News & Topics

Katsuyuki Ohtomo, President of Asahi University

To serve as a hub of knowledge

I wish you a happy new year.

　Last year marked the 70th anniversary of the end of the World War II and it provided us opportunities to think and reflect on global concerns of the past and present. While tensions in the South China Sea have arisen and the relocation of a U.S. military base in Henoko, Okinawa Prefecture has occurred, the Legislation for Peace and Security was passed and promulgated in September 2015. Around the world, a series of coordinated terror attacks have horrified people and these tragic attacks highlighted the unstable situation in the Middle East, especially in Syria and Iraq. As we move ahead under this new legislation, we must nevertheless continue to remember what we have learned from the voices of people who experienced war and terror, and let them be our guide and moral compass.

　Last year saw Asahi University host visits from many distinguished guests:

Three of our visitors, Mr. Kimitake Nakamura of the North American Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Mr. Toshio Nagase, Manager of JICA Tanzania office, and Mr. Tetsu Nakamura, Executive director of Peshawar-kai gave a talk on the current state of world affairs.

Another four guests, Ms. Hye-Sook Park, Professor of Mie University, Ms. Ryoko Sugiyama, Professor of Fuji Tokoha University, Mr. Masuro Sugai, Professor of Kokugakuin University and a representative of Chubu Electric Power Co., Inc. visited the university to give us greater knowledge and understanding of resource and environmental issues from their different perspectives and backgrounds.

In addition, three companies, Seino Transportation Co., Ltd., Nohhi Logistics Co., Ltd., and Daiwa Securities Co. Ltd. endowed courses that allowed students to gain firsthand knowledge and hear experiences from real business situations.

　Asahi University has been promoting the mutual exchange of students and university staff with our partnering institutions all over the world. 2015 saw us further expand our global partnerships with the newly signed agreement of cooperation with the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of the Western Cape in the Republic of South Africa and the School of Dental Medicine of Tufts University in the USA.
　Another milestone was Asahi University’s recognition of its 30 years of successfully promoting academic exchanges with the School of Stomatology of Peking University. This program of receiving students and university staff from Peking University was awarded certification as a Japan-Asia Youth SAKURA Exchange Program in Science in 2015 from the Japan Science and Technology Agency.
　Also, we conferred an honorary doctorate on Dr. Henry H. Takei, professor of UCLA, School of Dentistry and Dr. Zhang Zhenkang, honorary Dean of Peking University, School of Stomatology for their great accomplishments and invaluable contributions to supporting our mutual exchanges over the many years.
Furthermore, we conducted active exchanges of views with Her Excellency Ms. Mohau Pheko, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of South Africa to Japan, Mr. GE Guangbiao, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Nagoya, and Mr. Stephen G. Kovacsics, Principle officer at the United States of America Consulate in Nagoya.

　Based on the philosophy of the university’s foundation – to foster individuals who contribute positively to the future of the global society – Asahi University will continue providing students opportunities to acquire knowledge, discuss and share their informed and reasoned views on domestic and international issues amid a fast-changing world, so that students can develop their ability to form and express their own opinions. At the same time, in order to contribute to the society as a hub of knowledge, we will continue providing information to the local community at every occasion.

I would like to ask for your continued support this year.

January 1, 2016