18/07/2026 Nature, Water, and Energy. Japan-Poland

The international symposium “Nature, Water, and Energy in Japan and Poland: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Environmental Awareness,” held at Aoyama Gakuin University (AGU) in Tokyo on July 18, 2026, served to compare Polish and Japanese research experiences regarding biodiversity conservation, water resources management, and energy transformation. The event’s interdisciplinary framework – combining perspectives from the social sciences and humanities with the tools of Earth sciences and technical sciences – fostered multifaceted reflection on the relationship between humanity and the environment. The analysis also focused on mechanisms for building social resilience in the face of contemporary crises.

This initiative was spearheaded by Prof. Komatsu Yasuhiko (AGU Faculty of Literature) in collaboration with the AGU Polyhedra: Environmental Studies, the AGU Organization for the Advancement of Internationalization, and the AGU Organization for Integrated Research. On the Polish side, the Rector’s Team for Ecology and Climate Crisis at the University of Warsaw and the Polish-Japanese Academic Collaboration Platform (Faculty of Asian and African Cultures) were involved in organizing the symposium.

A key subject of analysis during the proceedings was the role of universities in implementing sustainable development principles. The Polish delegation highlighted infrastructure projects, such as the Warsaw University Library and the new Faculty of Psychology building, as prime examples of best practices. These facilities not only minimize environmental impact but also serve an educational purpose by showcasing practical solutions like green roofs and energy-saving technologies. As emphasized by UW Vice Rector for Development, Prof. Ewa Krogulec, environmental responsibility is an integral part of the University of Warsaw Strategy 2023–2032 and permeates all institutional areas – from scientific research and education to infrastructure development, international cooperation, and community building.

Participants agreed that contemporary environmental challenges require close synergy between the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, alongside the creation of lasting international partnerships. Ultimately, the symposium demonstrated that the University of Warsaw and Aoyama Gakuin University share a common conviction: effectively addressing climate and environmental challenges requires not only scientific excellence but also institutional responsibility, dialogue, and cooperation.

The event was held under the Honorary Patronage of the Rector of the University of Warsaw, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Polish Institute in Tokyo, and the Japan Foundation.

The project was co-funded by the University of Warsaw’s “Excellence Initiative – Research University” (IDUB) program.

Program of the Symposium

■10:00–10:10 Opening Address
Prof. Uchida Tatsuya (AGU Vice President for Public Relations and International Collaboration)
Prof. Ewa Krogulec (UW Vice Rector for Development; Chair of the Rector’s Team for Ecology and Climate Crisis at UW)

■10:10–11:25 Panel 1: Environmental Thought in Japan and Poland: Comparative Perspectives
Prof. Komatsu Yasuhiko [AGU] The Forests of Poland and the Fields of Japan: Reflecting on the Space Between Nature and Humanity Through Literature

Dr. Katarzyna Starecka [UW] Forests as Mnemonic Landscapes: National Identity and Nature Conservation in Modernizing Poland and Japan

Prof. Marcin Zych [UW] Between Mission and Responsibility: Biodiversity Conservation in the Narrative of Botanical Gardens

◇Facilitator: Prof. Torigoe Keiko [AGU]

■11:35–12:30 Panel 2: Water in Japan and Poland: Resources, Culture, and Environment
Prof. Sanjō Kazuhiro [AGU] What Japanese People Seek in Water

Prof. Artur Magnuszewski [UW] Hydropower Energy and Artificial Reservoirs Development in Poland: Historical Perspective and Future Plans

◇Facilitator: Prof. Horie Masanobu [AGU]

■13:30–14:25 Panel 3: Future Energy Perspectives in Japan and Poland
Prof. Dorota Porowska [UW] The Importance of Renewable Energy Sources in Poland’s Energy Transformation: Opportunities and Limitations Resulting from Environmental Conditions

Prof. Ishikawa Yasuaki [AGU] Technological Initiatives for Environmental Harmony in Photovoltaics
◇Facilitator: Prof. Ishida Hiroyuki [AGU]

■14:35–15:30 Panel 4: Society, Environment, and Sustainability in Japan and Poland
Prof. Matsumoto Shigeru [AGU] Demographic Change and Household Energy Consumption

Prof. Agata Dziewulska [UW] The Value of the Sense of Security in Society – Poland and Japan
◇Facilitator: Prof. Masumoto Kiyoshi [AGU]

■15:30–16:00 Final Session: Academic and Institutional Responses to Environmental Challenges
Prof. Ewa Krogulec (UW Vice Rector for Development)
Prof. Ishida Hiroyuki, Prof. Date Naoyuki (Director of the Library) Mr. Hatanaka Taishi (SANDS (SIPEC and SDGs), a student organization of the School of International Politics, Economics and Communication, AGU) [AGU]
◇Facilitator: Prof. Sueda Kiyoko [AGU]

■16:15–17:05 Roundtable Discussion and Open Discussion with the Audience

■17:05–17:15 Concluding Remarks
Prof. Agata Dziewulska (Rector’s Plenipotentiary for the ‘Green Thinking Matter’: Platform for Dialogue) & Dr. Katarzyna Starecka (Coordinator of the Polish-Japanese Academic Collaboration Platform)
Prof. Warita Satoshi (AGU Vice President for Strategic Planning) & Prof. Kō Shinji (Leader of Subcommittee on Building an International Collaborative Research Platform)