About Toyo University Message form Dean
Making Students’ Learning Journey Fruitful
Professor, Faculty of Letters/ Doctor of Humanities, Completing the Doctoral Program, all requirements except the dissertation fulfilled, at the Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University. Specialized fields: Social education, lifelong learning studies. Became a professor at the Toyo University Faculty of Letters in 2003. Took up current role in April 2020 after spells as the Director of the Center for Social Contribution, and Dean of the Faculty of Letters and Trustee of Toyo University Incorporated Educational Institution.
AY2022 is finally upon us. To all new students, congratulations on entering Toyo University. To all senior students, I hope that this year leads to richer learning than ever before.
We have suffered with the novel coronavirus pandemic for the last two years, and we witnessed the loss of peaceful life with the many lives lost with the sudden military invasion of Ukraine in February. The questions of why this happened, what we can do, and what we must do, have been thrust upon us. We are likely to feel overwhelmed in the face of such a complex and severe issue for the global society, where no one can find the correct answer to solve the issue. However, while facing the reality of the situation, we must learn, think deeply, and take action to ensure one step at a time that each of our judgments is correct.
Toyo University was founded in 1887 by Enryo Inoue as Tetsugakukan, with “The Basis of All Learning Lies in Philosophy” as its founding spirit. Even in these difficult circumstances, we must value this spirit. To pursue the truth behind what is happening in our world today, I want all Toyo students to become able to act by thinking long and hard, seeking out a diversity of opinions, and thinking logically and scientifically while verifying your judgment through debate.
From April, the legal age of adulthood is now reduced to 18. This means that all university students are considered adults, and you are able to enter into various contracts at your own responsibility, without the consent of your parents. You are required to act as adults who have to think, make decisions, and live independently, because you are no longer in the position of a student of school education who was protected by their parents. You are required to embody Toyo University’s founding spirit of “Independence and Self-Initiative.” As a citizen, “Integrating Knowledge and Virtue” becomes even more important. I want you to gain the ability to think critically by pursuing the truth and start your journey as young adults who strive to live following their own beliefs.
We have developed and provided Toyo students with the "Toyo University Official App" which we hope will become the compass for your learning journey. Toyo University will accompany you in various ways so that each one of you can persevere with your independent learning journey. The world has become a difficult place to picture a specific career vision, as was common in the past. However, we will support Toyo students so that you can achieve “Independence and Self-Initiative” in any society and so that your learning journey is fruitful.
In June 2021, Toyo University established the Toyo University Incorporated Educational Institution SDGs Action Charter. Toyo University considers contribution to the SDGs set forth by the UN to be an issue that it must address. As the first step in creating an inclusive and diverse society, we decided that we would show that Toyo University is trying to become such a place through our actions. Initiatives are already being robustly developed to address global issues. Toyo student SDGs Ambassadors are also starting many initiatives.
In the difficult situation of recent times, many of you have likely resonated with people worldwide who are working on themselves and fighting for other people. This is also part of the Heart of Toyo University Heart passed down over the years. Let’s value this spirit and try our best every day.