Computational social science seeks to understand social phenomena and human behavior using advanced computational methods, including machine learning, simulations, and digital experiments. The field covers a wide range of topics—from opinion formation on social media to spatial social segregation, where different social groups are geographically separated—and actively explores new possibilities offered by innovative generative AI technologies, such as large language models. In this term, it aims to contribute both to establishing a new research framework and to solving practical social issues.

A key advantage of computational social science methods lies in their ability to dynamically and accurately capture complex social phenomena and human behavior, overcoming limitations of traditional social sciences that primarily rely on small-scale surveys and static data.

First, by directly analyzing the vast amounts of behavioral data generated daily, it becomes possible to understand large-scale, high-granularity social processes that were previously difficult to grasp. Second, the use of computational methods allows for the discovery of complex patterns and the structure of new social phenomena that might be overlooked by human intuition or conventional theories alone. Third, by combining simulations and digital experiments, the field has moved beyond mere description and correlation analysis to verifying causal mechanisms and future scenarios.

In this way, computational social science complements traditional methodologies and possesses the advantage of developing social science into a discipline that contributes to solving social problems.

• This field is positioned as a new research framework that integrates social science and information science. It establishes the subject and direction of analysis based on theoretical considerations from social science, then verifies and develops those theories through empirical analysis and simulations that utilize computational techniques and big data.

By leveraging information technology and big data to examine diverse social phenomena and human behavior, the field offers valuable knowledge and expertise for understanding current societal conditions and for designing and evaluating effective intervention strategies.

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.