I am very pleased that we are able to hold today the Degree Conferment Ceremony for the 2024 academic year. Congratulations to all the graduates and completers. I also heartily congratulate the family members gathered here today and thank them for providing you with their understanding and support. I believe that the successful completion of your studies was made possible by the warm guidance and encouragement that you received from your families, mentors, the friends who have shared your aspirations, and others who have interacted with you in various ways. This is a good opportunity for you to remind yourselves of how these people have supported and guided you, and to express your gratitude to them.
For many of you, your high school years and entrance into Kanazawa University took place during the height of COVID-19. In particular, the pandemic compelled us to scale down the matriculation ceremony for the 2021 academic year. During the course of your ensuing life on campus, you experienced various changes in society brought about by the pandemic. More recently, we were affected by not only the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, but also the heavy rains that fell across the peninsula last year amid efforts to move forward with rebuilding and recovery. Despite such challenging circumstances, you achieved your goals here at Kanazawa University by steadily advancing your studies and improving yourselves, and now you have the joy of receiving your diplomas or degree certificates. I offer my deepest respect and congratulations to you for how you enhanced your human skills, continuously pursued learning, and deepened your academic knowledge during your time as Kanazawa University students.
The year 2024 was one marked by severe devastation caused by major disasters. Those who were directly impacted by these disasters are still far from returning to their normal lives and continue to contend with extraordinary challenges. I would like to once again express our condolences to the victims and our heartfelt sympathy to all survivors. I also extend our sincere hope that all people and communities affected by the disasters will recover as early as possible. The path forward for rebuilding and recovering the affected areas requires a long-term commitment that is founded upon overarching ideals and informed by the principles of sustainability. Such a path has been laid out in the Ishikawa Prefecture Creative Reconstruction Plan formulated by the prefectural government. For our part, we have continuously explored how we, as a national university corporation and comprehensive research university located in the disaster region, can reach out to the affected communities, and how we can make a contribution as a center of academia. I would like for us to create new value for Noto Peninsula while preserving the region’s intrinsic value. This is indeed a case of “fueki ryuko,” the concept that one should adapt to change while preserving core principles. Guided by this philosophy, we have established on campus the Noto Resilience and Revitalization Center. We are doing everything in our power to aid the reconstruction process by leveraging broad expertise and diverse insights while being driven by our empathy for the affected communities and our belief in “ungai soten” (after the clouds, the blue sky lies ahead). Going forward, we will continue making contributions to the local and global communities in our capacity as a comprehensive research university. I call on you to keep Noto in your heart and continue showing an interest in the disaster-stricken region’s recovery and sustained growth.
Turning our attention to the world, there have emerged alarming divisions and conflicts between and within various countries and regions. The bountiful global environment that has sustained life on our planet is now mired in crisis. We face a multitude of urgent challenges in areas such as energy and economic security. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has gone on for over three years. As members of the rapidly transforming global community, we must constantly think about how we can make a difference and put into action the solutions we conceive. To accomplish this, it is vital for us to pursue learning that enhances our understanding of multiculturalism, and to embrace tolerance and coexistence. I fervently call on you as members of the international community to rise above the various conflicts and divisions and do your part to bring forth a world that is filled with hope and cheer.
Our university is committed to contributing to society through “future-oriented intelligence.” This is the wisdom needed to explore and overcome the challenges of today and tomorrow. It is also a path to creating value for the future. As part of our efforts to live up to our role as an international research university, we are striving to enhance our comprehensive strengths. You have already encountered complex social challenges such as rapid population aging, the declining birthrate, communities, social infrastructure, and livelihoods. I believe that you have come to understand that an essential part of solving and overcoming those challenges is to use approaches that combine ideals, purpose, human wisdom, and other strengths. I am also certain that the diverse learning and activities that you pursued here will serve that understanding. Thinking grounded in real experiences and the ability to take action based on that thinking will be an irreplaceable asset and compass for you on the road ahead. It is vital that you continue to actively explore various challenges and take action to overcome them. As values and the structure of society dramatically change around us, now is the time for you to take the future-oriented intelligence that you gained through your studies here and wield it to build a new society for the future of Japan and the world. You will be strong pillars of society tomorrow and beyond.
