New Year's Greeting 2012

Happy New Year!

How was your 'First Dream' ["hatsu-yume"]? I certainly hope it was pleasant and inspired you.

As for me, my new year's vision warmed my heart. I saw ... On May 1, 2031, Osaka University is celebrating its 100th anniversary and is now ranked among the top ten best universities in the world. On campuses crowded with students, researchers, faculty and staff, walk persons from all over the world. Many different languages are heard in addition to Japanese and the term "international student" has become obsolete. Osaka University leads the academic world as a preeminent research university and international academic journals carry articles about research results into the essence of matter almost on a daily basis. Our graduates are active widely in international companies and organizations. Such was my dream.

Since taking over the reins of Osaka University on August 26, 2011, I have worked together with the new executive office members in the management of this university. Four months have now passed and we find ourselves welcoming the new year.

Looking back on last year, 2011 was the 80th anniversary of the founding of our university, but it was also a turbulent year. The greatest earthquake on record, accidents at nuclear power plants, an economic crisis starting in Greece, a political turmoil in the world, floods in Thailand... disasters took place one after another.

The world situation is unstable and our politics and economy continue in disarray. Despite such a national crisis, we welcome the new year. Everyone hopes that this year will be a calm and promising year; however, the university environment has become more and more severe. Society demands that we manage universities in ways that respond to the needs of the times and internationalization.

"Kozo kotoshi / tsuranuku bou no / gotoki mono" [last year, this year as / a rod going through and on / as if such a thing] is a famous haiku by Takahama Kyoshi. This haiku asks us to break away from attitudes that tend to swing between elation and desperation over short-term developments. Something consistent and coherent exists in the passage of time. As this haiku says, there is something that never changes. In our case, the basic idea that the university is a center of learning and education -- this does not change over time. Based on this principle, I am resolved to lay a foundation on which Osaka University will continue to shine forth into the 22nd century by coalescing the wisdom of all members of the Osaka University Community.

I think that scholarship lights the path to the future of Japan and humans, scholarship discloses the essence of the matter and personnel possessing ability discover the essence of the matter. Now is the time to focus on learning and education that only universities can provide. I believe that universities are the source of the future and possess the power to create the future. Osaka University's great social role is to take the initiative and develop such power and display it for the world.

Even when solving challenges at hand, we must also seek solutions with a mid- and long-term perspective in anticipation of the future. We will overcome obstacles, one by one, toward the day when Osaka University will rank among the top ten best universities in the world as I dreamed in my first dream. We commit ourselves to contributing to the development of our country as well as to the peace and welfare of humans.

In closing, may I wish for your continuing good health and success.