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基盤教育Ⅳ群の「やまぐち未来デザインプロジェクトⅠ・Ⅱ」は、2023年度から３年間の予定で、一般財団法人三菱みらい育成財団から、カテゴリー４「21世紀型教養教育」として助成を受けている。2024年9月28日、JPタワーホール（東京都千代田区）において、「みらい育成アワード2024～知見、実践、その想いを分かち合う～」が開催され、2023年度に採択された助成先の中から、カテゴリーごとに、優れた活動・成果に賞が贈られた。本稿は、グランプリの受賞スピーチを報告するものである。

The aim of this paper is to examine historical materials that show the political and military roles played by Buddhist priests during the civil war at the end of the Edo era, when the Tokugawa shogunate was opposed by various clans. They overthrew the old regime and ushered in the Meiji era, when the emperor reigned. During the Edo era when today’s Yamaguchi Prefecture was known as the Chōshū clan, Shin Buddhism priests belonging to temples in the clan’s territory set up a new school for monks to learn both liberal arts and French style martial arts to prevent Buddhism and temples, which were linked to the Tokugawa shogunate, from being destroyed. This study focuses on one of the priests involved in this movement, Kagawa Hōkō, and aims to clarify the reality of previously undocumented espionage activities using three historical documents. The third document is a transcript of an interview with the mother of a merchant in Osaka who was a supporter of the Chōshū clan’s espionage activities. It provides specific details about how the spies raised the funds they needed, how they communicated their information, and how they evaded the authorities by moving from one hiding place to another. There was also a monk, a spy mate of Hōkō, who abandoned his espionage duties and instead spent the money on sake and geisha. He ended up abducting a geisha and ran away, which led to Hōkō being imprisoned by both the shogunate’s Shinsengumi and the Chōshū clan on two separate occasions. After this, Hōkō and his comrades became responsible priests at the heart of the administration of the Shin Buddhism Hongwanji sect in the Meiji era, and he became the president of a university established by the sect, but in his twenties, he was involved in military activities like this. This is a new and interesting specific case that has previously been undocumented.

In this study, an interview survey was conducted to examine communication between foreign technical intern trainees and Japanese employees in the workplace, focusing on companies in Yamaguchi Prefecture that accept foreign technical intern trainees. The results revealed that the primary factors contributing to communication misunderstandings between foreign technical intern trainees and Japanese employees stemmed from cultural differences between low-context and high-context communication styles, as well as a lack of consideration in the Japanese expressions used by Japanese employees in the workplace. Furthermore, an additional survey of both technical intern trainees and Japanese employees highlighted that the most frequent misunderstandings arose not from complex expressions but from simple phrases like “I understand.” To facilitate smoother workplace communication, foreign technical intern trainees were provided with opportunities to learn the original meaning and proper usage of phrases such as “I understand” and were guided on the importance of asking for clarification when necessary. Additionally, feedback was given to Japanese employees to help them understand the reasons behind the linguistic behaviors of foreign technical intern trainees. These initiatives were found to significantly foster mutual understanding and proved highly effective for both parties.

For EFL learners to develop their interlanguage (IL) system efficiently, input, output, and interaction are indispensable. Advancements in ICT have made it possible to access high-quality input, such as TED and YouTube. Learners can also practice producing output by writing diaries, self-talk, giving a presentation, etc. However, interaction can only be done with an interlocutor. Recent remarkable technological advances have enabled natural interactions between generative AI and EFL learners, allowing learners to practice interactions at their own pace with less anxiety. This study aims to elucidate the effects of interaction opportunities with generative AI on the Willingness to Communicate (WTC), anxiety, and perceived competence of EFL learners. Sixty-six undergraduates were recruited as the participants. They had opportunities to interact with generative AI regularly. A questionnaire consisting of 24 items was employed to evaluate their WTC, anxiety, and perceived competence. The analysis of the collected data suggests that interaction opportunities with generative AI raise WTC and perceived competence and lower anxiety.

