慶應義塾大学　経済学部　PEARL入試　志望理由書　提出例(長谷川 淳一先生ゼミ向け)

慶應義塾大学　経済学部　PEARL入試　志望理由書　提出例(長谷川 淳一先生ゼミ向け)

Dr. Junitchi Hasegawa

Professor

Department of Economics, History of Post War Japan Recovery

Keio University

Dear Professor Hasegawa,

I am writing this letter to explain my motivation behind application for Department of Economics at Keio University, specializing in Micro Econometrics and relate studies. As we are exposed to more information than ever, the need for us to truly understand and process them only get bigger. I have read a number of your published work which I was very intrigued by. I hope I am able to elaborate on area of studies that can be a research subject in your seminar, and I would be more than grateful if you could kindly give this a consideration. 

Abstract
City development seems like a modern, fascinating project nowadays that brings highlights on different part of the cities to attact new crowds. However, we can’t forget this is built on top of a dark history of post war reconstruction and we are now facing new phase of problems. In fact, urban growth, destruction and development continue at a breathtaking pace across the world, cities are increasingly bearing the brunt of conflicts, population explosion, crises and natural disasters thus are growing in number, magnitude and complexity. The unfolding convergence of these trends – increasing urbanization and crises – demands an enhanced approach to city development and recovery, one that puts culture at its heart. 

Question
How did Japan overcome the post war crisis state with its reconstruction plan? What other examples across the world can we look at in order to gain some insights into how we can face and solve newly arising problems?

Methodology
Study how Japan recovered post war plus other natural disasters, and compare it to UK and Germany with regards to post war recovery and research cases of ASEAN countries where Japan is involved for recent examples.

Findings
Tokyo Metropolitan Government seeking to break an impasse in its state-sponsored war-damage reconstruction efforts after the Second World War, presented proposals in the late 1940s to reclaim centuries-old canals in its central area to remove wartime ruins and create land for redevelopment, as well as a proposal forwarded by professional baseball association to reclaim a scenic pond in central Tokyo and build a baseball stadium. These reclamation proposals provoked debates of varying intensity over the loss of traditional scenery as part of urban reconstruction. According to a report by UNESCO, Japan had its own approach after the war and established framework and learned more after Hanshin earthquake in Osaka area 20 years ago. To manage the recovery process, the national government established restoration headquarters under the prime minister’s office that included various cabinet ministers. Each ministry had a role in funding and policy execution and the headquarters maintained an oversight function, which we call dual management. In terms of risk management, The Bagan Disaster Risk Management Plan, developed with the support of the World Bank and Japanese government, helps us better understand integrated management frameworks which put focus on culture, scenery and local needs.

Summary
With the prospect of increasing number of natural disasters and city crisis due to population burst, the need to understand existing theories and practices around the world is extremely important. I assume this can be an addition to a number of researches conducted in your seminar and I would love to take part. Thank you very much for taking the time to read and I look forward to hearing from you soon on this matter.

Thank you and best regards,

*The reconstruction of bombed cities in Japan after the Second World War, Urban Morphology, 12 （1）, 2008 *Culture in City Reconstruction and Recovery, The World Bank Report, 2018 *Rebuilding Urban Japan After 1945, Hein, C., Diefendorf, J., Ishida, Y.