The importance of mental health has been widely recognized. Nevertheless, in Japan, the treatment gap remains unresolved. On the user side, there are barriers such as stigma and time/financial costs associated with help-seeking. On the provider side, challenges include the difficulty of matching clients with appropriate psychological support. Telepsychology has the potential to solve these issues. My research focuses on online psychological support and examines its effectiveness and potential applications.

Previous studies have focused on examining the effectiveness of various forms of online psychological support. However, whether telepsychology improves people’s help-seeking have been underexamined. My research investigates both the effectiveness of telepsychology and explores appropriate service provision to enhance people’s help-seeking.

• • My research goes beyond showing the “effectiveness” of online psychological support and focuses on improving accessibility, aiming for outcomes that are practical and useful in society.
• • It examines both user factors (such as stigma and costs) and provider factors (such as matching difficulties).
• • Based on empirical evidence, it explores better ways of delivering services so that psychological support becomes easier to access.

The goal of this research is to improve access to psychological support services, contributing to early intervention and the maintenance of mental health and well-being. There is potential for collaboration with companies providing mental health-related services, organizations promoting employee health management and corporate wellness, as well as ICT-based medical and welfare service developers.

In light of the increase in online transactions since the onset of the pandemic, this study examines how consumers' tendency to agree to terms and conditions without reading them in detail affects
consumers' perception of binding force of fine print contracts. Building on previous research in the United States, we conducted an online experiment targeting Japanese consumers and analysed their responses to different virtual scenarios involving financial products and sports clubs, including fraudulent conditions.

Unlike previous studies, which focused on face-to-face transactions, this study examines online transactions in Japan. It takes a unique approach by investigating the impact of website explanations, the stepwise effect of consumers' purchase behavior, and the effect of different transaction targets, such as financial products and sports clubs.

• The following findings were obtained from the online experiment.
• (1) In online transactions, the presence of terms and conditions makes consumers strongly aware of their binding nature. Even if the terms and conditions contain unfair contents, consumers believe that they have 'agreed' to them and are bound by them simply by virtue of their existence and the act of clicking or tapping on them.
• (2) The effect of explanations on websites in strengthening the binding force of terms and conditions is limited.
• (3) The evaluation of the binding nature of terms and conditions by consumers varies depending on the type of transaction, e.g. financial products versus sports club memberships. In everyday sports club transactions, consumers tend to evaluate unfair conditions more strictly.

The results of this study suggest two practical measures for creating a fair trading environment: policy formulation and legal reform.
(1) Consumer protection laws and cancellation rules must be strengthened to prevent unfair trading practices.
(2) Since the impact of binding rules varies depending on the type of goods and services, it is necessary to formulate sector-specific policies.

In light of the increase in online transactions since the onset of the pandemic, this study examines how consumers' tendency to agree to terms and conditions without reading them in detail affects
consumers' perception of binding force of fine print contracts. Building on previous research in the United States, we conducted an online experiment targeting Japanese consumers and analysed their responses to different virtual scenarios involving financial products and sports clubs, including fraudulent conditions.

Unlike previous studies, which focused on face-to-face transactions, this study examines online transactions in Japan. It takes a unique approach by investigating the impact of website explanations, the stepwise effect of consumers' purchase behavior, and the effect of different transaction targets, such as financial products and sports clubs.

• The following findings were obtained from the online experiment.
• (1) In online transactions, the presence of terms and conditions makes consumers strongly aware of their binding nature. Even if the terms and conditions contain unfair contents, consumers believe that they have 'agreed' to them and are bound by them simply by virtue of their existence and the act of clicking or tapping on them.
• (2) The effect of explanations on websites in strengthening the binding force of terms and conditions is limited.
• (3) The evaluation of the binding nature of terms and conditions by consumers varies depending on the type of transaction, e.g. financial products versus sports club memberships. In everyday sports club transactions, consumers tend to evaluate unfair conditions more strictly.

The results of this study suggest two practical measures for creating a fair trading environment: policy formulation and legal reform.
(1) Consumer protection laws and cancellation rules must be strengthened to prevent unfair trading practices.
(2) Since the impact of binding rules varies depending on the type of goods and services, it is necessary to formulate sector-specific policies.

• My research areas are primarily business ethics, nonprofit organization (NPO) and business and society. I have explored these fields in epistemological, ethical, or managerial approaches from various theoretical points of view. Some of themes that I study now are on how companies should recognize ethical issues on a cognitive formed framework or how companies should create a dialogue between the company and stakeholders (consumers and employees, etc.) through PL (product liability) or labor litigation process.

I have also experiences in engaging with a domestic manufacturer in developing their PL cases and training programs as well as stating third-party opinions in CSR reports issued by a local power company. I am willing to give you any knowledge of these areas.

To prevent loneliness and social isolation in middle-aged and older adults, this study aims to introduce the community-based initiative “Community Shed.” This initiative has been selected for the project-driven track of Tohoku University’s co-creation promotion project, “SOKAP-Connect Projects.” Community Sheds are originated in Australia, into Japan and to scientifically examine its effects. As the number of older adults living alone increases and more people lose a sense of purpose in life, Community Sheds are attracting attention as places that foster social connections and promote the formation of ikigai (a sense of meaning in life). This study is grounded in the theory of the “Social Cure,” which posits that group membership enhances health and well-being.

Conventional interventions have been effective in addressing objective indicators of social isolation but have shown only limited impact in alleviating subjective feelings of loneliness, and they have insufficiently addressed the social structures that generate isolation. In Japan in particular, the isolation of older men after retirement has become a serious issue, with few opportunities available for creating new purposes in life or for seeking consultation. Community Sheds aim not merely to provide opportunities for social interaction but to focus on the quality of social connections and the construction of social identity (a sense of belonging). They are designed to offer a space for autonomous and self-directed activities through which participants can cultivate both a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging.

• In collaboration with the Japan Community Shed Association and JST-RISTEX, pilot Community Sheds have been established in Japan, including “Yorou-ya” and “Dandan-ya” in Mizukami Village, Kumamoto Prefecture, and “Pokke-Kotan” in Nishi Ward, Sapporo City, where their effectiveness is being evaluated. The results so far indicate reductions in feelings of loneliness, improvements in perceived physical health and cognitive function, and an expansion of group memberships and supportive relationships. Building on these findings, this project aims to develop a sustainable, Japan-specific system to prevent unwanted isolation and loneliness.

In collaboration with companies, there is strong potential for joint demonstration projects and service development in areas such as corporate health management, community engagement, and the promotion of well-being. For example, applications may include second-career support programs for retired employees, initiatives to extend healthy life expectancy, and integration with community-based CSR activities. In this way, Community Sheds can be developed as a model that simultaneously addresses societal challenges and enhances corporate value.