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This study aims to explore the mechanism of the relationships between financial and non-financial outcomes and gender equality through a case study of a Japanese bank that has consistently pursued gender equality.

A single case study was adopted to explore the outcomes of promoting gender equality. Primary data were collected from 12 semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed by rereading and coding the interview responses coded to generate themes.

Through governance reform in Company A, women have been placed in top management positions and the number of female managers has increased, allowing frontline intentions to be reflected in decision-making. The increased number of female managers has led to a decrease in female turnover, men taking parental leave, improved training of female managers and the recruitment of excellent new graduates. The appropriate allocation of jobs to female managers and employees also meets customer needs and has led to increased sales. Finally, involvement of female employees in product development in male-dominated workplaces brings women’s experiences and perspectives to product development, resulting in the development of products that are favoured by customers.

This study determined the mechanism behind the relationships between financial and non-financial outcomes and gender equality, based on agency, upper echelons, resource dependence, institutional and social role theories. It also contributes to gender equality research methodology by providing compelling qualitative stories of gender equality outcomes to increase a company’s commitment to promoting gender equality.

This study examines how formal and cultural management control systems (MCSs) are used to support the promotion of gender equality through a case study of a Japanese bank.

A case study was adopted to investigate the use of formal and cultural MCSs in promoting gender equality. Primary data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with managers experienced in promoting gender equality. Then, the data were analysed by reading the interview answers repeatedly and coding interviewees' comments to generate themes.

The findings indicate that both formal and cultural MCSs can be critical aspects in promoting gender equality. The use of cultural MCS fostered norms and cultures over time that enhances the process of formal MCS to achieve gender equality. Formal MCS was also designed and utilised under the constructed norms and cultures to promote gender equality. Furthermore, the use of formal MCS contributes to shaping norms and cultures that encourage gender equality by controlling and discussing the process of promoting gender equality.

This study clarifies how formal and cultural MCSs can be used to promote gender equality, which is an unresolved issue in Japanese companies. Mechanisms for companies in male-dominated societies are also provided to promote gender equality in terms of MCSs.

A numerical study is performed to investigate turbulent Couette flow and heat transfer characteristics in concentric annuli with a slightly heated inner cylinder moving in the flow direction. A two‐equation k‐ε turbulence model is employed to determine the turbulent viscosity and the turbulent kinetic energy. The turbulent heat flux is expressed by Boussinesq approximation in which the eddy diffusivity for heat is given as functions of the temperature variance t^2‐ and the dissipation rate of temperature fluctuations ε_t, together with k and ε. The governing boundary‐layer equations are discretized by means of control volume finite‐difference technique and numerically solved using a marching procedure. It is disclosed from the study that the streamwise movement of the inner core causes substantial reductions in the turbulent kinetic energy and the temperature variance, particularly near the inner wall region, resulting in the deterioration of the Nusselt number, and that an attenuation in heat transfer performance is induced by the velocity ratio of the moving inner cylinder to the fluid flow.

The purpose of this study is to explore a support system for beginners in drawing in a networked environment. Learners can receive advice and assessments from art experts without time and/or place constraints by using the proposed system. The authors investigate the possibilities of online supporting drawing learning. Two key factors are introduced: a digital pen as a drawing tool and a drawing process model (DPM).

The major difference between an offline drawing class and an online drawing class is the availability of instruction during learners' drawing. The instruction for the learners' drawing process is more important than instructional comments for his/her work. Therefore, quick and personalized feedback from a tutor is an indispensable function for a networked learning environment. In this study, the learner's drawing process that is recorded by a digital pen is reused in order to replay and refer his/her drawing process. To generate an evaluation for the drawing process automatically, these data are also reused in the system the authors propose.

The paper provides three findings. One is the DPM to capture learner's drawing features. Second is a drawing learning support system based on the DPM. And third is a feasibility study of the support system in a real art school. In this study, the learner's drawing process is reused in two evaluations. One is the tutors' evaluation, and the other is the system's evaluation. For the latter, the authors implemented the automated evaluation function based on the DPM. This model consists of three types of parameters. They are the drawing step, the drawing phase and the features of the drawing strokes.

Because of the art school curriculum, the authors cannot examine the learning effectiveness deeply. So the research results in this paper may lack generality. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to test the proposed approach further.

The paper includes implication for the skill learning support based on the ICT.

This paper fulfils an identified need to capture and support how drawing behaviour can be done.

The main purpose of the paper is the validation of a broad range of RANS turbulence models, for the prediction of flow and heat transfer, for a broad range of boundary conditions and geometrical configurations, for this class of problems.

Two‐ and three‐dimensional computations are performed using a general‐purpose CFD code based on a finite volume method and a pressure‐correction formulation. Special attention is paid to achieve a high numerical accuracy by applying second order discretization schemes and stringent convergence criteria, as well as performing sensitivity studies with respect to the grid resolution, computational domain size and boundary conditions. Results are assessed by comparing the predictions with the measurements available in the literature.

A rather unsatisfactory performance of the Reynolds stress model is observed, in general, although the contrary has been expected in this rotating flow, exhibiting a predominantly non‐isotropic turbulence structure. The best overall agreement with the experiments is obtained by the k‐ω model, where the SST model is also observed to provide a quite good performance, which is close to that of the k‐ω model, for most of the investigated cases.

To date, computational investigation of turbulent jet impinging on to “rotating” disk has not received much attention. To the best of the authors' knowledge, a thorough numerical analysis of the generic problem comparable with present study has not yet been attempted.

The purpose of this study was to determine how people protect against strong seasonal winds from the mountains and to examine the relationship between windbreaks and local settlements.

The study site was the Tsuchigoya area of Hongu-cho in Japan. Measurement surveys were conducted to record the distribution, heights, widths, types and current conditions of the stone walls. At the same time, interview surveys were conducted to gather information about the history and local practices of coping with strong winds.

This study contributes knowledge of different methods of coping with strong winds, such as windbreak forests, stone walls, local stones and metal wire and bars. The sloping terrain and strong winds contributed to the construction of stone walls, which influenced the residential property layout and settlement layout. Abundant stones were available at nearby rivers and it is evident that masonry craftsmanship shaped the stone walls and landscape, which should be considered as holding cultural value for the village.

This study has some limitations. First, because of it being the case study of one study area, the findings cannot represent all the possible situations or contexts in different regions or countries. Further studies are necessary to understand the climate-responsive knowledge of other locations to address and establish a comprehensive understanding and future suggestions.

By re-examining the stone walls assembled by the people, this study was able to gain insight into such matters as the wind conditions, local topography and geography, acquisition of materials, masonry craftsmanship and social conditions such as flood influences in the area. The study showed the climate-responsive local knowledge and influence on local settings.

It is now necessary to record traditional disaster prevention methods, even in such small villages, to consider how the diverse methods of disaster management and resilience against climatic conditions have been preserved through the ages. The stone walls and landscape should be considered to have cultural value for the village.

The study showed that climate-responsive local knowledge and settlement layout have been developed through the local topography, weather conditions, resource availability and social conditions.