The COE project was started by the Urban
Culture Research Center, and at the same time our project was also
started by Shanghai Sub-Center. In December, 2002, we reached an
International Academic Agreement with Eastern China Normal University
over this project. Prof. Morita and Prof. Ching were greatly devoted
to this project, and at length we managed to set up our project
in Shanghai in January, 2003. We pay careful attention to our mission
of Urban Culture Research. Both universities play an important role
in the study of comparisons of both urban cultures. On January 13th
there was a memorial symposium. Both the presidents from Eastern
China Normal University and from Osaka City University attended
that symposium. With financial help from COE, we bought machines
and equipment, and thus we were well prepared for our research:
Prof. Ching for the Law School and a study group for Environmental
Sciences, Dr. Kou for study group for Human Science, and Prof. Sou
for Educational Sciences. There are the details for the gIntroduction
of the Project". Each project is based on the foundation work of
a study group from Osaka City University with highly skilled methods
in each area of research. In particular, the project in Shanghai
is researching the background of the modern city. In fact, a lot
of information is available because graduate and undergraduate students
are working on this project. They go out to see what is actually
going on. There is a website on which we provide a monthly news-letter
over the internet. We have gained a high reputation from other Academic
Research Institutions. We try to do our best with the Chinese version
of COE.
