Source: Peatix

A cross-disciplinary research community centered on "death" is starting!

This project is positioned as the academic kickoff event for "Living Lab from Death," an initiative that aims to open up the future of society by using death as a starting point.

Death Fest 2025 also had an "Academic Day," which went beyond the boundaries of existing research fields and covered a wide range of themes, including views on life and death, well-being, funeral culture, death tech, social systems and policy research, art and cultural implementation, and was a huge success despite being held on a weekday.

"Death" is a multifaceted theme that cuts across academic fields, and the circumstances surrounding it are constantly changing.

This lab was established with the aim of crossing the boundaries of academia, business, and government, and co-creating new knowledge starting from death.

Going forward, we plan to hold the event regularly as a forum for connections and cross-border collaboration, collaborating with researchers from each research field to derive new knowledge and return the results of that research to society.

We are also accepting applications from those who would like to present their research, so please apply.

(In principle, we expect research presentations from people in a master's program or above, but we would like to encounter new ideas and research areas, so please do not be bound by this framework and feel free to contact us if you are interested.)

■ Overview
Date and time: October 5, 2025 (Sunday) 16:00-18:00
*There will be a social gathering after the event for those who wish to attend.
Venue: SHIBUYA QWS
Participation Fee: Free

Target:
・Researchers and researchers on death and related topics (graduate and undergraduate students are also welcome)
Addressing themes related to death
・Responsible for open innovation and new business ventures
・Those interested in research into the value of death, open innovation, and social implementation
*Although the purpose of this event is research, anyone can participate if they understand and agree with the purpose.

■Timetable (planned)
*There will be no change to the time slot, but details may be subject to change.
15:45 Reception begins
16:00 Opening
16:10-16:40　KEYNOTE: Finding others in society: Examining end-of-life decision-making
16:40-16:55 SHOWCASE 1 (Research presentation): New forms of representation of the dead - Using memorial diamonds and AI to represent the dead as clues
16:55-17:10 SHOWCASE 2 (Research Presentation): Research Trends and Social Issues of Thanatophobia (Fear of Death)
17:10-17:25 Cross-talk between the three speakers
17:25-17:55 Free discussion
17:55-18:00 Closing
*The venue will be cleaned up and there will be time for socializing, such as exchanging business cards, until 18:45.
*The event will begin at 18:45 and move to the reception venue. The reception will be held from 19:00 to 21:00 (fee required).

■ Speakers (tentative)
KEYNOTE: Miho Tanaka
■ Presentation title
Finding others in society: Examining end-of-life decision-making (planned)

■Title
Researcher at a medical think tank, doctoral student at Ritsumeikan University Graduate School

■Research Field
Life Sciences

■Keywords
Biomedical Ethics

■ Profile
He graduated from the School of Public Health (SPH) at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine. Through a comparison of legal policies between Japan and other countries, he conducts research on ethical and social issues, such as decision-making support for unbefriended/unrepresented elderly people, organ transplants, infectious disease pandemics, and genetic information, with a focus on end-of-life care. His major publications (co-authored) include "End of Life Choices: Considering End-of-Life Care" (Tokyo: Keiso Shobo; 2017. ISBN 978-4-326-70101-8) and "Advance Directives Across Asia: A Comparative Socio-legal Analysis" (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009152631).

https://researchmap.jp/_minepon

SHOWCASE 1: Takeshi Ichikawa

■Presentation title

New forms of representation of the dead: memorial diamonds and AI for the dead as clues

■Title
Curator of Death Fest Academic Day General Incorporated Association / Managing Director of Algodanza Japan Ltd.

■Research Field

thanatology

■Keywords
AI for the dead, grief care, death tech, funerals, memorials, memorial diamonds

■ profile

While studying at International Christian University, he ran a thanatology cafe and conducted research on death. After graduating, he joined a funeral venture in Tokyo. He then went on to study thanatology at Sophia University Graduate School, where he studied the ethical issues surrounding AI for the deceased and various aspects of memorial services on social media, with a focus on death and technology. He also participated in the launch of a startup that digitizes wills.
He is currently working at a Swiss company that turns cremated remains into diamonds, and will become executive director in 2025.

SHOWCASE 2: Mio Urade
■Presentation title

Thanatophobia (fear of death) research trends and social issues

■Title
Director of Death Fest General Incorporated Association / Representative of the Japan Thanatophobia Association

■Research Field
Life Sciences

■Keywords
Keywords: fear of death, thanatophobia, pediatric medical ethics

■ profile
A thanatophobic person who enjoys life more than anyone in the world (representative of those who don't want to die).
She completed her doctoral studies at the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Medicine. After graduating from Tokyo Medical and Dental University (now Tokyo University of Science), she completed her master's and doctoral studies at the University of Tokyo Graduate School (specializing in medical ethics), and worked as a nurse at the National Center for Child Health and Development, an assistant professor and lecturer at the National Defense Medical College, and a strategic consultant at BCG. She currently works as a university professor and visiting nurse, while providing counseling, information dissemination, and research on thanatophobia.

[About the social gathering]

・The event will be held at a nearby restaurant from 7pm to 9pm, with a fee required.
The location will be confirmed once the number of participants is decided, so please come along and join us.
(We will let you know if same-day reservations are possible.)

Venue