Commencement Address for the Class of 2012, Kochi University
To all graduates, congratulations on your graduation. I offer my heartfelt congratulations.
To all parents and guardians, this must be a particularly emotional occasion for you. I offer my heartfelt congratulations.
On behalf of Kochi University, I would like to express my gratitude to all the distinguished guests and staff members in attendance.
The diplomas you have received today are a testament to the rich intellectual capacity and ability to learn that you have acquired, as well as the professional skills necessary to thrive in society. These are the fruits of your unwavering dedication to your studies, having enjoyed the right to enhance your abilities through education funded by taxpayers’ money at Kochi University, a National University Corporation. Furthermore, they serve as proof that you are the chosen few—the elite.
Elites have a duty to give back to society the abilities they have acquired. I hope that you will always reflect on who you are, what you are capable of, and what you ought to do; how this contributes to the development of society; and whether it brings happiness to yourselves and your families—and act accordingly. This is the noblesse oblige expected of elites, the spirit of service, and the spirit of the servant-leader.This spirit is not easily acquired unless one understands oneself well and loves oneself fairly. Therefore, I expect you to like yourselves, to love yourselves, and to love those around you just as you love yourselves.
The current social climate is extremely severe, not only domestically but also internationally. With the exception of a few countries, national economies are in a dire state, and while nations are now making concerted efforts to recover, our country is no exception. Furthermore, the progression of global warming, air pollution, and environmental destruction is causing a succession of extreme weather events, natural disasters, and health hazards. There is a grave concern that, if this continues, we will reach a point where nature’s ability to recover is lost.You have surely acquired the ability to think and evaluate matters rationally and scientifically. I expect you to fully utilize these abilities and devote yourselves to building a healthier society.
If we pool the wisdom of humanity, a path to the regeneration of this country and the international community should open up; however, it is the young people who will shoulder the future of the nation and the world who must pave that path. I also hope that you will give careful thought to what constitutes a truly happy society.
Finally, the ultimate purpose of all living beings, including humanity, is to sustain life and pass it on to future generations. I am deeply saddened by recent news reports of the many young people who have taken their own lives. They must have been enduring unimaginable pain and suffering. However, even so, is not taking one’s own life an act of betrayal against one’s family, friends, and oneself? If you do not forget the people close to you, and if you have even a little courage to confide in them, a solution will surely be found.Life contains equal parts joy and suffering; as the saying goes, “Fortune and misfortune are like the strands of a twisted rope.” Tomorrow is always waiting for you. Once you enter society, you may feel that suffering outweighs joy, but suffering is a trial bestowed by God upon those who can overcome it. Times of hardship are also opportunities to enhance your abilities.If you find joy in what you do, you can persevere in anything. I offer these words, “Enjoyment leads to longevity” (“Raku soku no kyu”), as a parting gift to all of you who are about to embark on your journey into society. May your lives be filled with joy.
Congratulations on your graduation.
March 22, 2013
Kochi University (National University Corporation)
President Hiroshi Wakiguchi