Paper short abstract:

Tojisha-kenkyu (self-directed research) is a form of psychotherapy that is attracting special attention because of its scientific side. In this study, we reconsider the experiments of tojisha-kenkyu presented as a set of treatises and creations (poetry and novels).

Paper long abstract:

In the field of welfare in Japan, tojisha-kenkyu (self-directed research) has attracted substantial attention. In tojisha-kenkyu, sick and disabled people can study their hardships in collaboration with colleagues who have similar hardships, and elucidate the mechanism of hardships to obtain a better lifestyle. Tojisha-kenkyu was developed by Ikuyoshi Mukaiyachi and others at Bethel House (Urakakawa, Hokkaido). Originally, it was used to treat schizophrenia and addiction. It is currently also used for mental illnesses, such as, mood disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders, and personality disorders as well as for non-psychiatric patients who have more everyday hardships, such as hardworking office workers and parents because Tojisha-kenkyu is regarded as a sophisticated skill that enables individuals to manage the burdens of life effectively.

Tojisha-kenkyu is a form of psychotherapy that is attracting attention because of its scientific aspect. Tojisha-kenkyu can describe the unique individuality of a person as in the humanities, and utilize the discourse of welfare as in the social sciences, and medical discourse as in the natural sciences. Therefore, the possibility that tojisha-kenkyu will innovate the structure of conventional scientific fields is being explored. At the University of Tokyo, which is Japan's most prestigious university, the collaboration between tojisha-kenkyu and advanced natural science is being promoted.

The presenter is an associate professor challenged by autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; He is a researcher of literature, art, and humanities. The presenter undertook tojisha-kenkyu and focused on himself to conduct an experiment and present the results as a special fusion of science and the arts, namely, poetry and novels (Makoto Yokomichi: Minnna mizu no naka [All in the Water] Tokyo, Igaku-shoin, 2021). The book was an epoch-making experiment in the history of tojisha-kenkyu because of its style. In this presentation, we will reconsider the book, especially based on the response from critics and readers.