Zemi Principles

This seminar emphasizes student-led learning and activities. Unlike standard lectures, the instructor serves as a Faculty Advisor, supporting students’ learning process. Students are expected to take initiative in designing and carrying out their own learning and research activities.

Goals

After successfully completing the two year zemi, students will be able to (1) demonstrate their knowledge of international economics; (2) critically read other researchers' empirical studies on the subject; (3) write their own academic articles; and (4) present their work in front of academic and non-academic audiences in an engaging manner. 

Academic Training

In this seminar, students primarily study topics in international economics. International economics encompasses a wide range of fields, including international trade, international finance, economic development, and the economics of immigration. In recent years, research has increasingly integrated related fields such as labor economics, urban economics, and industrial organization, reflecting a growing interdisciplinary trend.

In light of these developments, this seminar does not confine itself strictly to traditional boundaries of international economics. Instead, it emphasizes students’ initiative in exploring research topics based on their own interests.

The projects are not restricted to international economics per se; rather, they focus on research questions that can be analyzed using publicly available data. The primary objective is to develop skills in empirical analysis and academic writing.

For econometrics, students use Jeffrey M. Wooldridge, Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach as the main textbook. Analytical tools include Excel and Stata. In their first semester after joining the seminar, third-year students learn to estimate ordinary least squares (OLS) and fixed effects models, as well as acquire skills in creating line graphs, bar charts, and scatter plots.

In writing research papers, the seminar places strong emphasis on going beyond mere statistical significance. Students are expected to accurately interpret estimated coefficients—for example, understanding how much the dependent variable changes when an explanatory variable increases by 1%—and to carefully assess the economic magnitude of the results. In addition, even statistically insignificant results should be reported as long as the methodology is appropriate, and students are encouraged to critically examine why outcomes may differ from expectations.

Joint Seminars

We organize joint seminars with the Kiyota Seminar and Obashi Seminar from the Faculty of Economics, as well as the Endoh Seminar from the Faculty of Business and Commerce. Each seminar presents its research findings and engages in discussions, with the aim of improving the overall quality of research through mutual feedback. Given the similarity in research methods, these sessions also provide valuable opportunities for information exchange.

Social Activities

We hold social gatherings two to three times per semester after seminar sessions. In addition, we organized a seminar retreat in Kyoto in the 2024 academic year.

Students also take on various roles as part of the seminar activities, including Seminar Representative, Vice Representative, Admissions Coordinator, Mita Festival Coordinator, SNS Coordinator, Joint Seminar Coordinator, Event Planning Coordinator, and Retreat Coordinator. These roles constitute an important part of the seminar experience.

Activities

Regular Meetings

• Zemi: Wednesdays, 4th and 5th blocks (14:45-18:00)

Required and Encouraged Courses

Zemi students are required to take the following courses junior year.

• International Trade A, Fall, taught by Akira Sasahara 
• International Trade B, Spring, taught by Akira Sasahara

If the student did not take the following course while in Hiyoshi, it is encouraged (not required) to take the course.

• Economies and Societies in Globalization, Fall, taught by Akira Sasahara

If the student is interested in going to graduate school, it is encouraged (not required) to take the following course senior year.

• Topics in International Economics (graduate), Fall, taught by Akira Sasahara

Faculty Advisor 

The Faculty Advisor of this seminar is Akira Sasahara, an alumnus of Keio University who obtained his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis. He previously served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Idaho. He has published a number of academic papers, including articles in leading economics journals such as the Journal of International Economics and the Review of International Economics. He has also served as a Visiting Scholar at the Ministry of Finance, Japan, and as a Research Member at RIETI. For more information, please visit his personal website. (As of April 2026)