Practitioners and Researchers of System Transformation Gather to Ask Society, "Why Do Problems Repeatedly Arise?" — Launch of the Podcast 'Social System Design Research Institute'

Japan Living Lab Network (JNoLL), a general incorporated association where practitioners and researchers of cross-sector co-creation gather (Headquarters: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture; Representative Director: Atsunobu Kimura), and Muture Inc. (Headquarters: Nakano Ward, Tokyo; Representative Director: Daisuke Azami), a joint venture between Marui Group and Goodpatch that supports corporate transformation, commenced distribution of the podcast 'Social System Design Research Institute' on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

This is a research-oriented podcast where Kimura, who has studied the structural issues of regional problems, and Azami, who has accumulated practical experience in organizational transformation at large corporations, open up the question "Why do problems repeatedly arise?" to society, and unravel the structure through dialogues with practitioners and researchers.

Outline

Program Name: Social System Design Research Institute

Distribution Platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Youtube

Hosts: Atsunobu Kimura (Representative Director, Japan Living Lab Network / Associate Professor, Tokyo City University), Daisuke Azami (Representative Director, Muture Inc.)

Episode 0 Title: How to Find a Structural Perspective Where What "Cannot Be Changed" Might Become "Can Be Changed!"

Why these members pose a question to society

After solving a problem, another problem arises – this is a common experience faced by many practitioners in both regional problem settings and large corporate transformation sites. Behind this, there may not be individual problems, but a "structure" that continuously generates problems. This program brings together two individuals who have confronted this structure in different settings, acting as co-hosts to pose this question to society.

Regional side: Kimura's research knowledge (Kimura et al. (2023), etc.) which has confronted the structure of social systems and aimed for transformation through industry-academia-government-citizen co-creation projects in regions.

Corporate side: Azami's practical knowledge which has re-examined the system between management, business, and the frontline in the field of organizational transformation in large corporations.

Through dialogues with practitioners and researchers in various themes and fields, the aim is to not limit learning to individual experiences or a single organization/region, but to make "social structure (social system)" a common language. That is the significance of these members posing this question.

Question running through the program

Under what kind of structure (existing system) is something deemed "unchangeable" perceived as such?

At moments when society undergoes major shifts, what kind of change towards what structure (new system) is being sought?

From what kind of discomfort do activities aiming for system transformation emerge?

Episode 0 Title

How to Find a Structural Perspective Where What "Cannot Be Changed" Might Become "Can Be Changed!" The hosts Kimura and Azami provide greetings and discuss their concerns, and the basic ideas* for structurally unraveling problems.

*Two Loop Model (Wheatley & Frieze, 2011), Multi-level Perspective (Geels & Schot, 2007).

Topics

What is the Social System Design Research Institute?

Self-introduction of the two hosts

Two basic models for structurally unraveling problems

Future direction of the program and next content

Distribution Links

Program Page

Spotify

Apple Podcast

Amazon Music

Youtube

Program Account

X

Host Introduction

Atsunobu Kimura (Representative Director, Japan Living Lab Network / Associate Professor, Tokyo City University) He practically researches methodologies (Living Labs) for creating cities/regions as one's own by cross-sector co-creation among industry, government, academia, and citizens, and has published numerous papers on social system design methodology. Ph.D. in Engineering.

Daisuke Azami / Jami (Representative Director, Muture Inc.) As a UX designer at Goodpatch, he has been involved in diverse fields from business launch to service design and organizational design. In 2022, he launched Muture, a joint venture between Marui Group and Goodpatch, and is working on organizational transformation for large corporations including Marui. ORSC® Certified System Coach.

Comment

Daisuke Azami (Representative Director, Muture Inc.) "A few years ago, when Mr. Kimura helped me reframe my activities from a social system design perspective (Kimura, 2025), I had the original experience of my thoughts becoming greatly organized and evolving. In this Podcast, in addition to my perspective as a practitioner of large corporate transformation, from the viewpoint of how to widely disseminate social system design, I will explore the perspective of working on the structure itself with listeners, editing the insights of practitioners and researchers."

About Japan Living Lab Network, a General Incorporated Association

General Incorporated Association Japan Living Lab Network.

Keywords: Not specified in original.