NEWS

2017 Spring Matriculation Congratulatory Message by Kakutaro Kitashiro, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Update: April 3, 2017

Good morning. I am Kakutaro Kitashiro, chair of the Board of Trustees.

I heartily welcome your matriculation at ICU!

Your student days are an important time to discover your future path. Each and every one of you has received a special gift, or talent, from God. The following is written in the Bible: "As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." How will you harness the talent received from God and contribute to society?

In my case, senior research as a fourth year undergraduate student led me to join IBM Japan, and since then I have walked a path in the world of business, serving as president of IBM Japan, being responsible for IBM's Asia region, and serving as chairman of the Japan Association of Corporate Executives. I believe this path was the path for me to harness the abilities given to me, and I have no regrets about the path I have taken.

I believe that many of you will work for approximately 40 years, from your twenties to your sixties. If your place of work becomes an opportunity to harness your abilities, there is nothing so wonderful. Going forward, there is no knowing what will happen in society. Around the world, many problems are occurring, such as disparity between the rich and the poor, conflict, displacement of people, terrorism, contagious diseases, and global warming. Also, advancement of IT, such as the Internet and artificial intelligence, and globalization will likely accelerate. This has become an age where it is difficult to see the future. At a time like this, learning that simply absorbs past knowledge cannot open up the future. People who have studied a wide variety of fields in the natural sciences and humanities and deepened their knowledge of their major field of study, and who possess the abilities to judge for themselves what is right, to create something new, to understand diversity, and to communicate, are being sought. Literally, people who have studied the liberal arts at ICU are needed. I would like you to discover a path that harnesses your talent through your learning at ICU.

Finally, during your student life, you will likely face difficulties, and you may taste failure. At such times, please recall my favorite phrase, which is to live "brightly, joyfully, and positively" ("akaruku, tanoshiku, maemukini"). I would like you to not get discouraged no matter what and to lead your lives as students positively. The acronym of phrase, when written using the Roman alphabet, is ATM. Since I was responsible for installing ATMs in convenience stores for the first time in Japan, I have a special feeling for the word ATM. During tough times, please recall the phrase "brightly, joyfully, and positively" ("akaruku, tanoshiku, maemukini").

I trust that you will accumulate meaningful experiences at ICU and become wonderful people who "serve God and humankind," which is the purpose of the establishment of ICU.

Congratulations on your matriculation at ICU!

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