Speech Text

To all new students here today at Keio University, welcome. I would also like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the family members and others gathered for this special occasion. 

As we begin, I would first like to read "The Mission of Keio University" as articulated by our founder, Yukichi Fukuzawa. It reads as follows:

"Keio Gijuku is more than a mere place for academic pursuit. Its mission is to be a constant source of honorable character and a paragon of intellect and morals for the entire nation; and for each member to apply this spirit to elucidate the essence of family, society, and nation. They will not only articulate this essence in words, but also demonstrate it in their actions, and by doing so make Keio a leader of society."

While I imagine there are a variety of reasons you each decided to join Keio from among all other options, I believe that this mission I introduced just now is a goal we should all share as members of this community. Each of you will, from this point on, diligently apply yourselves to your studies, pour your heart into extracurricular activities, and meet lifelong friends here, fueled by this mission to achieve excellence as sources of honorable character and paragons of intellect so that you may lead society, and the wider world, in the right direction. The word "gijuku" of Keio Gijuku is a translation of the British model of the "public school." This school is precisely that, a gathering place for students with high aspirations to improve the public sphere. Maintaining these ambitions and continuing to pursue your ideals is no easy matter. However, you have no reason to worry. Your upcoming life as university students will be spent in the company of your wonderful peers. You will rely on each other for help and push each other to ever increasing and impressive achievements. However, for this to happen, you must stand on your own two feet. Each of you, as individuals, are responsible for upholding your own resolutions and principles. This is the Keio spirit of independence and self-respect; it will be a staunch ally in maintaining your personal integrity and ensuring that you aspire and commit yourself to greater heights. This ethos is also what drives you to esteem the dignity of your fellow students and strive alongside them to further society. Our philosophy here at Keio University means that each and every one of you here is a member of a "leaders' club" where you will seek to understand higher ideals and recognize that this is intrinsically connected to creating a better world. This is the pursuit of the very tenets of democracy.

When you enroll at Keio University, the school sends you a copy of The Autobiography of Fukuzawa Yukichi. This autobiography is one that Fukuzawa completed a mere four years before his death. He spoke candidly about his experiences in front of a stenographer, later adding the finishing touches to the script with his own hand. It’s an insightful and moving account, a book that can serve as a compass for the type of life we should aspire to live. While you are reading through the autobiography, I also would strongly suggest reading Gakumon no Susume (An Encouragement of Learning) as well.

This book was written about 150 years ago, in a period that was in some respects very similar to today. England was at the center of the Industrial Revolution. Technological inventions and ingenuities such as the steamboat, telegraph, postal service, and printing press transformed the societal systems of that period to give rise to modern civilization as we now know it. At the same time, it was humankind, which had brought about these technological advances in the first place, that also found itself at a loss over how to deal with all the rapid changes confronting it. What did society need, not only to survive these rapid changes, but also to guide the flow of progress in the right direction? For Fukuzawa, he emphasized that the answer was the capacity for persistent learning and the ever-evolving pursuit of knowledge. What about our world today? AI and other forms of information technology are developing at a dizzying pace along with advancements in the biosciences such as genome editing. Our world is undergoing massive shifts. These changes have thrown society into disarray, and this will only continue moving forward. However, there is one crucial difference between the Industrial Revolution of 150 years ago and our situation today. From the Industrial Revolution to the modern times, humans were at the focal point of technological innovations. After all, machines and computers were merely tools and devices made for our convenience. Ultimately, it was humans that determined their purpose. Humans directed them. Humans made the final decisions. However, through the internet and social media, we now have information provided to us by AI. This makes it very difficult to perceive different sides of issues without bias, to ascertain the truth, and, in the end, to come to your own conclusions. Even if you believe you are thinking for yourself, if you are surrounded only by information from your recommendation feed, then you will be unable to make objective decisions. People who are strung along by AI's algorithms mistakenly assume that they are making their own decisions, when in fact everything has been decided for them. That is why, when determining your own future goals and objectives in business and in your lives, you need to learn how to rise above these technological trappings so that you are not influenced by AI's algorithms as they operate in the background of computers and smartphones. For example, generative AI can produce more and more advanced sentences and draw conclusions, but you are the one who must then demonstrate superior capabilities in writing and decision-making. This is the goal. Starting today, you will study at Keio University to equip yourselves with the skills of lifelong learning.

