The Waseda Law School held a workshop titled “Waseda-NTU-Cornell Workshop on Interdisciplinary Studies of Law” on July 30 and 31, 2025, at Building 27 on the Waseda Campus. Legal scholars from two of Waseda’s partner institutions, Cornell University and National Taiwan University, were invited to share their insights across a range of fields. This article reports on the two-day event.
Interdisciplinary Legal Research Across Fields and Borders
To advance its international collaboration, Waseda University has established academic exchange agreements with partner universities around the world. This workshop was jointly organized with two of these partners – the Cornell University Law School in the United States and the National Taiwan University College of Law – as part of ongoing efforts to deepen ties between these institutions and the Waseda Law School. While the three universities have long promoted student exchange, this was the first workshop bringing researchers together. The event was planned by Professor Kyoko Ishida of Waseda University’s Faculty of Law, who emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge in the field of law.
“Law, by its very nature, does not exist independently. It takes shape through its relationship with various phenomena in society. For this reason, we legal scholars must constantly engage with the changes of our times. In the increasingly complex and globalized world today, it is crucial that we bring our diverse areas of expertise together. Guided by the principle of contributing to humanity through the convergence of knowledge, Waseda University is deeply committed to interdisciplinary research that crosses traditional boundaries. This workshop was organized in that spirit, to advance legal scholarship that transcends disciplines, nations, and regions.” (Professor Kyoko Ishida)
Held under the common theme of “Interdisciplinary Studies of Law,” the workshop featured six sessions, each dedicated to a specific topic of knowledge exchange. In each session, participants from the three universities presented their papers, followed by comments from two discussants, and an open floor discussion. Waseda Law School students were also free to attend the workshop, and joined faculty members in lively discussions throughout the event.
List of Participants
- Professor Dan Awrey (Cornell University Law School)
- Professor Yun-chien Chang (Cornell University Law School)
- Professor Valerie Hans (Cornell University Law School)
- Professor Sieh-Chuen Huang (National Taiwan University College of Law)
- Professor Hao-Yun Chen (National Taiwan University College of Law)
- Professor Patrick Chung-Chia Huang (National Taiwan University College of Law)
- Professor Kyoko Ishida (Waseda University Faculty of Law)
- Professor Takashi Kubota (Waseda University Faculty of Law)
- Professor Masabumi Suzuki (Waseda University Faculty of Law)
- Professor Shin Matsuzawa (Waseda University Faculty of Law)
- Research Associate Ayaka Doyle (Institute of Comparative Law, Waseda University Faculty of Law)
Bringing Together Expertise in Emerging Fields to Tackle Cross-Disciplinary Challenges
The first day began with Session 1, in which Waseda University Professor Masabumi Suzuki presented his research on “Criminal Enforcement of Intellectual Property in Japan.” His presentation examined Japan’s approach to criminal measures for protecting intellectual property, identifying distinctive features and ongoing challenges. The ensuing discussion expanded to include issues such as intellectual property protection in Taiwan’s rapidly developing semiconductor industry and copyright concerns surrounding computer programs and other advanced technologies.
Session 2, titled “Algorithmic Selection of Iconic Constitutions,” featured a presentation by Professor Yun-chien Chang of Cornell University. Professor Chang introduced the results of a comparative study on national constitutions using AI technologies such as natural language processing. Participants exchanged perspectives on a wide range of related topics, including the cross-border diffusion of constitutional ideas and technology-driven research methods.
On the second day, Session 3 featured a presentation by Professor Shin Matsuzawa of Waseda University, titled “The Foundations of Penal Policy and the Structure of Public Opinion: An Empirical and Theoretical Study.” The presentation examined the realities and structure of public opinion as it influences criminal justice policy. This sparked active discussion on topics such as shifts in public attitudes toward harsher punishment.
In Session 4, Professor Valerie Hans of Cornell University took to the podium for a presentation titled “Japan’s Lay Judge System in a Global Context.” This session included comparisons with systems in the United States and Taiwan, as well as themes such as public trust in the judicial system, and the role of citizen participation in judicial processes.
Session 5 focused on the theme “A Study of Digital Democracy, Money, and the Social Credit System.” Professor Takashi Kubota of Waseda University presented his research on how societies can respond to the rise of AI, centering on issues such as digital democracy and social credit systems. The lively discussion that followed explored the role of AI in decision-making, the potential of citizen-participation platforms, and other key questions.
In Session 6, Professor Dan Awrey of Cornell University delivered a presentation titled “Banks, Technology, and Instability.” Using banks and fintech companies as case studies, he discussed institutional challenges surrounding new forms of financial services. Participants deepened their understanding of financial and technological instability while exchanging insights on the latest developments in the United States, Japan, and elsewhere.
Following the six sessions, the workshop concluded with a roundtable discussion. The participants reflected on how law is shaped by influences such as technology, the economy, public opinion, institutional design, and cultural values, and reaffirmed the need for interdisciplinary approaches to legal research. They also shared future challenges and visions concerning legal research. In his final remarks, Professor Shuichi Furuya, Dean of the Waseda Law School, emphasized the importance of international academic collaboration in advancing the study of law. With this, the two-day workshop came to a successful close.
Strengthening Ties Across the Three Universities, Updating Legal Research
Professors Yun-chien Chang of Cornell University and Sieh-Chuen Huang of National Taiwan University, who co-organized the workshop, spoke of the strong sense of potential they feel for future academic collaboration.
This workshop was a new initiative involving Waseda University and National Taiwan University, institutions with which we have enjoyed a long-standing relationship. At Cornell, I am responsible for promoting exchange within the East Asian region, and our achievements in building connections between Japan, Taiwan, and the United States can also lead to further opportunities for joint research and education and research funding. I believe this event represented an important step forward for future collaboration. Bringing together experts from different regions and disciplines to find common ground and exchange feedback through workshops like this provides invaluable insights. It was a truly rewarding experience for me as a scholar, too. (Professor Yun-chien Chang)
“This kind of intensive academic exchange is truly inspiring for the members of National Taiwan University, including our younger scholars. In recent years, international comparison and interdisciplinary approaches have become increasingly important within Taiwan’s legal studies community, and I personally gained many new ideas from this workshop. Following Waseda’s lead, we plan to hold the next workshop at National Taiwan University. Looking ahead, we hope to establish an ongoing cycle of workshops among our three universities and to further strengthen collaboration through these efforts.” (Professor Sieh-Chuen Huang)
Graduate students Kentaro Kurihara (second year, Waseda Law School) and Taku Shimizu (first year, Waseda Law School) also reflected on their participation in the workshop as a valuable experience that contributed to their personal growth.
“I hope to become a legal professional and pursue an international career in the future. I joined the workshop because I wanted to hear directly from leading researchers from around the world. Reading the papers in advance and following the English presentations was challenging at times, but having the opportunity to engage with genuine academic research was an invaluable learning experience.” (Kentaro Kurihara)
“At law school, I usually deal with practical legal issues, but I wanted to take a broader, more macro-level look at the field of law. Participating in the workshop allowed me to explore research from diverse areas and think about cutting-edge topics such as intellectual property and financial services, which greatly expanded my perspective.” (Taku Shimizu)
Hosted by: Waseda Law School
Supported by: Waseda University School of Law
Workshop outline: Event Flyer (Japanese only)
