Fusako Koshikawa

Fusako Koshikawa is a Professor at Waseda University's Faculty of Letters, Arts and Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, specializing in Clinical Psychology. With a career spanning over three decades at Waseda University, she progressed from Research Assistant (1991-1993) to Full-time Instructor (1993-1994), Associate Professor (1997-2002), and ultimately Professor (2003-present). Her academic journey began with undergraduate and graduate studies in Psychology at Waseda University, earning her Master of Arts degree in 1991.

Professor Koshikawa's research interests uniquely bridge Eastern philosophy and Western psychology, with a particular focus on the concept of 'muga' (non-self) from Zen Buddhism and its applications in clinical psychology. Her work centers on cognitive behavioral therapy, stress management techniques, emotion recognition (particularly in developmental disorders), and the psychological structure of mindfulness practices. She has pioneered research on 'Jikan-ho' (self-observation technique) and 'Shikan-ho' (only observation method) as cognitive behavioral techniques derived from Zen practices, demonstrating their effectiveness in reducing depression, rumination, and stress while enhancing self-acceptance and basic trust.

Her publication record shows a strong emphasis on integrating Eastern contemplative practices with evidence-based psychological interventions. The 15 most recent articles reveal a consistent research trajectory examining how perspective shifting, non-self states, and mindfulness techniques can alleviate psychological distress. Her work spans clinical applications with depression patients, school-based interventions for bullying prevention, and cross-cultural examinations of self-concept. Notably, she has developed assessment tools including the 'Non-self Characteristic Scale' and contributed to understanding communication apprehension in Japanese contexts.

Professor Koshikawa has secured multiple competitive research grants from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, including projects on the psychological structure of 'muga,' mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, and bullying prevention programs targeting bystander behavior. Her international collaboration includes research at Oxford University on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (2003-2004).

She maintains active teaching responsibilities in 2025 across multiple Waseda University programs, including Introduction to Psychology, Introduction to Clinical Psychology, and various graduate-level seminars focused on psychological assessment and clinical practice. Her sub-affiliations span the Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Global Education Center, and Graduate School of Education, reflecting her interdisciplinary impact.