On October 23rd, the University of Nagoya and the University of Oxford co-hosted a workshop titled “Research on Organised Crime: Methodological Strategies.” Professor Dai Yokomizo (Nagoya University) delivered the opening address, welcoming both speakers and the audience. He provided an overview of Nagoya University’s history and highlighted the significant challenge posed by organised crime. The workshop was moderated by Professor David Green (Nagoya University), who introduced the first panel, focused on the use of trial documents.
The panel began with Niles Breuer’s (University of Oxford) presentation on using Japanese trial documents and social network analysis to study drug importation into Japan. Following this, Dr. Zora Hauser (University of Oxford) discussed the risks and opportunities of using trial documents, emphasising the importance of understanding who and why write these documents to understand how they can be used. Dr. Qiaoyu Liao (University of Oxford) concluded the session by discussing coding strategies of judgement data, explaining both the advantages and pitfalls of using AI in this type of research.
The first afternoon session explored organised crime in the UK, Italy, and Japan. Shane Roberts, from the UK Home Office, outlined the “Clear – Hold – Build” strategy that he developed, which has been implemented in various regions of the UK. Professor Francesco Calderoni (Cattolica University) presented on the global presence of mafias, drawing from Italian police documents. Dr. Andrea Giovannetti (Australian Catholic University) shared insights from his ongoing study on the economic impact of yakuza offices in Japanese neighbourhoods.
The final panel addressed qualitative interviews. Dr. Emilia Ziosi (University of Oxford) opened the session with a presentation on the challenges and future of conducting interviews online. Jack Warburton (University of Oxford) followed with a discussion of his experiences conducting fieldwork in the UK. Finally, Dr. Martina Baradel (University of Oxford) reflected on the role of trust in fieldwork, examining the risks and rewards of building long-term relationships with respondents during in-depth research.
Professor Sean McGinty (Nagoya University) concluded the event with closing remarks, praising the workshop as an enriching experience and a valuable opportunity for networking among scholars.
The event was made possible with support from the University of Nagoya, University of Oxford, the European Commission, CRIMGOV, and the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation. It provided an excellent platform for researchers from various universities to exchange ideas on research challenges of organised crime research, with hopes for future events to further foster collaboration between Nagoya University, the University of Oxford, and other institutions worldwide.