Akari Matsuoka

The Oxford Uehiro St Cross Visiting Programme (2025)

Joining us from: Japan
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Recognised Student - Philosophy (2025)

I am a master’s student in the Graduate School of Letters at Kyoto University, with a primary research interest in the ethics of procreation. 

I previously worked on the meaning in life and antinatalism, and I am currently examining the ethically permissible limits of state involvement in encouraging citizens to have children.

Through my research, I aim to develop a theoretical framework that better accounts for the moral status of procreation. In contemporary societies, where women increasingly navigate tensions between professional aspirations and social expectations of motherhood, the ethical questions surrounding whether and when to have children have become both philosophically urgent and socially significant. I hope to offer a more nuanced account of how ethically responsible procreative decisions can be made in light of emerging technologies and shifting cultural norms, one that is both practically relevant and philosophically rigorous.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to study at Oxford through the Uehiro Scholarship. The intellectually stimulating seminars and lectures, my supervisions with Professor Dominic Wilkinson, and the interactions with students at the Institute have all been invaluable to my academic growth. Beyond my research, I have also been enriched by life at St Cross College, the kendo club where I can continue the martial art I have practiced for a decade, and a Korean-language learning community that aligns with my longtime interest in Korean. Engaging with students from diverse backgrounds—discussing global issues, future careers, and the complexities of our personal paths—has profoundly expanded my perspective.

Although I occasionally struggle with imposter syndrome, I am confident that coming to Oxford was the right choice for me. Living and studying in this remarkable environment has widened my horizons and deepened my thinking about my future. I am sincerely thankful to the Uehiro Foundation for making this extraordinary opportunity possible.