The Blue & Green Art Project (BGAP), launched in 2020, is unique in that it addresses regional environmental issues through the interconnected perspectives of sea and land. Over the past few years, BGAP has held symposiums and exhibitions to encourage discussions on environmental challenges while presenting solutions through art and culture. The 2024 exhibition focused on kimono upcycling and included works by environmental artist Mago Nagasaka. A key objective of BGAP 2024 was to explore Nagasaka’s concept of "Sustainable Capitalism," which aims to create a harmonious cycle among the environment, culture, and economy. This paper examines the theme of "Regional Revitalization and International Exchange through Clothing Design," primarily discussing the activities of BGAP 2024 in the realm of clothing design. Chapter I provides an overview of the research, while Chapter II traces the evolution of clothing design activities from BGAP’ s predecessor, the Agri-Art Festival, to its current endeavors, analyzing them through the lenses of regional revitalization and international exchange. BGAP has long facilitated international workshops that utilize Yamaguchi’s local resources. This year, an online workshop was held in collaboration with the University of Hawaii Maui College, focusing on kimono upcycling with participants from both Japan and Hawaii. Chapter III highlights the clothing pieces featured in the exhibition, including Mago Nagasaka’s art and their underlying concepts. The works of Yusaku Harada, utilizing factory waste, and Erina Kashihara, incorporating marine debris, were also featured. The process of kimono upcycling in this exhibition, framed as an international exchange activity, proved to be significant, offering insights into perspectives in both the creative phase and the exhibition and appreciation phase. In summary, BGAP continues to utilize clothing design as an art and cultural initiative aimed at regional revitalization and addressing local issues. Looking ahead, the project aims to expand these efforts, even on a modest scale, with the aspiration of contributing to the local economy through sustainable practices.

The dissemination of knowledge and awareness regarding mental health promotion is an important issue in the mental health and welfare policies of local governments. In order to clarify the relationship between the social life situation of local residents and their mental health, we analyzed 1,139 people who underwent health checkups at Mine City Hospital and answered a lifestyle questionnaire about their psychological state (Kessler 6 Scale [K6]), social interaction (Lubben Social Network Scale-6 [LSNS6]), sleep (Athens Insomnia Scale [AIS]), economic situation, household composition, and residential area by sex and age group (youth: 20-39 years old, middle age: 40-64 years old, elderly: 65 years old or older). In men, K6 score decreased as the age group increased; however, there was no change in women across all age groups. Furthermore, when comparing by age group and sex, elderly men had the lowest K6 score. Analysis of the data for all subjects revealed that K6 score was negatively correlated with LSNS6 score (r = -0.219, P < 0.01) but had a significant positive correlation with AIS score (r = 0.495, P < 0.01). The "difficult" economic situation group had higher K6 scores than the "average" and "affordable" groups. These findings suggest that people with a poor psychological state have less human interaction and tend to suffer from insomnia and that improving one's subjective economic situation may contribute to a good psychological state.

We developed a lifestyle reflection sheet for preventing and treating metabolic syndrome. Our tool aimed to help local residents identify their risk factors for metabolic syndrome, recognize areas for improvement in their lifestyle habits, and proactively engage in health promotion. We enrolled 1,146 patients, consisting of 715 men and 431 women, aged 18 to 92 years. Inclusion criteria were those who underwent health checkups at Mine City Hospital and answered a lifestyle questionnaire. We hypothesized that individuals with conditions related to metabolic syndrome have undesirable lifestyle habits. To test this hypothesis, we conducted logistic regression analysis to examine the probabilities of metabolic syndrome, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. The results were displayed as similarity percentages, reflecting how closely the daily behaviors of individuals with these conditions aligned with the behaviors of those who had these specific health issues. Eight specific behaviors were selected for preventing and improving metabolic syndrome: diet-related (eating behaviors that do not lead to obesity, avoid snacking, consume vegetables, reduce salt), physical activity-related (physical activity/ exercise, avoiding prolonged sitting), health-related (maintaining a sense of coherence), and alcohol-related (amount of alcohol consumed). The scores for these factors were calculated using a validated factor analysis. Each item was visualized by displaying a graph showing the standard deviation for all survey subjects. The lifestyle reflection sheet was printed on special paper and returned to individuals after their health check. The sheet served as a reference tool for health guidance. By utilizing this sheet, individuals could be individually notified of their risk of developing metabolic syndrome and the benefits of healthy behaviors. Behavioral changes for health were encouraged through a review of lifestyle habits.

