In this laboratory of the Theory of Social Structure and Change we are specialized in sociology and are trying to analyze the structure of people’s social life, with special focus on such correlational and informational dimensions of it as patterns of their career or life history, mores or ethos among local people, their networks and media of communications, dynamics between ideology and individual/collective existence are the focus of our interests.
  Methodologically, the following would characterize our way of study: 1)Intensive examination into the movements of social theory from such classics as Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, George Mead, and Talcott Parsons to those present day development of cultural studies, phenomenological sociology, and symbolic interaction, including their development in Japan. 2) Qualitative inquiry in Japanese tradition of rural study that is featured by purposive selection, case study, informant interview, use of documents, and monographic representation, as well as contemporary methods of theoretical sampling, grounded theory approach, participant observation, and ethnographic representation.
  Although each graduate student is encouraged to choose his/her subject, close reading of texts at desk and firsthand explorations in the field are the essentials.