I am researching the ideas and policies needed to realize a society where diverse cultures, religions, and values can peacefully coexist, using examples from countries such as Canada and Australia, which have accepted many immigrants and refugees. While some nations have been torn apart by ethnic or religious conflict, there are also countries where multiple ethnicities coexist. Interested in these differences, I decided to major in international politics.

Because I deal with issues occurring on the front lines of the international community, I value a sense of the field. Rather than blindly accepting information from one direction, I have listened to the voices of local people and endeavored to approach my research subject from as many different perspectives as possible. One research project that remains vivid in my memory was the one that allowed me to meet the "Sea People" of Indonesia. Although for generations they have lived in a vast area of ocean stretching all the way to the coast of Australia, at one point a border was drawn and they could no longer travel freely. Listening to their unreasonable experiences made me think about various "boundaries," including national borders.

In recent years, an increasing number of refugees are fleeing their home countries across borders due to conflicts and other reasons around the world, some of whom are crossing the ocean in boats operated by the aforementioned "Sea Peoples." On the other hand, we are also seeing the rise of forces that reject refugees in some host countries. We hope that the power of art can help to counter politics that divide people and prevent coexistence. What impact do the messages conveyed by artworks and films have in raising people's interest in the refugee issue and promoting multicultural coexistence? We will continue to take on the challenge of developing new research, focusing on the relationship between art, society, and politics.

AGU RESEARCH ｜ BACK NUMBER

This column focuses on the "arts programs" at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games held in Sydney, London, and Rio de Janeiro. It explores the stories about diversity and coexistence that were embedded in each production.