This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Tama University’s founding. At this milestone, I will wholeheartedly take on my duties as the fifth president of Tama University, while remembering the legacy of our first president Kazuo Noda.

The Japanese words "gendai no shijuku," or contemporary tutoring school, signify the very essence of Tama University. Since the Meiji Period of modernization, many universities of unique character have been founded and built up long histories. Universities are both places of education and places of research, and the expectations of universities have become multilayered. In this climate, Tama University strives to be "an educational institution which produces people of character." In other words, rather than a place of research with teaching staff at the core, we are aiming to be an educational establishment which nurtures the basic abilities of people who can succeed in their fields. We aspire to be a place which trains students to discover their own ideas and take on challenges, rather than just responding passively to the circumstances of their own era.

The 20 years since the foundation of Tama University, if put into world historical terms are equivalent to the 20 years of the post Cold War era. In 1989, the Berlin Wall came down, in 1991 the 'Eastern Side' of the East-West cold War, with the Soviet Bloc at the heart of it, collapsed. The era of 'ideology stand-off' ended, and the era of what we call globalization came to the forefront. Just recently, I myself attempted to tackle the issue thrust at me in my business and think tank activities, of how to face the changes brought about by new environments which come with era change.

Such times have exposed problems of a new kind. With a new world order emerging, we are in the unavoidable situation of having to redefine Japan’s role amongst what is called the worst economic crisis in 100 years. Centers of both economic and educational activity need people who can boldly challenge the issues of this new era.

In this time when “everything must be illuminated,” the mission of our university is to cultivate people who can support this idea. This is the very reason it is our priority to offer students the knowledge for success on a geopolitical stage, the confidence to succeed as people, and the skills to thrive in this advanced society.

(April 2009, Translated from Japanese)