Prof. Kaori Karasawai, President, Ph.D.

My name is Kaori Karasawa, and I have been appointed as the President of the Japanese Psychological Association. My appointment was approved at the General Assembly and Board of Directors meeting held on June 29, 2025. I feel a deep sense of determination as I take on this important responsibility and reflect on the significance and potential of the activities of the Japanese Psychological Association as a Public Interest Incorporated Association.

Psychology is a discipline that explores the human mind and behavior. Through academic inquiry, psychology deepens our understanding of people and has the potential to address social issues across various sectors, including education, welfare, industry, and the judiciary, in collaboration with other disciplines. I believe that our members, facing the challenges of advancing cutting-edge research in the increasingly diversified and specialized field of psychology, continue to respond to various societal demands as researchers, educators, and practitioners.

The association’s articles of incorporation define its mission as follows: “Through the presentation of research findings on psychological theories and applications, the exchange of knowledge, and the collaboration and cooperation among members as well as among related academic organizations both in Japan and internationally, the association aims to promote and disseminate the field of psychology and thereby contribute to the advancement of academic scholarship in our country.” Guided by this mission and the social role that the Japanese Psychological Association is expected to fulfill, I hope to carry forward initiatives that allow our members’ activities to flourish even further, learning from the history of the association’s past endeavors.

From the perspective of association management, there are many important tasks ahead: the continued operation of platforms for presenting and sharing research, including our annual convention and our flagship journals, Japanese Journal of Psychology and Japanese Psychological Research; the promotion of international and interdisciplinary exchange; the management of the JPA certified psychologist system and heightened public awareness of the program; support for psychology education at the secondary-school level; responses that address diversity and ethical issues; and the enhancement of public understanding of, and social trust in, psychology as a scientific field.

As the association’s President, I will sincerely engage with these issues, listen carefully to the voices of each member, and work toward an open and inclusive administration of the association. While continuing to value the traditions of our long-established organization, I hope to respond flexibly to the changing times, moving forward together with all of you to further develop the field of psychology and its contributions to society.

I ask for your continued warm support and cooperation.

June 29, 2025

Kaori Karasawa, Ph.D.

President, Japanese Psychological Association

Professor, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, The University of Tokyo