After a severe winter marked by record-breaking snowfall, we are now greeted by the gentle arrival of spring. To all of you who are joyfully celebrating your matriculation today, I offer my heartfelt congratulations on your admission to Kanazawa University. I have just declared the matriculation of a total of 2,875 students: 1,974 undergraduate students, 867 graduate students, and 34 students in special programs. On behalf of Kanazawa University, it is my great pleasure to welcome you as the newest members of our academic community. Through steady effort, you have overcome demanding challenges and achieved this milestone. I deeply admire the determination with which you pursued your goals and have now arrived at this important new stage in your lives. I also wish to acknowledge with deep appreciation your families, who have supported you along the way.
Kanazawa University, which you are joining today, is a comprehensive research university with 164 years of history and tradition. Its origins date back to 1862, in the late Edo period, with the establishment of the Hikoso Smallpox Vaccination Center under the Kaga Domain. Inheriting the traditions of its predecessor institutions, including the former Fourth High School, the university has cultivated a culture that actively incorporates innovation while preserving tradition. In May 2022, Kanazawa University announced its Future Vision, Kokorozashi. This vision clearly articulates our aspiration of contributing to society through future-oriented intelligence, built on an All-Kanazawa University approach. Future-oriented intelligence is the wisdom needed to explore and overcome the challenges of today and tomorrow, and it leads to the creation of new value for the future. At Kanazawa University, we have created an environment that nurtures your intellectual curiosity and enables you to learn independently and grow through your own initiative. Alongside the deepening of specialized expertise, we are strengthening interdisciplinary liberal arts education that bridges the humanities, sciences, and medical fields. This approach fosters broad perspectives, a high-level viewpoint, and multifaceted ways of thinking. We have also enhanced opportunities for advanced learning at the graduate level. As stated in the Analects of Confucius, “They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who find delight in it.” I encourage you to enjoy a fulfilling campus life and to grow greatly through your experiences here.
As a research university, Kanazawa University is home to world-class research hubs, including the Nano Life Science Institute. Building upon this outstanding research capacity, you will be able to acquire knowledge not only within your own field of specialization but also across a wide range of disciplines. Moreover, as a comprehensive university, Kanazawa University offers daily opportunities to learn alongside students and faculty members who bring diverse ways of thinking. At a time when social structures and values are undergoing profound change, learning at Kanazawa University will surely become an irreplaceable asset for your future. We sincerely hope that you will one day be able to say that you are truly glad you studied here. We also have high expectations that you will go on to make meaningful contributions in Japan and around the world as proud representatives of Kanazawa University. Only you can design your future. To support you in this endeavor, I, together with all faculty and staff, pledge to provide you with our fullest support.
Contemporary society faces many pressing challenges, including population decline and the need for disaster preparedness. Internationally as well, concerns are growing over issues such as economic security, the expansion of conflicts, and energy-related problems. Preserving the richness of our global environment has become one of the most important responsibilities of our time. As members of the international community, we must continuously ask ourselves what we can do for a sustainable future, think carefully about possible solutions, and put those solutions into practice. Kanazawa University cherishes its core principle of being a research university dedicated to education, while opening up its doors to both local and global society. To cultivate perspectives that are open to both the region and the world, it is essential to foster an environment in which international engagement becomes a natural part of everyday life. For this reason, learning to understand diverse cultures and embracing tolerance and coexistence are indispensable. Our university is committed to building and strengthening systems that support international and multicultural collaborative learning. We aim to create a positive cycle in which further internationalization, study-abroad opportunities for students, and the acceptance and integration of outstanding international students mutually reinforce one another. We are also placing strong emphasis on cultivating doctoral-level talent capable of creating new value for the future through internationalized and industry–academia collaborative education. I sincerely hope that you, as members of the international community, will study at Kanazawa University, boldly take on challenges, and contribute to building a future society full of hope.
More than two years have passed since the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, and the Oku-Noto heavy rains later that same year also remain vivid in our memory. I pray that those affected may return to their normal lives as soon as possible, and that the disaster-stricken areas may see swift recovery and reconstruction. Kanazawa University will continue to ask ourselves how we can contribute as a center of learning and research, and as a university that serves the public good. In particular, we are thinking carefully about how to add new value while preserving the intrinsic value of the Noto region. We will remain committed to the recovery and reconstruction of the affected areas and to the development of local and global communities. As part of these efforts, we launched the Disaster Prevention and Revitalization Program in April 2025. I invite you, as Kanazawa University students and as members of society, to think together with us and take action.
You are about to begin a fulfilling student life at Kanazawa University, in our campuses surrounded by lush greenery. Please look forward to the experiences ahead. Allow me to offer three suggestions for making the most of your years at Kanazawa University.
First, cherish your encounters with others.
Encounters with individuals who are passionate about what they do are truly precious. People learn a great deal from one another. Kanazawa University is widely open to knowledge from around the world and offers many opportunities for international exchange. You will surely experience many unexpected encounters and connections. I believe that some of these chance encounters may grow into lifelong friendships or relationships with mentors. I encourage you to engage actively and sincerely with vibrant people both within and beyond the university community. I hope that one day you will look back and feel that encounters which once seemed accidental were, in fact, destined.
Second, think for yourself.
There is an old phrase, masen tekken, which speaks of steadfast determination, independent thought, and tireless devotion to learning. What you learn at university is fundamentally different from what you have experienced so far. In the society in which you will one day make your way, there are no ready-made answers. In a rapidly changing world, answers may not exist at all, and there may be more than one right solution. Rapidly advancing AI technologies may suggest certain answers, but the final judgment must always be your own. Precisely because we live in the age of AI, human judgment has become even more important. I encourage you to polish the uniquely human abilities and qualities that only you can develop. To do so, form hypotheses, test them against evidence, and think carefully and thoroughly about their validity. This is the essence of university learning. In addition, you are expected not only to deepen your expertise but also to cultivate your character—your humanity and integrity. Kanazawa University is fortunate to be associated with great thinkers such as D. T. Suzuki and Kitaro Nishida. It is an ideal place to question the obvious, pursue the essence of things, and refine one’s character. Such an attitude will surely become a lifelong asset that supports you throughout your life. You can continue to grow and change, and you will shape your own future.
Third, step beyond your comfort zone and engage with people whose backgrounds and perspectives differ from your own.
Place yourself in different cultures and environments. Kanazawa University actively supports study abroad, international training, and a wide range of activities beyond campus. We are also broadening opportunities for intellectual exchange through programs such as internships with companies and laboratory rotations. Do not be afraid of failure—take the first step. You will begin to see the world differently. Interacting with people who hold different worldviews, cultures, and values will bring new discoveries and further refine your own strengths. I look forward to seeing you grow greatly into individuals who will create new value for the future.
New students, please do not forget the excitement you feel today. With high aspirations and a strong sense of purpose, lead a fulfilling student life. I firmly believe that people are society’s greatest treasure. You, too, are part of that treasure. I have great expectations that you will grow into leaders who will shape the future and flourish on the global stage.
Once again, congratulations on your admission.
April 3, 2026 Takashi WadaPresident, Kanazawa University
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