The utilization of post-retirement nurses, commonly referred to as second-career nurses (he reinafter SCNs), is being actively promoted. While SCNs are often said to bring a wealth of experience to nursing, concerns have been raised regarding their clinical competency and skills. However, currently, no concrete visualization or detailed examination exists of the nature of SCNs’ nursing practices, leaving such concerns unaddressed. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the specific aspects of excellence in the nursing practices of SCNs. To clarify the excellence of SCNs, the study extracted specific elements of excellent nursing practices from previous research. These elements were conceptualized as the “Six Domains and 19 Components of Excellent Nursing.” Based on these concepts, a unique survey questionnaire was developed to measure perceptions of SCNs’ excellent nursing practices, which was employed to study two groups: second-career nurses (hereinafter referred to as the SCN group) and active nurses currently in practice (hereinafter referred to as the active group). The SCN group included 84 participants, while the active group included 199 participants. Perceptions of excellent nursing practices among SCNs were analyzed as “excellence scores” for both groups. The results showed that in the active group, the average excellence scores tended to increase with age. Additionally, a factor analysis was performed to confirm whether the responses in the active group aligned with the conceptual framework. This analysis identified three factors: “Identity as a nursing professional,” “Excellent clinical practice competence,” and “Caring behaviors.” A multiple comparison of the average total scores for the three factors across age groups revealed significant differences in “Excellent clinical practice competence” and “Caring behaviors” between the nurses in their 20s and 50s, as well as between those in their 30s and 50s. These findings suggest that age-related differences in how the active group perceived the excellence of SCNs may be attributed to varying levels of experience. Specifically, less experienced nurses may have difficulty focusing on others; consequently, they may not fully recognize the qualities of SCNs’ nursing practices. In contrast, nurses in their 40s and 50s, with greater experience, are more likely to engage in mutual interactions with SCNs, enabling them to observe and appreciate the visible aspects of SCNs’ excellent nursing practices. The relationship between the excellence scores in the SCN group and external factors such as age, years of experience, experience as an SCN, pre-retirement position, current workplace, and employment format was analyzed. The results showed no significant differences in the excellence scores across any of these attributes. This lack of influence from external factors suggests that the exceptional nursing practices of SCNs are not externally imposed but are driven by intrinsic factors, such as a genuine interest in and passion for nursing, as well as a strong focus on others—factors rooted in SCNs’ “Identity as nursing professionals.” Based on the above, the specific content of excellent nursing revealed in this study demonstrated by SCNs is threefold: nursing that makes visible “Excellent clinical practice competence,” “Caring behaviors,” and the intrinsic “Identity as a nursing professional” of second-career nurses. “Identity as a nursing professional” in SCNs reflects a deep-seated passion for nursing, characterized by a resolute dedication to the profession even after retirement. This identity is suggested to be shaped by the combination of their extensive nursing and life experiences, which results in an original approach to nursing, thus producing the excellence of SCNs.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic inflammatory disease with chronic polyarthritis as the main symptom, and its treatment goal is to reduce disease activity as well as to suppress the progression of joint destruction. The purpose of this study is to investigate the ideal support for the home-based exercise therapy and also to clarify the current status of its implementation and the factors that cause its implementation. Chapter 1 provides the background of this research, by discussing the symptoms and treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, the role of exercise therapy, the necessity of the home-based exercise therapy, and the support for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other chronic diseases. Based on these findings, the purpose of this study was to clarify the current status of the home-based exercise therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and the factors that implement it, and to examine the ideal way of support. Chapter 2 describes a research study that clarifies the current status of the home-based exercise therapy for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A questionnaire survey was conducted for rheumatoid arthritis patients living in one prefecture and the responses of 226 patients were analyzed. As a result, it was found that 35.4% of the patients knew that the home-based exercise therapy is recommended for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. On the other hand, 93.7% of patients thought that the home-based exercise therapy had a certain effect, and 91.4% of patients thought that the home-based exercise therapy was necessary. Thus, most patients had a high level of knowledge and interest in the home-based exercise therapy. Chapter 3 describes a research study that clarifies the factors that affect the implementation of the home-based exercise therapy. A questionnaire survey was conducted for rheumatoid arthritis patients living in one prefecture and the answers obtained were divided into two groups, the group that underwent the home-based exercise therapy (n = 94) and the group that did not underwent it (n = 132). As a result of multivariate analysis, it was found that four factors significantly influenced the implementation of the home-based exercise therapy: age, occupation with a high degree of discretion, receiving injection treatment, and recommending the home-based exercise therapy by a doctor. It was also suggested that patients who were in pain or were not in remission were doing it according to their physical condition to the extent that it did not hurt. Chapter 4 discusses the ideal way of support for the home-based exercise therapy by patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Based on the findings obtained in Chapters 2 and 3, the ideal way of support for the implementation of the home-based exercise therapy was discussed, focusing on three important perspectives: support for patient education, support for self-care, and support for multidisciplinary collaboration. Finally, based on the findings of this study, I concluded that it is important to provide support for patients with rheumatoid arthritis so that they can take the initiative in treating the home-based exercise therapy as an important way of self-care.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the significance and challenges of government infertility support from the perspective of nursing professionals involved in government infertility support and infertile women. This dissertation consists of three chapters. First, in Chapter 1, as a research perspective on the current situation surrounding infertility and administrative infertility support, a review of the literature on “psychological characteristics and coping with infertility,” “infertility support,” and “administrative infertility support centered on infertility consultation centers” was conducted in particular to focus the issues and analysis perspective of this study. Chapter 2, Section 1 clarified the significance of administrative infertility support as perceived by nurses involved in infertility support at infertility consultation centers. In Chapter 2, Section 2, a study of infertile women was conducted to clarify the current situation and the relationship between infertile women's perceptions and use of administrative infertility support. Chapter 3 reviews the findings on the significance and challenges of administrative infertility support based on the perspectives of nursing professionals and infertile women, discusses the significance and challenges of administrative infertility support, and presents the conclusions and limitations of this study and future challenges. From the perspective of nursing professionals, the significance of administrative infertility support was found to be threefold: [it can supplement infertility support provided by medical institutions], [it can provide psychological support], and [it can provide a wide range of infertility-related counseling]. However, only 31.1% of infertile women were aware of government infertility support, and only 16.3% of infertile women had used it. Thus, although the recognition and utilization rates of government infertility support are low, the level of satisfaction with government infertility support is high, indicating that it is an effective form of support. In addition, 67.5% of those who received infertility support from both medical institutions and the government rated the support as more effective than using only one of the two types of support. Administrative infertility support, centered on specialized infertility consultation centers, has a different venue and function than medical institutions, and is significant in that it does not view infertility solely in terms of its medical meaning, but is able to attend to individual life concerns and choices. In addition, administrative infertility support has a well-developed support system that provides both information and knowledge for problem solving and emotional and psychological support in a well-balanced manner, which we believe leads to a sense of satisfaction for infertile women who use administrative infertility support. As for the challenges of administrative infertility support, first of all, it is necessary for nurses and other professionals involved in administrative infertility support to improve the infertility support environment in each municipality and to improve their support skills. Then, the significance of administrative infertility support should be properly publicized and communicated to increase the awareness and use of administrative infertility support by infertile women. Furthermore, it was discussed that it is important to solve the issues of administrative infertility support through cooperation and collaboration between medical institutions and the government, as well as cooperation and collaboration among local governments.