The pride and joy of Keio University that we get to share with you all is our incredible community of human-centered scholars. They are engaged in completely mastering their respective fields. In their work, Keio's scholars push their minds to the fullest potential to gather and scrutinize all available information, test factual reliability, discern the truth within, and present their findings to society, whereupon they engage in extensive discussions with their colleagues all around the world. Scholars in the humanities, such as literature, philosophy, and the arts, pursue the truth of human nature. They reveal the light and dark aspects of our lives and teach us the meaning and purpose of life. They provide us with a reliable foundation in times of distress. Social scientists grasp the essence of society in order to guide us in the right direction beyond the short term. Researchers in the sciences tackle theories and conduct experiments to reveal the workings of the natural world through new discoveries. In short, the scholars at Keio University are those who seek to cultivate the qualities that make us human—qualities that exist far above the latest advances in science and technology. Of course, Keio University is also at the forefront of advanced technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and bioscience. Keio's access to the latest research in science, technology, and medicine makes it a place where scholars can truly explore how to steer human progress along the right course, and how their research can be applied to society. At Keio, you will be in contact with these incredible scholars serving as your teachers in classes, seminars, and laboratories. The faculty members that you interact with will serve as mentors to show you how you can rise above technology by embracing your humanity throughout every stage of your life. Even after you go out and enter the workforce, they will continue to be your role models, showing you how to always be at the top of the game in any new undertaking. There may be times in a classes or seminars when you feel that the content is too intense or does not match your interests, causing you to have doubts or questions. However, the real magic of a university is that you can challenge your professors. Ask your questions. Dig deep. Along the way you can discover what makes your teachers extraordinary as scholars. Make the most of your time in your classes.

In addition, in order to be a leader of all society, you must inevitably expand your horizons to the rest of the world. To this end, Keio University offers exchange programs and double degree programs with more than 140 partner universities around the world. For students to be selected for official Keio University study abroad programs, they must demonstrate a certain level of proficiency through recognized language exams such as TOEFL or IELTS for English or similar exams for other study abroad locations, acquire these certifications as soon as possible, and formulate their own goals and plans for studying abroad. All of Keio's partner universities are top-notch, so you can learn a great deal no matter where you go. Do not make your choice based on rankings or what people are saying on the internet, but rather rely on Keio's partners and take the plunge. Then, when you take their first step out into the wider world, I believe you will grasp just how important the contributions you all make as individuals are to the healthy and peaceful progress of global society in the future. Even after learning the importance of becoming a lifelong learner here at Keio, the vision and humanity needed to lead this world down the right path can only be gained by combining the experiences found in diverse cultures, races, and genders. So go out and experience the world. Keio University also provides plenty of opportunities for participating in extracurricular activities. These include the sports clubs in the Athletic Association as well as various student groups. Through these activities, you will make many friends, learn how to work as part of a team toward a common goal, and experience the sense of accomplishment from creating something with others. The Keio University Student Conference takes place here on Hiyoshi Campus. This conference allows selected students from every one of Keio's undergraduate faculties propose ideas, goals, and action plans for the university to pursue as a way of enriching the larger community and making sustainable progress. We will be opening applications for students to participate in the Keio University Student Conference shortly, so don't take a back seat. Be proactive and participate in activities that will make an impact on our society.

My main point is this: I want you to exhaust every possible resource that Keio offers now and in the future. I hope that you will keep an eye on the various classes and events listed in the course registration guide, on our website, and in the announcements on K-Support. They will help make your college life rich and meaningful.

At today's ceremony, we are joined by Keio alumni who graduated from this university fifty years ago. They have come to show their support for you. They are our role models who have taken leading roles in society to guide us forward. They are the pride of Keio University. You, along with those who came before, will stand together at the end of this ceremony, and sing the "Juku-ka," Keio's anthem. While the first three verses are wonderful, I find that the second verse, which begins with the words "Now tread this path of learning far and deep," are a powerful proclamation to continue learning to improve society and to persistently pursue one's ideals. I get chills every time we get to the line, "Our torches in hand will glow with the torches of learning, and they will surely be shining and shining on the path of learning rightly, brightly, too." In the pursuit of ideals, leaders must always carry these metaphorical torches. During your time here at Keio University and even after you graduate, you will sing this anthem again and again, whether at the Waseda-Keio baseball games, graduation, or Mita-kai alumni meetings. When you begin to sing the second verse, I hope that you remember this day and the determination that you harbor within you at this moment.

My speech has focused on the positive aspects of life at Keio up to now, but I would like to make one final note of warning. At Keio, we do not tolerate any infringements upon the dignity of others. Recall that Keio's purpose is to be a "source of honorable character." The standard required here is thus extremely high, and the university will take strict action against any such inappropriate behavior infringing on others, even if it is not punishable by law. Be role models for society even when enjoying your freedom. With the support of your community, spread your wings, and take flight!

Today, I am delighted to stand together with all of you incoming students here on the hilltop of Hiyoshi Campus to deliver these words of encouragement. This is the starting line for your leadership journey. Enjoy your college life to the fullest. Congratulations to you all!