Rate My Professor Yoshitaka Kumagai

Yoshitaka Kumagai is Professor and Vice President at Akita International University (AIU), positions he has held since 2019 and 2007, respectively, having joined the faculty at the university's establishment in 2004. He earned a Ph.D. in Forestry from Oregon State University in September 2001, following studies at the University of Montana School of Forestry. Earlier in his career, Kumagai worked as a research associate at Washington State University and held positions including associate professor at AIU's Faculty of International Studies from 2005 to 2006. His professional trajectory also includes practical experience in Japan's Chubu Sangaku National Park, where he engaged in trail maintenance, rescues, and lodge operations.

Kumagai's research specializations encompass forest science, protected area management, human geography, environmental impact assessment, environmental policy, and sociology, with a focus on nature reserves, sustainable management and conservation of natural resources, social aspects of wildfires, community responses to natural disasters, and green tourism. Notable publications include 'Coping with Interface Wildfire as a Human Event: Lessons from the Disaster/Hazards Literature' (Journal of Forestry, 2004), 'Research on Causal Attribution of Wildfire: An Exploratory Multiple-Methods Approach' (Society & Natural Resources, 2004), 'Why are natural disasters not “natural” for victims?' (2006), 'Geoparks in National Parks: challenges and potentials for promoting sustainable tourism' (2018), and 'Developing green tourisms in a community and its influence on residents: A case study in Ani, Kita-Akita city' (Journal of Rural Studies, 2008). He served as principal investigator for a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) project on rediscovering local resources through the eco-museum concept in aging communities (2005-2007). Kumagai has significantly contributed to conservation efforts as Vice Regional Chair for East Asia of the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas, Chairman of the IUCN Japan Committee, and coordinator for training workshops organized by the Japanese cabinet. He has chaired numerous council committees in Akita Prefecture and participated in international collaborations on protected areas and disaster risk reduction.