Soichiro MINAMI

Soichiro MINAMI is a Lecturer at Kanazawa University's Department of Interdisciplinary Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Kyoto University and has held academic positions including Assistant Professorships at Kyoto University and Chuo University. His research focuses on public finance, environmental economics, and transportation policy, with emphasis on sustainable mobility and urban policy innovation. He has conducted extensive studies on light rail transit (LRT) systems, comparing French and Japanese approaches to transport infrastructure financing and governance.

MINAMI's career includes roles as a Research Fellow at MLIT's Policy Research Institute and a visiting researcher at Chuo University. He participated in the FFJ/Valeo Chair program (2018-2019), examining local government roles in sustainable transport policies. His work integrates case studies from cities like Grenoble and Helsinki to analyze urban mobility challenges and policy solutions.

Key research themes include: sustainable transport policy frameworks, LRT implementation strategies, public consultation practices in infrastructure projects, and the role of fiscal policies in fostering innovation. He has authored over 15 peer-reviewed articles and contributed to books on LRT planning and urban experimentation.

MINAMI actively participates in international research networks, including OECD's Transport Forum working groups and Japan Urban Center committees. His teaching spans courses on transportation policy, environmental economics, and global environmental studies at multiple universities.