Upon assuming the position of President

Greetings: Towards the Challenges Facing Tohoku Gakuin University

I would like to offer my greetings upon assuming the position of the sixth president of this university. It is an honor to serve at this university, which boasts a glorious tradition and a track record of contributions to society, and I am deeply aware of the great responsibility that comes with it.

Tohoku Gakuin University, founded in 1886 as Sendai Theological Seminary, has a 133-year history based on evangelical Christianity. Exactly 70 years have passed since it became a university with a Faculty of Letters and Economics in 1949, and it has developed into a leading private higher education institution in the Tohoku region. Currently, it consists of six faculties and six Graduate Schools, producing outstanding research results and specialized education based on them, sending out many talented individuals as graduates. The cumulative number of graduates reaches 180,000, and they are active not only in Tohoku and Hokkaido but also around the world, contributing to the education, industry, and local government sectors. Furthermore, through the rich humanistic education provided at the university, the graduates are highly regarded as individuals who sincerely serve their communities, workplaces, and families.

As President of Tohoku Gakuin University, I would like to make the following promises in order to further enhance and develop our university.

1. Tohoku Gakuin promotes humanistic education based on the founding spirit of evangelical Christianity. Our school motto, "LIFE, LIGHT AND LOVE FOR THE WORLD," embodies the meaning of living for the world, for society, and for our neighbors. In the midst of changing times, we convey to our students the importance of "living together."
2. We will embody the TG Grand Vision 150 and its catchphrase, "Learning Richly, and Connecting with the Local Community and the World," established on the 130th anniversary of our founding. Based on the fundamental philosophy of being a "liberal arts education university," a tradition since our founding, we will promote education and research that is rooted in the local community, integrating a deep understanding and insight into people, society, and culture with the advanced specialized knowledge of the humanities and sciences held by our six faculties, while maintaining a global perspective and being put into practice locally.
3. Modern society is undergoing significant transformation due to globalization and the advancement of information technology. We are keenly aware of the needs of industry and local communities, and we constantly review our educational curriculum to cultivate students who possess strong "human skills," are "ready to contribute immediately," and excel in "bachelor's degree competencies."
4. There is much to learn from the experience of Tohoku following the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011. Tohoku Gakuin University has dedicated itself to reconstruction in collaboration with the local community through research and volunteer activities. We will continue to cooperate with local governments such as Miyagi Prefecture and Sendai City, as well as universities in Sendai and throughout Japan, through our research in "Disaster Studies," public lectures, and volunteer work.
5. In order to carry out these educational and research projects and for the various departments of our university to work closely together, realizing an attractive, urban-style single campus that is open to the community is an urgent task. We will move forward towards realizing the "urban campus" that bridges the Tsuchitoi and Gobashi districts, as envisioned in TG Grand Vision 150.

I would like to work for Tohoku Gakuin University, which is always moving forward, reforming, and full of dynamism, towards a better future. I would appreciate your understanding and support.

April 1, 2019