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The purpose of this paper is to examine the significance of public libraries as lifelong educational agencies through the analysis of citizens’ autonomous learning activities developed in a public library.

A self-learning group was chosen and their history was traced. Self-published documents and narratives of the group were used to clarify the substantial content of autonomous learning activities related to a public library. First, an overview of the group activities is given through an analysis of the contents of group newsletters. Second, the narrative of the group members is examined as it appears in their publications. Finally, the results of these two procedures are integrated to holistically articulate the activities of the group as an autonomous learning history based in the public library.

The paper shows how the group created their learning space in collaboration with a public library and developed individual lifelong learning by sharing their activities with local citizens. The paper concludes that the activities of the target group provide an excellent example of not only the citizens’ autonomous learning as a study group but also the ways in which civic activities nurture public debate and generate social capital in cooperation with the local public library.

The paper suggests specific citizen's autonomous and self-directed learning activities and clarifies the substantial results of their learning. The results of this research demonstrate that public libraries have the unique potential to dynamically satisfy individual lifelong learning and citizen involvement. The paper demonstrates how public libraries are intrinsically linked with lifelong learning and civic involvement.

The authors performed FACET (Investigation on Mechanism of Faceted Cellular Array Growth) experiments under long duration microgravity on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2010. The temperature and concentration distributions in the melt during the growth were precisely measured with high spatial resolution. Negative temperature gradient as well as negative concentration gradient ahead of the S/L interface can be expected to be the driving forces of the morphological instability. It is evident that the conventional model based on the frozen temperature approximation is insufficient to explain the growth mechanism of the faceted cellular array.

This research explores the intricate dynamics of national interests realised through Japan's official development assistance (ODA) to China. It aims to deepen the understanding of these mechanisms, detailing the extent to which Japan has accomplished its national interests.

The paper applies the role theory and narrative analysis to elucidate Japan's national role conception and its categories of national interests with regards to its ODA policy. It utilises both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine the success rate in achieving Japan's diplomatic objectives and how those interests have manifested over time.

The findings suggest a mixed outcome. Whilst Japan's ODA to China has helped in expanding trade and fostering mutual understanding and cooperation, it has been less successful in promoting democratic governance in China or effectively counterbalancing China's regional power. Hence, the realisation of national interests through ODA is a complex process contingent upon numerous factors.

This study stands out for its multifaceted approach in examining Japan's ODA policy towards China, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and applying the role theory in the context of international development aid. It fills a significant gap in the literature by analysing the interplay between national interests and foreign aid, providing nuanced insights into the successes and challenges of Japan's pursuit of its diplomatic objectives. The study's findings have important implications for understanding the complexity of international aid dynamics and can inform future policy decisions in the realm of international relations and foreign aid.

This paper aims to examine a copy Hiraga Gennai wrote advertising the toothpowder brand Sosekiko in terms of its target audience, product decisions pertaining to branding and packaging, pricing and advertising objectives and message appeals. A masterless samurai in the eighteenth century, Hiraga Gennai is considered Japan’s first advertising copywriter. Life of the versatile Renaissance man Gennai and the influences of his accomplishments on advertising in following generations are briefly discussed.

The research draws from a sampling of classical and contemporary literature as well as the interpretation of the images shown here. Visual content is described and analyzed as well.

Gennai’s witty and humorous advertising copy for handbills attracted the townspeople of Edo. The toothpowder market was mature and competitive, and Gennai’s copy emphasized differentiation through packaging and volume discount rather than ingredients. The advertising copy has culturally unique aspect: It appeals to the audience’s ninjo, or feelings of humanity, and explicitly solicited disseminating positive word-of-mouth by the audience.

This research shows that activities resembling more contemporary marketing practices, such as advertising and branding, for consumer products such as toothpowder existed in eighteenth-century Japan, more than a century prior to the paradigmatic development of marketing concept. The possibility for Gennai as a potential strategic marketing planner and implementer, in addition to advertising copywriter, is researched and analyzed.