You are about to embark on a new chapter in your lives as working members of society or graduate students. This is a perfect opportunity for you to reaffirm your personal aspirations or to forge new ones. I am reminded of the words of Yoshida Shoin, who led the Shokasonjuku academy in Choshu during the Edo period, in present-day Yamaguchi Prefecture. He said, “Aspiration is the source of all actions.” This can be seen as his message as an educator that every endeavor we pursue is born from our aspirations. In May 2022, our university laid out “Kokorozashi” (aspirations) as the Future Vision of Kanazawa University. Kokorozashi rests on the fundamental principles outlined in the Kanazawa University Charter and represents our aspirations to contribute to society through future-oriented intelligence driven by an all-Kanazawa University approach. Please take to heart the insights you have gained here and go out into the world to play active roles in diverse fields, pursuing your dreams and goals with the pride and confidence that come from being Kanazawa University graduates and completers.
You are setting sail on a new journey in a rapidly changing society. As my parting gift to you, I would like to share with you three messages of advice that I hope will aid you on your journey.
The first is “Grow as a person.” This means cherishing your encounters with others and constantly striving to improve your human skills.
We learn many things from others. It’s important to meet and interact with those who are passionate about what they do. As you move forward through the expansive future awaiting you, broadly engage with the thinking, wisdom, and passion of the wonderful people you meet. You will likely have some chance encounters that you will later see as destined experiences. Be sure to make the effort to sincerely communicate with all sorts of people. To do this, you need to take an interest in not only other people, but also yourself. And, use the attitude to life and ways of thinking gained from those encounters to continuously refine your qualities and skills. I am certain that this will pay off for you in the future. Please grow with awareness and pride as graduates and completers of Kanazawa University and as members of society. I personally believe that people are treasures and assets. All of you are truly assets to society. I strongly hope that you will keep polishing your human skills, grow tremendously as people, and serve as leaders in Japan and around the world.
My second message of advice is “Constantly challenge yourself.”
As you go out into the real world, you will find no right or model answers waiting for you. In some cases, there may be more than one right answer. It is up to you to identify issues and work out the best solution for overcoming them.
You have studied at a comprehensive university, which provides the unique opportunity to engage with students and mentors who possess diverse ways of thinking. I believe that you have gained great inspiration from those encounters. As you pursue your careers, continue to look at the world from multifaceted, broad, and overarching perspectives so that you can gain a bird’s-eye view of the big picture. Push yourself to take the first step, even if it’s just a small one. This can be expressed as “chakugan taikyoku, chakushu shokyoku” (think big and start small). The challenges of today and tomorrow involve many aspects that no one has ever dealt with. There are also many issues that cannot be tackled through only one discipline or just your own specialty. To reach your goals, you will need to take multifaceted approaches and build a strong team with passionate people and communities. Another essential ingredient is the future-oriented intelligence called for by our university’s future vision, Kokorozashi. Also, be sure to keep boldly taking on diverse challenges without fearing failure. As Yoshida Shoin also said, “There is no success without dreams.” This means to continuously dream of success and passionately pursue it. I look forward to seeing you contribute to the growth of society in Japan and abroad through the innovation that will come from your constant dedication to boldly taking on diverse challenges.
My third message of advice is “Continue learning throughout your life.”
The poet Samuel Ullman wrote a poem called “Youth” in which he described youth not as a particular period of life but as a state of mind. He declares, “We grow old by deserting our ideals.” Let your lifelong journey of learning new things start today. Try to constantly improve yourselves as you work toward your grand goals for the future with your hearts filled with hope. Lay out a clear vision for the future, and, guided by your ideals, continue thinking and studying about how to achieve it as you design your future over the course of your lifetime. No matter how old you grow, I believe that you will always have the power to change yourselves and the future.
Again, I hope that you will cherish your encounters with others, be blessed with a happy life always, and enjoy fruitful, wonderful experiences each day. Set forth your own aspirations and continue to challenge yourselves and learn for the rest of your lives. Let me conclude with my heartfelt wish that you will contribute to society by shining on domestic and international stages as Kanazawa University brand talent.
Congratulations on this special day.
March 21, 2025
Takashi Wada, President of Kanazawa University
PAGE TOP