Academic Year 2017 Undergraduate Admission Ceremony—President’s Address

21.04.2017 Update

Congratulations! On behalf of all the faculty and staff at Ochanomizu University, I’m pleased to welcome you 513 new students. I also offer my warmest congratulations to your families and all those who have supported you in reaching this important milestone of becoming a university student. To all of our guests who have taken time out of their busy schedules to join us here today, thank you as well for coming out to celebrate with us. I hope you will watch over the futures of these young students.

The name of the auditorium you are sitting in is Kiindo. Kiin is the Japanese transliteration of a word that appears in the Classic of Poetry, one of The Five Classics in China. It has its origins in idiom from the time of the Zhou Dynasty, and means “inherit the virtues of your predecessors and do good deeds.” The ki and in of kiin mean “beautiful” and “voice,” respectively. In other words, a beautiful voice is a metaphor for virtue. One of the key symbols of our university, Kiindo was named in the hope that students who gather here would develop into virtuous young women. Today, you have taken your first step on your journey as a university student here in Kiindo. Four years from now, we will once again gather here in this auditorium on the occasion of your graduation. It is my hope that, like your predecessors, those four years of learning will have guided your development into virtuous young women.

We’re also welcoming international students who have crossed national borders in search of a place of learning here at Ochanomizu University. The flags of their home countries are flying here in Kiindo today alongside the Japanese flag and the flag of our university. As you can see from flags, this year we are welcoming new undergraduate and graduate students from a total of eleven countries, including China, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, Russia, Singapore, Egypt, Afghanistan and the UK. I know that leaving your home for a faraway country like Japan cannot be easy. I believe the different language, customs, culture, values, ways of thinking and a new way of life can be disorienting. The faculty and staff of Ochanomizu University, senior students and classmates are all here to help; all you need to do is ask. It is my hope that over the next four years you will take on your studies earnestly and with an unwavering desire to learn, and I hope to see you here again at Kiindo on the day of your graduation.

Each of you new students has grown up in a unique environment, receiving support from a multitude of people. You were molded into the person you are today by a unique set of experiences.

And now, at the start of your university career, you are about to take your first step into a whole new world.

Most of you have likely only experienced learning within the limited framework of primary and secondary education. As new university students, I want you to realize as early as possible that a vast world of scholarship extending far beyond the boundaries of the sort of learning you have experienced so far is now open to you. Rather than waiting for others to give you knowledge, I ask that you engage in learning and inquiry of your own accord.

When you put yourself into the broad, rich world of scholarship, you will be able to learn about the wondrous mechanisms behind the diverse phenomena of nature, as well as the beauty of natural laws. You will also likely be moved by the richness of the culture that humanity has built over countless centuries.

You will also learn that scholarship is constantly, dynamically changing and developing. By jumping headfirst into the roiling sea of scholarship, you will do away with your self-imposed restraints and learn how to engage in logical argument backed by abundant knowledge and intellectual curiosity. Furthermore, looking at and thinking about things from broad, diverse perspectives may lead to new original discoveries and theories. This exciting world of scholarship is just waiting for you.

As your academic career progresses, your world will expand socially as well. You will meet new friends from diverse countries and regions who have skills and experiences different from yours, and engage in activities outside of the university. Both of these are great opportunities for growth. I hope you will make wonderful new friends and proactively engage in intellectual and social activities on your own initiative.

As you know, our university was founded in 1875 as Tokyo Women’s Normal School, the first national institution of higher education for women in Japan, with its campus located in the Ochanomizu neighborhood of Tokyo’s Bunkyo City. Later, as changes were made to the education system, our name and organizational structure changed as well. The school became the Women’s Campus on Tokyo Normal School, the Women’s Campus on Higher Normal School, the Women’s Higher Normal School, and then the Tokyo Women’s Higher Normal School.

In 1949, the university transitioned to Japan’s new university system, and was renamed Ochanomizu University after its birthplace and long-beloved nickname. Even in times when it was difficult for women to play a working role in society, the university has accepted progressive women. It has kept its mission of producing female leaders equipped with both general knowledge and specialized expertise, and continued to produce such talented people. Our graduates become excellent educators, scientists and engineers, as well as employees and those who contribute to the social infrastructure in a variety of areas. They have played leading roles in the realms of women’s independence and social engagement.

Starting with our acceptance of students and teacher trainees from Afghanistan in 2002, our university adopted the motto of “being a place where all women who are motivated to learn can realize their most ambitious dreams.” Since then, we have pursued the goal of helping women around the world, including those from developing countries who may have the desire, but not the opportunity, to realize their dreams. We have signed exchange agreements with 71 universities in 24 countries around the world. Our goal was to create an environment in which young women can develop a genuine mutual understanding of people from different cultures with diverse values and perspectives as well as mutually benefit from one another while pursuing their own growth.

In an increasingly borderless and unpredictable world, we all are affected by rapid, massive social change, now more than ever, whether we like it or not. The next generation of leaders will need to engage in dialogues and take actions across national borders, deepen their ties with people from around the world, and build relationships of trust with them.

Regardless of which path you choose, acquiring a high degree of specialization is vital in today’s society. That said, you cannot afford to seclude yourself in your area of specialization. Rather, you will need the comprehensive intelligence to form logical arguments based on a depth and breadth of knowledge. Our university provides you with a learning environment and a curriculum that will help you master the liberal arts that form the foundation of general knowledge, the thinking and decision-making skills that support general knowledge, and the communication skills to share that general knowledge.

You are now a member of Ochanomizu University. As you take on new challenges in this new environment, you can expect to face various difficulties. The more you overcome the difficulties, the more you will be able to refine your skills and achieve personal growth. This also represents an opportunity to discover abilities and potential you never knew you had. I hope that you will have the courage to sometimes walk past the well-worn path and instead choose a path less traveled. I ask that you make the most of these precious years at university, which is a great privilege you have been afforded, by having the courage to take on any challenge without fear of failure. I am certain that doing so will open your future and develop your potential to the fullest. It could even lead to some great contribution to society. As reflected in the lyrics of our student song, “Unless you polish it, even a jewel or mirror will be for naught. The path of learning is much the same.” I hope you will learn to polish and refine yourselves so that you can fulfill your dreams.

Your senior classmates are focusing their passion for scholarship as well as passionately engaging in a wide variety of extracurricular activities. These include volunteering to support socially disadvantaged people —such as the victims of major natural disasters like the Great East Japan Earthquake, orphaned children and elderly people living alone—as well as joining clubs relevant to their interests as a way to make new friends.

I hope all of you that are starting your studies here today will fully enjoy your student life on this campus, as you grow into talented young women prepared to create a hopeful future for Japan and the world. Be sure to take care of yourself, both physically and emotionally, and enjoy your time as university students. Our faculty and staff stand ready to support your growth with all our hearts.

Once again, I would like to express my sincere congratulations to all 513 new students, your families and others that have supported you in reaching this point in your academic careers. I genuinely hope that you will have an enjoyable and rewarding experience here.

Welcome to Ochanomizu University!

April 4, 2017
Kimiko Murofushi, Ph.D.
President
Ochanomizu University

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