Alumni Reuion in North America held

On Saturday, July 20, following its board meeting, the Osaka University North American Alumni Association held lectures, a general meeting, and a get-together in New York. Three Osaka University personnel attended: President Toshio HIRANO, Trustee ABE, and TAKENAKA Yutaka, Dean, Graduate School of Law and Politics. From locations around the US such as New York, Washington D.C., and Los Angeles, some 40 alumni attended, making a total of over 100 people in attendance in this very successful reunion!
In the opening lectures, President Hirano delivered a speech on the history of Osaka University , from the founding of Tekijuku (now celebrating the 175th year since its founding) to the integration of Osaka University and Osaka University of Foreign Studies. He also called attention to the visit by the Emperor and Empress to Osaka University as well as Prime Minister Abe's talks with students in June.
In the second lecture, TAKAGI Shinji (Professor emeritus, Osaka University, and  Assistant Director, the Independent Evaluation Office of the International Monetary Fund), talked about Japanese economic policies. KATO Tomoaki (Professor, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, and a graduate from Osaka University) delivered the final lecture, speaking on the importance of living with an attitude that never begins with "No" and recent multiple organ transplants.

Following the lectures, the alumni association's general meeting and get-together for alumni were held. In the general meeting, President Hirano delivered a second speech, "Osaka University's Development Strategy -- the challenge of becoming one of the top ten universities in the world."

For more information on this event in New York, go to the San Francisco Center for Education and Research website.

Prof. Kato delivers a speech

President Hirano delivers a speech