The promotion of early family reunification is required from the perspective ofensuring children's rights in children’s homes. Currently, family social workers areassigned to support the smooth reintegration of children into their families. In family reunification support, the development of social work based on high-level expertise is necessary. However, it cannot be said that the expertise required for implementing social work towards children’s family reunification is fully established. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the expertise of family social workers in deploying social work towards children’s family reunification. Chapter 1 discusses the need to establish theories regarding the unique functions and methods of social work of family social workers by reviewing prior research and　examining the current achievements and challenges faced in their support. Chapter 2 outlines the research objectives and defines key terms. Chapter 3 conducts interview research with family social workers to generate a hypothesis model regarding the factors and interrelations involved in deploying social work aimed at children’s family reunification. Chapter 4 conducts a survey using questionnaires targeting family social workers and examines the generated hypothesis model through covariance structure analysis, presenting insights into the expertise of family social workers' deployment of social work for children’s family reunification. Chapter 5 states the conclusion. The deployment of social work by family social workers aimed at children's family reunification is shown to stem from a recognition that prioritizes the best interests of the　child, expanding into specific support actions such as "assessment and planning," "support for children and parents," "collaboration inside and outside the facility," and　"evaluation and discernment of family reunification." Particularly, "support for parents" and "collaboration with child consultation centers" were identified as areas of expertise in social work deployment. However, in examining the factors influencing the deployment of social work, the "evaluation and discernment of family reunification" is strongly influenced directly by the "awareness as a professional." This suggests that the expertise in the supportive actions of "support for parents" and "collaboration with child consultation centers" is not being sufficiently realized.

