Ken Tsutsumibayashi Seminar

Since its inception, this seminar has continued to read classics of Western political thought. It is no exaggeration to say that the greatest harvest to be gained from my seminar is the experience of grappling head-on with masterpieces that remain undiminished over time, such as Plato's "Republic," Hobbes's "Leviathan," and Rousseau's "The Social Contract."

At least, that is what I believe, but this seminar is a kind of democracy. Students can write their Mita Festival papers and graduation theses on any theme they like, and my opinion is merely one equal vote—not only in planning events but even in the seminar selection process. I quite often find myself in the minority in majority votes, so I cannot deny the possibility that the seminar students may have different opinions. However, I hope that students will think independently and take a proactive approach to their studies to make the most of this high degree of freedom. Even if you are empty-handed, if you challenge the giants of knowledge yourself, there is always joy to be found beyond that—this seminar aims to be a place where you can discover that.

(Published: April 2026)