a better society with a sense of solidarity and mission, as members of the world”. In implementing this philosophy, we engage in activities with current students, graduates, students of sister schools, NGOs, NPOs, and community stakeholders. We would like to continue to emphasize and build on these activities in the future.

Greetings from the Director

The internal and external social environment surrounding us is undergoing radical change. The term “unpredictable society” has become more realistic, and the conventional wisdom that guaranteed stability in our lives is no longer valid. In such an environment, each and every one of us must now confront the issues at hand, seek our own way of life and create our own society.

“Wherever you are, you shall be the torchbearer.”

By Mother Elizabeth Britt, the first President of the University of the Sacred Heart. Standing under the motto Sacred Heart Institute for Sustainable Futures was established in 2017 as an organisation that widely develops education, research and social activities. Based on the results of its research, the Institute holds exhibitions and workshops at BE*hive, as well as various courses and events for the community and society.

We hope that students, pupils and all visitors to the Institute will encounter, varios social issues of our time as “their own affairs”. Let’s think together about how we can achieve “Sustainable Futures”, a society in which people cooperate with each other and link the torch of hope across generations.

The Global Plaza of the Sacred Heart (University of the Sacred Heart Building No. 4)locates, just a short walk from Hiroo Station on the Hibiya Line. Please feel free to join us.

SUGAWARA, Kensuke Ph.D.
Professor, University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo
Director of the Sacred Heart Institute for Sustainable Futures

Institute Members

Director

• SUGAWARA, Kensuke, Professor, Department of Human Relations

Deputy Director

• ISHII, Yoko, Professor, Department of Human Relations

Staff Members

• KANDA, Wakako, Assistant teacher, Sacred Heart Institute for Sustainable Futures
• HAMAGUCHI, Toshiko, Associate Professor, Department of English Language, Communication and Cultures
• IWATA, Kazunari, Professor, Department of Japanese Language and Literature
• KAMIISHI, Manabu, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy
• ONISHI, Yoshiyuki, Professor, Department of History
• OKUGIRI, Megumi, Professor, Department of International Studies
• SUGIHARA, Masaaki, Professor, Department of Education, Major in Education
• KOZAKI, Yuko, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

Invited Researcher

• OHASHI, Masaaki, Emeritus professor, Keisen University, Visiting Professor, Open Univ. of Japan, etc.
• FISH BOY – Sakana-kun, Honorary Doctorate and Visiting Professor, National University Corporation Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology

Visiting Researcher

• TULADHAR Astha, Part-Time Lecturer, Meijo University
• IRIE, Jun, Executive Director / Organization for Development of Sustainable Education, etc.
• KATO, Jotaro, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sociology & Social Work, Department of Social Work, Meiji Gakuin University
• KAZAMAKI, Horoshi, Part-Time Lecturer, University of the Sacred Heart, Tokyo
• KUWABARA, Naoki, Emeritus Professor, University of Tsukuba
• MORISHIGE, Yukitoshi, Guest professor of Musicology, Japanese Traditional Music Course, Senzoku Gakuen College of Music
• YOSHIZAWA, Yukie, Part-Time Lecturer, Kanagawa Institute of Technology
• OKAZAKI, Yoshiko, Professor of Ethnomusicology Emeritus