This study examined the effects of role lettering (RL) on mothers raising their first child in infancy. Mothers raising their first child in infancy experience unique childcare anxiety and are prone to mental instability. The Japanese government has set up support systems for mothers raising children, such as postpartum care programs; however, many of these require mothers to go out to seek support. Considering that mothers raising children are unable to go out easily, it is necessary to consider ways to provide support that are more convenient for mothers. We focused on RL as a method to support this. RL is a role-exchange letter method in which one writes a letter from the perspective of both oneself and others, in this case, the mother and the child, respectively. By conducting this back-and-forth correspondence alone, one encourages self-reflection. Putting oneself in another person's shoes allows one to look at oneself from a new perspective, promotes an understanding of the self and others, and encourages self-acceptance. This study hypothesized that RL could be utilized by mothers raising their first child, and if its effectiveness could be clarified, it could be used as a tool to support child-rearing. This paper consists of four sections. Chapter 1 presents the current situation and issues surrounding mothers raising their first child, a literature review on support for mothers raising their children, a literature review on RL, and the significance and purpose of this study. In Chapter 2, semi-structured interviews were conducted after RL was administered thrice to six mothers raising their first child before preschool. The data obtained were analyzed using the KJ method to structure the effects of RL. We also examined changes in the description of letters in the RL. In Chapter 3, we examine the effects of RL using a randomized controlled trial in a group of 26 mothers raising their first 0-year-old child in a group of three RLs and a control group. We also examined changes in the description of letters in the RL. Chapter 4 provides a comprehensive discussion of the effects of RL on mothers raising their first child during infancy based on the findings in Chapters 2 and 3. In sum, the effects of RL done thrice by mothers raising their first child in infancy are as follows. First, mothers write freely to the child, the letter recipient, without restrictions, thus express their feelings honestly; this naturally allows the mother to affirm her own identity. Second, by writing from the child’s perspective, the mother can think of how the child feels. These activities led to an increase in the mother’s self-esteem and positive feelings toward the child. Such a change in feelings gives the mother of a firstborn child a sense of recognition and confidence in her parenting. The results suggest that such confidence may lead to behavioral changes and willingness to connect with the outside world, such as mothers visiting places for parent-child interaction and consultation with public health nurses.