Words are useful for valuing situations and states before they can be named by words, either audibly or in writing, because simply pointing and grunting at the moon, snow, trees, or animals is insufficient. However, the events we name, value, and assign meaning to change over time; therefore, the words we used in the past do not always function in the same way in the present time. Simultaneously, words can help find something that is still vague and unknown. Therefore, we want to use them to open up the future, hopefully in a direction that is better for everyone. Hyphenated Well-Being is a new word, and therefore not straightforward, but it has that character.
The centre has been entrusted with the task of realising the well-being of children, teachers, and society in areas of hyper-depopulation. In areas of depopulation, various realities do not converge within the framework of the so-called global “system.” The “system” is, for example, Starbucks-like, manual-first, anonymous, and interchangeable. However, in a hyper-depopulated area, the goodwill, skill, and spontaneity of the owner, perhaps of a neighbourhood cafe in the “living world,” which is not manual, must be prioritised. In other words, they cannot be replaced. Since this “system” and “living world” are nested together, it follows that the “system” should not colonise individual spontaneity, and the “living world” should not become the world as a miniaturised “system.”
The relationship among children, teachers, and society also has a nested structure. Teachers were children until a short time ago, and children will eventually become adults (or possibly teachers). The dichotomy between children and adults (or teachers) is created by society, which also changes. Thus, the role of this centre will be to investigate and research such dynamic activities based in Aomori Prefecture, and to contribute to the birth of “children” who may not have existed until now, by developing the well-being of the future.

Dr Tadahiko Imada
Director, the Research Centre for Next Generation Well-Being
Professor, Faculty of Education, Hirosaki University