This volume collects three group projects from Sophia University, University of Vienna and FU Berlin that involve students as researchers at different stages in their academic lives. In all three cases, students actively participated in gathering data for a group project and reflected on their experiences. We emphasise that students, rather than being mere receivers of knowledge, may also actively contribute to academic research and be part of the collaborative production of knowledge. Further, we show how research as a team has to be adjusted, but nevertheless can be conducted despite the troubling circumstances of the pandemic. You can download the full e-book here: https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/detail/o:2037832 (single file version) CONTENT Cover + Front Matter https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-001 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037584 Research into Japanese society: Reflections from three projects involving students as researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic—Introduction Sebastian Polak-Rottmann & Antonia Miserka https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-002 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037588 Giving students something worth researching David H. Slater https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-003 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037590 Positionality in student research with an African refugee: Negotiating successful interviewing through student mentoring as senpai Ayano Soma https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-004 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037592 Shifting perspectives under political stress: Interviewing Burmese students stranded in Japan Thaw Tar https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-005 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037593 Understanding vulnerabilities virtually: Oral narrative research on a Syrian refugee amid the COVID-19 pandemic Megumi Faith Mallari https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-006 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037594 Rural spaces, remote methods—the virtual Aso Winter Field School 2022 Hanno Jentzsch & Sebastian Polak-Rottmann https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-007 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037661 Training for fieldwork in Japan at home: Reflections on the 2022 D Summer Field School Wolfram Manzenreiter https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-008 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037662 Loneliness in Aso: Community-building against ageing, depopulation and pandemic influences Katja Palaszewski, Stefan Pöllitzer, Hannah Pilar Egger & Tobias Simek https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-009 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037665 Tanoshimi ga nakunatta: Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on social activities in the Aso region Johanna Mayr, Lenka Miyanohara & Benedikt Schultz https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-010 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037666 The potential of remote areas—the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the disaster-prone tourism sector of the Aso region in Japan Wilhelm Man Donko, Melanie Steinbrugger, Max Fortin https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-011 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037668 The promotion of migration through the local Chiiki okoshi kyōryokutai in Minamiaso Rabia Deveci, Kaloyan Ivanov & Juliana Neuninger https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-012 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037669 Studying rural Japan with PhD students during a global pandemic: Experiences from the research project “Urban-rural migration and rural revitalisation in Japan” Cornelia Reiher https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-013 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037670 Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic: Lessons learned from joining a group project in times of turbulence Tu Thanh Ngo https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-014 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037671 Adapting schedules and learning to collaborate: Reflections on a PhD experience in a group project during the pandemic Cecilia Luzi https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-015 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037672 Cosmopolitan rurality and changing life in rural Japan John W. Traphagan talking with Sebastian Polak-Rottmann https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-016 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037673 Contributors + Back Cover https://doi.org/10.25365/BZJ-050-017 https://phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2037674

This volume collects three group projects from Sophia University, University of Vienna and FU Berlin that involve students as researchers at different stages in their academic lives. In all three cases, students actively participated in gathering data for a group project and reflected on their experiences. We emphasise that students, rather than being mere receivers of knowledge, may also actively contribute to academic research and be part of the collaborative production of knowledge. Further, we show how research as a team has to be adjusted, but nevertheless can be conducted despite the troubling circumstances of the pandemic.