While there are countries with various political systems around the world, most are integrated into the global capitalist system. This system emerged in modern times, and as a result, many people have become materially wealthier than in ancient and medieval times. However, it is also true that the capitalist system has flaws, causing various problems in both developed and developing countries. Specifically, these include economic inequality, environmental problems, racial discrimination, nationalism, and gender issues, all of which are indirectly or directly related to the capitalist system and globalization. This department has many faculty members who specialize in these issues. Through lectures and seminars, we hope that students will first gain a deep understanding of the flaws of the global capitalist system, and by the time of graduation, develop into individuals who can formulate and implement policies for realizing a "symbiotic society."

Furthermore, this department places great importance on "empathy." The United States once waged a brutal and senseless war against Vietnam for ten years. This war was started by President Kennedy and a small group of his hand-picked advisors. They were "The Best and the Brightest," "the elite with brilliant intellect," but they seemed to lack "empathy." This is because they formed closed groups with people of similar backgrounds and experiences, and refused to seriously listen to the opinions of people with different backgrounds. Not just presidents and politicians, but everyone needs to possess "empathy." This department holds a lecture series twice a year titled "Cultivating Empathy." These lectures feature presentations from people involved in various jobs and activities related to "coexistence." We encourage you to actively participate and, first and foremost, listen attentively to the stories of people with different backgrounds and experiences.

Lastly, I would like you to make time to immerse yourself in research, perhaps in your room or the library. This kind of time is difficult to find once you become a working adult, so I highly recommend it. You don't need to aim for a groundbreaking discovery or a major breakthrough. Simply organizing research in a particular field and processing it into useful and easy-to-understand knowledge is a wonderful research activity in itself. And try writing a paper, even a short one. Doing so will help you develop logical thinking skills and the ability to think about things persistently. These abilities will be useful in many situations. Furthermore, if you can experience the joy of intellectual activity, I believe you can live a fulfilling life without depending on money or other people. Tohoku Gakuin University has excellent facilities and equipment to support learning and research, so please make active use of them and enjoy an intellectually stimulating student life.